For a More Comfortable Night of Shut-Eye, Try the Best Cooling Sheets

Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.

If you’re a hot sleeper, waking up drenched in sweat is likely something of a nightly occurrence. But there’s good news: The solution could be as simple as switching up your sheet set. “Building a cooling bed is all about natural, breathable materials,” notes Whitney Thornburg, design director at Coyuchi. Instead of mulling over details like a high thread count, Thornburg argues there are more important features to consider—such as material (look for temperature-regulating fabrics), manufacturing processes, and soothing textures. But at the end of the day—or, in this case, night!—the best cooling sheets are simply those that work for you, so here are nine sets we think are worth giving a trial run. 

Our Favorites

• Best overall: Coyuchi Organic Crinkled Percale Sheets
• Best value: Bedsure Bamboo Cooling Sheets 
• Best colors: Parachute Linen Sheet Set
• Best neutrals: Snowe Home Percale Sheet Set 
• Best linen: Bed Threads Flax Linen Sheet Set 
• Best cotton: MGBW Vintage Washed Cotton Percale Sheet Set
• Best bamboo: Ettitude Signature Sateen Sheet Set 
• Best eucalyptus: Buffy Eucalyptus Sheets 
• Best blend: Nollapelli Signature Sheet Set

Best Overall: Coyuchi Organic Crinkled Percale Sheets 

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Sleep trial: 30 nights | Feel: Crisp | Starting price: $168  

Why we chose it: Crisp and cool to the touch, the linen-like wrinkle of these sheets is sure to soften after every wash (just skip the whiteners or bleach). 

Coyuchi’s original percale sheets are a plain-weave cotton that Thornburg likens to a fine dress shirt, but the brand’s crinkled version offers a more well-washed, relaxed feel that’s extra-soft to the touch. Certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), this set is a high-quality option that has been through rigorous testing. But if you’re still on the fence about which set is best for you, take advantage of the company’s Natural Home Advisors to walk you through them, then rest assured: If you don’t love your choice, Coyuchi will take it back. In partnership with the Renewal Workshop, previously used linens are either cleaned and repaired or, if damaged, recycled. 

Best Value: Bedsure Bamboo Cooling Sheets  

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Sleep trial: N/A | Feel: Slick | Starting price: $50 

Why we chose it: Buttery soft but breathable and under $70 for a four-piece queen-size set. 

Bamboo is the vegan dream of cooling sheets. This set offers a luxurious, satiny feel at a fraction of the cost of comparable silk. Despite being made with bamboo-derived viscose, the fibers are still super-breathable and promise to wick away sweat from your skin. You can catch up on shut-eye without having to worry about lingering additives, as this set is chemical-free and backed by both an Oeko-Tex and an Intertek certification. The only downside here is that this material is pretty prone to wrinkling—but that’s nothing a quilt or duvet can’t cover up. 

Best Colors: Parachute Linen Sheet Set  

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Sleep trial: N/A | Feel: Crisp | Starting price: $164 

Why we chose it: Luxurious linen milled and dyed in Portugal 

For a lived-in look that’s still as stylish as ever, nothing beats linen. We dare you to think outside the neutral box and give something bolder a try: Parachute recently released a collection of inky colors that look as if they were inspired by a Dutch still life (we especially love the denim-hued dusk option), and the reviews have been so positive that they’re selling out fast. True to the company’s word, previous purchasers have verified that these sheets get softer with each wash, and since they’re more durable than traditional cotton, this set will likely outlive your old go-to sheets currently folded in your closet.  

Best Neutrals: Snowe Home Percale Sheet Set

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Sleep trial: 60 nights | Feel: Crisp | Starting price: $225 

Why we chose it: Essential, nondescript color range that’s the perfect balance of crisp and smooth. 

Domino’s deputy commerce editor, Samantha Weiss-Hills, is not only a hot sleeper but a light sleeper. “If I get too warm, I wake up. And I’ve tried so many styles of sheets—linen, sateen, cotton, you name it. I’ve slept on expensive sheets, affordable options, different sizes of beds, but percale is a breath of fresh air for me,” she says. Snowe’s set in particular is the perfect balance of crisp and smooth—but don’t let the stiffness after the first wash fool you. Weiss-Hills confirms they relax as soon as they’re put back on the bed, and have continued to soften after every cycle. With simplified, subdued color options (choose between essential white, ash gray, slate blue, classic ivory, and blue-pink), these are the perfect neutrals for any time of year.

Best for Couples: Bed Threads Flax Linen Sheet Set 

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Sleep trial: N/A | Feel: Soft | Starting price: $220 

Why we chose it: For couples with conflicting sleep preferences (aka arguing over whether or not to leave the window open or closed all night). 

Linen is ideal for couples who have different sleep styles: Heat tends to dissipate through the looser weave, providing a lightweight feel for those inclined to sweat, but its rich texture also offers a cozy embrace for sleepers who run cold. Bed Threads recommends using its prewashed linen set sans duvet or comforter in the summer and layering up when the weather cools. And with more than 20 different colorways (including a few fun stripes), they’re easy to mix and match depending on the season and your mood. The versatility is what our editors love best.  

Best Cotton: MGBW Vintage Washed Cotton Sheet Set  

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Sleep trial: N/A | Feel: Soft | Starting price: $300 

Why we chose it: A hefty price tag, but a set we think is worth investing in for a potential better night’s rest. 

As we mentioned, which bed linens you choose is a personal decision, but cotton percale is a people pleaser thanks to its cooling embrace. This set may have once been considered the softest to touch due to a special finish that gives the sheets its vintage appeal. Stonewashing roughens up the tightly woven fabric just enough to make it feel like a perfectly worn tee. Plus its Oeko-Tex certification earns it bonus points in our book, or at least makes it even that much more worth the splurge. 

Best Bamboo: Ettitude Signature Sateen Sheet Set  

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Sleep trial: 30 nights | Feel: Silky soft | Starting price: $198 

Why we chose it: A sateen weave made from bamboo Lyocell that feels silky to the touch. 

Our go-to market guru, Cat Dash, has always fancied herself a ride-or-die percale or linen user—until she tried Ettitude’s bamboo sheets. “When they first arrived, they were pretty silky, and I was seriously skeptical (in fact, I waited several weeks before giving them a try). However, after a few washes, they settled into a matte, supersoft finish that I’ve come to love,” she shares, adding that they’re getting better with every wash. “Hopping into bed at any time feels luxurious, but especially so when my bed is dressed with this set.” Not convinced? The company also offers a 30-night sleep trial. 

Best Eucalyptus: Buffy Eucalyptus Sheets 

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Sleep trial: 7 nights | Feel: Soft | Starting price: $199  

Why we chose it: Actually cool to the touch and will keep you dry all night. 

With reviews that compare these sheets to the feeling of cool water or a soft breeze, cult-favorite brand Buffy’s eucalyptus sheets are a no-brainer for hot sleepers. But there’s an even better reason to consider them. Softer than linen and more breathable than cotton, the set is hypoallergenic and dyed with natural ingredients like gardenia and pomegranate instead of harsh chemicals. The benefits don’t end there: The manufacturing process uses 10 times less water than cotton for an even more sustainable sleep.

Best Blend: Nollapelli Signature Sheet Set

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Sleep trial: N/A | Feel: Soft | Starting price: $275 

Why we chose it: Dry, cool, and all so soothingly soft.  

For truly temperature-regulating fabric, it can be difficult to find sheets that are really soft, but this innovative, patent-pending material (made from 65 percent Tencel and cotton, and reinforced with 35 percent nylon) does just that. Part of the allure is also in the dual-face construction—one side is designed to come into direct contact with your skin, whereas the underside is made to either absorb or dissipate excess moisture, but not so much sweat, as these sheets should prevent you from overheating in the first place. You’ll wake up feeling refreshed, not sticky. And immediately right out of the package, these sheets felt the softest on the list, especially compared to hard-wearing linens that have to be washed more than a few times to unlock that desired buttery feel. 

On Our Radar

How We Chose These Products 

Let’s face it: The world of bedding is super-saturated and overwhelming—at Domino we strive to prioritize bedding brands that balance style, high-quality manufacturing, and eco-conscious attributes. Our editors and writers conduct hands-on testing when possible, and we tap industry experts for their input, dig into brand stats, and conduct independent research. The thing is: There’s really no shortcut to finding your ideal sheets—especially if you’re looking to stay cool all night long—you just have to try them (that’s why we call out sleep trials!).

Our Shopping Checklist

Material

The “coolest” sheets are made from natural fibers—linen and cotton, particularly percale, which refers to the weave. Unlike jersey or sateen, which clings to skin, percale sheets won’t stick. “While percale has a cool, smooth finish, linen is another great option for hot sleepers,” points out Ariel Kaye, founder and CEO of Parachute. Made from flax plants, linen sheets are a stronger, more durable option with hollow fibers that absorb moisture from the air and release it again based on humidity. “This is how the fabric keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter,” she adds. Another benefit of going au naturel is washability. “Natural fibers age more gracefully than synthetics,” adds Thornburg, resisting pilling and getting softer with every spin cycle. 

But don’t snooze on bamboo and eucalyptus—that is, as long as they aren’t heavily blended with synthetics like rayon (which feels cool but doesn’t actually breathe well) or polyester. 

Thread Count

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the ideal thread count for cooling sheets falls somewhere between 200 and 400, but Kaye argues this isn’t the most accurate indicator of a sweat-free sleep, and actually more akin to a marketing gimmick. “Consumers love quick, easy ways of quantifying value, so summing up the quality of sheets with a handy metric is really satisfying,” she says. “The problem is, a high thread count doesn’t necessarily equal high quality,” adds Thornburg, referring to the practice of packing in threads to artificially inflate the count (which is calculated by the number of threads per square inch). Instead, try to avoid multi-ply sheets—it doubles its thread count number but can take away from overall durability and softness. 

Color and Design

If you sleep hot, take a deeper dive into how your fabric of choice is processed. Organically grown fibers typically aren’t sprayed with chemicals.This, paired with a conscientious manufacturing method—think: nontoxic dyes, bleaches, and finishes—will be far gentler on your skin, explains Thornburg, rather than agitate it even more. 

But going organic doesn’t mean your color will eventually fade after a few rinse cycles either. Of course, it’s easy to default to a neutral bedding palette of whites, creams, and grays (Domino editors are all culprits), but Kaye reveals Parachute’s latest color launches have been added into people’s digital shopping carts quicker than ever before. So if you’re ready to try something new, the time is now. An easy transition is sticking with a simple duvet cover or comforter and tucking in a bold print or patterned sheet. 

Ask Domino

Q: What’s more important: breathability or moisture wicking?

“The weave and the texture you like to sleep on are most important,” says Kaye. In other words, choose a fabric that promotes airflow, like percale or linen. Moisture-wicking features are an added benefit but shouldn’t be priority number-one: A lot of sheets that stick to your skin, like polyester, are absorbent but not as breathable. That’s why five-star hotels rely on cotton, the happy medium—it wicks moisture, breathes well, is soft to the touch, and is made to last. 

The Last Word

The best cooling sheets are all about promoting airflow and breathability, which can mean the difference between naturally wicking away moisture versus fabrics that retain and trap your body’s heat. But the solution to a restful night’s sleep isn’t all up to your sheets. If you regularly suffer from night sweats, try cool bedding options across the board, such as your mattress, topper, and even pillows.