Best Cooling Pajamas for Night Sweats

Typically made with lightweight materials like cotton and viscose, the best cooling pajamas help hot sleepers feel more comfortable during the night. High-quality knits whisk away dampness and are less likely to pill, even after multiple washes. Like most pajamas, cooling pajamas come in several styles and colors to match each sleeper’s preferences.

For many sleepers, pajamas play an essential part of sleeping comfortably. Available in multiple styles and materials, pajamas are usually designed to keep you cozy throughout the night. But for people who sleep hot, some pajamas only add to night sweats and difficulty regulating temperature. 

Cooling pajamas are made from breathable, lightweight materials that absorb moisture and help keep your body at a comfortable temperature throughout the night. They usually have a relaxed or flowy fit, which prevents them from clinging to the skin and providing too much insulation. 

We’ll cover a range of our top pajama picks for men and women so you can find cooling pajamas that fit your style and your sleeping needs.

Product Details

Best Overall

Cozy Earth Women’s Short Sleeve Bamboo Pajama Set in Stretch-Knit

Price:

$165

• Who it’s best for:

  1. People who sleep hot
  2. Sleepers who prefer a relaxed fit
  3. Shoppers who like having color options

• Highlights:

  1. Lightweight, breathable material whisks away moisture
  2. Side pockets offer convenience when lounging at home
  3. Pajamas include a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

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The Cozy Earth Women’s Short Sleeve Bamboo Pajama Set is made mostly of bamboo-derived viscose, a lightweight fabric that draws moisture away from the sleeper. The matching top and bottom offer a relaxed fit, making them roomy enough for extra breathability at night. With pockets in the shorts, this set is functional as both loungewear and pajamas.

These pajamas are also blended with 5% spandex, giving them a slight stretch and satisfying drape for added comfort. The durable, high-quality knit resists pilling and holds its shape, preventing the pajamas from stretching out over time.

Sleepers can choose from nine color options, ranging from soft to bold, including navy, olive, and powder blue. Contrast piping along the hems, buttons, cuffs, and pockets adds a stylish touch to each set. You can also customize your set by choosing different colors for the top and bottom or swapping the short-sleeve top with a long-sleeve one or picking long pants instead of shorts.

Cozy Earth includes a 100-night trial to allow sleepers to see if the set is the right fit. A 10-year warranty protects your purchase from manufacturer’s defects, like pilling or tears.

Best Value

Avocado Modal V-Neck Dress

• Who it’s best for:

  1. People who prefer sleeping in nightshirts
  2. Those who want quality pajamas at an affordable price
  3. Shoppers seeking eco-friendly options

• Highlights:

  1. Made from soft, sustainably-sourced modal
  2. Lightweight fabric has a cool, silky feel
  3. Easy to care for

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

Use this SleepFoundation.org link for the most current discount on Avocado products

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Sleepers looking for quality pajamas that are also affordable should find the Avocado Women’s Modal V-Neck Dress suits their needs. It prioritizes comfort for sleepers who tend to overheat if they wear shorts or pants to bed. This sleep dress is longer than a regular t-shirt, giving just the right amount of coverage, while still feeling lightweight and flowy. 

The Modal V-Neck Dress is made from 90% Lenzing-certified modal and 10% elastane. Modal is a soft, silky fabric made from beech tree pulp. It’s naturally moisture-wicking and cool to the touch, making it a great choice for hot sleepers. Eco-conscious shoppers should appreciate that the modal fabric is made using a closed-loop process that recycles water and non-toxic solvents. 

Elastane in the fabric adds just the right amount of stretch for a relaxed, breathable fit. A graceful V-neck and slits at the hem add extra roominess with a touch of effortless style.

Available sizes range from XS to XL, and the dress is offered in four colors. It can be machine-washed and dried on low. You can return the sleep dress unworn and unwashed within 30 days of purchase with a small return label fee.

Best Luxury

Cozy Earth Men’s Bamboo Pajama Short in Stretch-Knit

Price:

$85

• Who it’s best for:

  1. Those seeking super soft sleepwear
  2. Shoppers who like a roomy fit
  3. Anyone who wants sleep shorts that double as loungewear

• Highlights:

  1. Relaxed style provides a comfortable fit for sleeping
  2. Stretch-knit material ensures shorts are flowy and breathable
  3. Durable knit won’t stretch, warp, or pill in the washing machine

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

Use this SleepFoundation.org link for the most current discount on Cozy Earth products

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Cozy Earth crafts its Men’s Bamboo Pajama Short in Stretch-Knit from bamboo-derived viscose, which is soft, airy, and cool. Paired with a relaxed fit that doesn’t cling to the waist, hips, or legs, the sleep shorts allow for plenty of room for air circulation. Viscose is also naturally absorbent, helping to prevent night sweats. 

These pajama shorts include a little stretch from spandex that’s woven into the viscose fabric. This unique knit creates a comfortable material that flows away from your body when you’re sleeping. The shorts are available in five colors — black, navy, heather grey, charcoal, and pomegranate — that match other Cozy Earth pajama tops to create a set. Sizes range from small to XXXL. 

The Men’s Bamboo Pajama Short in Stretch-Knit can be washed in cold water and machine-dried for an easy care routine. Cozy Earth includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty covering manufacturer defects. Shipping and returns are free.

Best For Men

Pact All Ease Sleep Set

Price:

$84

• Who it’s best for:

  1. Shoppers seeking a mix-and-match pajama set
  2. People who like the flexibility of a drawstring waistband
  3. Eco-conscious individuals

• Highlights:

  1. Dropped shoulder provides a roomy, relaxed fit
  2. Several color options are ideal for mixing and matching tops and bottoms
  3. Pajamas are made using sustainable manufacturing processes

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

Use this SleepFoundation.org link for the most current discount on Pact products

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The Pact All Ease Sleep Set features breathable, 100% organic cotton. These pajamas have the feel of a well-loved T-shirt thanks to their ultra-soft jersey knit. The loose fit and lightweight material enhance the set’s comfort and airiness, especially for those who tend to sleep hot. Cotton’s natural breathability also helps prevent sleepers from overheating.

All Ease tops and bottoms are sold separately, and sleepers can choose from long or short sleeves as well as pants or shorts. The All Ease Sleep Shirt features a button-down top, collared neck, and shirttail hem. The pajama pants and shorts both feature side pockets and an elastic waistband. Contrast piping along the hems adds a touch of stylish detail. 

Each piece has multiple color options to let you mix and match a custom pajama set. The long- and short-sleeve tops and shorts are available in seven different colors, and the pants have four color options. Most of the pieces come in sizes from XS to XXL, but the long-sleeve top is available in XS/S, M/L, and XL/2XL. 

This sleep set is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) to meet organic material standards and is manufactured in a Fair Trade Factory. Pact offers free returns that you can initiate online if you live in the contiguous United States. Shipping is also free for orders of $50 or more.

What Is the Best Material for Cooling Pajamas?

While there is no single material that is the best for cooling pajamas, some great options include cotton, silk, Tencel, and linen. Each of these materials has its own unique characteristics, but all feature cooling properties. A key trait is the ability to wick away moisture such as sweat, which helps keep the body cool. Moisture-wicking fabrics have natural capillaries in the fibers that draw moisture to the fabric’s surface which enables it to evaporate quickly. 

The breathability of a fabric also helps keep you cool by maintaining air circulation around the body. Materials such as cotton tend to be quite breathable, while flannel and fleece are heavy and highly insulating, making them less ideal for cooling clothing. 

Cotton

Cotton is an all-natural plant fiber appreciated for its breathability. Cotton comes in various quality levels, with the long-staple Supima cotton and Egyptian cotton varieties having higher price-points because of their durability and luxurious feel. 

Some pajamas are made with a blend of cotton and another material, such as polyester, in order to create a better balance between the fabric’s breathability and its ability to wick moisture. Those who prefer an all-natural alternative might try linen or silk.

Silk

Silk is a protein fiber made from silkworm cocoons. It is lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking, so many hot sleepers prefer it. The fibers are durable and tend to have a high sheen. Many consumers also appreciate that silk is gentle on the skin and hair. Like many silk sheet sets, silk pajamas tend to have a higher price-point than other materials. Because silk takes dyes well, silk pajamas are available in an array of bold colors and patterns.

Tencel

Tencel is the brand name for a particular type of lyocell that is created using plant fibers, often from bamboo or eucalyptus plants. Tencel is semi-synthetic but uses less harmful chemicals than most other forms of lyocell. Its soft, smooth feel is similar to silk, but it is often available at a much lower price-point, making it a popular silk substitute. 

Tencel is breathable and wicks moisture well, which makes it a common choice for hot sleepers. Tencel also absorbs dye quite readily, so it is often available in very rich and deep colors.

Linen

Linen is a material derived from flax fibers. It has long been valued in hot and humid climates as a very breathable natural fiber that wicks away moisture better than cotton. Linen has an initially crisp texture, but it will slowly soften after multiple washes. Because it is somewhat complicated to harvest and manufacture, it is typically more expensive than cotton. 

Some fabrics are generically referred to as linens, which is a type of one-over, one-under plain weave rather than a specific kind of material. True linen pajamas will note the specific percentage of linen used on the manufacturer’s label. 

How to Choose Cooling Pajamas

To simplify your search for the best cooling pajamas for your needs and budget, it can help to narrow down your focus to certain key features.

Material

The material is one of the primary differentiators between different cooling pajama sets. It is the main determinant of how the pajamas feel against the skin, such as the soft, gentle feel of silk or the more crisp texture of linen. The material also helps determine if the pajamas will be breathable and moisture-wicking.

Breathability

Cooling pajamas should be breathable to help heat dissipate away from the body as you sleep. Cotton, Tencel, silk, and linen are all breathable fabrics. Polyester, a common material in pajamas, is not as breathable. Breathability also differs depending on the weave and weight of the cloth, so it is best to seek out lightweight fabrics rather than something heavy like flannel, even if it is made from cotton.

Quality

The quality of the materials used to make a pajama set is a major determinant of durability. Quality is frequently associated with the length of the fibers. For instance, Supima cotton has longer fibers and will generally last longer than ordinary cotton. 

Comfort

Comfort is partially a factor of each consumer’s unique tastes, such as a preference for a soft or crisp feel. Those prone to sweating at night might find that the more moisture-wicking fabrics, such as silk, linen, or Tencel, are the most comfortable because they help keep you dry.

Price

Some materials, such as linen and silk, tend to cost more than other fabrics. Higher-quality materials within a material category, such as Supima and Egyptian cotton, also tend to have higher price-points. However, such higher-quality pajamas will also typically last longer.

Patterns & Dyes

Pajamas are sold in a wide array of patterns and colors. Tencel and silk are often available in very rich, deep colors due to the dye absorbency of the fabric. Silk pajamas and other nightwear like silk robes are often woven into beautiful, bold, and intricate patterns, but they are also frequently sold as solids.

Inclusive Sizing

Some brands excel at offering consumers a wide array of inclusive pajama sizes for those with smaller or larger body types. The availability of inclusive sizes is often best through online brands or the websites of major department stores. 

Still have questions?

Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] or call us at (877) 672-8966 with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.