Eucalyptus sheets—you might also see the word lyocell or the trademark name Tencel—are created from the wood pulp (cellulose) of eucalyptus and other plants like bamboo that is transformed into fibers. Those fibers are then used to make soft, cool-to-the-touch sheets. “Whether it’s bamboo or eucalyptus [sheets], they’re considered cooling to the touch because they have a very high ability to wick moisture,” says Preeti Gopinath, director of the MFA textiles program and associate professor of textiles at Parsons School of Fashion. If you’re a hot sleeper, eucalyptus sheets wick away moisture to keep you cool, so they’re a no-brainer if you regularly toss and turn on a hot summer night—but they’re a contender to stay tucked in all throughout the year, too. Aside from keeping hot sleepers calm and cool all night, the best eucalyptus sheets are also known for being hypoallergenic and antibacterial. If you’ve got sensitive skin or have ever broken out on your face due to irritation from your pillow case, then eucalyptus sheets might be the right choice for you because their smooth fibers don’t cause friction, Gopinath says. Another reason you might love these sheets is that eucalyptus is sustainable. It grows quickly and doesn’t need a lot of water, so it’s good for the environment. To sleep well knowing that you’ve made an earth-friendly choice for your bedding, look for sheets that are certified as such—you’ll find many of them on this list. We conducted a blind in-house test of 19 eucalyptus bedding sets. Our testers evaluated the eucalyptus sheets based on five areas: overall quality, texture, breathability, value, and durability. Sheets were examined both before and after a wash to look for shrinkage, color fading, loose stitching, or other damage. The sheets that were our overall pick for best eucalyptus sheets are the Olive + Crate Natural Eucalyptus Sheet Set, which wowed our testers with its cool, super-soft texture. Here are the 10 best eucalyptus sheets based on lab testing. The sheets come in a range of sizes, so you’re sure to find a fit for your bed. But even better, they are also available in soft colors to suit your mood or complement your bedding. While all of the sets that made this best eucalyptus sheets list deserve to be here because of their cool and comforting feel, not all of them deserve applause for their color selection. But one of the many reasons we love these sheets from Olive + Crate is that they come in seven colors, not just varying shades of white and ivory. Despite there being a bit of shrinking after a wash during testing, these Olive + Crate sheets fit right back on the bed with no problem—plus they remained incredibly soft. While the sheets are roomy enough to make the bed easily, it would be even nicer if the fitted sheet had tags to differentiate the top from the bottom. Still, it’s a small price to pay for sheets that feel so luxurious—one tester said she was buying the sheets after testing them, noting that she’ll definitely need to set an alarm in the morning to wake up after sleeping on the sheets, which she described as “cool air.” After sleeping on these sheets for one month at home, one of our testers said that she usually switches out sheet sets once per week, but that her husband requested that they put this set right back on the bed. He said the set’s cooling factor has improved his sleep this summer. The tester hasn’t noticed any pilling or damage to the sheets so far from use. Price at time of publish: $100 Material: Tencel | Thread Count: 300 | Weave: Sateen | Pocket Size: 17.5 inches | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Certification: Oeko-Tex 100 Standard Keep in Mind: There are five color options, but they’re all muted neutral colors. If you like a bold set of sheets, you’ll want to choose another option. After washing, the sheets stayed just as soft as before with minimal shrinking. The sheets are very easy to put on the bed in general, but our testers appreciated that the fitted sheet had tags labeling the top and bottom to make sure they were making the bed correctly. There were no loose strings or color fading. The sheets are lightweight and breathable, and they continued to feel cool to the touch even as one of our testers was lying underneath them. These lightweight sheets are incredibly soft, though they do feel thin. Our testers found they wrinkled very easily, but there were no snags or loose threads. The silky soft texture of these sheets feel more luxurious than the price tag indicates; in fact, it’s low enough to consider getting a spare set. However, if you were looking to add a bold boost to your bedding, you’re out of luck with these sheets, as they only come in five muted neutrals that vary only slightly from one another. Price at time of publish: $74 Material: Tencel | Thread Count: 300 | Weave: Sateen | Pocket Size: 16 inches | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king | Certification: 100% certified Tencel lyocell sateen Keep in Mind: The set is only available in three sizes. The sheets felt silky and soft, and there were no loose threads or visible snags. The testers found them incredibly easy to fit over the mattress, with one even calling the texture “slick.” While there was some shrinkage after washing, the sheets still felt nice and soft. The best part was that there were very few wrinkles, giving your bed a polished look. The Arctic Aire Max sheets come in four colors—white, silver, gray, and denim—so you do have some choices if you’re looking to vary your bedding style from the normal ivories and beiges. However, as of the writing of this article, this sheet set is only available in queen, king, and California king, so if you’ve got smaller or specialty mattresses like a full, split king, or a short queen, you’ll need to wait for availability or shop another brand for the best eucalyptus sheets for your bed. If you do have the right sized mattress and you want to treat yourself to a luxury set of sheets—and our testers admit they are definitely a splurge—you can pair them with an Arctic Aire Max coverlet for the ultimate in a cool and restful night’s sleep when the mercury rises. Price at time of publish: $219 Material: Tencel | Thread Count: 300 | Weave: Sateen | Pocket Size: 18 inches | Sizes: Queen, king, California king | Certification: None listed Keep in Mind: The strong elastic makes it a challenge to put the fitted sheet on the bed. The tester noted that while the sheets were soft to the touch, they were a bit stiff at first. After just one wash, though, they were “perfect,” so keep in mind that if you purchase these sheets you’ll like them even better after washing. The elastic is very strong, so you won’t have to worry about the fitted sheet losing its shape or slipping off the mattress—but you might have a bit of a struggle like our testers did to get it on the bed in the first place. These Sweave cooling sheets come in seven colors; five light neutrals plus a pink and a dark navy if you want to go a bit bolder. This is a departure from others on the list, which seem stuck in only muted neutrals. The Sweave sheets also come in a wide range of sizes, including California king and split king, so everyone has a chance for a cool night’s sleep with these. Price at time of publish: $90 Material: Eucalyptus Tencel, Egyptian cotton | Thread Count: Not listed | Weave: Percale | Pocket Size: 15 inches | Sizes: Twin, full/queen, queen, king, California king, split king | Certification: Made in Green by Oeko-Tex Keep in Mind: There is considerable shrinkage after a wash, although testers found that they still fit the mattress fine. The testers did note that these Sijo sheets shrunk after a wash, with one of the pillows barely fitting into the pillowcase. The fitted sheet was fine, though. Our testers loved the texture of these sheets so much that they concluded “not the end of the world” about the shrinking. They’re worth buying at full price, though if they go on sale our testers said it’s “a solid yes.” The sheet set comes in six colors—snow (white), fog (ivory/beige), dove (light gray), blush (light pink), sky (light blue), and forest (forest green). It’s a nice range of choices, which you can’t say for all of the bedding on this list. Still, you might want to choose your color wisely so that buyer’s remorse won’t keep you up at night. After one month of testing these sheets at home, one tester said, “These sheets have ruined our other sheets. They’re soft and cool, and we love the color. They also wash up like a dream.” Price at time of publish: $110 Material: Tencel lyocell | Thread Count: Not listed | Weave: Not listed | Pocket Size: 16 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Certification: Not listed Keep in Mind: They come in a limited palette of colors. In addition to keeping you cool under the covers all night long, these sheets feel super soft, so if you like the texture of traditional cotton sheets, then these are for you. They also appear to be well made, though there were a number of wrinkles when they were first put on the bed from being folded up in the package. After a wash, the testers noted that there was no shrinkage and no wrinkles, either. All in all, our testers feel like these were high quality sheets that have a high probability of sticking around for a long time. They come in five colors—peach, sage, white, pewter, and biscotti. It’s a nice departure from the basic range of neutral shades, but if you’re looking for bold colors, try another brand. Still, our testers said they would buy these “in a heartbeat,” so if you’re looking for sheets that will last for years, these Nest Bedding sheets could be the set for you. One of our testers took these sheets home for long-term testing, and after one month of constant use, she says they have been helpful for keeping her and her husband cool at night on hot summer evenings. She did note that her husband is a restless sleeper and that the fitted sheet pops off their pillow-top mattress by the morning due to his movements. However, she says that “she doesn’t really mind because they are so pretty and soft.” Price at time of publish: $164 Material: Tencel lyocell | Thread Count: Not listed | Weave: Not listed | Pocket Size: 15 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Certification: Not listed Keep in Mind: They wrinkle easily, so you’ll want to make sure you make your bed each morning to conceal the less-polished look. These sheets feature a silky smooth texture with an attractive shine, but the shine can also highlight wrinkles. Still, these sheets are super breathable and cool to the touch, so wrinkles might be something you’re willing to overlook, especially when you’re snuggled up under your comforter. After a wash, these sheets held onto their silky softness. The fitted sheet slipped onto the bed the first time with no trouble at all; there did seem to be a tiny bit of shrinkage after washing, but it wasn’t an issue, as our testers were able to still get the fitted sheet back on the mattress with ease. These sheets have beautiful stitching, and there’s an envelope flap on the pillowcases to hide the sides. These sheets come in five color options—white, light blue, gray, blush, and teal—so if you’re looking for a rainbow of options or just more shades of ivory or beige, you’ll need to find another brand that has more choices. After one month of testing these sheets in her home, one of our testers, who identifies as a hot sleeper, says that these sheets feel smooth and silky and that they generally have kept her cool, but she still prefers to keep her fan on for additional cooling. Price at time of publish: $100 Material: Tencel | Thread Count: 300 | Weave: Sateen | Pocket Size: 16 inches | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Certification: Not listed Keep in Mind: You might find a few loose threads. Despite spotting a few loose threads and a minor snag, our testers thought that these sheets were well made. The sheets came out of the wash feeling soft and with just a few wrinkles and were easy to get back on the bed—just a little tug for those pillowcases—so there wasn’t much shrinking. These Linenwalas sheets are a great value. They come in a variety of sizes, even specialty mattress sizes like twin XL, split king, and short queen. And since they’re offered in 17 colors—options include rose gold, jet black, and lilac, among the usual light and neutral colors—it’s easy to imagine purchasing more than one set to have on hand when you don’t feel like doing laundry. After one month of testing these sheets at home, our tester says she has slept in them every night and that they have held up after several washing sessions. As a hot sleeper, she’s found them to be cooling at night with a silky feel. “I definitely am a fan and will be buying additional sets of these sheets,” she says. Price at time of publish: $90 Material: Tencel lyocell | Thread Count: 300 | Weave: Not listed | Pocket Size: 16 inches | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, short queen, king, California king, split king | Certification: Not listed Testers concluded that the price is fair for such a cooling, luxurious set of sheets. This West Elm sheet set isn’t the most expensive one out there, but it’s good to know you’ll get a high-quality item for the money. While these sheets held up after a wash, they did come out quite wrinkly. Still, there were no loose threads or evidence of color fading. Just give yourself some time in the morning to make your bed so that you don’t have to see the wrinkles underneath your comforter. The fitted sheet was a little too big for the bed—something you don’t normally see with bedding but that could be a plus if you have a pillow-top mattress—so get prepared to tuck if you find the same. The pillow cases went on like a dream. These West Elm sheets come in eight colors, including some muted neutrals and bolder colors, like terracotta and dark olive. These sheets are made in a Fair Trade Certified factory, so you can rest well knowing the people employed in making your sheets are treated well. Price at time of publish: $175 Material: Tencel lyocell | Thread Count: 320 | Weave: Not listed | Pocket Size: 16 inches | Sizes: Full, queen, king, California king | Certification: Made in a Fair Trade Certified factory Keep in Mind: The product listing recommends hand washing these sheets, but the actual label said to machine wash. We washed them in the washing machine and noticed no damage or shrinking. Keep in Mind: The product listing recommends hand washing these sheets, but the actual label said to machine wash. We washed them in the washing machine and noticed no damage or shrinking. Our testers found these Dreamcare sheets to be extremely soft and somewhat silky in texture. Though the top sheet felt a bit heavy, our testers didn’t feel hot when under these sheets. Plus, despite the silky texture, which is generally more wrinkle-prone, the top sheet and pillowcases were wrinkle free. The sheets fit the bed well and have elastic at the corners of the fitted sheet, which makes it much easier to make up the bed smoothly. If you have an extra-thick queen mattress, these will stretch over without a problem. The pillows have an envelope closure for a seamless look when the bed is all made up. There was no shrinkage after a wash, which bodes well for these sheets over time. This Dreamcare sheet set comes in eight different colors, so if you’re bored by the typical ivory or white sheet sets, you can also choose from sage, charcoal, navy blue, and more. We often talk about sheets and their pocket, but we’re referring to their width and depth as they stretch over the mattress. But when we mention the pocket on these Dreamcare sheets, we mean an actual pocket on either side of the fitted sheet so you can stow your remote, reading glasses, a book, or anything else you might want easy access to in the middle of the night without having to get out of bed. The set also comes with a tote bag made from the same material. Can you sleep without either of these features? Of course, but it makes this Dreamcare set a standout candidate for our best eucalyptus sheets list. This sheet set is available in four sizes: full, queen, king, and California king. Price at time of publish: $120 Material: Eucalyptus lyocell | Thread Count: Not listed | Weave: Not listed | Pocket Size: 20 inches | Sizes: Full, queen, king, California king | Certification: Not listed
Our Testing Process
To find the best eucalyptus sheets, our in-house testing team put 19 eucalyptus sheet sets to the test in our home lab in Des Moines, Iowa. During testing, each product’s label was covered so testers wouldn’t know the brand or price of the item. Testers used a set methodology to evaluate each sheet set in five categories. They analyzed bedding based on overall quality, texture, breathability, value, and durability, including how well they held up after a wash, taking into account shrinking and wear. Testers looked for loose and uneven stitching as well as color consistency. They also measured the length, width, and depth of each set and made a bed to see how the sheets fit on a mattress. Testers then felt the material of the sheets to see how soft, silky, or crisp it felt and spent five minutes under the covers to test the breathability and airflow of the sheets. Finally, the sheets were washed and dried according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and then checked for any loose threads, shrinkage, and other defects. We came up with our final rating by averaging each sheet set’s scores across the categories. We also sent the top-rated sheets home with testers for extended testing to see how they hold up over time in a home environment. We’ve added one-month insights from their experiences into this article, and we’ll be checking back in with the testers after three months and again after six months of testing.
What to Know About Eucalyptus Sheets Before Shopping
Material
If you’re shopping for new bed sheets, you might see the word eucalyptus on some, but you will also likely see the word lyocell or its trademarked name, Tencel. And you might be confused as to whether any of it has eucalyptus. Gopinath explains that there are two distinct categories of fibers: natural and synthetic. Cotton, wool, and linen are natural fibers that come from either plants (cellulose) or animals (proteins), while polyester and nylon, for example, are synthesized in a lab. Between these two categories, however, is something called manufactured fibers. Lyocell (or the trademark named Tencel) is created using wood pulp (cellulose) from trees, including eucalyptus and bamboo. The variety in names really has to do with marketing of the items, Gopinath says. Lance Thomas, principal at Thomas Guy Interiors, is a fan of eucalyptus sheets for hot climates. “Especially being from the South, where the heat and humidity can infiltrate even the most insulated of homes, eucalyptus bedding is cool, hypoallergenic, and a great remedy for those human hot rock sleepers we must share a bed with,” Thomas says. “If you are going to go eucalyptus, I would go all the way and opt for materials that are green-certified and fair-trade, as well. Thread count comes with a price. And I would stick to a thread count that you feel comfortable investing in.”
Weave
The weave of a sheet is the method of construction. The plainer the weave, the cooler in temperature it feels to the touch, explains Deborah Young, textile educator, consultant, and author. Many people are drawn to satin or sateen weaves because they look so lustrous. (Satin and sateen use the same weave, though satin is made from longer fibers while sateen is made from short-staple fibers.) However, depending on what material they’re made from, they can run a bit warm. Luckily, the sateen weave sheets on our list are made from eucalyptus, lyocell, and Tencel fibers, which are known for their cooling properties. Pocket Size All of the sets on our list of best eucalyptus sheets will fit a regular mattress, but if you have an extra-deep mattress, you’ll want to choose sheets with an extra-deep pocket—look for 18 inches or deeper—that can stretch over the added thickness without popping off.
Certifications
While eucalyptus sheets are often marketed as eco-friendly, the best eucalyptus sheets are backed by certifications that confirm the claim. That’s why you’ll see—and it’s a good thing if you do—sheet sets that are OEKO-TEX certified, for example. “[Certification means] it’s gone through all the protocols,” Gopinath says. “It’s eco-friendly, especially in the use of dyes.”
Other Products We Tested
Sheets & Giggles Eucalyptus Lyocell Sheet Set
Testers found the Sheets & Giggles Eucalyptus Lyocell Sheet Set to be super soft, especially on sensitive skin. It also comes with a long list of certifications, so you can feel confident that this set is made with responsibly sourced, renewable materials. The set comes in nearly a dozen colors (including a beautiful royal purple) and a variety of sizes from twin to California king. No worries if you’ve got an extra-thick mattress; these will fit up to 20-inch mattress widths. However, our testers did find the sheets to have a few loose threads and some noticeable stitching errors at the seams, which prevented us from including them on our list of best eucalyptus sheets.
GhostBed Premium Supima Cotton and Tencel Luxury Soft Sheet Set
The GhostBed Premium Supima Cotton and Tencel Luxury Soft Sheet Set sheets were soft, but they didn’t stand out during testing. They also felt thick, which could cause sleepers to warm up after a while, and had a slightly funky smell after opening the packaging. We did appreciate that the fitted sheet was made with strong elastic, which kept it firmly in place, but testers didn’t feel like these sheets were overall worth the price tag to include among our best eucalyptus sheets choices.
Lands’ End 300 Thread Count Cooling Tencel Bed Sheet Set
Though the Lands’ End 300 Thread Count Cooling Tencel Bed Sheet Set had a slick texture, our testers found the sheets to be a bit scratchy. They felt durable, but testers also found evidence of sloppy stitching. Still, they felt lightweight and breathable, and we love that you can have your sheets monogrammed for a truly personalized sleep experience.
Your Questions, Answered
Are eucalyptus sheets toxic?
While eucalyptus oil itself is toxic, sheets and other fabrics made from eucalyptus are not. In fact, eucalyptus sheets are actually antibacterial and hypoallergenic, making them soothing to especially sensitive skin.
Is Tencel the same as eucalyptus?
Tencel is the trademark name of lyocell, which is a fabric made from a variety of natural fibers from plants, including eucalyptus.
Is eucalyptus cooler than cotton?
Eucalyptus and lyocell sheets are cooler than cotton because of their ability to absorb and wick away moisture more quickly, Gopinath says.
Who We Are
Barbara Bellesi Zito writes about home and garden topics for various lifestyle publications. To compile this list, she reviewed the findings of our in-house testers who analyzed dozens of sheet sets based on their quality, texture, breathability, durability, and pre-wash and post-wash value. She also consulted textile experts: Preeti Gopinath, associate professor and director of the Master of Fine Arts in Textiles Program at Parsons School of Fashion, The New School in New York, NY; Lance Thomas, principal at Thomas Guy Interiors; and Deborah Young, textile educator, consultant, and author.
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they’re worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn’t an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products and we let you know that we got it for free to remain as transparent as possible about our picks. Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers.
