The 4 Best Sheets for Hot Sleepers
Percale is our favorite cotton fabric for hot sleepers because it has a loose, plain weave, it’s lightweight, it doesn’t cling to the body, and it allows lots of air to circulate. For all our cotton recommendations see our full guide to cotton sheets.
Time-tested percale: L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set
Top pick
These comfy, cool sheets are durable, reasonably priced, and breathable (though not quite as breathable as linen), and the more you wash them, the softer they get.
Why it’s great
These sheets are cool and breathable. L.L.Bean’s crisp, refreshing 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set has been one of the top picks in our guide to the best cotton sheets since 2014. They consistently feel cool to the touch as you shift around through the night, and they let air circulate generously, so you don’t get sweaty and the moisture evaporates.
They’re ideal for year-round use. The L.L.Bean percale sheets are some of the most versatile sheets in my house because they’re sturdy and comfortable for constant use, and they serve as a fantastic base layer for any season. They’re cool and crisp on a hot summer night, yet they’re also substantial under heavier winter layers.
They’re made with high-quality cotton. These L.L.Bean sheets are made with pima cotton, long-staple cotton known for its stronger and smoother yarns. They’re the most well-constructed percale sheets we’ve tried — enduring years of everyday use without tearing — and they remain cool on the skin, getting softer with every wash. I have a set from 2017, and they consistently outperform newer sheets in our testing.
L.L.Bean also offers a one-year satisfaction guarantee.
You can purchase the sheets individually. Most sheets are sold as a set, but these are also available by the piece in case you want to mix and match your sheets, pairing a more-durable cotton fitted sheet along with a linen top sheet, for instance, or if you prefer to skip a flat sheet completely.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- A common complaint we’ve heard over the years, from both staff and readers, is that these sheets can feel too stiff or rough out of the bag. They will soften significantly over time, but they will never be as silky as sateen sheets, which are warmer.
- These L.L.Bean sheets are made of a thickly woven percale that’s heavier than most other percales we’ve tested (another reason these sheets age so well), which means they’re not as light and airy as some other percales.
Modern prints: Brooklinen Classic Percale Core Sheet Set
Top pick
Crisp and cool, these percale sheets feel lovely against the skin. The sharp prints change every few months and suit a range of styles.
We’ve been recommending the Brooklinen Classic Percale Core Sheet Set in our guide to printed sheets since 2021.
Why it’s great
They’re light and airy. These sheets are cool and crisp to sleep under on warm summer nights. They’re also thinner and lighter than the L.L.Bean sheets, a feel that some people prefer.
They come in beautiful prints. These sheets have some of the prettiest patterns and colors we’ve seen, from neutral solids to modern and whimsical prints. Their options change seasonally, so if you spot a design or color you like, don’t wait, as it may not be around for long.
They’re Oeko-Tex–certified. These Brooklinen sheets are our only percale pick that’s Oeko-Tex–certified, which means they’re tested to be free of various harmful substances, such as pesticides, heavy metals, and carcinogenic colorants.
Brooklinen has a generous warranty and return policy. Beyond its initial 365-day return window, Brooklinen also offers an additional one-year extended warranty, which is more generous than L.L.Bean’s guarantee on its sheets.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- These sheets don’t soften up as much as the L.L.Bean sheets do.
- Brooklinen’s seasonal prints and colors can sell out fast — and usually they don’t come back.
- Only standard colors are available from Brooklinen as single sheets; if you prefer special prints or color options, you have to buy a whole set.
Affordable organic sheets: Target Threshold 250 Thread Count Organic Percale Sheet Set
Budget pick
Inexpensive high-quality percale sheets are one of the hardest things to find, and this set is well-made organic cotton that’s cool to sleep on and half the price of our other percale picks.
Why it’s great
It’s affordable and well-made. Target’s Threshold 250 Thread Count Organic Percale Sheet Set is less than half the price of our other percale picks. It’s also GOTS-certified, and it has Oeko-Tex’s Made in Green certification (so far, Target’s bedding brand is the only one I’ve encountered in my tests that carries that certification). That’s remarkable at this price, and the sheets are light and breezy to sleep on.
It comes in several prints and colors. The options change throughout the year but it’s usually available in several solids and print options, including some seasonal prints.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Target discontinues its percale sheets all the time, so it’s hard to predict how long this pick will remain in stock.
- Organic cotton is usually short-staple cotton, which can feel scratchier than the long-staple kind. And percale is a stiffer, wrinklier weave. Combined, those factors make this our roughest percale pick, so if you’re unsure whether you like percale at all, I suggest trying to touch these sheets in person at Target before buying them (in my testing, the feel out of the package was pretty similar to the feel after a few washes). Target has a one-year return policy for its own brands’ products if you buy them and don’t like them.
