The 11 Best Cooling Pajamas for Hot Sleepers (2024)

• Our Picks

• How We Selected

• What to Look For

• FAQ

• Why Trust Verywell Health

Athleta not only makes great athletic apparel—they also make top-tier pajamas. Their pajamas are some of our staffers’ personal favorites because they’re both incredibly comfortable and cute! Their Nighttime Bliss Sleep Cami and Joggers are made of Tencel modal, a material made of natural beech wood fibers, which is said to be a more durable and environmentally sustainable material than cotton. Tom Greenspan, a sleep expert, sleep science coach, and CEO of VS Mattress, recommends these pajamas because of their breathability, moisture-wicking qualities, and slim fit without being too tight. This combo is great for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Athleta highlights the pants’ lack of drawstring as a plus because it can get in the way, particularly if you sleep on your stomach. However, if you like the adjustability of a drawstring that could be a con. On the plus side, they do have an elastic waistband for added comfort. The pants and cami are sold separately so it’s easy to purchase a different size top and bottom if you need to, and we love how inclusive Athleta’s sizing is.

For added convenience, these pajamas are machine washable and can be tumble dried.

^{Key Specs:
Material: Tencel modal/spandex jersey | Sizes: XXS to 3X | Fabric Features: Lightweight, breathable, temperature regulating | Care: Machine wash and dry}

Leveret’s Women’s Fitted Striped Pajamas are made with 100% cotton, making them soft and breathable. As a bonus, they’re tag free, so they’re great if you have sensitive skin or are just generally annoyed when tags rub on your skin. The full set is priced similarly to some other pajama pants alone (like our top pick, Athleta’s Nighttime Bliss Joggers) so it’s a great value option.

Although the cotton fabric makes this set great for breathability and temperature regulation, it also means these are prone to shrinkage, so you may want to size up. Additionally, this is a long sleeve set so it may be best for winter when you need a balance of warmth and cooling. In the summer, you may be better off with one of the options on this list that offers short sleeves.

^{Key Specs:
Material: Cotton | Sizes: XS to XL | Fabric Features: Breathable, temperature regulating, tag-free | Care: Machine washable}

Eberjey’s Gisele Long PJ Set is a classic pajama set made of Tencel modal fabric (like our top pick). This fabric is breathable, lightweight, temperature-regulating, and super soft to support a great night’s sleep. It’s also more eco-friendly than cotton.

The collar, pocket, and piping add structure and style to this set. While we’ve picked the long set, Eberjey also offers the set in a short option for warmer climates. That being said, this material will help regulate your temperature overnight and offer cooling effects to help manage hot flashes.

Since the bottoms do not have a fitted ankle, they may ride up overnight for some people. However, this isn’t a problem for most customers.

^{Key Specs:
Material: 95% Tencel modal, 5% spandex | Sizes: XS to XXL | Fabric Features: Durable, shrink-proof, breathable, temperature regulating | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low}

If you struggle with night sweats, you have probably woken up in the middle of the night with sweat-soaked pajamas. Trying to fall back asleep in wet clothes is no fun, but getting up to change could further disrupt your sleep. That’s what makes Duluth Trading Co.’s Armachillo Cooling Sleep Capris so great. They are made of polyester, a fabric known for its moisture-wicking qualities, but they also have jade. Emerging research suggests that adding jade to polyester promotes cooling and thermoregulation, while polyester alone may trap heat.

Since these pants are capris, they’re an in-between length that makes them suitable sleepwear for all seasons. They can be paired with Duluth Trading Co.’s Armachillo Cooling Shelf Bra Sleep Tank or your favorite sleep top.

^{Key Specs:
Material: 92% polyester, 8% spandex blend with jade | Sizes: XS to XXL | Fabric Features: Durable, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial | Care: Machine wash}

This Printfresh set is made with 100% cotton—a material recommended by all three sleep experts we interviewed for its breathability and cooling effects. Aside from Athleta’s pajamas that secured our top overall pick, Printfresh is another one of our staffers’ go-to pajama brands. Not only do they offer a wide range of fun prints, but they also offer short and long-sleeve options for various climates.

While the pajamas may be a little more structured at first, the more you wash them the softer they get. This enhances their comfort to promote a great night’s sleep. That being said, washing them does tend to wrinkle them quite easily. If you want a polished look, you can lightly iron them.

We love that these pajamas help you feel luxurious on a nightly basis, while also being suitable for fancier occasions like a wedding or honeymoon.

^{Key Specs:
Material: Cotton | Sizes: XXS to 6X | Fabric Features: Breathable | Care: Machine wash delicate, tumble dry low}

Menopause can often cause sleep disturbances, largely because of hot flashes and mental health struggles brought on by life transitions and stressors (like caring for aging parents and taking on more work responsibilities) that commonly arise at that stage of life. According to the National Institutes of Health, waking up in the middle of the night may actually be the cause of hot flashes, rather than the opposite. Therefore, promoting a good night’s sleep with minimal disturbances is super important for the health of those undergoing menopause.

To encourage a good night’s sleep through menopause, we recommend Lauren Ralph Lauren’s Bingham Knits Capri PJ Set. It’s a 100% cotton pajama set that’s breathable, stylish, and easy to care for. Since it has 3/4 sleeves and capri pants, it’s a good in-between option for hot and cold climates alike. It can help achieve a comfortable temperature through the night to manage and prevent hot flashes.

Unfortunately, it only comes in sizes XS to XL. If you need a size outside of this range, we recommend trying our most comfortable pick, MeUndies Women’s Longsleeve Modal PJ Set which comes in sizes XS to 4XL.

^{Key Specs:
Material: Cotton | Sizes: XS to XL | Fabric Features: Breathable | Care: Machine wash and dry}

This nightgown from L.L.Bean is made with Supima cotton, which stands out for its strength and softness. It makes for a breathable, durable product that can help you keep cool and comfortable overnight. Plus, the fact that it’s a nightgown enhances its breathability. The 3/4 sleeves are a convenient length, and it hits a little below the knee, giving it versatility for various seasons. We love that L.L.Bean offers this nightgown in plus sizes too.

If you love navy, teal, or purple, then you’ll love the color options for this nightgown. However, if you don’t, you may be disappointed. They don’t sell this product in more neutral colors like black or mauve.

^{Key Specs:
Material: Cotton | Sizes: XS to 3X | Fabric Features: Breathable | Care: Machine wash and dry}

MeUndies’ Women’s Longsleeve Modal PJ Set is perfect for cooling you off overnight while keeping you cozy for lounging before bed. Just like our top pick for hot flashes, Eberjey’s Women's Gisele Long PJ Set, this set is made of Modal, a sustainable fabric made of breathable beechwood fibers. This lends it a super soft, cozy feel. Not only is the fabric soft, it’s stretchy and the waistband has a drawstring for ultimate comfort.

You don’t have to worry about the buttons hindering your sleep; they’re under one centimeter big so they shouldn’t bother you during slumber. We love that MeUndies offer these pajamas in sizes XS to 4XL, making them accessible to people with a wide range of body sizes. But if you’re worried about being too hot in long sleeves, check out MeUndies’ Shortsleeve Modal PJ Set.

^{Key Specs:
Material: Modal | Sizes: XS to 4XL | Fabric Features: Breathable, lightweight, temperature regulating | Care: Machine wash delicate, line dry}

Universal Standard has a unique sizing model meant to reflect the bell curve of average Americans. For example, they consider a medium to be an 18 to 20. While this can take some trial and error to figure out your size, we appreciate its inclusiveness.

Universal Standard’s Natalie Jersey Sleep Set is our top pick for breathability because it is made primarily with a combination of Pima cotton (like our most durable pick, L.L.Bean Women's Supima Cotton Nightgown) and modal (like our top pick, Athleta’s Nighttime Bliss Sleep Joggers and Cami). These fabrics are breathable, soft, and durable. Furthermore, the design of this set itself is quite breathable. It has a low back with a tulip overlap and shorts with tulip overlaps at the sides. This allows a lot of airflow for hot summer nights. Plus, it has an elastic waistband for comfort.

Since this is a shorts and tank top set, it may not be ideal for colder seasons. For colder weather, check out our best value pick, Leveret Women's Fitted Striped Pajama.

^{Key Specs:
Material: 49% cotton, 48% modal, 3% elastane | Sizes: 4XS to 4XL (00 to 40) | Fabric Features: Breathable, temperature regulating | Care: Machine wash cold delicate cycle, lay flat to dry}

This short sleeve pajama set from Pact is an awesome option for those who want breathable, lightweight, and eco-friendly sleepwear. You can sleep well at night knowing this set is made in a Fair Trade Certified factory with 100% Organic cotton. Not only is this cotton eco-friendly, but it’s also a natural material that is breathable and lightweight. Plus, this set has an adjustable waistband for added comfort.

Each piece is sold separately, which means it’s easy to order different sizes in the top and bottom if needed. However, it only comes in sizes XS to XXL. If you need a bigger size, we recommend our most breathable pick, Universal Standard’s Natalie Jersey Sleep Set.

^{Key Specs:
Material: Cotton | Sizes: XS to XXL | Fabric Features: Breathable | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low}

Although bamboo pajamas are not as common as cotton ones, they are an awesome option, particularly for cooling and temperature regulation. Bamboo was one of the materials recommended by all three sleep experts we interviewed for this article. Cozy Earth sells a variety of bamboo products, including this Women's Long Sleeve Bamboo Pajama Set in Stretch-Knit. We love that it offers the coziness of a long sleeve set with the impressive cooling benefits of bamboo.

It runs a little big to optimize air flow and breathability, so if you’re between sizes it’s best to size down. Cozy Earth is so confident you’ll love this product that they even offer a 100-night trial, where you can use and wash the pajamas for up to 100 nights and return them free of charge if you’re not satisfied.

^{Key Specs:
Material: 95% viscose from bamboo, 5% spandex | Sizes: XS to XXXL | Fabric Features: Breathable, temperature regulating, lightweight | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry}

Frequently Asked Questions

• What fabric should your pajamas be to keep you cool at night?

  The best fabrics for comfort, breathability, and durability are cotton and bamboo, per the sleep experts we interviewed. They also recommend linen for its cooling effects. Not only are these fabrics good for cooling, but they are also generally gentle on the skin and good for those with sensitive skin or eczema.

• What should I wear to bed if I have night sweats?

  If you have night sweats, cooling pajamas can help regulate your temperature overnight to help you get a good night’s sleep. Fabrics that are lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking (like cotton, bamboo, and linen) are best for this.

  You could opt for short sleeves with shorts, long sleeves with long pants, or a combination of short and long layers. Either way, look for pajama bottoms with an elastic or adjustable waistband that aren’t too tight for optimal comfort.

• Should you sleep in cotton or silk?

  Although silk is viewed as a luxurious option for pajamas, it is not as breathable as cotton. None of our experts recommended silk pajamas for breathability and cooling benefits. So, if you are a hot sleeper, cotton beats silk for its cooling effects.