The main sleep challenge you have to prepare for in the spring and summer is the heat and the sweating. With rising temperatures, your bed can quickly turn from a warm cozy nest into an uncomfortable oven that keeps you awake at night.  

To avoid insomnia and sleep deprivation caused by overheating, here are the best sheets we recommend for spring and summer. 

What To Look for in Spring/Summer Sheets

• Breathable — you need this if you want to sleep cool. Some sheets, like microfiber ones, trap heat and can overheat you at night. In keeping you cool, breathable bed sheets also reduce how much you sweat. 
• Moisture-wicking/absorbent — get sheets that absorb sweat off your skin. They ensure you don't wake up feeling clammy with sweat. 
• Quick-drying — if you tend to sweat a lot at night, get sheets that dry quickly. Slow-drying sheets will stay uncomfortably damp and can be bad for the health of your skin, especially if you are prone to acne.  

The Five Best Types of Bed Sheets for Spring and Summer

1. Percale Cotton Sheets 

As you’ll notice with all our picks, they are either fully or semi natural. Natural fabrics are excellent at cooling and moisture-wicking, making them the best choices for warmer months. 

Cotton sheets are the most affordable natural sheets. Cotton fabrics are made with different kinds of weaves including percale, sateen, jersey and twill. Percale and sateen are the most commonly used ones for sheets. 

If you want the coolest cotton sheets, get percale sheets. They have a crispy texture that feels cool against your skin.  

2. Sateen Cotton Sheets

Sateen cotton sheets have a smoother and denser weave. They feel softer and more luxurious against your skin. On the downside, they sleep a tad warmer compared to percale sheets, but are still cooler compared to cheaper microfiber or polyester bed sheets. 

As long as you are not a hot sleeper and you don't get night sweats, sateen cotton sheets should be fine to use in bed. You can also start out with soft sateen sheets in the spring and then later switch to percale sheets as the weather warms up in summer. 

3. Linen Sheets 

Linen sheets are pricier than cotton ones, but they sleep cooler. Linen is made from flax plant and is best known for its durability. A set of linen sheets will serve you well for years, making them an excellent investment. 

Linen sheets can feel a bit rough in the beginning, but they get softer with every wash. Also note that they require gentle care (they are delicate when wet) and tend to wrinkle easily (though some people love the rustic lived-in look). 

Linen sheets are also great for night sweats. They can absorb plenty of moisture, and quickly let go of it. So if you are looking for sheets that are a match for the heat and sweat of peak summer, linen is one of the best options. 

4. Silk Sheets

When we talk about silk sheets, we don't mean those cheap silk-like satin sheets that are made with synthetic materials. Those are terrible for summer since they trap heat and don't absorb sweat.

Proper 100% mulberry silk sheets are pricey, but worth every cent. They are super soft, they last a long time (with good care) and they stay cool on the hottest nights. 

On the downside, they require delicate care, including special detergent and air drying.   

5. Semi-synthetic Sheets (Bamboo, Tencel or Modal)  

If you are on a budget, semi-synthetic sheets are pretty good when it comes to keeping you cool and sweat-free. 

The three best semi-synthetic sheets are bamboo, Tencel/Lyocell (eucalyptus) and modal. All are plant based but require chemical processing, which is why they are referred to as being semi-synthetic.  

Final Thoughts

For guys (and ladies) we recommend the Hercleon Jax sheets. They are not only designed to keep you cool in the summer, they also have antimicrobial properties that protect your skin from acne and other issues. 

As you upgrade your sheets for the warmer seasons, also consider getting a lightweight comforter, a cooling duvet cover, a more breathable pillowcase and maybe even switching your heat-trapping foam mattress for a cooler latex or hybrid one.

You can have the coolest sheets in the world, but if your comforter or mattress traps too much body heat, you are still going to wake up hot and clammy. Making your entire bed cooler will help you sleep much better, especially if you are a naturally hot sleeper.