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One day, scientists will discover how to make both sides of the pillow stay cool. In the meantime, the best sheets for hot sleepers are there to help you sleep, not sweat, until morning. So barring a Nobel Prize-worthy discovery of actually chill-inducing bedding, we have to make do with the technology available to us. Cooling fabrics such as linen, cotton percale, and eucalyptus sheets are lightweight and breathable enough to stop you from sweating at the very least (and wick moisture away in case you do). Our favorite sheets for hot sleepers let you get that precious REM sleep that’s been eluding you.
The Best Sheets for Hot Sleepers, at a Glance
Don't sweat it—you'll find our favorite sheets for hot sleepers right here without having to get into the minutiae of fabrics, breathability, and construction.
- The Best Linen Sheets: Cultiver, $385
- The Best Eucalyptus Sheets: Sijo, $185
- The Best Bamboo Sheets: Kassatex, $170
- The Best Cotton Sheets: 10 Grove “Madison,” $295
- The Best Tencel Sheets: Helix, $200
- The Best Sheets for Hot Sleepers Under $100: Target Threshold, $45
- The Best Cooling Organic Sheets: Coyuchi Organic Percale Sheet Set, $278
The Best Fabrics for Breathability
Speaking of minutiae, to find a sheet that won't turn your bed into a sauna, you have to make sure you're getting a good, breathable fabric. You won't be reaching for the flannel any time soon, but you will want bed sheets made from one of the following materials.
Linen: At the top of the breeziness chart, you'll find linen. Linen sheets are made from flax fibers, which are thicker than cotton. The fabric feels rougher to the touch—though it softens up with every wash—and the loose weave lets all that sleepy body heat escape. The biggest downside? High-quality linen is expensive. But if you’re the type of hot sleeper to kick off all the covers, they’re well worth it, especially as a summer sheet.
Cotton: Breathable cotton sheets can also be especially useful for preventing overheating, since they allow for greater airflow and help regulate body temperature. Tightly woven cotton percale or the slightly softer finish of sateen sheet sets can also be a good compromise if you prefer something silkier. While still being breathable, cotton sheets maintain enough heat to keep you comfortable in the transition periods between the more extreme seasons, but your mileage may vary when a heatwave strikes.
Eucalyptus/lyocell: Lyocell is a fabric that's crafted in part from natural fibers such as eucalyptus or bamboo. Most cooling sheets use eucalyptus fibers, which is why you see so many “eucalyptus bed sheets” for sale during the summer. Lyocell and eucalyptus fabrics are even more breathable and moisture-wicking than cotton, and they're also very lightweight and airy. As a bonus, you're getting a silk smooth texture for nodding off like a king.
How We Tested These Bed Sheets
Most of the sheets below were tested by members of the GQ Recommends squad over a succession of sweltering New York summers and in varying conditions (including crappy box fan situations). We put these sheets through the wringer the best way we knew how: Dozing on them over and over. As another step in the testing process, we also gave each set of sheets at least one tumble in the wash and dryer to see how everything held up, or sometimes even improved, over time. Finally, we paired these sheets with some of the airiest-feeling comforters and blankets for hot sleepers. Some of these options did not meet the basic requirements, but others were loved enough that they even claimed some coveted real estate in our first annual GQ Sleep Awards.
Below you'll find our top picks for the best cooling sheets (plus some bonus blankets, comforters, and sleep tech) that performed the best in our testing. For the best possible sleep, though, you'll want to ensure that your mattress is up to par on the best cooling materials, too. No impermeable foam or overly plushy pillowtop keeping you from getting your precious sleep.
The Best Eucalyptus Sheets: Sijo
Sijo—a newer player in the bedding space that specializes in temperature-regulating bedding—makes everything from all-season comforters to buoyant pillows. Its eucalyptus sheets are one of the brand's marvels, a breathable, delightfully lightweight fabric that feels luxe and buttery as it envelops your body at night. In the GQ guide to the best bed sheets of the year, we named these the best cooling sheets overall.
The only knock against this set is its slightly cheap, synthetic-feeling fabric straight out of the box, but our tester reported that after one spin cycle, the sheets emerged completely transformed into something “smooth, almost satiny to the touch.” Though these sheets do run on the thinner side, which is typical for eucalyptus, our tester noted that they've held up great after a few spin cycles, and so far “seem well-made and of high-quality materials.”
The Best Linen Sheets At Any Price: Cultiver
Cultiver has spent a solid decade perfecting its linens since its launch in 2012 (the full line ranges from table linens to bathrobes), quietly releasing some of the highest-quality linen sheets out there. For the price point, you’re getting an already pre-washed sheet set, including a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases—so you don’t have to worry about any raw texture straight out of the box—plus a wide range of colors and patterns to choose from. We loved how smooth and breathable the European flax linen felt during even the most humid New York City summers, which is why we awarded these with a GQ Sleep Award this year. These sheets have proven so popular that they're often sold out, but we think they're worth the wait.
The Best Bamboo Sheets: Kassatex
The Kassatex linen sheets are actually a linen blend, made with 40% bamboo. That hybrid nature gives the fabric its ultra-soft feel. If you aren't a blazing inferno of a sleeper but still sleep on the warmer side, these sheets offer a good balance of breathability and coziness. For sleepers who find that linen sheets have too rough a feel (or too wrinkly a look), these hybrid sheets offer the cooling properties of linen with the softness of bamboo and lyocell fabrics.
The Best Cotton Sheets: 10 Grove "Madison"
10 Grove makes some of our favorite crisp, breathable sheets for summer, but hot sleepers can also use them year-round. They have a decadent hotel quality to them, with tasteful details like the delicate hem-stitching seen here that kick it a notch above other sheets at this price point. The extra-long staple Egyptian cotton sheets come in both sateen and percale weaves, and each is hand-crafted in Texas. A full “a little something extra” set gets you a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases.
The Best Cooling Sheets With an Extended Trial: Helix
If the thought of a wrinkly bed makes you squirm, you should probably avoid linen. While most people can embrace the easy-going, lived-in vibe of having their bed look like a vacation shirt, hospital corner obsessives might find themselves reaching for a steamer when making the bed each morning. The Sijo AiryWeight eucalyptus sheet set is our top pick for cooling sheets, but these wrinkle-resistant Tencel sheets from Helix are a very close second. Tencel (a popular type of lyocell) is a soft and breathable fabric made from wood pulp, and on top of that, these sheets have a soft sateen weave.
Why buy Helix's Tencel sheets over our other picks? Helix has the added benefit of a 100-night sleep trial. Plus, when they're on sale, these sheets can be ridiculously affordable. While these sheets aren't quite as breathable as linen, they are a lot cheaper and softer.
The Best Sheets for Hot Sleepers Under $100: Target Threshold
We're sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but no budget set of sheets will get you the breathability of linen sheets. Linen sheets are truly a get-what-you-pay-for proposition. But the 400-thread count cotton Target Threshold sheets are terrific regular sheets if you're on a budget. So good, in fact, that they make our list of favorite sheets, period. They trap some heat, but if you toss the blanket off of you or just stick one leg out, you'll be fine.
The Best Percale Sheets for Hot Sleepers: Brooklinen
Percale cotton sheets aren't quite as smooth as sateen sheets, but they offer maximum breathability and lightness, making them the superior option between the two for hot sleepers. Most cooling cotton sheets have a 300-thread count, but at 270, Brooklinen's OEKO-TEX-certified percale sheets are slightly more lightweight without sacrificing softness.
As a hot sleeper no matter the temperature outside, our tester spent years searching for cooling sheets, and these were his starter option. He found that percale can't compete with eucalyptus and linen in terms of overall cooling, but liked that these came without the roughness of linen. They also have a heft to them, unlike eucalyptus blends. Brooklinen also offers multiple color options to their percale sheets, including limited-edition releases throughout the year and striped patterns. To top that off, Brooklinen offers a generous one-year return policy in case you're not happy with your purchase for some reason.
7 Other Sheet Sets for Hot Sleepers That We Like
Because you might want to explore other options, we've also assembled a small class of honorable mentions in the sweat-wicking, heat-evading sheets category. These are more of our favorite breathable cottons (percale sheet sets and sateen sheet sets, specifically), and cooling eucalyptus and bamboo sets: ones that are soft and breathable, but also have the durability to hold up in the wash without significant pilling or fraying.
If linen sheets have turned you off because of their of their slightly Brillo pad-like texture, this is the linen sheet set for you. Parachute's sheets, made in Portugal of fine European flax, feel smooth straight out of the box, and only get softer with every spin cycle. But they also have a balanced heft to them, so they won't snag or tear after a couple summers in your linen closet. At a middle-of-the-road price point, you can also swath your kids' twin bed or your oversized Californian King in these breezy layers—the range accommodates everyone—and pick and choose between 12 subdued solids. We felt that the sheets from the linen specialists at Cultiver had a softer hand-feel and a more breathable weave, but for a little less, Parachute's still offer a soft, non-scratchy hand-feel that we also found to be less linty than comparable sheets of this material.
The Citizenry might be more well known for its furniture and home decor, but don't sleep (and by that mean we mean do sleep) on its underrated bedding. Its stonewashed linen sheets come broken-in straight out of the packaging, and only gets softer after that maiden voyage in the washing machine. Our tester who hadn't slept on linen before was shocked at how cooling these linens were. While not cool to the touch like a percale cotton bed sheet, the linen didn't absorb heat and it felt like body warmth was just dispersed and pushed away from the body. These come in a huge array of colors and patterns, all of which look even better thanks to that “stonewash” effect.
The moisture-wicking Tencel-lyocell fabric on these Buffy Cloud sheets is made from eucalyptus. Buffy brands these sheets as being light as a cloud, and those are the words that came to mind while testing them. They're extremely soft to the touch, and they're the airiest, lightest sheets our tester has tried to date. In fact, they're almost too breezy, to the point of being a little insubstantial. That silky, slippery feeling suits him just fine, but if you like a tucked-in feeling, opt for cotton percale sheets.
Out of all the layers of airy linen that we've sandwiched our bodies between, Garnet Hill's GQ Home Award-winning sets are some of the lightest and gauziest, like the breeze on an early spring day. The sheets are more substantial than tissue paper when you're throwing them in the wash, so they can take a beating, but have a thinness to them that's ideal when a heat wave rolls through. They're pre-washed for softness, but retain a bit of rough texture that's common with some of the airier linen varieties. They also come in 16 different color options to choose from, so you're never short on range. Another plus (or minus, if you prefer to shop a full set all at once), is that you buy all sheets and pillowcases individually so you can mix or match colors. Each sheet costs about $109 individually, with pillowcases running for $69 a pop, if you're crunching the numbers.
Our tester spent a full year sleeping with Coyuchi's organic percale sheets and described these organic cotton sheets as “an ideal compromise option if you're sharing the bed with someone who tends to freeze at night.” They're lightweight, breathable, and have a pleasant crispness to them. They also hold up really well even after several woozy spins through the washing machine. Though they sit at a slightly higher price point than other cotton sheet sets, we think the sticker shock is worth stomaching when you consider that the extra investment is paying for high-quality organic materials, which will net you an overall uptick in durability and softness.
And if you want bamboo cooling sheets without the Kassatex price, consider Layla's 100% bamboo viscose sheets, which feel a bit like you're sleeping on silk. They're especially comfortable for restless sleepers who tend to jostle around in different positions throughout the night, with moisture-wicking properties that’ll help prevent waking up in a cold sweat. These sheets also come with an unusually long five-year warranty that’ll cover any fraying or wear over time.
6 More Cooling Blankets to Consider
The thing about being a hot sleeper, or trying to fall asleep when it's hot outside, is that sometimes you get cold because you've shed all your covers to combat heat. The irony! All hot sleepers develop their own coping mechanisms here, and for some that might include blanket that's friendlier to warm temperatures. Also, a bed just looks a little weird with only a top sheet, right? Here are a few blankets with breathable fabrics, ones that we consider the coolest for warm sleepers.
You've already embraced linen sheets, why not pile the linen high by adding a blanket? This Brooklinen quilt retains the airiness of linen but also feels soft and worn-in right out of the box. Think of it as a lightweight spring sweater for sleeping. It's not the cheapest style out there at close to $300, but for a soft, pre-washed linen quilt in an elegant diamond-stitched pattern that'll never go out of style, we think it's worth the investment. Brooklinen recently released a reversible version of the linen quilt in splashy, summer-y prints, like this breezy striped style that's a GQ-editor favorite.
Coop, the makers of our perennial favorite shredded foam pillow, recently launched an all-season comforter with one unique perk: adjustable add-ons for either side of the bed so each sleeper can actually button on or subtract an extra layer depending on how cool or blazing hot they feel. The modularity is a game-changer for couples that fight over the thermostat, which is why we anointed it with a GQ Sleep Award this year. Our tester noted that without the extra panels, the blanket is pretty thin for summer weather (and very cozy when they're in place). “When the modular pieces are on it it has a really nice thick feel to it that's still pretty light,” he explained. The only thing he didn't love? “It was a little more annoying to attach with my current duvet cover because the panels button up right by the loops you tie the cover on to.” All in all, it's a pretty neat bedding innovation that might be worth a shot to keep you from kicking off the covers at night.
Coyuchi makes its bedding exclusively with organic materials, and really walks the walk when it comes to a commitment to sustainable practices. The brand's products come at a premium thanks to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Fair Trade-certified fabrics, and its high quality materials are in for the long haul. It even offers an upcycling program that allows customers to send their stuff back to be “renewed” and resold for less. Of course, none of this eco-friendly business would matter if the sheets in question weren't comfortable (and in this case cooling), and we can verify that's very much the case. Our tester personally tried and loved this comforter, which provided a satisfying tucked-in feeling during the summer without feeling suffocatingly warm.
Some weighted blankets can feel uncomfortably weighty for warmer months, more suited for warmth than breathability. But Baloo's blankets and comforters are slightly different, with a lightweight quilted cotton cover and fill that's strewn with cool glass beads—which are evenly distributed so they don't feel oppressively heavy. If you want something even lighter, we'd suggest draping the 12-pound throw option over yourself in summer.
Nothing beats the airiness of a linen quilt, but this Tuft & Needle one comes pretty close—combining a summery blend of linen and cotton, in a familiar diamond-stitched style. Our tester appreciated just how light it felt even on hot summer nights, more like a thin blanket than a quilt, and the fact that the texture gets softer with every wash: It's one of the lightest-weight quilts we've ever tested.
If you still want the feel of a lightweight summer quilt, but gravitate toward splashier prints, one of our favorite splurges is Thompson Street Studio's cotton and linen quilts—which you can find in throw sizes for around $350, or larger options like this one that cover the whole bed. The New York-based brand sells abstract, Mondrian-style patchwork blankets (i.e. not your grandmother's quilts) that are extra lightweight and cooling thanks to a breezy blend of linen and cotton.
Instead of Cooling Sheets, Try a Cooling Bed System
We don't have flying cars or actual robot maids (robot vaccums don't yet come with cool accents like Rosie), but using the BedJet feels like a taste of the future. The device is basically a centralized heating and cooling unit for your bed, allowing you to regulate the temperature of its surface. It's very expensive and also an electricity drain, so we don't recommend it as a first option for hot sleepers. Think of this as the last resort, Hail Mary option when new sheets or a better AC, or simply sleeping naked, aren't doing the trick. We've also tried and can recommend the very similar Ooler bed cooling system. One word of warning: These cooling sleep systems can be hard to get used to, and they provide a love-it-or-hate-it experience. For that reason, it might be best to buy this via Amazon Prime.
While Eight Sleep's Pod Pro 3 mattress topper is technically bedding, we like to think of it as a techy bedding system since it does a whole lot more than just cover your mattress. The forward-thinking topper—which won a GQ Home Award and a Fitness Award in 2022—bakes in a highly sensitive thermoregulation sensor for both sides of the bed and heats and cools it accordingly. That means that even if your partner tends to burn up at night and you're perpetually running cold, you can set different temperatures for each side to keep the peace. The topper also tracks your sleep and gently jostles you awake through chest-level vibrations (what more can you ask of your bedding?). Of course, it'll cost you a cool $2,000-plus to set your bed to the Goldilocks temperature year-round, but just think of all the quality REM records you'll be setting in the brand's sleep app.
