You fall asleep fine, then wake at 2 a.m. kicking off the covers, with a warm pillow and a sweaty back. If you sleep hot, you already know a bad night can start with the bed itself. So how do you make your bed cooler?
Start with a cool room, switch to breathable sheets like percale, linen or bamboo-derived fabric, and swap your heavy comforter for a lighter layer. Add a mattress setup that doesn’t trap heat, and most hot sleepers notice a difference quickly.
Start with the room
The bed is only part of the story. Many sleep experts suggest keeping a bedroom on the cool side, often around 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit, though personal comfort varies. Before you change a single sheet, try these:
- Close the blinds or curtains during the day so the sun doesn’t bake the room.
- Run a fan or air conditioner before bed so the room, and the mattress, start out cool.
- Keep the air moving at night with a quiet fan.
- Skip heavy meals, alcohol and intense workouts right before bed, since they can leave you feeling warmer.
If the room itself is too hot, no sheet will save you. In that case, look at how you’re cooling the space, and consider adding a portable unit. Our guide on installing a portable air conditioner in a sliding window walks through the setup.
Why do you overheat in bed?
Your body naturally cools down in the evening to help you drift off, and bedding that traps heat or moisture works against that. Heat gets stuck when fabrics are dense and don’t let air through, when a mattress or topper holds warmth against your body, or when your blanket’s thicker than you need.
Sweat makes it worse, because damp fabric that doesn’t dry quickly feels clammy.
Choose breathable sheets for hot sleepers
Sheets are the layer closest to your skin, so they matter more than you might expect. Here’s what to look for:
- Percale weave cotton. A crisp, matte, plain weave that lets air flow. Many hot sleepers love the cool, dry feel. Our roundup of cotton percale sheets has options.
- Bamboo-derived fabrics. Often soft and smooth, and many people find them cool to the touch and good at wicking moisture. Browse bamboo sheets for hot sleepers to compare.
- Linen. Naturally airy and quick to dry, though it feels textured at first.
Be cautious with sateen, flannel and microfiber if you run hot. Sateen has a smoother, denser weave that can feel warmer, and flannel is built for warmth. For more on how these fabrics differ, read our plain-English guide to sheet fabrics.
One more thing: a higher thread count doesn’t mean a cooler sheet. Very high counts can mean a denser fabric with less airflow, so the weave and fiber matter more than the number.
Rethink your top layer
A thick comforter is often the biggest culprit. Try a lighter blanket, or a lightweight duvet in summer. Layering helps too. A sheet plus a light blanket lets you adjust through the night by pushing a layer aside, which beats wrestling with one heavy comforter.
Share a bed with someone who sleeps cold? Individual blankets can solve a lot of arguments.
If you’d rather have a single cooler option, see our guide to cooling comforters for hot sleepers. Just remember that terms like “cooling” aren’t regulated, so look at the materials and construction instead of trusting the label alone.
Check what’s under the sheets
Your mattress, and whatever sits on top of it, can hold heat against your body. Some foam mattresses and thick toppers trap warmth, while innerspring and hybrid designs tend to let more air move.
The good news? You don’t have to replace your mattress. A breathable protector can help, especially a thin one that wicks moisture. Waterproof protectors with plastic backing can feel hot, so check the fabric and how well it breathes. Compare choices in our roundup of cooling mattress protectors.
Don’t forget your pillow
If you keep flipping the pillow to find the cool side, it may be holding heat. Try a thinner pillow, one with a breathable cover, or one filled with materials that let air pass through. Keep the pillowcase breathable and change it regularly.
Small habits that help
- Wear light, loose pajamas made from natural, breathable fabrics, or sleep with less on.
- Wash bedding regularly, since body oils and sweat build up in the fabric and make it feel heavier and warmer.
- Take a lukewarm shower before bed instead of a very hot one.
- Stay hydrated through the day.
- Keep your feet slightly uncovered. Sticking one foot out of the blankets helps many people cool down.
When it might be something else
If you regularly sweat through your sheets, wake up drenched, or notice night sweats along with other symptoms, your bedding may not be the cause. Talk to a doctor, since night sweats can come from medications, hormonal changes or health conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the coolest bedding for hot sleepers?
Percale cotton, linen and bamboo-derived sheets are popular picks because they let air move and dry quickly. Pair them with a light blanket rather than a thick comforter.
Does a higher thread count sleep cooler?
No. Very high counts can make the fabric denser, which means less airflow. The weave and fiber matter more.
What temperature should my bedroom be for sleeping?
Many sleep experts suggest around 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit, though comfort varies from person to person. Start there and adjust to what feels right for you.
The bottom line
To make your bed cooler, the winning combination for most hot sleepers is a cool room, breathable sheets, a lighter top layer and a mattress setup that doesn’t trap heat. Begin with the cheapest fixes, usually the sheets and the room temperature, and add changes one at a time so you can tell what actually works for you.