9 Best Cooling Sheets for More Comfortable Sleep, Tested by Editors

“Jill of all trades; master of none.” That's the perfect way to describe Mellanni's Iconic Collection, including the four-piece set of cooling sheets we tested for this year's roundup. These sheets aren't the softest, the most luxurious, or the absolute best at cooling. But they are a solid all-around buy that feels better, looks better, and cools better than most other sets that cost three times as much.

"My girlfriend and I have slept on these for the last month, and we've been pleasantly surprised by how good they feel for the price," Richard says. "They feel much better and cozier against the skin than most other sheets I've tested in this price range."

Fellow tester and self-described hot sleeper Janie Booth, associate video producer at WH, also praises the feel of these sheets. “They are very soft,” she says.

The synthetic microfiber construction in this sheet set isn't purposely designed for cooling. In fact, the weave is tighter than other sheets made with natural fibers. But the material is thin enough to be surprisingly breathable, without feeling threadbare. "I actually took these glamping on a long, hot, late June weekend," Richard says. "For sticky, sweaty nights, the thickness of these sheets was perfect, and I found them much more breathable than most microfiber sheets."

On the downside, that same microfiber—polyester, really—construction means these aren't as absorbent or moisture-wicking as natural alternatives either. So, they're not as good at whisking away sweat to help further cool your body.

Like most microfiber fabrics, these sheets are surprisingly durable, though, thanks to the previously mentioned tight weave. We've found they hold up well, even after repeated washings with no loose threads, shedding, or fading. (Booth noticed some pilling, but Richard didn’t.) Plus, they're more wrinkle-resistant than most.

The biggest thing these cooling sheets have going for them is price. They're significantly cheaper (in some cases, by more than 75 percent) than every other set in this year's roundup. Plus, with Amazon's generous free shipping and free returns policy, it's almost like you're getting a legit in-home sleep trial.

One additional bonus is that these sheets are available in a much wider selection of colors and patterns than any other we tested. That's especially nice if you're keen to match the look of your new cooling sheets to the rest of your bedroom decor.

Read more: Best Cooling Mattresses

There are a lot of high-tech fabric blends out there designed to keep you cool, but classic cotton sheets can still work wonders. Brooklinen’s Classic Percale Core Sheet Set is a favorite in my household—so much so that I’ll try to wash them quickly when I do laundry to get them back on my mattress before I need to swap in a different set. These were the sheets I splurged on when I was heavily pregnant and hot. They still feel luxurious and crisp, even though I’ve had them in heavy rotation for two years.

The sheets are made with percale cotton, which means it’s woven into a grid pattern to give it a crisp, cool feel. It’s almost like a dress shirt, but softer, and with a noticeable coolness when you slide between the sheets.

Christian Gollayan, style and reviews director at Men's Health and Women's Health, is also a fan. “I’m a hot sleeper and usually need my bedroom below 69 degrees to avoid getting sweaty,” he says. “These kept me comfortable through fall, winter, and spring.”

Gollayan says his sheets held up “remarkably well” for nearly two years with weekly washings. When he did sweat in deep summer, Gollayan says his sheets didn’t hold onto an odor the way some other sets he’s tried have. The sheets have thoughtful details that I love, too, like envelope closures to keep your pillows from sliding out and tags that designate which end of the fitted sheet is the long and short side.

While Gollayan and I both enjoy these sheets, he noticed some fraying in his set after two years. (I haven’t had the same experience, although the rich blue color in my tandem stripes is fading.) They also felt a little stiff at first, but quickly soften up with time and repeat washings. They’re not the cheapest cooling sheets you’ll find, but they’re pretty durable and luxe.

Of course, you don't have to spend hundreds to score a decent set of cooling sheets. But, sometimes, you really do get what you pay for. That's true of Bedgear's Ver-Tex Sheet Set. They're pricier than most we tested this year, but oh so worth it with a performance-minded design that keeps you cool and stays put, even during your most "vigorous" bed activities.

The Ver-Tex Sheet Set is the only one in this year's roundup made of 100 percent nylon. Like many synthetic materials, nylon isn't typically absorbent or very good at wicking away moisture. "I initially planned to test these out in my guest room," Richard says. "But my girlfriend and I loved how cool-to-the-touch they were, and found them way softer and airier than we expected, so we wound up putting them on our bed."

The nylon is extremely breathable, allowing them to cool better than most. In very humid environments (think Miami in August), however, we did notice that they felt slightly clammier than other natural fabric sets our team tested. “This is such a ridiculous thing to say, but they almost did their job too well,” says fellow tester and WH social media editor Alyssa Cruz. “I sometimes wake up cold and need to add extra blankets.” Because of this, she plans to switch them out during the chillier winter months.

Still, our team agrees that these sheets are worth the $300 price tag. “I love the feeling the most,” Cruz says. “These are the softest sheets I have ever felt, and almost feel like activewear. They make falling asleep feel luxurious.”

Plus, one of this set's biggest selling points is its ability to stretch and provide an extremely good fit, thanks to Bedgear's unique Powerband. It's a thick, full-band elastic designed to grip the bottom of your mattress so it won't slip. The pillowcases included with the Ver-Tex sets also feature this same band, so we never wound up with our pillows inching their way out of the case. Everything stays put, so you're not left remaking the bed every night before tucking in.

There's almost nothing we dislike about these best-in-class cooling sheets. But we do wish they were available in more than four colors. They're also not sold in smaller sizes like Twin, Twin XL, or Full, which may or may not be a deal-breaker for you.

Lastly, these are among the priciest cooling sheets we tested over the past year, and the most expensive in this roundup. Still, we think you get what you pay for with this set. They're extremely durable, cool better than almost every other set we tested, and the ultra-snug fit for both the sheets and pillowcases is second to none.

Most cooling bedding products are designed to draw away and evaporate moisture. But that means they only start working after you're already sweating and are probably miserable. Slumber Cloud's Performance Sheets take a different tack with a uniquely blended construction that actively regulates temperature the entire time you're sleeping to (ideally) keep you cool and comfortable before sweat ever becomes an issue.

The secret sauce to Slumber Cloud's Performance Sheets is a blend of reactive Tencel with Outlast viscose. Tencel is already one of our favorite fibers for cooling sheets, but the addition of Outlast levels up the entire setup. "I've used Outlast-infused hiking apparel before, and it's incredibly effective at regulating body temperature in hot or cold environments," Richard says. "The addition of Outlast in these sheets delivers best-in-class moisture-wicking, which is a game-changer if you're a hot (and potentially clammy) sleeper." The 300-thread-count material might appear to be lower quality than higher-end 500-plus-thread-count alternatives. But, these feel every bit softer than many premium sheets we've previously tested.

These sheets are soft to the touch, according to fellow tester and WH entertainment editor Amy Wilkinson. “But my absolute favorite thing about these sheets, which I've never encountered with another set, is the additional elastic band at the corners of the fitted sheet that help it wrap around virtually any size mattress you can imagine,” she says. Compared to the traditional "corner-sewn" elastics found in most traditional fitted sheets, the bands in this sheet set help keep it firmly in place.

One especially nice feature of all of Slumber Cloud's bedding, including its performance cooling sheets, is the 60-night in-home sleep trial. Unlike most of the competition, Slumber Cloud provides full refunds within a 60-night period for any reason, even on opened sheets.

If you’re an extra-hot sleeper, however, you may want to look elsewhere. While Wilkinson found these sheets cooling, she says that, despite claims about being designed with “NASA cooling technology,” they didn’t seem to cool her off better than her previous sheets set. Still, they are great at wicking moisture and are incredibly durable.

(Pro tip: The Performance Sheet Set is, in our opinion, Slumber Cloud's best cooling sheet set. But, if you're looking for almost-as-good performance with a classic sheet feel, opt for its Essential Sheet Set which blends cotton with Outlast fibers.)

It can be tough to find high-thread-count sheets that also cool effectively. Somehow PeachSkinSheets manages to thread that needle (pun intended) with its Classic Collection. With an airy, breathable, smart poly-fiber construction, these sheets are surprisingly effective at keeping you cool, calm, and collected.

"I tested these in our guest suite, and the in-laws (self-described 'fussy' sleepers) and I both agreed that these do an incredible job at keeping you cool during the night," Richard says. "The 1,500-thread-count is noticeable, making them feel more premium, more luxurious than the price tag would suggest." But more importantly, our entire test staff found these kept us cool while also doing a reasonable job of managing sweat and moisture. The athletic-grade construction is lighter than traditional cotton, and they breathe more like high-end (think Lululemon) athleisure apparel.

The clean, OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified construction ensures that these sheets are safe for users with sensitive skin (OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified means the product has been tested and is clean of potentially harmful substances, like formaldehyde or nickel). "My girlfriend has extremely sensitive skin, and even basic synthetics like polyester don't always agree with her, sometimes causing rashes and irritation," Richard says. "We were initially skeptical about these poly-fiber sheets, but she's had zero issues and finds them extremely comfortable."

The feel of these sheets was also a perk for WH associate style and reviews editor Shannen Zitz. “The sheets are super soft and smooth without causing me to overheat at night,” she says.

Zitz praises the deep corners of the fitted sheet, too. “I love that the fitted sheet actually stays on my bed,” she says. “My biggest issue with sheets is when they slip off the corners after just a few nights, but these have really deep corners so they stay put really well.” Every set also includes an extender panel, allowing the sheets to fit extra-deep (up to 22-inch) mattresses which covers just about every model on the market.

Unlike most of the competition, they're available in more than 30 colorways—everything from basic white and navy to bolder options like gold and neon orange—making it easy to match the aesthetic of your current bedroom setup.

After several months of testing, we found the Classic Collection cooling sheets to be extremely durable. "Even after repeated machine-washing and with two cats in my house, these sheets have stood up to teeth, claws, pills, pulls, and fading," Richard says. "Plus, fresh out of the wash, the wrinkles release almost instantly after making the bed, so I never have to worry about ironing them." The only gripe, per Zitz, is that the top sheet felt a little short. “I toss and turn a lot and, after a night or two, I find the bottom of the sheet comes untucked pretty easily,” she says. “If you like your sheets to feel really snug, it requires re-tucking.”

PeachSkinSheets also shines with a solid, 30-day return policy. Like SlumberCloud, it's more like an in-home sleep trial. Even opened bedding can be returned within 30 days for a full refund, so it's truly risk-free to try them out at home.

If you love the silky smoothness of cotton sateen sheets, Sijo’s AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheets offer a similar feel while being 70 percent more moisture-absorbing. Made with naturally hypoallergenic Tencel Lyocell, the glossy silk-like texture of the sheets are a great option for those with sensitive skin, especially if certain materials make you feel itchy. Plus, the set boasts OEKO-TEX and Asthma and Allergy Friendly certifications.

“The feel of these are incredible,” says WH fitness editor Cori Ritchey. “With cooling sheets, I tend to fear they're going to be too slick and not cozy. These are kind of the perfect blend.” The sheets feel silky but not slippery, she adds.

At $185 for a queen-size set, these Sijo sheets aren’t cheap, but they are long lasting. The brand claims the sheets survived 2,000 rubs without pilling in lab testing. They passed Ritchey’s personal durability test, too: “They wash very nicely—they don't seem to lose their texture the longer you use them,” she says. And for those of us whose top sheet ends up on the floor most nights, you can subtract the flat sheet from the set for a $75 discount.

One of the downsides of the sheets is the two-month return window that only applies if the bedding is unopened—but there is a catch here. If you spend more than $100 (which you would if you got the fitted and top sheet), you can enjoy a 30-day sleep trial. If you spend less than $100, you have to return these within 60 days unopened. Some customers have also noted that the sheets shrink a little after the first wash (we didn’t notice this during testing, but it’s worth flagging).

Some hot sleepers merely need sheets that are breathable throughout the night, while others prefer bedding that is immediately cool to the touch. If you want a set of sheets that feels like sleeping on the cool side of the pillow all night long, Sijo’s AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheets are for you. “I'm normally a hot sleeper and these have kept me cool and comfortable,” Ritchey says.

Linen sheets are a great option for hot sleepers, if you’re willing to spend a little more. Brooklinen’s Linen Core Sheets are made with 100% European flax that softens with each wash, although they may be a little rough for sensitive skin right out of the box. The sheets are breathable yet they have a weight to them, which makes them great for year-round use.

“These sheets are so soft and cozy—truly the most comfortable material I have ever slept on,” says WH associate editor Olivia Luppino. “I actively look forward to getting into bed with them.” She describes the sheets as plush to the touch, while still maintaining a sleekness that gives them a cooling feel. “They definitely keep me cool in warm summer months,” she says. “I’m very into these sheets.”

That said, one of the (few) downsides is the $300-plus price tag, which is expensive but not outrageous when it comes to linen sheets. Plus, Brooklinen tends to run frequent sales, so it’s not unusual to see a 25 percent discount. The sheets have gotten softer with each wash, but at the same time they wear like iron with no snagging, pulling, or pilling to be found.

They are also OEKO-TEX certified and come with the longest return window of our favorite cooling sheets at a whopping 365 days. If you’re looking to make an investment that will last and keep you cool in any climate, Brooklinen’s Linen Core Sheets are worth the splurge.