Reviews You Can Rely On

The 5 Best Cooling Sheets 0f 2024s

We put cooling sheets to the test from brands like Wooflinen, Brooklinen, DAPU, and others in order to find the best options for a cool night's rest
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Best Cooling Sheet Review
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Our Top Picks

By Maggie Nichols ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jan 13, 2024

The Best Cooling Sheets


Are you sick of sleeping in swampy sheets? We researched dozens of the best cooling sheets before choosing the top 9 to test side-by-side for some serious summertime slumber. From linen and bamboo to microfiber and cotton, we compared their breathability and temperature control on hot nights and gauged how they felt against pajamas and birthday suits. We judged how well they stayed in place through tossing and turning and how well they cleaned up from sleeping with the dog and spilling red wine on them. If you've woken up sweaty for the last time, we'll help you find your ideal cooling sheets.

Getting a good night's rest starts with a cozy bedroom, which is why our experts have tested the best comforters, top-rated mattress toppers, pillows for side sleepers, and then some. Our meticulous reviews also tackle a range of sheets, including the best fitted sheets, coziest flannel sheets, and top-tier Egyptian cotton sheets for those who prefer the finer things in life. And if you're looking for additional ways to keep cool in the hot weather, we've tested a variety of the best fans that can help out.


1

Best Overall Cooling Sheets


Wooflinen 6-Piece Duvet Set


Material: 100% bamboo (viscose) | Pocket Depth: 16 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly soft and satin-smooth
Superb temperature regulation
Functional and attractive design
REASONS TO AVOID
Construction could be sturdier
Not many color choices

Bamboo is one of the best options for keeping you cool, and the 300 thread count Wooflinen 6-Piece Duvet Set was our favorite set. Sliding into bed with these is like slipping inside a cool cloud of comfort. Whether you sleep in the buff or PJs, you'll find the sateen weave of this modern duvet set supremely soft. If you prefer a separate flat sheet on your bed, Wooflinen sells those too, but we surprised ourselves with how much we love this modern set that swaps the top sheet for a bamboo duvet cover. In our testing, both hot and cold sleepers slept comfortably cradled in these bamboo sheets. Red wine stains and excessive dog hair proved to be no match for this easy-to-clean set. With an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, even those with sensitive skin can have more peace of mind knowing the fabric claims to have no trace amounts of harmful substances.

Despite how much we love the feel, we still have a few complaints. Bamboo isn't the sturdiest sheet fabric, and the stitching of this set is fairly loose. We should also note that any sateen weave is more prone to snagging than percale (plain) weave fabrics. While we didn't experience any unraveling or seams ripping during our testing and repeated washing, we are skeptical about the ability of this set to withstand years of toenails and washing machines. And while we like the two-toned look, the color options are limited. Even considering all that, the Wooflinen is still our top pick for hot summer nights and sweat-free afternoon naps.

If you're sold on the silky smooth feel of bamboo, check out our bamboo sheets review.

Thread Count: 300
Weave Type: Sateen

Health Rating: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified

cooling sheets - we're over the moon for these 100% bamboo sheet-and-duvet-cover set...
We're over the moon for these 100% bamboo sheet-and-duvet-cover set from Wooflinen.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

2

Best Cooling Cotton Sheets


Brooklinen Luxe Core


Material: 100% long-staple cotton | Pocket Depth: 15 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Crisp yet comfortable
Excellent thermoregulation for all temperatures
Great look and fit
REASONS TO AVOID
Higher thread count slightly limits breathability
Holds onto stains more easily

Cotton sheets are well-known for their breathability and durability, and the Brooklinen Luxe Core is our favorite cotton set. Their 480 thread count is still lightweight and oh-so-soft on the skin. These sheets maintain slight crispness and a comfortable amount of air space around the body, keeping you cool on hot nights and warm on cold ones. They're relaxed and chic, with fetching designs to modernize your bedroom, and they feature a simple yet durable construction that perfectly fits our mattresses and pillows. From their excellent skin feel to their OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, you may question ever getting out of bed again.

The drawback to a higher thread count is it inherently equals a slight decrease in fabric breathability. Fortunately, this effect is mostly mitigated by the sateen weave. It maintains more space between fibers and their crispness, allowing more air to circulate under the sheets and around your body. But remember, if you're the type to eat or drink in bed, you'll want to be extra careful around this set — it took us six washes to remove a red wine stain from the corner of the fitted sheet. Shortcomings aside, for cotton cooling sheets that work to maintain the perfect temperature, we highly recommend the Brooklinen Luxe Core.

Do you love the feel and durability of cotton sheets? We've outlined the best Egyptian cotton sheet sets.

Thread Count: 480
Weave Type: Sateen

Health Rating: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified

cooling sheets - we love the look and feel of these ultra-chic 100% cotton sheets...
We love the look and feel of these ultra-chic 100% cotton sheets from Brooklinen.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

3

Great Value for Linen Sheets


DAPU Stone Washed Linen


Material: 100% linen (French flax) | Pocket Depth: 16 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Great fit
Crisply breathable
Neat construction
REASONS TO AVOID
More textured than some others
Must line dry

Love linen but on a budget? Check out the DAPU Stone Washed Linen sheets. Even if they weren't less expensive than the rest of the linen sheets we tested (they are), we'd still love what they bring to the bed. After a few washes, they softened up and fit very well, covering our mattresses without shifting or pooling and keeping the pillows tucked securely inside quality envelope-style cases. True to the best qualities of linen sheets, the DAPU breathes well and is quite soft for linen. They also retain their crispness without ironing. They feel great on the skin and keep enough airflow for hot nights and enough heat for chilly mornings. Small, neat stitching helps reinforce seams on an already durable linen set.

If silkiness is what you're after, you will be disappointed, as with any linen sheet set. Though linen-soft, they're also more textured than the competition, which is a polarizing quality. Regarding cleaning, linen can be somewhat trickier than other fabrics, and the DAPU set is no exception. The care instructions ask that these only be line-dried, which can be a pain depending on where you live. But if you're ready for long-term (sheet) commitment, this set's overall high performance and relatively low price make it a high-value commodity.

Thread Count: Not specified
Treatment: Stone-washed

Health Rating: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified

cooling sheets - if you don't mind the feel of linen on your skin, this set won't be...
If you don't mind the feel of linen on your skin, this set won't be quite so shocking to your wallet.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

4

Best Choice on a Tight Budget


SLEEP ZONE Easy Care


Material: 100% double-brushed microfiber | Pocket Depth: 16 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Stays put well
Solid construction
Smooth for microfiber
REASONS TO AVOID
Extremely staticky
Can't match natural fabrics for breathability

If you need to save cash, look at the SLEEP ZONE Easy Care. This super cheap set of sheets might not be the most amazing of the test group, but they have their merits and are one of our favorite microfiber sheet sets. They stay put well and are less prone to pooling than many others. Microfiber tends to feel somewhat clingy, but we found these smoother than most, making for a more pleasant feeling against the skin. This set's low sticker price doesn't reflect their construction — they feature neat, tight stitching and protected corner seams in the fitted sheet.

Although these sheets stayed put very well on our beds, it is important to note this may not hold for thicker mattresses because this set features one of the shallowest pocket depths we tested. They also had a fair amount of static, shocking us repeatedly throughout our laundering and changing processes. Moreover, microfiber can't truly match the breathability that comes with natural fibers — but these do a solid job and are far less wrinkly. If you're too hot at night but your budget is minimal, the SLEEP ZONE set is a good value for the price.

GSM (grams per square meter): Not specified

Health Rating: None

cooling sheets - for solidly breathable cooling sheets at an absurdly low price, the...
For solidly breathable cooling sheets at an absurdly low price, the SLEEP ZONE Easy Care are hard to beat.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

5

Best Cooling Sheets Made of Microfiber


PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats


Material: 100% dual-brushed microfiber | Pocket Depth: 18 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Thinness allows for breathability
Soft and feels like peach skin
Deep pockets and tons of color options
REASONS TO AVOID
Less durable construction and materials
Somewhat clingy

Microfiber is polyester, polyester is plastic, and plastic is not particularly breathable — yet the PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats somehow maintain surprising breathability through hot nights. Though the name of these sheets perhaps conjures up some unsavory images of laying in pools of sweat, the opposite is true. Because microfiber is inherently less absorbent than natural fibers, the PeachSkinSheets are designed to be exceptionally thin and best utilized with a fan on a hot night. Microfiber is easy to launder and is one of the least wrinkly fabrics. These have deep, 18-inch pockets and are available in around two dozen color options, so they're well-equipped to cover your thick new mattress and match just about any decor or color scheme in your bedroom.

While the thinness lends to breathability, the same factor probably hinders durability. Not only are these some of the thinnest sheets in our lineup, but their single row of comparatively loose stitching doesn't inspire confidence that they'll last through years of tossing and turning. Repeated washings also led to numerous loose threads unraveling out of seams. Microfiber is more resistant to pilling than natural fibers but is not completely immune. However, if you dig the feel and ease of cleaning that comes with wrinkle-resistant microfiber sheets, these are our favorite microfiber set for keeping cool when it's hot.

GSM (grams per square meter): 1500

Health Rating: None

cooling sheets - we're solidly impressed by the breathability of this microfiber...
We're solidly impressed by the breathability of this microfiber sheet set from PeachSkinSheets.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

6

Pure Bamboo on a Budget


Tafts Bamboo 4-Piece


Material: 100% bamboo (viscose) | Pocket Depth: 17 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Good fit
Silky smooth feel
More durable construction
REASONS TO AVOID
Wrinkly pillowcase "edges"
Limited color options

The Tafts Bamboo 4-Piece offer great breathability and that classic bamboo silky-cool feel at a cheaper price than you might expect. Finding a set of sheets that truly fits and stays put on a wide range of mattress thicknesses is challenging, but the Tafts does just that. These smooth, buttery sheets stay in place rather than pool around you, and it's easier to stay cool in the comfort of 100% bamboo. During testing, both warm and cold sleepers found midsummer night comfort simultaneously in this solidly constructed sheet set. Tafts employed double-stitched seams in constructing this set, leading us to believe they may be more durable than single-stitched sheets.

We noticed that these light-colored sheets can pick up oil smudges from lip balm or lotion — but they also readily wash clean (even from red wine!) The pillowcases aren't our favorite aesthetic, though. Their seams are sewn around the outside to stand up on every edge, but because they're made of floppy bamboo, they end up sagging awkwardly instead. Your color options are minimal here, too, and are limited mostly to neutrals. Yet, for this set's solid breathability and comfortable durability, we're pretty big fans of these sheets — and their price.

Thread Count: 400
Weave Type: Sateen

Health Rating: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified

cooling sheets - the tafts are classic 100% bamboo sheets that we love - and they're...
The Tafts are classic 100% bamboo sheets that we love - and they're not as expensive as we expected.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

7

Great Silky, Cool Feeling


BAMPURE Organic


Material: 100% organic bamboo (viscose) | Pocket Depth: 16 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Silky smooth
Extra secure elastic
Deep enough for oversized beds
REASONS TO AVOID
Fitted sheet may pool
Wrinkles super easily

Bamboo sheets are renowned for their silkiness, but the BAMPURE Organic blows the competition away with their smooth and slippery touch. We felt like royalty sliding into these lustrous sheets. From their organic bamboo and sateen weave to the refreshing lack of harmful chemicals denoted by their OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, the BAMPURE sheets feel great against the skin and over pajamas. Always ready to offer a cool side of the pillow, this breathable set is a dream to sleep in all summer. The 16-inch pocket depth is ideal for a thicker mattress, while extra elastic bands stretching over each corner help hold it in place.

If your mattress is thinner, these sheets are likely too deep and bound to pool under you while you sleep. As the slipperiest set we tested, achieving a precise fit for your mattress is even more significant. Additionally, these cooling sheets are exceptionally prone to wrinkle. However, if you're shopping for feel over fashion, you'll love the luxurious feel of the silken bamboo BAMPURE set.

Thread Count: 300
Weave Type: Sateen

Health Rating: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified

cooling sheets - feel like royalty in the silky smooth bampure organics.
Feel like royalty in the silky smooth BAMPURE Organics.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

8

Less Detail and Less Expensive


Simple&Opulence 100% Belgian Linen


Material: 100% linen (flax) | Pocket Depth: 14 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Soft readily
Durable materials
Good thermoregulation
REASONS TO AVOID
Hems don't match
Elastic is suspect

The Simple&Opulence 100% Belgian Linen sheets soften up easily without losing their rougher, textured feel. These less expensive linens are thick and durable while offering exceptional breathability that makes them great on both hot and cold nights. They come in several colors, including one of the only semi-bright colors of linen we found, and have an irregular-looking dye pattern that, when woven, creates a unique aesthetic in your home. A 14-inch pocket makes these a better choice for thinner mattresses, while the flat sheet still has plenty of room to be tucked in if you choose.

We're not sure why, but the hem around the standard pillowcases and along the top of the sheet don't match. Also, the sheet's hem is a decorative series of holes that could be a weak point for durability. The fitted sheet's elastic was unevenly stretchy around its perimeter on the set we tested. It felt thick and strong in some spots, while in others, it felt like it had already lost most of its elasticity. Additionally, we prefer envelope pillowcases with our linen sheets. While this set is less expensive in the linen market, we're still not convinced it's a great option.

Thread Count: Not specified
Treatment: Stone-washed

Health Rating: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified

cooling sheets - we're not so sure this hole-filled hem on the simple&opulence...
We're not so sure this hole-filled hem on the Simple&Opulence linen sheets is a good idea in the long run.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

9

Budget Bamboo Blend


Zen Bamboo Luxury 1500


Material: 40% bamboo (viscose), 60% brushed microfiber | Pocket Depth: 18 inches
REASONS TO BUY
Fetching hems on pillowcases and sheet
Added breathability from bamboo
Fits deeper mattresses well
REASONS TO AVOID
Oversized fit
Envelope part of pillowcase is too shallow

One of several bamboo-microfiber mixed sets we tested, the Zen Bamboo Luxury 1500 offers reasonable performance at a lower price. Their 18-inch pockets make them a great fit for exceptionally thick mattresses, and attractive patterning on the pillowcases and top of the fitted sheet adds to the aesthetic appeal. And though they're no match for 100% bamboo sheets, the 40% bamboo composition helps achieve more breathability than 100% microfiber sheets.

For thinner mattresses, though, the Zen Bamboo will surely pool in the middle of your bed, which detracts from their comfort and thermoregulating properties. We also greatly prefer envelope-style pillowcases, but these have such a small envelope fold that they're not much better than a standard pillowcase. Frustrations aside, if you're looking to upgrade to partial bamboo but aren't ready to splurge on 100%, these are a decent stepping stone for a fraction of the price.

GSM (grams per square meter): Not specified

Health Rating: None

cooling sheets - on a thinner mattress, the zen bamboo blended sheets easily bunch up...
On a thinner mattress, the Zen Bamboo blended sheets easily bunch up while you sleep.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Why Trust GearLab


This review was based on the comprehensive knowledge of our Senior Review Editors Maggie Nichols and Aaron Rice. They live in the deserts of the American West and Southwest (Nevada and New Mexico, respectively). With scorching hot summers and cold, snowy winters, Maggie and Aaron appreciate the value of a good set of sheets. They also have been working from home for several years, arguably spending even more time sitting in bed than the average person. With backgrounds in scientific research, near compulsion levels of attention to detail, and years of experience rigorously testing GearLab, Maggie and Aaron tackled all the most highly reviewed and best sheets on the market to tease apart which ones are the best.

We researched dozens of sets of top-rated cooling sheets before selecting this collection of contenders to purchase at full price for our notoriously rigorous testing. Though we don't have years to sleep on these sheets, we designed our testing plan to simulate extensive wear and tear and directly compared every single set to each other. We scrutinized materials, hems, and seams for flaws and weaknesses. We repeatedly laundered them — according to their specific care instructions — spilling red wine, cuddling with dogs, and sweating between washings. We slept in every set to assess breathability, temperature control, and how pleasant they are while you toss and turn — with or without PJs. We gauged how smelly they got, how the feel changed (or didn't) over time, and combed through thousands of reviews and complaints. After all this testing and comparing, we humbly present this review of our honest and unbiased results.

Cotton and linen and bamboo (and microfiber), oh my!
Cotton and linen and bamboo (and microfiber), oh my!

Analysis and Test Results


On average, we humans spend around a third of our lives in bed. With so much time spent between the sheets, we knew we needed a comprehensive testing plan to cover everything we wanted when we climbed into bed. We put together five mutually exclusive metrics to thoroughly evaluate every set of cooling sheets across our beds: skin feel, temperature control, utility, ease of cleaning, and durability. Each metric is weighted according to its overall importance to the sheet's performance. A breakdown of each metric follows, highlighting the best-performing sheets so you can better determine which ones are the perfect fit for how you sleep.

cooling sheets - with the right set of cooling sheets, you'll never want to get out...
With the right set of cooling sheets, you'll never want to get out of bed again.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Skin Feel


Whether you sleep in a floor-length nighty or au natural, the feel of your sheets is the most important part of your sleeping experience. We compared all the different attributes of skin feel, from softness and slipperiness to flexibility and texture. We tested them in pajamas and our birthday suits to tease apart differences in how they feel.

The Truth About Thread Count

Though most of us can't remember where we heard it, we all know that a higher thread count means a better sheet, right? Not exactly. There are two parts to what thread count (TC) numbers mean and what's an optimal number.

Thread count isn't made up - it's an actual calculated number that comes from counting the number of horizontal threads in an inch and adding it to the number of vertical warp yarns in an inch. However, many manufacturers use “creative calculating” to artificially inflate their numbers, including twisting together multiple threads to bolster the final count.

Different thread counts are possible depending on what fabric we're talking about. Because microfiber threads are so thin, their thread counts can be extremely high. (Confusingly, microfiber sheets are more often measured in GSM, or grams per meter, which often is inaccurately portrayed as thread counts of 1800 or more!) Counting threads is most commonly — and most usefully — applied to cotton sheets. But once you get above a certain thread count, those cotton fibers are so close together that you start to lose much of the breathability that makes cotton so ideal in the first place.

Thread count also depends on the weave used, as sateen weave can accommodate more threads per square inch than percale or plain weave. Generally, quality sateen weave sheets range from 300-600 TC, and good-quality percale sheets sit around 200-300 TC. Anything above that is either misleading or less breathable — or both.

If you're seeking the softest, silkiest pair of sheets, you want bamboo. The Wooflinen 6-Piece Duvet Set is our favorite of the bunch, sleeping like a dream. The BAMPURE Organic is a close runner-up, offering a serious amount of slippery silkiness to the tired user. The 100% cotton Brooklinen Luxe Core is right up at the top too. They're not as silky slick as bamboo, but they offer the comfortable smoothness of your favorite t-shirt.

cooling sheets - the wooflinen modern duvet set are a dream you'll never want to wake...
The Wooflinen modern duvet set are a dream you'll never want to wake up from.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

If you dig the textured feel of linen (which softens over time but would never be described as "silky"), our favorites are the DAPU Stone Washed. They become pleasantly pliable after just a few washes and have a great texture that feels pleasant directly on the skin.

cooling sheets - a whole lot of silky goodness awaits you when you have the bampure...
A whole lot of silky goodness awaits you when you have the BAMPURE Organic set on your bed.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Microfiber sheets offer yet another type of skin feel. These sheets are soft and flexible, lightly grabbing your skin or clothes. They require minimal effort or care to maintain this pliable fleecy feel. We like the aptly named PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats the best of this bunch — they actually feel quite a bit like peach skin!

cooling sheets - laying in the brooklinen luxe core is like being swathed in a cool...
Laying in the Brooklinen Luxe Core is like being swathed in a cool t-shirt.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Temperature Control


Once you're happily nestled in your bed, a good set of sheets should help regulate your body temperature while you sleep. Since this review is all about cooling sheets, we awarded higher scores to sets with greater breathability and wicking powers. We tested their temperature control by sleeping in them through hot nights and testing them with a fan. While all of the sheets we tested are more cooling than the average set, there are distinct differences that our testing uncovered.

Material Matters

When it comes to the temperature control of sheets, the type of fabric makes a big difference. It largely comes down to natural vs. synthetic fibers, but not entirely.

Synthetic fabrics, like microfiber, (which is made of polyester, a type of plastic), generally aren't very absorbent — which makes them less ideal for soaking and wicking away your sweat. Instead, synthetic materials rely on air movement to evaporate your sweat before it collects in a puddle. The fabric is thinner than natural textiles, facilitating the required airflow you need to stay cool — and it's generally stronger too.

Natural fabrics, like linen (made from flax), cotton, and bamboo, are more absorbent. They wick sweat from the body to evaporate away from your skin. Each natural material has slightly different absorbing and drying properties. In general, cotton dries the slowest, bamboo absorbs the most, and linen maintains the best airflow through its fabric.

Knowing this and knowing how much you sweat at night can help you narrow down what type of material your sheets should be made of. However, we tested several sets here that perform outside the expected norm for the type of material they're made of, so remember that these are guidelines, not hard rules.

Natural fabrics tend to be more absorbent than synthetics, so in general, those types of sheets scored better here — but this isn't always the case. The DAPU linen set stands out here. They're absorbent, breathable, and maintain a healthy “crispness” that keeps space around your body to further facilitate airflow. The Simple&Opulence linen set also performs well in the temperature control department.

cooling sheets - when it comes to ultimate breathability, linen sheets - like these...
When it comes to ultimate breathability, linen sheets - like these from DAPU - are some of the best in the biz.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Bamboo sheets also perform exceptionally well with temperature regulation, and they always have a cool side of the pillow to offer on a sweltering night. The Wooflinen 6-Piece Duvet Set goes one step further. They forego a flat sheet entirely, instead opting for a 100% bamboo duvet cover. We found this modern set did an exceptional job keeping us cool on hot nights — and warm on cold ones. Though by a slim margin, the Wooflinen scored higher in this metric than every other contender we tested.

cooling sheets - skipping the flat sheet and going straight to the duvet cover...
Skipping the flat sheet and going straight to the duvet cover, Wooflinen adds an extra boost to their already impressively breathable 100% bamboo set.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

We're also thoroughly impressed by the cooling ability of the 100% cotton Brooklinen Luxe Core. We were wowed by both their feel and breathability. Regarding microfiber sheets — which are made of polyester, a plastic — no set earns a perfect score. Because they have very little wicking ability, microfiber sheets have a hard time competing for breathability against natural fabrics like cotton or bamboo. However, we are pleasantly surprised by the PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats, which use exceptionally thin fabric to maintain greater airflow. They're far more breathable than we expected any microfiber set to be.

cooling sheets - while most microfiber sheets can't hold a candle to natural fabrics...
While most microfiber sheets can't hold a candle to natural fabrics when it comes to breathability, the PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats happily surprised us with their thin material that helps maintain airflow.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Utility


If your sheets don't fit or stay put, they're not particularly pleasant to use. We tested each set's utility by sleeping on them to see if they ride up in the corners or pool in the center. We compared their sizes on a standard queen mattress, considering pocket depth, overhang for tucking in, and elastic effectiveness. After sleeping on them, we noted which pillowcases kept their contents and which spilled the beans. A small portion of each contender's score includes the number of colors and sizes offered, as well as how likely those patterns and/or colors are to be able to fit into a modern bedroom's decor.

Measure Your Bed. Seriously.

Knowing that you sleep in a queen-sized bed only gives you half the information that you need to pick out sheets. Remember, your fitted sheet not only has to cover the top of your mattress but also must stay tucked around the corners and edges, so the thickness of your mattress matters. Sheets that are too deep will bunch beneath you while you sleep. Too shallow, and they'll pop up on the corners.

To know you're getting the right sized sheet, measure the thickness of your mattress (and any toppers you may have on it), add 1-4 inches, and look for that number as your target pocket depth. If you don't, your sheets likely won't fit very well, and you won't be totally satisfied with your purchase.

Topping this list are contenders of several different types of materials. The Brooklinen Luxe Core (cotton) offers exceptional fit, from the impeccably sized fitted sheet that actually stays put while you sleep to the deep envelopes of the pillowcases that are perfect for every pillow. We love the Tafts Bamboo, with their deep pockets that stay put even on thinner mattresses, and their well-designed pillowcases that never let their contents peak out.

cooling sheets - we're seriously impressed by the exceptional fit the brooklinen luxe...
We're seriously impressed by the exceptional fit the Brooklinen Luxe Core offers our pillows of varying sizes.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Several sets we tested come in an astonishing array of colors. The PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats are offered in a rainbow of 24 colors, from neutral to neon.

Ease of Cleaning


The material of a set of sheets will dictate how easy they are to clean. Each fabric type comes with its own specific care instructions, and we followed these instructions to a T. We laundered them all several times according to their individual directions, noting which were painless and which are a pain in the tush. Going a step beyond, we purposely sloshed red wine on every contender, let it sit for a while, and then washed it to see how easily it holds onto or sheds stains. We also noted which ones are prone to wrinkling and which hang on to odors.

A Wrinkly Mess
One of the most consistent complaints we read about sheets is how wrinkly some of them are. While we don't mind a few wrinkles in a truly comfortable set of sheets, there are some ways to tell if a set of sheets is (probably) going to be wrinkly.
  • Microfiber or synthetic sheets are the least wrinkly. As they're literally made of plastic, they're far more resistant to wrinkles than any natural fibers.
  • Cotton can pick up wrinkles but are typically the least wrinkly natural material. You can help them be even less wrinkly by removing them from the dryer while they're still slightly damp and putting them directly on your bed or hand-pressing them into neat folds.
  • Linen sheets are often quite wrinkly, especially if you use your dryer. They're least wrinkly when line-dried. And because they require less washing than most sheets, if you do decide to iron them, you won't have to do it quite as often.
  • Bamboo sheets are made of bamboo rayon, which is one of the most wrinkle-prone fabrics out there. Though you can often iron bamboo with a low-temperature setting, they will wrinkle easily just from sleeping in them. If you care a lot about wrinkled sheets, don't get bamboo.

No matter what type of sheets you decide to use, always be sure to follow the care instructions on the tag to help them perform and look their best.

The microfiber sheets are some of the easiest to clean. This synthetic material is known for resisting wrinkles and stains and tends to have the simplest care instructions. Topping this list is the PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats, which were virtually wrinkle-free even after a full night's sleep. All of the microfiber and microfiber blend sheets we tested proved to be extremely stain-resistant as well. Even the ones we tested in light colors had no problem with the red wine coming out after a single gentle cycle.

cooling sheets - even after sleeping in them the peachskinsheets looked fresh out of...
Even after sleeping in them the PeachSkinSheets looked fresh out of the dryer.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

We were also quite surprised by the Brooklinen Luxe Core sheets' ability to resist wrinkles. Cotton sheets typically need to be ironed to keep them looking crisp, but these sheets looked almost pressed when we put them on the bed directly from the dryer. By comparison, all the 100% bamboo and 100% linen sheets we tested are far more prone to wrinkles. Though, among these, the Wooflinen (bamboo) are the least wrinkly.

cooling sheets - the cotton brooklinen luxe core surprised us by how cleanly pressed...
The cotton Brooklinen Luxe Core surprised us by how cleanly pressed they look - even without ironing and after sleeping on them.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Durability


It's unlikely that any set of sheets will last you a lifetime. However, there are some general trends that our selection of top contenders followed — with exceptions. Without years to test these sheets, we did our best to simulate excessive wear in a shorter time and scoured the internet for common complaints about each set. We compared their materials and construction, examining fabric thicknesses, scrutinizing seams, and yanking elastic. We considered thread count and snaggability (we're certain that's a word) and checked for loose threads, sloppy stitching, and fabric pilling.

Health and Sustainability

These days, two essential questions echo in our minds: what nourishes our bodies and what sustains our planet? These very inquiries extend to our bedrooms, influencing the choices we make for the textiles that embrace us during sleep. Just as we seek healthy ingredients for our plates and eco-friendly options for daily life, so too should we scrutinize the materials adorning our beds. Third-party certifications may be able to unveil some of the secrets hidden within each set of sheets, guiding us toward choices that benefit both ourselves and the world around us.

A OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification means that the end product, or the sheets and pillowcases themselves, have been tested for trace amounts of harmful chemicals and have proven themselves not to have any of them. You can be pretty sure that sleeping on sheets with this certification won't introduce anything dangerous into or onto your body.

The Standard 100 certification doesn't cover any part of the manufacturing process, though, nor does it take into consideration its environmental effects. If sustainability is what you're after, one excellent certification to look for is the OEKO-TEX MADE IN GREEN certification. Products passing this series of tests meet not only all the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification requirements, but also meet requirements for having been manufactured using sustainable processes in environmentally friendly facilities under socially responsible working conditions. We like that.

As yet another of those “general rules” with exceptions, the linen and cotton sheets perform best in this category. Long-staple cotton fibers are snag and pill-resistant, and upon closer inspection, the Brooklinen Luxe Core are also very well made, with neat stitching and quality construction.

cooling sheets - linen sheets are among the most durable we tested.
Linen sheets are among the most durable we tested.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Though bamboo isn't renowned for its durability, the Tafts Bamboo impressed us with more durable construction and double-stitched seams well-protected from the wear and tear of tired sleepers. Microfiber sheets can be quite durable, as their plastic make-up is often pill-resistant. However, some of the microfiber cooling sheets we tested don't have the most impressive design or construction.

cooling sheets - maintaining that "goldilocks" temperature all summer long is much...
Maintaining that “Goldilocks” temperature all summer long is much easier with the right set of cooling sheets.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Conclusion


Finding a set of cooling sheets that actually keeps you cool is a challenge. There are seemingly endless options out there that all claim to be the most breathable, wicking set of sheets you'll ever own — and they're all vastly different. By testing a wide array of possible materials and bringing our honest results to you, we hope we've made it easier to find the dream summer set that won't make you sweat.

Maggie Nichols