Key Takeaways
Sleep experts unanimously recommend 100% cotton sheets for better rest, citing their breathability, moisture-wicking abilities, and comfort across temperatures.
Bamboo comes in second for its soft, hypoallergenic, and cooling qualities, making it ideal for sensitive or sweaty sleepers.
Tencel and linen also rank high for keeping sleepers cool and dry, offering natural alternatives that promote airflow and comfort throughout the night.
The formula for great sleep is a nuanced and highly personalized one, full of white noise machines, blackout curtains, melatonin bottles, and beyond. Bedding matters, too, and not all sheets are created equally. Some are scratchy or hold onto sweat, and others don’t provide enough warmth or coziness.
This raises the question: Which sheet material actually supports the best night of sleep? To find out, we asked four sleep experts to share their top pick—and they all agreed on the same answer.
Meet Our Expert
Andrea Matsumura, MD, a board-certified physician in internal medicine and sleep medicine, and founder of The D.R.E.A.M. Sleep Method
Priya Shah, MD, a family medicine doctor at Aylo Health in Dawsonville, Georgia
Michael J. Breus, PhD, clinical psychologist, fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and Chief Sleep Officer at Orion Sleeps
Related: Find Your New Favorite Bedtime Products With Our 2025 Smart Sleep Award Winners!
The Best Bed Sheet Material
There was no contest for the best bed sheet material; all four of the sleep experts we interviewed agreed that 100% cotton was the easy winner based on both clinical experience and sleep research findings. Extra credit points go to long-staple varieties, like Egyptian or Pima cotton.
“Cotton is breathable, relatively good at wicking moisture, and comfortable across a broad range of temperatures,” notes Andrea Matsumura, MD, a sleep medicine physician. “Because body temperature and thermal comfort strongly influence sleep onset and maintenance, fabrics that let heat dissipate tend to support deeper sleep and fewer night awakenings.”
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She adds that while clinical research on sleep textiles isn’t super extensive, the studies we do have on thermoregulation point to breathability as a key factor in sleep quality. Cotton’s natural fiber structure allows better air circulation than many synthetics, reducing heat build-up and sweat accumulation that can disrupt sleep.
Angela Holliday-Bell, MD, a board-certified physician and certified clinical sleep specialist, agrees. She says, “For most people, 100% cotton is the most reliable option because it allows airflow, releases heat, and manages moisture well, which helps prevent overheating and nighttime awakenings.”
Priya Shah, MD, a family medicine doctor at Aylo Health, tripled down on the cotton bed sheets for better sleep, noting that disrupted temperature is one of the most common causes of poor sleep quality. “Bedding materials that promote breathability make a meaningful difference for many people,” she notes. Cotton promises exactly that.
A Close Second (and Third) Place Winner
If you’ve tried cotton and it’s not for you—or you simply want to expand your bedsheet horizons—you’ve still got some options. The clear second place winner in our experiment was bamboo.
“Bamboo would be my close second choice—it is ultra-soft and feels like a mini luxury at bedtime,” Dr. Shah says. “Importantly, bamboo is hypoallergenic with moisture-wicking properties, making it especially great for those with sensitive skin or ‘sweaty sleepers.’” Like cotton, it’s also affordable and easy to find.
Tencel is often grouped into the same category as bamboo as newer, naturally cooling cellulosic fabrics, notes Michael J. Breus, PhD, a clinical psychologist and fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He especially recommends them for hot sleepers, noting that these materials may even be superior to cotton if you tend to overheat at night.
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In third place was linen, another natural bedding material made from the flax plant. “Linen bedding consistently performs well in warm rooms because it lets air move freely and helps prevent that ‘sticking to the sheets’ feeling,” Dr. Breus says. It’s another good one for breathability, comfort, and moisture-wicking.
Of course, we’re all different and you may find that a different bedding material meets your needs. But if you’ve been searching for new sheets and aren’t sure where to start, 100% cotton, followed by bamboo and linen, all get an enthusiastic green light from the pros.
Related: 5 Scandinavian-Inspired Sleep Hacks You Should Try to Finally Feel Well-Rested
Read the original article on Real Simple
