The 10 Best Cooling Sheets Our Testers Slept On

Editor Olivia Campbell’s teenage son found himself actually looking forward to going to bed in these sheets, instead of falling asleep on the couch. He struggles with sleeping hot and sweating, but he found that these sheets helped alleviate those issues entirely. He says that they really delivered on their promises of softness, temperature regulation, and an overall luxurious feeling. “These are much more cooling than previous sheets I’ve used,” he notes. If you prefer stiffer, more crisp sheets, these likely aren’t your best option, as they are drapey and silky.

These are the softest linen sheets you will ever lie in — and that’s a promise. Made with 100 percent stonewashed linen, these are not like other linen sheets you may have tried, which, in my experience, can sometimes be on the rough side.

Linen is a great material to allow for cool sleeping, if you run a bit sweaty. These sheets are on my son’s bed. He’s still little, so I’ve spent lots of time lying on them (and, yes, sleeping). I don’t even get hot and sweaty with a kid by my side, which is a feat, since kids are known for being hot sleepers. I know from experience that these set the stage for a good night of sleep.

What really sets them apart from other sets is their feel, which only gets better with time. Practically speaking, I also like the envelope closure on the pillowcases, which allows for a nice fit on the pillow. I have the Dove Grey color, which is a beautiful soft shade of gray, although it’s worth noting that there aren’t a ton of color options. However, even after two years of use, these sheets have held up impressively, with no tears or thin spots. It’s just that now they’re even softer.

These Brooklinen sheets are advertised as “cool, crisp, and breathable,” which is an accurate statement, says editor Ashley Ziegler, who struggles with being a hot sleeper and the night sweats that can come with it. “They feel like hotel sheets, in the best possible way,” she says.

They are made of 100 percent cotton, a naturally breathable, high-quality fabric. “This will absolutely be one of my go-to sets,” adds Ziegler. “I prefer sheets that are crisp and light, and these sheets definitely meet those needs.” The sheets boast a wide range of color and print options, envelope-closure pillowcases, and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, which means they are free of potentially harmful substances.

One downside is that these sheets do feel more worn-in, rather than crisp, after just a few nights of sleep. If you have the capacity to change your sheets often, you can bring back that just-laundered feeling midweek. Still, the cool, comfortable sleep we enjoyed ensured that this was one of our favorite sets we tested.

Lightweight and soft, these Sijo AiryWeight sheets are a boon for sleepers with night sweats, Ziegler says: “This is a super breathable set that didn’t leave me feeling overheated.” Sijo’s eucalyptus sheets are designed to be moisture wicking to promote a dry (not uncomfortably damp) sleep, should you sweat.

A plus for this set is that you can purchase it with or without a top sheet. (A standard set includes a fitted sheet and pillowcases.) If you want the top sheet included, that’s also an option. But if you don’t — especially if it makes you too hot — we love that you’re not forced to spend money on one. “As someone who doesn’t use a top sheet, this is great,” Ziegler says.

After washing, this set continues to get softer, but it can potentially become too soft, dipping into “slippery” territory, which you may or may not find pleasant, depending on your preferences. In addition, the care instructions mention a risk of the fabric pilling over time (especially if you dry them with other items) and also that they’ll wrinkle unless promptly removed from the dryer — meaning they can be slightly finicky to care for.

Tossing, turning, sweating, and overheating are all issues Campbell regularly struggles with. “These sheets helped reduce these issues significantly,” she says, noting that she was able to fall asleep faster than usual and felt that her sleep quality actually improved. The sheets have elastic bands on each corner to keep them securely on the mattress and are deep enough to accommodate tall mattresses.

One criticism is that they could benefit from a little bit more softness (though they are not stiff or scratchy), but that was mediated by the fact that they got softer with use and after each laundering. These are a great option if you’re looking for a Tencel blend that delivers on its promise of temperature regulation.

These comfortable, airy, lightweight Saatva percale sheets feel like something that you’d find in a nice hotel.

Personally, I like these sheets because they feel really good against your skin. They’re soft without being too soft, but they hold their shape well enough to allow for airflow while you sleep. They gently cover you without enveloping you. The sheets are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, meaning they are free of potentially harmful substances. Plus, we love that you can buy an extra set of pillowcases with the set.

Percale — which refers to the specific “basketlike” cotton weave — has long been likened to a crisp white shirt. It’s very easy to care for, though we wish there were more color options. This sheet set has a nice crispness to it, but it is never stiff, even when coming right out of the dryer. For staying cool, this set is tough to find fault with.

When you can find a cooling sheet set that immediately earns a spot in the rotation, that’s a win. And it’s exactly what happened after tester Sabrina Weiss slept in these Coyuchi percale sheets. “They have that great crisp, clean feeling of cotton sheets,” she says. Given that this is her first set of percale sheets, she says that the texture was new to her: “I am used to my sheets being smoother than this, but I am surprised to learn that I like it.”

There are pros and cons to the fit of these, however. The extra-long pillow case kept her pillow covered throughout the night, says Weiss, but the top sheet, which is extra long, made it difficult to get out from under. It’s not a major problem on its own, but it is something to consider when using them.

Also, although they keep their pleasant texture after washing, these sheets will wrinkle. Pull them out of the dryer quickly for the best chance of that crisp first-night feeling.

Typically, I shy away from sheets that aren’t 100 percent natural fibers, but these Sleep Number True Temp sheets have been a welcome surprise. I look forward to the week that I put them on my bed because I rarely have an episode where I wake up in the middle of the night and dramatically throw them off my body. These sheets are designed to absorb excess heat and moisture.

Regarding durability, I’m happy to report that I’ve had these sheets for about one and a half years, and they remain good as new. There are no holes or ripped hems to worry about, and the color (mine is Pacific blue) is still vibrant. I don’t care about wrinkly sheets, but if that bothers you, know that these hold their shape rather well, owing to the small amount of spandex in the weave.

Practically speaking, these sheets also fit my bed well, and they have deep pockets and secure elastic, so they stay put too. According to the company, this helps them stay put if you have an adjustable smart bed.

If you sleep with a partner who runs a different temperature from you, this Boll & Branch sheet set is a great choice. The 100 percent organic cotton sheets are breathable and constructed with a sateen weave, which the company explains aids in airflow. However, they’re designed to be suitable for all types of sleepers, in all weather situations, meaning they don’t run hot or too cool. (Consider them the Goldilocks of sheet sets.)

Personally speaking, these sheets have long been in my rotation, and my husband and I both love the sleep experience on them. They’re soft, provide good coverage, but won’t leave you in a sweaty, tossing and turning situation. These stay in our rotation during cold winters and hot summers alike, whether we have the air-conditioning on or the windows open.

One downside, if it matters to you, is that because these sheets are cotton, they will wrinkle. This is a nonissue for me (I love the worn-in feel), but I do know that some people like their sheets wrinkle-free. What’s more, due to their softness, these sheets drape rather than tent your body, so if you don’t like close-comfort sheets, they may not be the best choice for you.

“These sheets are so incredible. Truly,” raves editorial director Simone Scully. “I used to wake up sweaty in my room in the summer — but not anymore with these sheets. I had no idea how much I’d love them until I put them on. They’re very soft and have a slippery, silk-adjacent feeling, but they really do feel so nice to lie in.” We were especially impressed by how cooling they really are. “I feel like they make me actually relax too, because they’re nice and soft and cooling,” says Scully. “These are my favorites.”