I spent $2,000+ and 6 months testing cooling sheets to find the coolest ones on the market. Here are my results and insights!
Summary (see below for in depth reviews and process)
1) Best Overall Cooling Sheets: Dosaze ThermaCool Temperature Regulating Sheets – with the perfect balance of thermal regulating properties, breathability, moisture management, and an INCREDIBLY soft feel, these sheets were a clear winner.
2) 2nd Best Cooling Sheets: Parachute Percale Sheets – a bit of a surprise to us, but the Parachute percale cotton sheets were very breathable. They were just too crisp for our taste and also didn’t stay as cool as the Dosaze sheets
3) 3rd Best Cooling Sheets: SleepNumber True Temp Sheet Set – we expected SleepNumber to perform well – these sheets are a solid cooling option, but we personally didn’t like the feel of the polyester / spandex fabric
4) Tencel Cooling Sheets: Molecule Percale Performance Sheets – a decent tencel option, but not as durable as other options
5) Linen Cooling Sheets: Brooklinen Linen Core Sheet Set – these Brooklinen sheets are breathable and cool, but they feel a bit rough at first.
6) Polyester-Nylon: Wicked Moisture-Wicking + Cooling Sheet Set – Polyester/Nylon feels cool when you sleep on it, but these felt a bit too plasticky for us.
7) Honorable Mention: SlumberCloud Essential Sheet Set – we were excited to try these sheets (the Phase Change material seemed promising), but it underperformed other similar fabrics
8) Honorable Mention: Cariloha Resort Bamboo Sheet Set – we liked these bamboo sheets, but they weren’t as breathable as other options and also were not as durable
In depth review and process
After years of sleeping hot, I decided that I wanted to find the best cooling sheet set. I started by reading thousands of reviews of popular “cooling sheets,” then I created a shortlist of 8 sheet sets, I purchased them, and then I spent 6 months testing them.
After testing all of these sheets, here are some general themes I found about what to look for and what to avoid when looking for a cooling sheet set.
What to look for in a cooling sheet set:
Thermal effusivity, conductivity, and specific heat
- Thermal effusivity is a measure of how ‘cool’ a material feels. For example, if it is cold outside during winter, and you touch a metal pole, you’ll notice that it feels cooler than wood – this is because it has a higher thermal effusivity. A fabric with higher thermal effusivity will feel cooler to the touch.
- Thermal conductivity is a measure of how well a material conducts, or pulls heat, away from your body – thus a material with a higher thermal conductivity will lead to a cooler sleeping experience
- Specific heat is a measure of how much ‘heat’ a fabric can store – for hot sleepers, you generally want a fabric that has a higher specific heat, so it can store more heat from your body.
Breathability: if you want to sleep cool, you need a breathable fabric – the tradeoff is often that more breathable fabrics are coarser and thus sometimes don’t feel as soft as less breathable fabrics. This is why cotton and linen, for example, feels more rough than silk, but it is much more breathable (hence why we wear it summer). It’s also important to note that percale weaves are more breathable than sateen weaves.
Moisture management: simply put, moisture-wicking is the process of moving moisture away from your skin (think your lightest workout tanks / Lululemon pieces). Thus, moisture wicking fabric has two jobs: (1) move moisture from one place to another and (2) dry rapidly so that the sweat doesn’t saturate the fabric. Moisture wicking fabric is generally cooler than moisture absorbing fabric (all things held the same) because it helps water evaporate off our bodies. When we want to stay dry, we often wear moisture wicking clothing (like Lululemon or other athletic wear) instead of fabrics like cotton, which tend to retain a lost of moisture
With these factors in mind, let’s discuss the various materials, their pros and cons, and how they impact your sleep experience.
There are a number of materials that have cooling and temperature regulating properties – tencel™, linen, polyester blends, cotton, and bamboo – the most important thing to keep in mind is that you are looking for a sheet set that promotes airflow, wicks away moisture, and pulls away body heat. Moisture-wicking fabrics and weaves can help to keep us from overheating as we sleep. In our experience, Tencel™ fabrics have the most significant ‘cool to the touch,’ effect, but the other fabrics have their benefits as well. Ultimately, it’s all about what you prefer. Linen sheets are also a popular choice. The material is excellent for summer clothing, and that extends to sheets as well.
Here is our rank for cooling fabrics
- Phase Change Material – phase change material adapts to your body temperature — when you’re hot, it keeps you cool and when you are cool it can warm you up. You’ll stay cool all night long. Phase change material was originally developed by NASA.
- Cotton – cotton is a classic material that is going to be soft, breathable, and cool
- Linen – linen is always going to be one of the coolest fabrics – it’s the most breathable for sure, but the moisture management and feel isn’t always the best
- Tencel™ – Tencel™ is one of the coolest sleeping materials, because it naturally possesses all of the characteristics listed above. Not only is tencel silky soft, but its fibers are super absorbent and wick away night sweats – keeping sleepers comfortable even in warm weather.
What to avoid in a cooling sheet set
- A High Thread Count Isn’t Always Better – The higher the thread count, the better the sheets, right? Actually, no (We were shocked to discover this too!) Thread count is an incredibly out-dated method for measuring cotton sheets. It’s actually considered to be an outdated form of measurement for gauging bedding quality, most people now measure sheets by GSM (Grams per square meter). Higher thread count sheets also mean a tighter weave causing them to lose any benefit of cooling and breathing.
- Chemicals – Many sheets are finished with chemicals that are harmful to your skin & body. Companies process their sheets with chemical finishes to stop shrinking, wrinkling, and pilling in the wash. It’s incredibly important to look for OEKO-TEX or Certi-PUR certifications when buying sheets. Consumers often think they’re safe with Cotton sheets because they’re grown but cotton is often sprayed with chemicals & pesticides that carry over into the final product. This is a recipe for disaster when your sleeping in them for 7-8 hours a day. The best way to ensure your bedsheets are free of chemicals and/or harmful substances is to buy from one of the reputable brands carrying OEKO-TEX or Certi-PUR Certifications. OEKO-TEX certifies that the product has been tested for harmful substances and that they are, therefore, harmless for human health and safe to use.
Overall, the best lumbar support pillow I used was the Dosaze ThermaCool Temperature Regulating Sheets. Dosaze essentially solved all of the issues that I had with other sheet sets. It felt the coolest to the touch, stayed the coolest throughout the night, and also had the added bonus of feeling the softest!
Is It Worth It To Consider Sheets Under $50?
I personally do not think it is best to consider the options under $50. You will likely save money in the long run because the manufacturers of cheaper sheets tend to cut corners – these sheets also generally do not last as long. If you get the right sheet set (even if it is more expensive), you’ll likely save money in the long run.
As an example, some sheet sets tend to use lower quality materials, which results in worse sheets. These sheets will often tear after washing. Then, these companies tend to inflate the “thread” count they use to fool consumers into thinking the material is high quality.
It is worth it to invest in a higher quality sheet set – especially when you consider how much impact a sheet set can have on your sleep quality.
The Dosaze ThermaCool Temperature Regulating sheets are our first pick for so many reasons. They are durable, they fit well, they will never slide around thanks to their stay-fit corners, and they guarantee a perfectly temperature-regulated sleep for the entire night. They are made from a premium weave of cooling ThermaCool fibers and cotton that is specially designed to regulate your temperature all night.
After testing this fabric, we found that it has a higher thermal effusivity (cool to the touch sensation), thermal conductivity (ability of material to pull heat away from your body), and specific heat (ability of the material to store heat) than other materials (tencel, bamboo, and linen). The science backs up our personal experience sleeping in these sheets.
This fabric is a blend of phase change material and cotton — it has all of the temperature regulating properties of phase change materials while maintaining the breathability and softness of cotton.
Furthermore, is scientifically tested to be more moisture wicking than other materials and much more breathable – it really facilitates a cooling sleep experience and is so luxuriously soft.
If you toss and turn all night because your pillow is always getting hot on one side, then there’s some bonus good news for you: the set comes with pillowcases with the same temperature regulating technology.
UPDATE (4 months later!): I’ve been using these sheets for four months now, and it is still easily the best. It has held up and the material has not degraded at all – love it overall!
These percale sheets are made with reliable, high quality, and certified Egyptian cotton, making them both luxurious and practical for anyone who has trouble sleeping, especially on hot nights. The secure corners help with bunching, also guaranteeing a comfortable sleep.
Our primary issue with these sheets is that they can feel a bit too crisp for some. That’s fine if you like that feel, but we felt that it was a bit more crisp than we typically like.
These comfortable and high-quality sheets come with 37.5 technology specifically designed to make sure that your bedding maintains the same comfortable temperature the entire time you sleep. As a bonus, the corners of the fitted sheets come with a strap that ensures they will stay snug and secure while you rest.
These wrinkle-resistant sheets are created with Tencel materials to provide reliable temperatures throughout your sleep. The natural fibers also create a smooth surface that offers comfort during you rest.
Pros:
- Wrinkle-resistant
- Tencel material
- Temperature regulating
Cons:
- Not as stretchy as Egyptian cotton, it may not stay as securely fitted
These 100% linen sheets will not let you down. They are light, cozy, and offer a level of luxury that will leave you in a blissful sleep.
Pros:
- 100% linen
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
Cons:
- More expensive than other options
This Duro-Med Relax-A-Bac Lumbar Cushion includes a wooden support insert for those in need of extra support and firmness. With it’s ergonomically designed construction it will improve posture and help relieve pain.
Dimensions: 14 × 5.5 × 15 inches
available in black, burgundy, navy, and gray.
Pros:
- Extra support if necessary
- Made from highly resilient foam and will not lose its shape
- Washable cover
Cons:
- Despite being marketed for firm support there are some complaints that it lacks support
- Reports of bad chemical smell
These were designed with the same technology that keeps astronaut spacesuit temperatures regulated, so you know they are good. They are breathable and definitely deserving of being on the list.
Pros:
- Cooling technology
- Breathable
- Comfortable
Cons:
- The color online may be misleading
These sheets are soft and stay cool, but my biggest issue with them was that they tend to pill quickly. Because these don’t last very long, it’s hard to justify spending such a premium price for them. That being said, it is a great sheet set while it lasts!
Conclusions
For most hot sleepers, I highly recommend the Dosaze ThermaCool Temperature Regulating Sheets. The quality of the materials, the temperature regulation, and the overall feel are all best in class. And if you don’t like it, you have 60 full days to return. That being said, you can try any of the sheets on this list and see for yourself, hopefully risk free (well except for a few!).
Disclosure: HomeHacks has relationships with some of the products listed in this article. We may earn a varying commission if you purchase any of the products on this list.
