The 11 Very Best Cooling Sheets

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Material:Oeko-Tex certified organic long-staple cotton percale, 270 thread count

If breathability is your biggest concern, go for sheets made of a natural fiber like cotton. Within the cotton category, percale sheets are the crispest and most lightweight of all the bedding thanks to its plain weave, and they feel the coolest to me. Percale’s matte finish also contributes to its cooling factor. Many of the experts I’ve talked to agree, including Cralle;Dr. Margarita Oks, a pulmonologist at Lenox Hill Hospital; psychotherapist Heather Turgeon, the co-author ofThe Happy Sleeper; Ben Trapskin, the founder of bedding-review siteYawnder; and Harris.

Quince’s percale sheets are the crispest and most lightweight of all the bedding I have tried over the years. Made from organiclong-staple cotton, they have athread countof 270 and feel almost paperlike in how thin they are. Because of this quality, the top sheet tents up and barely seems to touch your body, making it super-breathable and airy, which I assume would be a welcome sensation for someone who sleeps much hotter than I do. While I’m an average sleeper temperature-wise, I felt cool sleeping in these sheets during a summer heat wave with just the ceiling fan on, no AC. (In cooler months, I pair them with acomforter, and even under an extra layer of warmth, the sheets still feel cool.) Despite how truly crispy this set is, it’s also very smooth and nice to touch, durable, and washes well. Quince’s sheets are priced competitively at $100 for a queen set, making them my overall pick for best cooling sheets.

Material:Organic long-staple cotton percale, 300 thread count

If you prefer organic bedding from a smaller shop, these percale sheets from Sol Organics are your best bet. Like the Quince sheets above, these are made from organic long-staple cotton, but they have a slightly higher thread count of 300, making them a tad thicker. They don’t tent up as much as the Quince sheets, but they’re still quite crisp and cool, and I slept comfortably in them over the summer. Trapskin appreciates the fact the cotton is not processed with harsh pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or dyes — which he says “can weaken the cotton fibers” — making these his favorite cooling sheets for hot sleepers. “These sheets are durable and sustainable from an environmental and economic perspective,” he adds.

Material:Organic cotton percale

Here’s another organic-percale option that may appeal to sleepers who like the weave but would prefer something a little more lived in. Made of a crinkled percale that has been finished with a plant-based softener, it has a slight texture to it that Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens describes as “a nice progression from linen.” The sheets are also, according to Kitchens, who describes herself as a hot sleeper, the most lightweight sheets she’s slept on. “They’re lighter and thinner feeling than the Quince but not in a flimsy way,” she says, and therefore promote airflow. They’re also the ideal summer sheets — or to use all year long, if you’re a sweaty sleeper, no matter the season.

Material:Long-staple Egyptian cotton sateen, 300 thread count

These sheets are made from 100 percent certified long-stapleEgyptian cotton, which is known for its breathability, durability, and softness, and are finished in asateen weave. Sateen’s three-over-one weave is looser than percale’s and contributes to sateen’s silkier drape, but it’s also a little denser. Still, Egyptian cotton’s qualities make this set from Silk & Snow a good choice for sleepers who prefer sateen but still need bedding that feels cool. When I tested these sheets, I noticed that they were a little more lightweight than other sateen sheets made from Egyptian cotton (though they had a higher sheen) and were just as soft and silky. Tom Ryan, head of product testing atSleep Foundation, also likes these sheets for how well they’re constructed, in addition to their feel. “They’re going to be very lightweight and breathable,” he says, “and the durable Egyptian cotton makes them a sheet that should hold up to everyday use for several years.”

Material:European flax linen, Oeko-Tex certified

Linen bedding is also known to have cooling qualities thanks to its looser weave, which promotes air circulation. While linen is one of the most breathable of bedding materials, it is often pricier than cotton and can feel a little rough at first. I personally think linen feels less smooth and cool to the touch than percale sheets, but it’s a great choice for hot sleepers if you prefer a bit more heft in your bedding, as opposed to the cloudlike quality of cotton. Still, many of the sleep experts I spoke to preferlinen sheets. According toDr. Joshua Tal, a psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders, they are very breathable and “pick up cool air.” Oks says that they can trap less heat than cotton. If you’re looking to try a set of linen sheets, Brooklinen’s washed-linen core sheets are TheStrategist’s favorite starter sheetsfor their relative affordability and how light they feel. As Strategist senior writer Lauren Levy onceraved about them, “Instead of waking up in a pool of sweat from heat-locking fabrics, you’ll stay fully temperature-controlled throughout the night.” Oks also told us that many of her sleep-apnea patients have been happy with these sheets.

Material:Eucalyptus lyocell

Eucalyptus, or lyocell, is another naturally cool fiber to look for in a set of sheets, according to Oks, who says, “It generally has some natural temperature-regulating properties.” While she notes that the cooling effect of eucalyptus sheets has not been scientifically proven, the fact that it’s a very breathable fiber is one reason why she says it feels “so nice on somebody’s skin when they’re sweating at night.” Oks told us her patients are fans of the brand Sheets & Giggles, which specializes in eucalyptus sheets. (If you want to try aeucalyptus-based comforter, former Strategist writer Lori Keong wrote that sleeping under Buffy’s was like “being cocooned in a cold compress.”)

Material:Lyocell

Lyocell, which is made from eucalyptus and other wood pulp, is another naturally cool fiber to consider. According to Oks, “It generally has some natural temperature-regulating properties,” and while she notes that the cooling effect of eucalyptus sheets has not been scientifically proven, the fact that it’s a very breathable fiber is one reason why she thinks it feels “so nice on somebody’s skin when they’re sweating at night.” Buffy’s Breeze sheets are made from lyocell and remind me of cotton sateen for how smooth and silky they feel. They’re so soft, in fact, that they feel almost like my favoritematte sateen sheets from Morrow. They’re lightweight, cool to the touch, and have a nice drape, making them very pleasant and breathable to sleep on. Compared to the Quince bamboo sheets below that I also tested, these feel a little more substantial and less slippery, for those who might prefer something that has a closer-to-cotton feel.

Material:Tencel-cotton blend, 300 thread count |Moisture wicking:Yes

For sweaty sleepers who want something breathable that’s also moisture-wicking, Harris, Cralle, Tal, and Trapskin suggest sheets made ofTencel, a brand of lyocell. The fabric is “better at absorbing moisture than most other fibers, making it great for sweaty sleepers,” according to Trapskin, who adds that Tencel is “naturally wrinkle-resistant and a sustainable material.” Trapskin recommends this set from Molecule that’s made from a Tencel-cotton blend. If you’re unsure about trying pure Tencel sheets, the cotton “will give the sheets a more familiar feel.” Trapskin says Molecule sheets nail the perfect blend — and the brand makes acooling mattressif sheets alone aren’t doing the job.

Material:Bamboo viscose |Moisture wicking:Yes

Like lyocell, bamboo sheets get high marks from sleep doctors. Tal likes how they’re both lightweight and soft, and Harris is a fan because bamboo is “hypoallergenic, ecofriendly, and cool to the touch.” Anishka Clarke, a co-owner ofIshka Designs, told us that these sheets made from organically grown bamboo are “softer than you’d imagine. Supersoft. Like, baby soft on your skin” and extremely durable — generally lasting twice as long as cotton.

Material:Organic bamboo viscose |Moisture wicking:Yes

Even less expensive are these sheets from Quince that are also made from organic bamboo. When I tested them, the first thing I noticed was how cool and silky they felt — just like real silk. They’re incredibly soft to the touch, a little slinky, and still look great after several washes. And they kept me cool at night.

Material:Bamboo rayon |Moisture-Wicking:Yes

If you don’t mind nonorganic bamboo sheets, you can save a few bucks with this set that Airbnb hostBrandon Lee, who identifies as a hot sleeper, calls “extremely breathable.” He says that the 100 percent bamboo-rayon fabric “outperforms almost every other bedsheet fabric I’ve tried including linen, cotton, and Egyptian silk.” Bamboo rayon, he adds, is “not only softer and more lightweight” than other fabrics but moisture wicking too.