Tested by While hot weather is a blessing when you can crack out the barbecue and spend time sunning yourself in the garden, it can be a nightmare when you’re trying to get some much-needed sleep.
“When you’re hot, you become restless and toss and turn more in bed,” says Lisa Artis, a sleep advisor from the UK Sleep Council. “The body can’t cool itself down, which interrupts the relaxation process needed to fall asleep.”
But there are plenty of ways you can beat the heat in your bedroom. As the Good Housekeeping Institute's sleep editor, one product that's been a saviour for me during the hot weather is Luff's Mayfair Cooling Gel Pillow. It has soft bamboo on one side and a cooling gel pad on the other, providing some icy relief when you're feeling hot and bothered. Don't just take my word for it – it scored 96/100 in our panel and lab tests.
Keep reading for our expert tips for better sleep in a heatwave, plus more Tried and Tested product recommendations to help you keep your cool.
How to sleep when it’s warm
1. Ditch the flannel PJs
It may sound obvious but it’s still worth mentioning: no matter how cosy your fave pyjamas might be, if you want to avoid waking up a sweaty mess, it’s best to switch thick, cosy designs for floatier camisoles and bottoms in lightweight, breathable materials.
Remember to wash your night clothes regularly too, as sweat and dead skin cells can build up within the material and you’ll obviously sweat more when it’s warmer outside.
Lisa recommends choosing sleepwear made from natural materials, like cotton and linen, which will absorb perspiration, and avoiding manmade fibres like polyester.
Score: 91/100
These sweat-busting PJs effectively regulated our sleepers' temperatures and did an excellent job at wicking away sweat, resulting in a better night’s sleep for everyone.
Score: 89/100
If you prefer a full-length design, these patterned PJs are made from lightweight Tencel material. Testers said they were light and comfy with a "barely there" feel as they snoozed.
Score: 88/100
This pretty satin set boasts anti-static properties, so the fabric won't stick to your skin. It kept panellists cool and comfortable, with many saying they'd recommend them to others. This fabric is also available in short sets if you prefer.
Score: 86/100
We all love Uniqlo's tees and floaty summer skirts, but the brand's temperature-regulating PJs are also worth considering. They're made from an absorbent, water vapour-emitting fabric designed to keep you cool and sweat-free.
2. Roll out the summer duvet
You can just sleep under a blanket or sheet, but if you don't like being in bed without a proper cover, then look for a duvet with a low tog rating.
Lisa says that while things like this ultimately come down to personal preference, a three or four tog option – rather than the nine or 10 tog you’d use in autumn – should do the trick.
And if you don’t want the hassle of buying a different duvet for every season, consider purchasing one of our best all-seasons duvets. They have a three-in-one design made up of one lighter tog duvet and another heavier part, which can be used separately or fastened together to suit any weather.
Simba Summer Hybrid Duvet - Double
Score: 98/100
Hardly dropping any marks on test, our panellists had nothing bad to say about this summer duvet. It’s 4.5 tog, has a temperature regulating cover and kept our testers cool without any sweating.
George Home 4.5 Tog Duvet
Score: 91/100
This budget buy proved itself a triple threat in testing; it was light, cool, and comfortable. Plus, there was minimal shrinkage in our wash tests.
Score: 90/100
This 6.7 tog microfibre duvet went down well with panellists. They raved about the lightweight design and most said it regulated their body temperature, helping them drift off easily.
Slumberdown Summer Nights 4.5 Tog Duvet - Double
Score: 90/100
Our panel rated this 4.5 tog duvet highly for keeping them cool, calm and collected overnight. Its soft, comfortable and lightweight design makes it perfect for a heatwave.
3. Switch to linen bedding
Aside from being luxurious-looking, linen bedding also comes with a range of cooling benefits. Impressively, this material can hold up to 20% of its weight in water before it starts to feel wet, making it the king of fabrics when it comes to wicking away sweat.
“Linen is the only fabric that becomes stronger when wet,” says Molly Freshwater, co-founder of Secret Linen Store. “Unlike cotton, it can absorb a fair amount of moisture without feeling damp on your skin, so it's a great fabric for bedding during warm summer nights.”
Score: 91/100
Thanks to the ultra-soft and breathable fabric, testers praised how effectively this bedding set regulated temperature. 100% of testers would keep using it and recommend to friends and family, too.
Score: 90/100
Arriving in a reusable fabric bag that works for easy storage, this bedding set won the hearts of our panel for its high-quality design, soft texture, and good fit.
Scooms Linen Bedding - Double
Score: 88/100
An elastic hem on the duvet and a helpful ‘feet’ label on the fitted sheets all contributed to a fuss-free experience for our panellists. Its luxe feel made bedtimes dreamy, too. This bedlinen was described as "beautiful” by one tester.
Score: 88/100
This bedding set received high praise for its secure fitted sheets, easy-to-fasten large buttons, and pillowcases that were effortless to put on. We also loved that you can mix and match your bedding bundle when you shop directly from Piglet In Bed.
4. Invest in a quiet fan
The obvious solution to suffering in a boiling hot room is to open a window. Saying that, when it comes to sleeping, you might have safety concerns or want to avoid bugs getting in.
In that case, it's a good idea to invest in a bedroom fan. There are plenty of near-silent models available that won't disturb your sleep.
There is some evidence to suggest that having a fan on overnight can play a part in circulating dust and allergens around a room, so consider whether this might be an issue for you first.
However, if you're worried about allergies, or agitating your hayfever, there are also air purifying fans (like the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Purifying Fan Heater below) that work to remove pollutants and allergens while cooling the room.
Dyson Purifier Humidify + Cool Formaldehyde
Score: 93/100
This versatile fan kept our testers cool and comfortable with its powerful air flow and 10 different air speeds. Its fastest and strongest setting is noisy, but it has a night mode so you can still enjoy a dreamy sleep. Plus, it also acts as an air purifier and humidifier.
Score: 92/100
This clever design oscillates at up to 130 degrees, so it can cover you and your partner. Though it's a tad bulky, it's extremely quiet, making it perfect for bedtime use. It doubles up as an air purifier, too.
Score: 92/100
This great-value fan, which has 12 air speeds, improved testers' comfort levels. It was relatively quiet and there's a remote control for tinkering with the settings from under the covers.
5. Opt for bedding with cooling properties
If you’ve opened the window, switched a fan on, swapped to lighter fabrics and you’re still too hot, it might be worth investing in a mattress topper, pillow or blanket with specific cooling properties.
Some pillows (like my personal favourite) feature gel pads or cooling inner layers to prevent the build-up of heat.
Score: 92/100
This topper has air mesh sides to encourage airflow and prevent overheating. Testers rated it highly for breathability, with several saying it prevented sweaty wake-ups in the night. It’s machine washable, although it may be a little bulky for standard-size machines.
Score: 90/100
If you can't bear sleeping under a duvet, this lightweight blanket is the perfect solution. It has a cool-to-touch side which helped keep our testers comfortable overnight and even reduced night sweats. It's not big enough for two, though.
Slumberdown Climate Control Firm Pillow
Score: 87/100
If Luff's Mayfair Cooling Gel Pillow is a little pricey, this is a cool yet affordable buy from Slumberdown. It’s filled with breathable microfibre and our testers found it supportive and bouncy. Perfect for warm weather.
Score: 86/100
Don't fancy investing in a specialist pillow? Simply slip this gel pad into your pillowcase and enjoy the instant cooling effects. It certainly helped prevent hot flushes among our panel. On super sweaty nights, you can even put in in the fridge for an extra ice-cold feel.
More heatwave heroes
- The best electrolyte powders and drinks can help you stay hydrated on hot, sticky days
- Whether you're on the train or in the office, beat the heat with one of our best portable fans
- We've reviewed the best ice cream makers for creating your own heatwave-friendly sweet treats
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
Kim Hawley is our health and fitness product tester. Her career in fitness has spanned over 30 years. Prior to joining the Good Housekeeping Institute, she worked as a personal trainer, writer and fitness instructor for some of London’s most prestigious health clubs, including The Harbour Club, David Lloyd and The Chelsea Club. Passionate about women’s health and fitness, especially in pre/post menopause, she is also a Level 4 PT and holds a professional nutritional qualification. Kim is responsible for rigorously testing everything from cross trainers to smart watches.
