Are bamboo sheets worth it? We tested the best bamboo bedding to see if it's a summer essential

Telegraph

09-07-2025

The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We will earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article.
Bamboo bedding is becoming increasingly popular, and it's far more comfortable than it sounds. Made from fibres derived from the fast-growing bamboo plant, it feels silky soft, regulates temperature, and is hypoallergenic.
Bamboo bedding is less widely produced than cotton bed sheets and duvet covers. However, Jane Wood, Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles at The University of Manchester, considers it a good option for eco-conscious shoppers owing to its more sustainable textile production processes and the plant's fast-growing times. The downside is that 'it is marketed at a higher price point'.
Prices start at around £60 for a double duvet cover while a full bedding set costs at least £100. Leading brands include Panda London and Sloth London.
For this guide, we've tried the best bamboo bedding, including pure bamboo sets and cotton, viscose and linen blends. Read our verdict below, or see our top five at a glance. We update our guides regularly, so you may see new additions appear.
The best bamboo duvet covers and bed sheets: At a glance
How to choose the best bamboo bedding
Bamboo fibres are hypoallergenic, antibacterial and moisture-wicking, but not all bamboo bedding offers these benefits. That's because, as Wood explains, textile manufacturers don't use 'the bamboo fibre freshly picked from the bamboo plant'. In its natural state bamboo is 'stiff and inflexible', making it less durable and 'harsh and scratchy'.
'Bamboo is therefore chemically processed to remove these negatives. It's not the bamboo fibre itself that's in fabric, but an extract called cellulose, which is dissolved out and spun into fibre,' Wood continues. 'This is similar to how fibres such as viscose, Tencel or lyocell are produced.'
This doesn't take away from bamboo bedding's eco-credentials, though. Bamboo grows quickly, and Wood notes 'environmentally friendly solvents' are used during processing. It's 'more sustainable than synthetics like polyester.'
Beyond design, look for OEKO-TEX certification. It confirms that the bedding was produced in socially responsible workplaces and tested for harmful substances.
Some brands provide a thread count, referring to the number of threads in a square inch. A higher number can signpost better quality, but it is of less importance here than for cotton bedding, as bamboo textiles are naturally much softer.
Bamboo bedding is worth buying if you want to avoid synthetics and dislike cotton or linen. It stays cool, soft and gentle on sensitive skin.
Looking for more cooling bedding? We've reviewed cooling blankets, a cooling mattress topper and cooling pillows.
How we test bedding sets
We know that shopping for bedding online is difficult when you can't see or feel the fabric. But you can rest assured that we have tried all of the bamboo bedding in this guide up close. Each set of sheets has been slept on for at least a week and washed three times.
When testing, we evaluated each bedding set based on five key criteria.
Comfort: Anything that itched or stuck to our skin when we rolled over didn't make the cut.
Design: Bamboo sheets have a silky feel and can slide around, so the bottom sheet and pillowcases need to be the perfect fit. The fastenings can't be too fiddly for wash day either.
Breathability and temperature regulation: We tested through early spring into summer to check that the sheets kept us cool when it's hot and warm when it's cooler.
Care: All the bamboo bedding we tested was recommended to be washed at 30C. We kept an eye on how the sheets looked after washing to ensure no colour fade or loose stitching.
Fabric: All of the sheets in this guide are made from bamboo, but some are pure and some are blends.
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The best bamboo duvet covers and bed sheets of 2025
1. Best Buy Bamboo Sheets: Sloth London Bamboo Bedding Set
This is a brilliant bedding set for the summer. It's cool, crisp and fresh even on warm evenings. I noticed and particularly appreciated this during a night of disturbed sleep with a teething toddler. There's nothing better than getting back into cold sheets when it's hot.
The fabric is pretty thin, so I could see the detailing of my Simba pillow beneath it. This makes it feel slightly less premium, but I was grateful that it was so lightweight when the first heatwave of the year hit. I haven't used it in the winter yet, so I can't comment on the brand's claim that it will keep you warm in cold weather.
Masters of its trade rather than a Jack of all, Sloth London only sells one set of bamboo bedding. There isn't a choice of colours and they're all white. The only point of difference between each set is coloured piping. This touch gives plain sheets a hotel feel and a bit of personality.
Of all the bedding I tested, these dried the fastest on the line and were the least wrinkled when I brought them inside. I didn't need to iron them at all and any remaining creases dropped out after one night. They're beautifully soft and retained this after washing.
Key specifications
These sheets had me from the moment the bedding and bottom sheet arrived rolled up inside little bags that made them look like fancy toilet rolls. It's a handy touch for minimising packaging when posting and good to know how small you can fold them for storage too. I don't think I'll ever have the patience to put them back into the bags, but it's handy to know it's possible if you're short on space.
I was even more sold the first time I slept on them. The fabric has a woven texture and is thicker than some of the others on this list. Going to bed felt like climbing into the sheets at a fancy hotel and the bedding kept me cool in heatwave temperatures. Design-wise, it's simple with no edging or trims. There aren't any features other than wooden buttons on the base of the duvet. Although I plumped for plain white, the bedding comes in a range of colours, so it would appeal to someone with a more adventurous interior taste.
The con for me is that because it is a European company, the size options are listed on its website in cm rather than standard sizes. It took a bit of Googling and studying the size chart to find the right one. The admin is a small price to pay for a peaceful night's sleep in affordable sheets, though.
Key specifications
3. Best Bamboo Blend Sheets: Panda London Bamboo & French Linen Bedding Set
£159.95
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Panda
The Panda London Bamboo & French Linen Bedding Set was the first set I tried. I normally sleep on cotton sheets and these felt like an immediate upgrade. Even my husband, who rarely comments on the products I'm testing, told me how well he had slept in them on a sticky spring evening.
The linen content is relatively low at just seven per cent but it's still the first thing you notice when you look at and touch the fabric. Because it is blended with bamboo, it's softer and less stiff than 100 per cent linen bedding, but it retains the crisp, airy qualities that make the textile so lovely. The two fabrics feel like a natural pairing, supporting each other's moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating benefits. Plus, linen is more durable than cotton, earning this set extra points for longevity.
All of the bamboo sheets in this round-up said they didn't need to be ironed but for the most part, I didn't find that to be the case. This was one of the exceptions. The natural texture of this set meant that any creases felt like a deliberate choice rather than an indication of laziness.
The bedding washes well and dries quickly, both indoors and outside on the line. But I found a couple of loose buttons tumbling around the washing machine, so just double-check that these are secure before putting a wash on.
Key specifications
If you're committed to cotton bedding but want to dip your toe into a bamboo blend, these are the sheets to try. They're also one of the cheaper options on this list. Cotton, like bamboo, is a more sustainable, naturally breathable fabric with moisture-wicking properties. Bamboo amplifies these benefits and makes it feel silkier. The result is super soft sheets that are less stubborn to iron than 100 per cent cotton.
The fabric of this set is thicker and more substantial than several other bamboo bedding sets I tried, but it didn't make me too warm. I needed more steam from my iron to press out the creases, though.
As bamboo sheets aren't the focal point of Dusk's business, the range isn't extensive. There are currently only two colours to choose from and they don't sell bamboo bottom sheets. It would be nice to see a broader range in the future. But the design is simple yet effective, with a contrast trim and clear plastic buttons – a point of difference as most on this list have wooden buttons.
A detail I particularly liked is the extra panel at the foot of the duvet, which tucks the buttons on the underside rather than at the end. This looks neat, but annoyed my tall husband slightly as he could feel them beneath his feet.
Key specifications
5. Best Bamboo Sheets for Hot Sleepers: Sheet Story Ackly Bamboo Bedding
Sleeping in these sheets felt like sleeping in my comfiest cotton t-shirt. Team with the best mattress and you're on to a winner. They're extremely soft and don't feel at all synthetic, unlike some of the silkier sets I tested. I would highly recommend them for warm sleepers or anyone who doesn't like fabric sticking to them. Getting into this set after a day of commuting in a heatwave was a joy.
I'm a sucker for good branding and with its clean design and bold monochrome logo this set is aesthetically pleasing. The metal plaque with the brand name at the foot of the duvet set it apart from the other designs. I'm always worried about the potential for toddler choking hazards in my house though, so I snipped it off. I didn't think I'd ever be someone with strong opinions on pillowcases, but these are particularly good. The deep pocket encases the pillow well and made for a crisp, neat finish on sheet change day and throughout the week.
This is the only set I tried that is available in patterns as well as plain colours. The cotton content made them a little stubborn to iron. However, they line dried without too many creases so it wasn't a huge problem.
Key specifications
6. Best Bamboo Sheets for Softness: Panda London 100% Bamboo Bedding Set
These are extremely silky, which will either appeal to you or immediately put you off. They were a total treat to slip into, but I became less keen when I found my duvet had slid off the bed at 3am. The softness comes from the bamboo rayon (another word for viscose) strands that have been woven into a satin weave for extra glossiness. I'd liken it to the feel of my best silk pillowcase.
Panda London, as you might have guessed by its name, specialises in bamboo bedding. That means it has invested in providing five different practical and on-trend colours for shoppers to choose from. I tried a vintage pink set, which felt especially feminine with the satin-like fabric. The downside of the colour and the fabric was that every little thing marked the bedding. My nighttime skincare left an unsightly dark patch on my pillow come morning and my body lotion was imprinted on the bottom sheet until the next wash. If this will annoy you, consider another colour.
I washed this set three times and it got softer every time but still retained its shine. It was the easiest of the round-up to iron. I barely had to use the steam setting and it took less than two-thirds of the time it takes to iron my normal cotton sheets. Win-win.
Key specifications
7. Best Bamboo Sheets for Winter: Pretty You Bamboo Bedding Set
If you're someone who wants their bedtime experience to feel as indulgent as possible, whether you're in bed or sleeping on a sofa bed, then you will love these sheets. They are the silkiest of the round-up, even after three washes. They also come oversized and shrink after the first wash for a better fit on your duvet and mattress. I was sceptical about this claim at first, but impressed with the difference one wash made.
As they're so glossy that they're verging on slippery, Pretty You London has taken steps in the design process to keep them in place. The bottom sheet has tightly ruched edges as well as four additional elastic tabs to go over the corners. This is especially helpful for keeping your best mattress topper snug. Inside the duvet cover are ties that you can attach the brand's own duvet too. A nice touch, but it will only work if you buy its duvet, or your current duvet has loops.
I am a warm sleeper and found that I woke up feeling hot and bothered in these, so I personally wouldn't recommend them for their temperature-regulating properties. But, they're lovely for colder evenings teamed with the best electric blanket. If you're also prone to getting too hot at night, try swapping the bottom sheet for a cotton one. Even though I woke up a bit sweaty the sheets didn't feel clammy afterwards and stayed fresh throughout the week.
Key specifications
What does bamboo bedding feel like?
Bamboo bedding will feel different based on the weave and whether it has been blended with another fabric. 'If it's in a sateen weave then it will feel silky, but only like cotton does in the same weave type,' explains Wood. 'If bamboo is in a plain weave structure it will feel the same as a basic cotton sheet.' The bamboo rayon sheets are the silkiest in our round-up.
Are bamboo bed sheets better than cotton or linen bed sheets?
It depends on your criteria. If it's breathability and temperature-regulating qualities that you're most concerned about, Wood says that linen, cotton and bamboo are all 'excellent at both.' If it's eco-credentials, this is harder to quantify. 'It is generally accepted that bamboo is less durable than cotton, which means bamboo will wear out more quickly,' Wood continues. 'Bamboo can be more sustainably produced than cotton, but if it needs replacing sooner then it is a balancing act between initial practices and longevity.' It's also down to a personal preference for particular textures.
Is bamboo bedding hypoallergenic?
Most of the bamboo bedding we tested claimed to be hypoallergenic, but Wood says there is 'limited evidence' to support this. 'Bamboo bedding does not use the raw fibre,' she explains. 'It is heavily processed so unlikely to retain any of its natural properties.'
How do you wash bamboo bedding?
Bamboo bedding is best washed at 30 degrees, preferably on a gentle cycle. Ideally, you shouldn't tumble dry bamboo sheets but if you can't air dry then do so on the lowest setting.