Do Cooling Sheets Work?

August 27, 2021 | Casper Editorial Team

If you’re reading this, chances are you know the unique purgatory of spending a sleepless night in a bed that feels like a furnace.

Whether you’re riding an August heatwave, coping with hot flashes and night sweats, or simply looking to upgrade your sleep hygiene. Switching up your bedding is consistently cited as the first line of defense when it comes to improving your nightly shut-eye.1

In your quest to cool down, you’ve probably come across “cooling” bedding—bed sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers that claim to control temperatures. But do cooling sheets really work?

The short answer is yes (thank goodness). We’ll walk you through how these linen sheets work and why you’re bound to love them, especially if you consider yourself a rather sweaty sleeper.  

Made with 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell and a unique grid weave for breathability, the Hyperlite™Sheets are the coolest sheets you’ll ever have. 

How Do Cooling Sheets Work?

Most cooling sheets derive their cooling properties from three main factors:

  • Fabric
  • Thread count
  • Texture

#1 Fabric

Fabric is the main determinant when it comes to assessing whether or not your bedding will keep you cool and comfortable. Synthetic materials like polyester and nylon ventilate poorly, while natural fibers like TENCEL™, bamboo, and cotton are top picks for their breathability and cooling properties.2 When choosing between cotton sheets, bamboo sheets, or TENCEL™ sheets, you can’t go wrong. 

Here’s the lowdown on fabrics that keep temperatures down low:

  • TENCEL™ – TENCEL™ fibers, otherwise known as Lyocell, is a soft, breathable, moisture-wicking, and wrinkle-resistant linen fabric known for keeping temperatures at bay. Derived from wood eucalyptus, beech, birch, and spruce trees, it’s recognized as a uniquely sustainable source material. TENCEL™ crops aren’t treated with pesticides, and processing requires fewer chemicals and less energy than other fibers on the market.3
  • Bamboo – Like TENCEL™ Lyocell, bamboo is another natural fiber that is a famously sustainable source for textiles. In addition to ventilating well, bamboo cooling sheets are ultra-soft, flexible, durable, and tend to feel a touch more lightweight than cotton sheets.4
  • Cotton and cotton blends – Tried and true cotton is one of the most popular textile fibers on the planet and has been since 4200 BCE.5 It’s found in 75% of apparel products and is favored for summertime wardrobes thanks to its feel, breathability, and absorbency. This is why it makes such an excellent choice for cooling bedding. When it comes to cotton performance sheets, there are a variety of options to choose from, including pima cotton, Egyptian cotton, and American Upland. 

Whichever natural fabric is used, sheets that come in lighter colors are always ideal for mitigating high temperatures. While darker hues will absorb sunlight and heat during daylight hours, light colors reflect it, which makes for a cooler night’s sleep come bedtime for the average sweaty sleeper.

#2 Thread Count

Many people believe that a higher thread count automatically translates to a superior bed sheet—in the case of a cooling bed sheet set, that simply isn’t the case. So, what is the best thread count for cool sheets?

Higher thread counts generally make for a tighter construction, which consequently increases heat retention. Cooling sheets should have spacious, breathable weaves, with thread counts somewhere in the range of 200 to 400 to allow for superior ventilation.6

#3 Texture & Weave

Lightweight fabrics can be a double-edged sword: while they feel feather-light to the touch, they also usually conform snugly around your body, trapping heat while you’re asleep. A cooling bed sheet with a crisper drape may be a better option, allowing for a roomier fit and more airflow.

Cooling sheets constructed with innovative weave patterns can also have a big impact on minimizing thermal buildup. Look for moisture wicking sheets designed with a grid or lattice pattern—they’ll help to boost the outflow of any excess body heat generated during sleep.

Benefits of Cooling Sheets

Cooling sheets capitalize on one of our body’s most basic systems, thermoregulation, to keep our body temperature in check and a good night’s sleep on the horizon.

Thermoregulation—our body’s internal temperature management system—is one essential element in a cascade of physical and metabolic functions that your body undergoes to prepare for sleep. Cooling sheets help mitigate nighttime temperature spikes, which can interfere with REM and slow-wave (or “deep”) sleep. 

Beyond the benefits of increased nighttime comfort, using a cooling linen sheet set can preserve the quality of this essential sleep stage, which helps your body with:7

  • Memory retention and cognitive clarity
  • Cell and tissue repair
  • Invigoration rather than grogginess the next morning

Do Cooling Sheets Work For Hot Flashes?

In addition to keeping the thermostat set at around 65°F8, cooling bedding is the next step in offsetting hot flashes, night sweats, and heat-related tossing and turning in the wee hours. Be sure to pair moisture wicking sheets with lightweight sleepwear, many of which are made according to the same design principles as thermoregulating bedding. If you have ever wondered, what is a cooling blanket and do they work well for hot sleepers?”, the answer is yes. Paired with cooling sheets, a cooling blanket may even help optimize your sleep routine.

Keeping Cool With The Casper Cooling Collection

When it comes to bedtime, it’s all in the details: the microelements of how we rest and restore can determine whether or not our bed feels like a fiery inferno or a cool slice of heaven that leaves us energized and refreshed for the next day.

The Casper Cooling Collection is designed for an extra chill factor so that mattresses, duvets, and linen sheet sets keep these details at the forefront. Our Hyperlite™Sheets are made with 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell in a uniquely heat-dissipating grid weave. With Casper’s breathable sheet set, you won’t just have the cool side of the pillow to enjoy—you’ll have an entire cool mattress surface.

Want the coolest sleep ever? Learn how to stay cool at night with the full Cooling Collection.

Related Content:

Do Cooling Mattresses Work?

Sources:

  1. Sleep Foundation. Common Causes of Night Sweats and How to Fix Them. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/night-sweats
  2. Yahoo! Life. Hot sleeper? The best bedding to keep you cool all night, according to experts. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/does-cool-bedding-work-163340385.html
  3. Good Housekeeping. Everything You Need to Know About Tencel Fabric. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/clothing/a27560140/what-is-tencel-fabric/ 
  4. Sewport. What is Bamboo Fabric: Properties, How its Made and Where. https://sewport.com/fabrics-directory/bamboo-fabric
  5. Sewport. What is Cotton Fabric: Properties, How its Made and Where. https://sewport.com/fabrics-directory/cotton-fabric
  6. HuffPost. The Best Sheets for Hot Sleepers. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sheets-for-sweaty-sleepers_n_596cf5fee4b0e983c058069c 
  7. WebMD. What Happens to Your Body When You Sleep? https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/what-happens-body-during-sleep 
  8. Sleep. Does Your Body Temperature Change While You Sleep? https://www.sleep.org/does-your-body-temperature-change-while-you-sleep/