When it comes to bedding, the only thing more annoying than trying to fold a fitted sheet is spending a night tossing and turning because you're sweltering. According to Gallup, 57% of U.S. adults report feeling too hot while sleeping , so if you find yourself overheating in bed, you're not alone. While the best cooling sheets can't solve the problem entirely, they may help, especially if used with a cooling mattress and cooling pillows . "The key to effective thermoregulation for sleep is that there is a constant decline in body temperature throughout the ideal seven to nine hours of sleep. As your body temperature declines, it slows down your central nervous system and allows for deeper sleep," says Jack Dell'Accio, Hippocrates Health Institute sleep expert and founder of Essentia Organic Mattress.
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Well, hot sleepers rejoice: We've spent the past three years scouring customer reviews, interviewing experts like Dell'Accio and testing more than 60 sheet sets to come up with this list. The best cooling sheets of 2026 include seven moisture-wicking, breathable, high-quality picks at different price points to help you achieve a dreamier night — no counting sheep required.
Best cooling sheets for 2026
Material:Polyester/spandex | Weight:Unlisted | Sizes:Twin/Twin XL, Full, Queen, King/Cal King, Split King | Color:Graphite, Bright White, Ecru, Navy, Black and 3 more | Max mattress depth:18" | Care instructions:Machine wash cold, tumble dry on low
Sheex sheets are our best overall pick because they combine a luxuriously soft knit fabric that offers ample breathability and moisture-wicking to set them apart. "Sheex has been the industry standard for a long time, and the brand continues to innovate and not just rest on its name," says Dr. Chris Winter, a sleep specialist and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast.
College basketball coaches Michelle Marciniak and Susan Walvius launched Sheex to create bedsheets with the same benefits as their favorite high-performance activewear — softness, breathability and moisture-wicking.
Along with stay-fit corners, these sheets have a silky-smooth feel. They come in eight colors and a wide variety of sizes, from a twin to a split king. Fans love how generously sized the fitted and top sheets are (though some note that the fabric is so stretchy, you can get tangled up in it). These sheets are even wrinkle-resistant, so they'll look good straight out of the dryer.
While they are on the pricier side, most shoppers say they're worth the cost. "There are no other better sheets on earth. Keep me warm in winter, cool in summer, feel like satin/silk on the skin, nice and stretchy, stay on the bed. They are the best," raved one of the 2,300+ five-star reviewers on Amazon .
- Expert-recommended
- Wide variety of sizes
- Generously sized, with a deep fitted sheet
- Silky-smooth
- Expensive
- Might be too stretchy
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Material:Cotton | Weight:Unlisted | Sizes:Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Color:Seaglass, Olive, Warm Gray, Ivory, White and 3 more | Max mattress depth:Up to 14" | Care instructions:Machine wash warm, tumble dry on low
Sheets made from natural fibers like cotton and linen are generally the most breathable, even if they're not the best at moisture-wicking. And when it comes to cotton, percale is a must for hot sleepers. It feels crisp and cool to the touch, with an airiness that sets it apart from smoother, silkier sateen.
Our tester, Senior Home Writer Lisa Schweitzer , says these organic cotton percale sheets from The Citizenry were the coolest she tried over a humid summer. She thought it might be a subliminal effect of having "stonewashed" in the name, but this set felt airy and light, yet soft and durable.
"Slipping into these sheets after a long, hot day was a relief," she says. There was ample airflow, and when she dripped water onto the sheets to see how quickly it absorbed and spread, the fabric showed good moisture-wicking. And if organic fabrics are important to you, these sheets are the answer. Many brands claim to offer organic sheets, but The Citizenry has a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification .
- Coolest percale sheet set we tried
- Smooth, soft feel
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Uniform stitching, hemmed flat sheet
- Will not fit mattresses taller than 14 inches
- On the pricier side before sales
Material:Microfiber | Weight:Unlisted | Sizes:Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King | Color:White, Charcoal, French Gray, Royal Blue, Sage Green and 40 more | Max mattress depth:Up to 16" | Care instructions:Machine wash cold, tumble dry on low
These are beloved on Amazon for a reason! Shoppers say the fitted sheets have deep pockets that stay put even if you move around all night. And you can't beat the price: a mere $21 for a queen-size set.
If you hate the annoying task of re-tucking in your sheets all the time, this set could be worth an investment. Made from microfiber that's been brushed for softness, they get raves from shoppers (to the tune of 315,000+ five-star ratings) for their feel, which fans say only gets more comfy over time.
What's more, there are 45 colors and patterns to choose from, so you can easily find a set that matches your bedroom's aesthetic. And, of course, there are several sizes available.
"This is our sixth set of this brand of sheets," said one longtime fan . “The sheets are soft and cool to the touch. They have deep pockets that fit an adjustable bed mattress and stay put. They wash well through multiple washings and the colors never fade."
Material:Tencel lyocell | Weight:130 GSM | Sizes:Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Color:Snow, Storm, Blush, Dove, Fog and 8 more | Max mattress depth:Up to 16" | Care instructions:Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, tumble dry on low
These sheets gave one of our editors their best night's sleep ever. Made from Tencel lyocell derived from sustainably farmed eucalyptus, they're soft and breathable, plus you can buy a set with or without a top sheet — if you tend to sleep really hot, you may want to do the latter. Similar to the CGK set above, they come in a wide range of colors and even stripes, so you can customize the look of your bed.
According to Sijo, these are Asthma & Allergy Friendly certified , meaning they meet certain standards for a healthier indoor environment, such as creating an effective barrier against dust mites. Perhaps best of all for exasperated bed-makers, our editor points out that these sheets don't become a staticky jumble, even after a spin in the dryer.
This chill set looks fairly new to Amazon, so it doesn't have a ton of ratings, but it has racked up 2,800 five-star reviews on Sijo's site. "Love these sheets. They don't fix hot flashes, but they're soft and comfortable," said one Amazon shopper . It's worth noting that some buyers have experienced pilling, but Sijo says that it's normal for these fibers.
- Smooth and silky
- Extremely lightweight
- Oeko-Tex Standard 100, FSC and Asthma & Allergy Friendly certified
- Option to buy a set without a top sheet
- Thin fabric may wear our quickly
- Some shoppers complain of pilling
Kristin Granero/Yahoo
Material:Viscose | Weight:Unlisted | Sizes:Twin/Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King | Colors:Walnut (shown), Charcoal, Oat, Shore and 13 other shades/patterns | Max mattress depth:Up to 16" | Care instructions:Machine wash cold with gentle detergent, tumble dry
This set is so comfortable, even Oprah is a fan. Cozy Earth has landed on her Favorite Things list for years, and of these particular sheets, she said, "Your bed shouldn't be where you sweat the small (or big) stuff. This bamboo-sourced set — including sheets and a duvet cover — has a smooth feel and may help regulate body temperature, meaning both chilly sleepers and hot-flashers can get a good night's rest."
Senior Home Writer Kristin Granero tested this set for our guide to the best luxury sheets , and insists it's nothing short of decadent. Made of viscose, a semi-synthetic fabric, the sheets are light, lofty and silky-smooth to the touch. As a bonus, Granero noted that the pillowcases kept her skin from creasing and her hair from frizzing throughout the night. Initiatives Writer Ellie Conley has owned multiple sets and wrote in her review , "As someone who sleeps next to an old radiator in a small New York City apartment, I can vouch for the sheets' temperature-regulating abilities: To me, slipping into bed with Cozy Earth's sheets feels almost like jumping into a pool on a hot summer's day."
(Worth noting: While viscose feels great and is cool to the touch, calling these sheets "bamboo" is more of a marketing practice than anything else. They're actually made from cellulose fibers derived from bamboo through a chemical process.)
- Ultra-soft, silky and cool to the touch
- Lightweight and lustrous
- Hardly shrank after machine-washing and -drying
- 17 color and pattern options
- Pricey
- Not especially moisture-wicking
Jessica Dodell-Feder/Yahoo
Material:Linen | Weight:165 GSM | Sizes:Twin, Queen, King, Cal King | Colors:Fern Stripe (shown; no longer available), White, Sage, Smoke Gray, Blush and 11 more colors/patterns | Care instructions:Machine wash warm, tumble dry low
Ahhh, to sleep on Cultiver sheets! This set was a dream come true: The fabric is light and billowy, and it feels extremely cool to the touch. (If you've ever felt suffocated by your bedding, these are the sheets for you.) I loved using them on the warmest days of summer, but they're also soft and cozy enough for snuggling up with on chilly fall nights.
My husband, who often finds linen too "papery," deemed these sheets extremely comfortable. Though I wouldn't consider them crisp like cotton sheets , they're definitely smooth and would be a good starting point for anyone who shares a bed with a linen skeptic.
Even better, the sheets only got softer after every wash. They shed a lot after going in the dryer, but even after several cycles, they looked just as good as they did when I first opened them, without the pilling and fuzziness I noticed from some of the other brands I tested.
The fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillowcases are sold separately (though it's easy to make a set), and each comes bundled in its own drawstring bag. The pillowcases have a neat envelope-style closure, and the flat sheet (which fits both queen and king beds) features a 2-inch-thick border all the way around, giving it an expensive look. These are the thoughtful touches I'd expect from a luxury sheet set — and make no mistake, Cultiver sheets are priced as such. A complete queen set with two standard-size pillowcases runs $480. I have a hard time swallowing the cost, but if you can swing it, they are worth every penny.
- Ultra-soft, smooth and breezy
- Made from European-grown flax
- Flat sheet is generously sized
- Cool to the touch
- Good moisture-wicking capabilities
- Expensive
- Shed a lot of fuzz in the dryer
Material:Lyocell | Weight:Unlisted | Sizes:Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Color:White (shown), Oyster, Seashell, Lavender, Blush and 37 other colors and patterns | Max mattress depth:Up to 15" | Care instructions:Machine wash, tumble dry low
Senior Deals Writer Britt Ross , an admitted hot sleeper, enjoys these lyocell sheets year-round. She says they have the smoothest texture of any she's owned — so much so that we named them a top pick in our guide to the softest sheets . And they actually feel cool to the touch to keep her night sweats at bay.
Their slick feel was refreshing against her skin. "They're lightweight, but you can tell they're high-quality because they're downright buttery-soft. I feel like I'm getting into a hotel bed every time I go to sleep! Sure, they don't exactly have the 'cozy' factor of, say, flannel sheets, but as a hot sleeper, I'd feel like my bed was a sauna if I used those," she explains.
Another benefit of these sheets is that lyocell is touted for its moisture-wicking properties, meaning it'll draw sweat away from you. And you can't beat the brand's generous return window: It gives you 50 nights to sleep on them and return them for free if they're not to your liking.
- Refreshingly cool
- Silky-soft texture
- Generous return window
- Comes in a huge array of colors
- Might feel too thin for some
Factors to consider when choosing cooling sheets
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Material:Are you going natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic?
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Naturalfabrics such as cotton or linen are breathable and help regulate temperature (think of those breezy linen pants you wear during the summer). Their structure allows for quick evaporation, helping promote that cool feeling.
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Syntheticfabrics, such as certain polyesters, can have exceptional moisture-wicking properties and typically dry quicker than natural fabrics. "Getting moisture away from your body can make for a more comfortable sleep and even cut down on some skin issues," says Winter. To give you an idea of their performance, some synthetic cooling sheets are made with the same fabrics used for exercise clothing. That said, some shoppers complain they can feel thin or cheap.
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Semi-syntheticfabrics such as Tencel/lyocell are derived from wood pulp and generally have a silky, cool feel. They're also great at wicking moisture.
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Weight:Some fabrics, such as flannel and linen, are measured by GSM (grams per square meter) or ounces. Generally, you'll see a GSM of 100-220; the higher the number, the heavier the fabric.
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Size and mattress depth:Stretchy, slippery cooling sheets may not grip your mattress as tightly as you'd like. Make sure whatever set you buy has a fitted sheet with a pocket depth large enough to accommodate your mattress. Look for top sheets that are generously sized — if you're a hot sleeper, you may not use a comforter or quilt, and no one wants to spend the night fighting for a little bit of sheet to cover up with!
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Feel:Many cooling sheets, especially synthetic and semi-synthetic ones, feel so smooth and silky that shoppers complain they're slippery or get easily tangled up in the night. If that's a concern for you, look for natural materials like cotton percale and linen. Note that linen is more textured than cotton percale and may feel a bit rougher on your skin.
How we test sheets
Because we tested these sheets at home, using our own washers and dryers and sleeping on them in our own beds, we wanted to get a professional take on how best to gauge quality, durability and more without the benefit of professional equipment or a lab. We consulted three fabric experts: Kim Romine, a fabric care scientist at P&G ; Liz Eggert, a senior textile scientist at P&G Fabric Care ; and Meredith McQuerry, associate professor and director of the ThermaNOLE Comfort Lab and Textile Testing Laboratory at Florida State University . To rank on this list, the sheets had to excel in the following:
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First impressions:We carefully surveyed each set of sheets upon arrival, taking note of design elements, softness and coolness, as well as excessive wrinkling, loose threads, snags and any other imperfections. We also measured the pillowcases from each set and set one aside as a control for post-laundry assessments.
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Spill test:We used a dropper to apply the same amount of water to a sheet from each set to gauge how well it might handle the occasional spill or moisture. The quicker the water absorbed and spread, the better the indicator of moisture-wicking.
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Laundry test:We put each set of sheets through one cycle in the washer and dryer after opening it, and again after our sleep test, following the label's care instructions. We then reassessed them for any signs of wear, as well as shrinking or color fading.
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Sleep test:We made our beds with each set to confirm that it easily and securely fit our pillows and mattress. We slept on the sheets for three nights straight to see how well they stayed put, taking notes regarding softness and breathability.
In addition to testing some of the cooling sheets ourselves, we also tapped sleep experts to get the scoop on exactly what to look for when shopping for these nighttime essentials. With these guidelines in mind, we looked at hundreds of product reviews from verified shoppers to round out this list of the seven best cooling sheets.
Cooling sheets FAQs
What are the best sheets to keep you cool?
Let's start with the basics: "Cooling sheets are made from extra breathable materials (many with moisture-wicking capabilities) that help your body stay cool throughout the night," says Keith Cushner, former product expert at SleepFoundation.org . They can be made of synthetic, semi-synthetic or natural fabrics. If you're someone who wants moisture-wicking properties that rival your favorite activewear, look for synthetic or semi-synthetic fabrics. If you prefer natural fabrics, go for cotton percale or linen sheets, which have a loose, airy weave that makes them breathable.
Do cooling bed sheets really work?
"Cooling sheets" is a bit of a misnomer because this type of bedding doesn't actively cool like an ice pack might. But similar to cooling pillows , the right materials can actually help you regulate your body temperature. The best cooling sheets are breathable (they let air flow through the fibers) and/or moisture-wicking (they quickly absorb sweat, much like your favorite workout gear). The sheets in this guide are also lightweight and typically dry quickly if they do become damp. Some even feel cool to the touch, though they may warm up during the night.
Meet our experts
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Keith Cushner, former product expert, SleepFoundation.org
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Jack Dell'Accio, sleep expert, Hippocrates Health Institute, and founder, Essentia Organic Mattress
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Liz Eggert, senior textile scientist, P&G Fabric Care
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Meredith McQuerry , associate professor and director, ThermaNOLE Comfort Lab and Textile Testing Laboratory, Florida State University
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Kim Romine, fabric care scientist, P&G
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Dr. Chris Winter, sleep specialist and host, Sleep Unplugged
Update, March 25, 2026: We checked prices and availability for all products. Our No. 1 pick for best cooling sheets remains unchanged, but we revised some of our other top picks based on new testing results.
