The Best Products for Night Sweats, According to Experts

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, tossing and turning in a pool of sweat? A little perspiration is normal at night, but if sweaty slumber is a regular occurrence, it might be time to consider swapping your current bedding with some cooling alternatives.

FYI: Excessive night sweats (aka sleep hyperhidrosis) are actually pretty common. While the exact incidence rate isn't known, a review of hospital data from 1966 through 2011, published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, found that night sweats may affect anywhere between 10 and 40 percent of people in the U.S., depending on the age group and other health-related factors. "True prevalence for the entire population is likely somewhere in between," says Sujay Kansagra, Mattress Firm's sleep health expert and the director of Duke University's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program.

Common as they may be, night sweats can sometimes be more than just a nuisance for your sleep schedule (not to mention your sheets). If you often wake up noticeably sweating—and, as far as you know, nothing has changed in your sleep environment to cause the night sweats—it could be a sign that something underlying needs to be addressed, says Roy Raymann, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at SleepScore Labs.

"Excessive night sweats mostly have a medical cause, " he explains. Side effects to certain medications (such as steroids, SSRI antidepressants, and aspirin, among others), some types of infections (including certain respiratory infections, fungal diseases, and bacterial infections, according to Mayo Clinic), hormonal issues (such as menopause), and sleep apnea (in which breathing is restricted and the lack of oxygen triggers sweat) are considered some of the most common causes of night sweats, says Raymann. If you notice a possible link between your night sweats and one of these causes, it's best to touch base with your doc in order to get the appropriate treatment, he notes. (

That said, sweating in your sleep isn't always linked to a medical concern. If you get the all-clear from your doctor, customizing your sleep environment to fit your cooling needs should be your next step, says Dr. Kansagra.

First, check all daily stressors at the door; work, family, and the billion other things you think about each day can creep into your dreams and cause your body to sweat in response, explains Dr. Kansagra.

Next, set your thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit—the ideal temperature range for a good night's sleep, he says.

Lastly, shop the below expert-recommended products for hot sleepers, from the best cooling mattress to fans that keep you cool at night.

Best Cooling Sheets for Hot Sleepers: Smart Cool Microfiber Sheet Set

When shopping for sheets as a hot sleeper, choosing the right fabric is essential. Be on the lookout for moisture-wicking fabrics like microfiber, which can help regulate your body temperature while sleeping, says board-certified chiropractor Rubina Tahir, D.C.

Buy It: Smart Cool Microfiber Sheet Set, $23, target.com

Brooklinen Luxe Core Sleep Set

Cotton is also considered a solid cooling fabric. Rose MacDowell, chief research officer at mattress review website Sleepopolis, recommends Brooklinen's Luxe Core Sheet Set. The sheets are made with a 480-thread count and smooth weave, making them "as luxe as their name implies," she says. "The light, breathable [long-staple cotton] is airy, cool, and crisp without feeling rough," she adds. (

Buy It: Brooklinen Luxe Core Sleep Set $129, brooklinen.com

Sleepletics Celliant Performance Sheet Set

The key detail in these sheets: Celliant. In case you're not familiar with the FDA-determined technology, Celliant is a type of fiber made from a blend of minerals that are said to help convert body heat into infrared energy, which, in turn, can help increase blood flow, circulation, and regulate body temperature, overall promoting better sleep, explains Kevin Queen, CEO of Sleepletics. The fabric is also said to aid in faster, more efficient muscle recovery overnight, making these sheets an excellent option for athletes or anyone who trains regularly. (This Under Armour athleisure collection uses Celliant to promote workout recovery, too.)

Buy It: Celliant Performance Sheet Set, $115, sleepletics.com

Sheets & Giggles Eucalyptus Lyocell Sheet Set

Sheets & Giggles lyocell fabric is sourced from high-quality eucalyptus wood pulp, says Colin Mclntosh, Founder of Sheets & Giggles. It's a sustainable, renewable, and natural material that delivers everything you could want in a bedsheet. Each set is soft to the touch, hypoallergenic, breathable, and moisture-wicking, catering to every kind of sleeper, including those who get night sweats, according to reviews.

Buy It: Eucalyptus Lyocell Sheet Set, $138, sheetsgiggles.com

Best Cooling Mattress for Hot Sleepers: Amerisleep AS3 Memory Foam Mattress

This option from Amerisleep is a gem for sweaty sleepers with a passion for sustainability. Unlike traditional memory foam mattresses that are made from fabrics that trap heat, Amerisleep's AS3 Memory Foam Mattress is constructed from Bio-Pur®, a plant-based memory foam that's super breathable and significantly less toxic, says Erin Rossi, a certified sleep science coach and writer at SimplyRest.com. The cooling material is featured in the comfort layer of the mattress (the padding that creates a buffer between you and the hard metal coils of the mattress), notes Rossi, and you can choose a level of firmness that suits your specific sleep position. (

Buy It: Amerisleep AS3 Memory Foam Mattress, $979, amerisleep.com

Intellibed Gel Matrix Mattress

Previously, Gel Matrix technology was exclusively used for medical purposes with the intention to help improve the sleep of burn patients and patients with long hospital stays. Now, the technology is available to the masses via Intellibed, and if you're on the hunt for the best cooling mattress, you'll definitely want to take advantage.

Gel Matrix, made from food-grade mineral oil, is hypoallergenic and 100 percent nontoxic. Its unique technology allows for optimal airflow through an organic cooling system, so it's constantly regulating temperatures to ensure you're never too warm or too cold. What's more, the makers of the mattress claim it's the first bedding material to be soft and firm at the same time—meaning, no more compromising on either front.

Buy It: Intellibed Gel Matrix Mattress, starting at $3,799, intellibed.com

ViscoSoft Cooling Copper Mattress Topper

If you can't shell out for a new mattress right now, mattress toppers can make a great, more affordable alternative. The best cooling mattress topper to invest in: Viscosoft Cooling Copper Mattress Topper. Thanks to its phase change material—a textile specifically designed to prevent the build-up of body heat, explains MacDowell—it's aces for sweaty sleepers. The mattress topper is also infused with copper, which can help draw heat away from the body, adds MacDowell.

Buy It: ViscoSoft Cooling Copper Mattress Topper, $60, viscosoft.com

Best Cooling Pillows for Hot Sleepers: Layla Kapok Pillow

MacDowell recommends resting your head on Layla Sleep Pillows because they strike the perfect balance between fluffy and supportive. Plus, the pillows are stuffed with shredded memory foam and a down alternative called Kapok, meaning you'll always be sleeping on the cool side of the pillow, she adds.

"Pillows filled with shredded materials are generally more breathable, as the individual pieces of stuffing can move freely within the fabric," explains MacDowell. "Plus, this pillow's soft, stretch-knit cover is infused with copper, a material that can pull heat away from the face and head."

Buy It: Layla Kapok Pillow, $99, laylasleep.com

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow

When it comes to finding the best cooling mattress or the best cooling pillow, gel fabric seems to be the name of the game. What makes Tempur-Pedic's pillow so chill is the gel layer added to both sides for maximum cooling throughout the night. You've heard the diddy "cooler than the other side of the pillow"? Well, this is it.

Buy It: Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow, $136, overstock.com

Snuggle-Pedic Original Pillow

Snuggle-Pedic's pillow features a self-adapting technology, meaning it offers sleepers exactly what they need when they need it. Aside from contouring to your head and neck, the pillow is made from bamboo, allowing air to circulate through the fabric for maximum breathability and coolness all night long.

Buy It: Snuggle-Pedic Original Pillow, $60, snugglepedic.com

Best Cooling Fans for Hot Sleepers: Bed Bath & Beyond 6-Inch Clip Fan

Did you know your feet help sustain your body temperature? You can cool yourself down (or warm yourself up) by tending to your soles, says Tahir. She recommends adding a fan to your bedroom setup if you tend to get night sweats.

"Use a clip fan (portable) on a chair at the foot of your bed to target your feet [and only your feet]," she suggests. "[This method] keeps air off your face and you are less likely to wake up with a dry throat."

Buy It: 6-Inch Clip Fan, $10, bedbathandbeyond.com

Dyson Cool Air AM07 Tower Fan

Any Dyson product is going to be a splurge, but if you have the means to treat yourself to something a little pricey, the Dyson AM07 Tower Fan is worth the investment. The fan is said to promote optimal, continuous airflow throughout your entire bedroom. Just don't forget to change its filters, says Mara Cvejic Paryani, a neurologist and sleep specialist.

"[The filters on your fan] get clogged, and are often, both economically and performance-wise, a smart thing to keep your house cool," explains Dr. Paryani. "[The] white noise [from the fan] also tends to block out noise that can irritate light sleepers such as neighbors, loud refrigerators, or city noise."

Buy It: Dyson Cool Air AM07 Tower Fan, $300, bestbuy.com

Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Tower Fan

If you like the idea of a tower fan but can't shell out $300 for one, the Honeywell QuietSet Tower Fan is an alternative that comes highly recommended by Christina Pierpaoli Parker, a blogger with Psychology Today and Ph.D. candidate of clinical health psychology specializing in behavioral sleep medicine.

"Beyond refraining from excessive heat-producing activities before bed, sweaty sleepers can consider keeping a tower fan like this at or near their bedside," notes Parker. "I have and use this product myself because it keeps my side of the bed cool without compromising my husband's preferences for a warmer area and adds some ambient white noise."

Buy It: Honeywell QuietSet Oscillating Tower Fan, $48, target.com