If you run high body temperature at night, you run the risk of disturbed sleep due to overheating. Feeling hot in bed can lead to night sweats, dehydration, and general discomfort.
Bamboo sheets keep the average sleeper 3OF cooler than cotton sheets. That may not sound like a significant temperature change, but it can affect your ability to fall asleep and remain that way.
Bamboo is a good insulator, so you’ll be just as comfortable during the fall and winter.
Bamboo sheets are more durable than cotton sheets, are usually hypoallergenic for sleepers with allergies, and are moisture-wicking, so you won’t wake up with drenched sheets.
These are compelling arguments regarding why bamboo sheets are better for hot sleepers. However, bamboo sheets are considerably more expensive and more vulnerable to damage.
Are Bamboo Sheets Cool to Sleep On?
Sheets made from bamboo help regulate your temperature overnight, especially if you have a higher body temperature. This is largely due to the way that bamboo deals with moisture.
Rather than absorbing moisture into the bedding, leading to a sweaty, sticky feel, the humidity is pushed to the exterior, where it evaporates. This keeps your body temperature consistent for 8 hours.
Bamboo bedsheets have 3 main weaves, each with slightly different qualities:
- Percale weaves are the most lightweight and breathable bamboo sheets. They’re popular with people who sweat heavily at night and struggle to feel cool.
- Sateen weaves feel silky and look equally lustrous, often remaining smooth and resisting wrinkles.
- Twill weaves are the most basic bamboo bedsheets. This tight, fine weave feels softer than cotton.
Make your choice of bamboo bedsheets based on what you value most. Percale is the lightest weave for people wanting to stay cool, Sateen looks impressive, and Twill is the softest material.
Whichever weave of bamboo sheets you choose, you’ll enjoy this material’s temperature regulation properties, in addition to ecologically-friendly credentials and various benefits.
Are Bamboo or Cotton Sheets Cooler?
Bamboo is about 3OF cooler than cotton when used for bedsheets, mainly due to the moisture-wicking properties of bamboo. You’re less likely to feel sweat and uncomfortable overnight.
Bamboo sheets can regulate your temperature if you’d rather avoid other ways of staying cool in bed, most notably sleeping naked and without blankets.
Are Bamboo Sheets Cold in Winter?
While bamboo sheets may keep you cool during the hot and sticky summer months, you may be concerned that this bedding will be too cold for comfort when ambient temperatures drop.
Thankfully, bamboo also provides warmth when it gets cold in the winter.
According to the Journal of Wood Science, bamboo is a natural insulator that holds heat. This explains why bamboo grows in hot and arid environments and temperatures as low as 20OF.
Bamboo sheets will adjust to your body temperature when you get into bed.
Are Bamboo Sheets Softer Than Egyptian Cotton?
Temperature regulation is fundamental to remaining comfortable during sleep, but soft and silky sheets help you relax when climbing into bed, hence the appeal of Egyptian cotton bedding.
Egyptian cotton is often considered the embodiment of luxury in bedsheets, with many high-end hotels using this material to make their bedding comfortable.
While there’s no denying that Egyptian cotton is soft to the touch, bamboo can feel comparable.
Based on the thread count, Egyptian cotton is superior. The maximum thread count of bamboo bedding is usually 400, while Egyptian cotton can reach 700.
Bamboo fabric is naturally softer than any cotton, regardless of its country of origin.
Bamboo sheets with a thread count of 300 are considered super-soft, while cotton sheets need a thread count of at least 400 or higher to achieve the same feel.
Both bamboo and Egyptian cotton soften with every wash.
Are Bamboo Sheets Good for Your Skin and Hair?
Another advantage of bamboo sheets is they’re kinder to skin and hair than cotton. People with eczema find bamboo sheets highly beneficial, as the smoothness of the material prevents irritation.
Bamboo sheets have natural antibiotic properties, making you less likely to experience acne breakouts. Your skin will have an opportunity to repair overnight without infection entering the skin pores.
The smoothness of bamboo sheets will also avoid the friction associated with cotton. As a result, your skin won’t be pulled out of position while you sleep, preventing sleep lines and wrinkles.
These qualities will also assist your hair while you sleep.
The absence of friction will reduce tangles and knots, even if you wear a wig in bed, and help you avoid split ends. The antimicrobial properties of bamboo can prevent scalp itching and irritation.
As bamboo is moisture-wicking, you can climb into bed with wet hair. While bamboo won’t dry your hair instantly, it’ll absorb excess moisture overnight without removing the natural, nourishing oils.
Are Bamboo Sheets Hypoallergenic?
Allergies can be a major stumbling block when attempting to sleep. If you experience restricted breathing overnight, you’ll snore and may experience other unwelcome side effects.
Bamboo sheets naturally repel dust mites, as they won’t provide the moisture needed to flourish. This bedding is also antibacterial and antifungal by nature.
Other measures will be needed if your allergy is caused by an external factor, like laundry detergent used to wash your bedding or pollen blowing through an open bedroom window.
Are Bamboo Sheets Hard to Dry?
Bamboo sheets dry much faster than cotton due to the material’s absorbency.
If you have a washing line, your bamboo sheets will usually dry in less than an hour on a sunny day with a fair wind. Bamboo will also dry indoors faster than cotton.
If you dry bamboo sheets in a dryer, be more careful than you would with cotton. Wash and dry bamboo bedding at a low temperature for a short period, regularly checking its progress.
Running a dryer at an intense heat or leaving the bamboo sheets in the appliance for too long can cause the material to shrink. Always air-dry bamboo whenever possible.
Bamboo sheets are also more prone to wrinkling when dry. You may need to iron your bedding at a low temperature to maintain its appearance.
Are Bamboo Sheets Durable?
One of the advantages of bamboo sheets is they’re far more durable than cotton sheets. Bamboo is robust, so you won’t tear your bedding while tossing and turning.
Better still, bamboo improves in terms of comfort with every wash.
Cotton sheets can feel scratchy and bobbly after being washed several times, but bamboo will become progressively softer and feel more pleasant against the skin.
A high-quality bamboo bedding set will likely last up to 1,000 washes, provided you care for it properly and wash at an appropriate temperature.
Assuming you wash your bedsheets once a week, bamboo sheets could last almost 20 years. You can extend its life by washing the sheets infrequently, but this has other drawbacks.
Can Bamboo Pillows Stop Snoring?
If you get bamboo bedsheets, you’ll pair these with pillowcases of the same material. Buying bamboo pillows may reduce the volume and intensity of snoring, depending on the cause.
Bamboo pillows aren’t a miracle cure for snoring and can’t resolve issues like weight gain. Equally, you must sleep on your side to reduce snoring on bamboo pillows.
They can reduce snoring if external factors are responsible. Bamboo pillows’ hypoallergenic and breathable nature will keep the throat and nose open if your airways are restricted due to allergies.
Bamboo pillows hold their shape longer, meaning your head will be more elevated. This will promote a steady oxygen flow into the lungs, minimizing the risk of loud and disruptive snoring.
How Much Do Bamboo Sheets Cost?
Although we have extolled the virtues of bamboo sheets, especially for people who prefer to remain cooler while sleeping, this material has a downside.
It costs significantly more than cotton, with a price point closer to silk bedding.
You’ll likely need to spend at least $100 for mid-range bamboo sheets on a double bed, with higher-quality bedding costing significantly more.
While the durability of bamboo can make these sheets a worthwhile expenditure, the initial asking price can be off-putting for many people.
Pros and Cons of Bamboo Sheets
If you’re still on the fence about whether bamboo sheets are the best choice for bedding, let’s summarise the advantages and disadvantages of this material:
| Pros of Bamboo Sheets | Cons of Bamboo Sheets |
| Bamboo sheets moderate body temperature without growing too cold in the winter months. | Bamboo sheets are far more expensive than cotton. |
| Bamboo sheets won’t extract moisture from the skin and hair, helping avoid wrinkles and sleep lines. | Bamboo sheets, while durable, must be washed and dried on low heat to avoid shrinking. |
| Well-cared-for bamboo sheets are very durable and potentially last for decades. | Dry bamboo sheets can wrinkle, so you must iron them regularly for aesthetic reasons. |
| Bamboo sheets are hypoallergenic and minimize the risk of allergic reactions. | |
| Bamboo pillows are more breathable than cotton, which can reduce snoring. |
If you want to remain cool at night, can afford the price, and provide this bedding with the high level of care it needs, bamboo bedsheets are a good addition to the bedroom.
