Material. Most of the sleep experts we spoke to agreed that sheets made of natural fibers, like cotton and linen, are your best bet for sweaty sleepers because they're the most breathable (and therefore cooling).
The NSF recommends choosing sheets with a thread count between 200 and 400, since sheets with lower thread counts aren't as comfortable, and sheets with higher thread counts tend to trap heat at night.
Material. Material is the number one factor in choosing the cooling sheet. Sheets made from natural fibres, like linen and cotton are the best for people who sweat while asleep.
BAMBOO. Bamboo sheets are a popular choice during summer thanks to their natural cooling and moisture-wicking properties. They're also super soft to the touch, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly, durable and long-lasting. Pro tip: opt for bamboo sheets with a sateen weave for that extra silky smooth texture.
Material. Most of the sleep experts we spoke to agreed that sheets made of natural fibers, like cotton and linen, are your best bet for sweaty sleepers because they're the most breathable (and therefore cooling).
Percale is a type of weave that uses a one-thread-over, one-thread-under pattern. The resulting sheet has a crisp, matte finish that's cool-to-the-touch and highly breathable.
What type of sheets sleep the coolest? In general, sheets made from linen, bamboo, and Tencel offer the coolest, most breathable feel. Cotton sheets that feature a percale weave are also known for being exceptionally lightweight and airy, perfect for hot sleepers.
Bamboo sheets are light, smooth, breathable and antibacterial. They are also cooler to the touch than cotton sheets. Beyond that, bamboo can absorb 40% more water than cotton. So a bamboo sheet is a great choice to absorb sweat.
As a natural fabric, bamboo is fairly breathable, which helps keep the sleeper cool and comfortable. However, many sleepers think that it doesn't sleep as cool as cotton.
The higher the thread count, the hotter the sheet
If you're hot at night, then high thread count sheets are some of the worst sheets you could buy because besides synthetics, 1000TC sheets are the hottest, non-flannel sheets available.
So, the answer is – yes, Egyptian Cotton sheets are both cool and cooling. A perfect choice for hot nights, they give you a good night's sleep and comfortable rest.
Don't choose high thread counts.
However, thread count greatly affects heat and higher thread counts create hotter sheets. In fact, 1000TC sheets are the hottest cotton sheets you can buy. Conversely, lower thread counts (250TC-350TC 10cm2) create cooler sheets but must be made from good cotton so they last.
The tighter weave of polyester creates open pockets and gaps in the fabric – and creates a breathable fabric. This airflow is what keeps hotel sheets so cool.
Bamboo sheets are a type of bedding that's made from bamboo fibers, which are highly breathable and lightweight. This makes them ideal for hot sleepers because the fabric is better able to move moisture away from your body while you sleep.
Less threads means less cotton, and less cotton often means better quality for the same money. The resulting sheet is usually finer, crisper and cooler to sleep in (like ours) hence 'cool and crisp'.
Egyptian cotton is more breathable, moisture-wicking and absorbent than normal cotton, which helps to regulate your body temperature, making it ideal for balmy summer nights, and all year round comfortable sleeping. This works by drawing away moisture from your skin when you are hot, allowing you to cool down.
Most hotel bed sheets are high-quality cotton, though you'll occasionally find hotel bed sheets made from linen. Look for durable and soft cotton, like Egyptian and Supima, and keep up with cleaning your sheets and bed so your bedroom feels like a luxury hotel.
Gopinath said a 250 to 300 thread count was optimal (there's wiggle room, though, as Maher said 200 was also good). Gopinath told us a 400 to 500 thread count for percale could reflect a denser sheet made of fine, good-quality yarns. Over 500 was “not necessary or likely,” she said.
A sheet keeps you warmer because it rests closer to your skin and therefore traps more of your body heat. Cooling sheets are created to be extra breathable and moisture wicking to help your body stay cool during the night.
Looking for sheets with a reasonable thread count (200-600 for most styles) will typically produce the best results. Be sure to modify your expectations somewhat depending on the material used. Excessively high thread counts (600-800) likely won't change much beyond the price tag.
One of the most well-known secrets of the hotel industry in keeping their sheets enviably is peroxide-based detergents. Bleach is also added to the mix. While these chemicals are truly effective in preventing white linens from greying or turning yellow, they do require some level of expertise.
Hotels opt for a percale weave over sateen as percale epitomizes the cool, crisp feeling typical of a luxury hotel suite. A percale weave is also naturally longer lasting as by definition, it's a tighter weave (one under, one over - in comparison, sateen is typically three over, one under).
A Woven Percale Sheet Set
The reason this tight weave still helps to reduce body heat is that the yarn it's spun from is extremely thin and lightweight. This universal breathability is what makes percale sheets one of the most popular choices for cooling bedding.