For hot sleepers, the short answer is that eucalyptus (lyocell) sheets and cotton percale are both good choices, and bamboo sheets are usually viscose, a close cousin of lyocell made by a different process. The fiber matters, but so does the weave: a crisp cotton percale can sleep as cool as a silky lyocell, while a heavy cotton sateen tends to feel warmer.
Below we explain what each fabric really is, compare them side by side, and give a few simple rules for choosing.
Quick answer table
This is a general, qualitative comparison. Individual sheet sets vary with weave, weight and finish.
| Eucalyptus (lyocell) | "Bamboo" (viscose/rayon) | Cotton percale | Cotton sateen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Smooth, cool, slightly silky | Very soft, silky, drapey | Crisp, matte, light | Smooth, silky, heavier |
| Breathability | Good | Good | Very good | Moderate |
| Moisture handling | Good | Good | Good | Moderate |
| Wrinkles | Some | Some | Wrinkles easily | Fewer wrinkles |
| Care | Gentle washing usually recommended | Gentle washing usually recommended | Easy, tolerates hot washes | Easy |
| Best for | Hot sleepers who like a smooth feel | People who want the softest feel | Hot sleepers who like a crisp feel | People who run cold or like a silky look |
What "eucalyptus" bedding is
Eucalyptus bedding is almost always made of lyocell. Lyocell is a fiber made by dissolving wood pulp, often from eucalyptus trees, in a solvent and spinning it into fibers. The process is often described as closed-loop, meaning most of the solvent is recovered and reused.
"Eucalyptus silk" is a marketing term. There's no silk in it. It describes how smooth the lyocell fabric feels. You'll also see trademarked fiber names on some lyocell bedding. Those brand names belong to specific fiber makers, and a product should only use one if its fiber actually comes from that maker. We simply call ours eucalyptus lyocell.
People tend to describe eucalyptus sheets as cool to the touch, smooth, and good at handling moisture. Because the fiber is smooth, the fabric often has a slight sheen.
What "bamboo" bedding is
Most sheets sold as bamboo aren't made of bamboo fiber. They're made of rayon (also called viscose), a fiber produced by chemically dissolving plant cellulose, which can come from bamboo, and spinning it into new fibers. Once processed, there's no trace of the original plant in the fabric.
The US Federal Trade Commission's guidance on bamboo textiles says textiles can only be called bamboo if they're made directly from actual bamboo fiber. Rayon made using bamboo as the plant source should be labeled and advertised as "rayon made from bamboo" or "viscose made from bamboo". So if you see "bamboo viscose" or "rayon from bamboo" on a label, that's the accurate description.
Bamboo viscose sheets are known for being very soft and drapey. Viscose and lyocell are both cellulose fibers, but they're made by different processes. In everyday use they feel similar: smooth and soft, with good moisture handling.
Cotton: percale vs sateen for hot sleepers
Cotton is the most familiar sheet fabric, and how it's woven changes how warm it feels.
- Percale is a simple one-over, one-under weave. It makes a crisp, matte, breathable fabric, a bit like a good cotton shirt. Many hot sleepers prefer it because air moves through it easily. It wrinkles more.
- Sateen floats more threads across the surface. That gives a silkier feel and a slight sheen, but the fabric is denser, so it usually feels a little warmer and heavier than percale.
If you like cotton and sleep hot, choose percale.
Weave and thread count matter less than you think
Thread count is the number of threads in a square inch of fabric. Very high numbers are often achieved with thinner, multi-ply threads, which can make a fabric denser and warmer without making it better. For hot sleepers, the fiber and the weave make more difference than the thread count printed on the package.
A few things that matter more than thread count:
- The fiber: lyocell, viscose and cotton all breathe better than polyester.
- The weave: percale is the most breathable common weave.
- The weight: a lighter fabric traps less heat.
- The fit: sheets that fit your mattress properly stay smooth, so they don't bunch up and trap heat.
How to choose
Here are simple rules depending on what matters most to you.
- You want the coolest, crispest feel: cotton percale.
- You want smooth and cool with a slight sheen: eucalyptus lyocell.
- You want the softest, silkiest feel: bamboo viscose or lyocell.
- You want easy care and hot washes: cotton.
- You have a deep mattress: check the pocket depth before anything else. A sheet that doesn't fit will slip off at the corners whatever it's made of.
- You run cold or like a heavier feel: cotton sateen.
Also think about the rest of the bed. Cool sheets under a heavy comforter won't help much. Our guide on how to choose a cooling comforter for hot sleepers covers the other half of the bed.
Caring for each fabric
How you wash sheets affects how long they stay soft. Always check the care label first, since makers' instructions differ. As a general guide:
- Lyocell (eucalyptus): usually a cool or warm gentle cycle with a mild detergent, and a low-heat tumble dry or line dry. High heat can make the fibers feel rougher over time.
- Viscose (bamboo): similar to lyocell. Viscose is weaker when wet, so gentle cycles and low heat help it last.
- Cotton percale and sateen: the easiest to care for. Cotton tolerates warmer washes, which is useful if you sweat at night and want to wash sheets often.
For any fabric, skip fabric softener on sheets you want to stay breathable, since it leaves a coating on the fibers. Don't overload the washer, and rotate between two sets so each one gets a rest.
A note on "cooling" claims
No sheet actively cools you. Words like cooling, temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking describe how a fabric handles heat and sweat compared with others, not a set number of degrees. Be skeptical of any sheet that promises a specific temperature drop, and judge sheets by fiber, weave, weight and fit instead.
Do eucalyptus sheets wrinkle?
They can. Lyocell wrinkles less than cotton percale for many people, but more than polyester. Taking sheets out of the dryer promptly and smoothing them onto the bed while still slightly warm keeps most wrinkles away.
Are eucalyptus sheets sustainable?
It depends on the product and the supplier. Lyocell is made from wood pulp, and many lyocell producers describe their process as closed-loop, recovering and reusing most of the solvent. Sleepmōd, the maker of the sheets we sell, says its eucalyptus fabric is made from sustainably grown eucalyptus using a closed-loop process. We pass on that claim as the maker's; we don't test it ourselves.
Where CasaHeart fits
We sell eucalyptus sheets as part of a set, not on their own. The Cooling Sleep Set combines a Sleepmōd eucalyptus sheet set (fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases) with the Sleepmōd eucalyptus comforter and two quilted shams. The fitted sheet has deep 16 inch pockets with elastic, so it suits thicker mattresses and mattress toppers. Sleepmōd describes the sheet fabric as cooling, breathable and moisture-wicking.
The set is $359 for Full, $379 for Queen and $469 for King; check the product page for current stock by size. If you only want the comforter and shams, the Sleepmōd Eucalyptus Comforter Set is $199 for Queen/Full and $250 for King/Cal-King. Both ship free to the contiguous 48 US states.
Browse the rest of our bedding in Bedding and Bath.