Many of us have trouble getting enough quality sleep in normal times—and night sweats and hot flashes certainly don’t make that any easier. I’m not here to say that moisture-wicking, cooling pajamas will make all your cares go away, but they can help make your nights more comfortable.

While night sweats tend to be associated with menopause, they can happen in people in their 20s and 30s who aren’t going through menopause. Some factors that mess with your body’s ability to thermoregulate are alcohol and stress.

Best cooling pajamas for women at a glance

• Best overall: Lunya Washable Silk Tee Set, $198
• Best chemise: Soma Cool Nights Smocked Waist Chemise, $70
• Best sleep dress: Cozy Earth Rib-Knit Bamboo Boyfriend Sleep Dress, $95
• Best bamboo: Yala Savannah Bamboo Pajama Set, $88
• Best short-sleeve set: Ekouaer Pajama Set, $39
• Best nightshirt: Cool Jams Moisture Wicking V-Neck Nightshirt, $59
• Best linen: Quince 100% European Linen Pajama Set, $60
• Best budget: Joyaria Pajama Set, $33
• Best t-shirt set: Recliner Sleep Tee Set, $110
• Best cami: Athleta Nighttime Bliss Sleep Cami, $29

Best cooling pajamas for men at a glance

• Best overall: Hanes X-Temp Pajamas, $52
• Best long-sleeve: Dagsmejan Long Sleeve Top, $100
• Best pants: 32 Degrees Cool Knit Sleep Pants, $15
• Best sleep tee: Sheex Short Sleeve Tee, $40

What can cause hot flashes and night sweats

Hot flashes are one of the most common side effects of menopause, with around 80 percent of menopausal people having them. “Menopause is terrible for women’s sleep, and hot flashes exacerbate the sleep disturbances. When the skin changes temperature and sweating occurs, often drenching the bed clothes, sleep interruptions are inevitable,” says gynecologist Felice Gersh, MD, author of PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track. “Hot flashes and night sweats are related to brain functions.” She says that while we don’t know the exact mechanism of hot flashes, we do have some insight.

There are two main things Dr. Gersch says could be causing hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal people. First, a drop in estrogen essentially causes the balance of your parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems to shift. Your sympathetic nervous system (you may know this as the one that controls your fight-or-flight response) has more output than your parasympathetic one. This leads to sweating and changes in skin temperature, Dr. Gersh says. It could also have to do with lowered hormone levels messing with your hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that regulates your body temperature.

What to look for in cooling pajamas

“Any method that keeps the skin cool and dry will benefit sleep,” says Dr. Gersh. “Moisture wicking sleepwear serves a very unique need to keep the skin cool and dry. That helps with comfort and therefore with sleep.” These sleep sets could help anyone experiencing night sweats or overheating, not just people who are menopausal. Below, shop our picks for cooling pajamas.

Best Cooling Pajamas for Women

Best overall: Lunya Washable Silk Tee Set — $198.00

Silk pajamas may feel like a luxury, but if you’re a hot sleeper, you’ll thank yourself for investing in them. Silk is a naturally thermoregulating fabric, which means it will help keep your body at a comfortable temperature all night long. This set comes with an oversized tee and shorts that feel so nice on your skin, you’ll have a hard time wanting to wear anything other than pajamas. And, the silk is machine washable, so you won’t have to worry about dry cleaning or hand-washing — just toss these pajamas into the machine on cold whenever you need a refresh.

Pros

• Thermoregulating
• Washable
• Includes tee and shorts

Cons

• Expensive

Best chemise: Soma Cool Nights Smocked Waist Chemise — $70.00

This chemise says, “I wake up in the morning to birds chirping and then drink an herbal tea while dyeing fabrics using berries I picked in the woods.” Even if your real life is more like like waking up to the sound of the garbage truck, and then drinking four cups of black coffee. This soft chemise has a smocked waistline that won’t ride up in your sleep, a lined bust area, and is made of a lightweight fabric that is not only cool to the touch, but also won’t stick to your body. And it’s so stylish that if you decide to stay in it throughout the day, no one will be the wiser that you’re still in PJs.

Pros

• Adjustable straps
• Lined bust
• One-piece

Cons

• Some reviewers say seams are scratchy

Best sleep dress: Cozy Earth Rib-Knit Bamboo Boyfriend Sleep Dress — $95.00

This sleep dress is like your favorite college T-shirt, except way more luxe. (And way more breathable.) Cozy Earth’s cooling bamboo sleep dress drapes you in comfort, keeping your core temperature down so don’t have to worry about night sweats. The fabric is stretchy, breathable, and moisture-wicking, and there are side slits to allow for movement, whether you’re walking around at home or moving around in bed.

Pros

• Bamboo viscose
• Stretchy and soft
• Breathable and moisture-wicking

Cons

• Expensive

Best bamboo: Yala Savannah Bamboo Pajama Set — $62.00

Bamboo is a great thermoregulating fabric, but beyond that, it’s also a renewable resource and doesn’t require chemicals or pesticides to grow (there are no chemicals used in these pajamas either). This bamboo viscose pajama set includes a lightweight v-neck tank top with adjustable straps and drawstring shorts, and both have a lace trim to add some extra delicate details.

Pros

• Organic bamboo viscose
• Made with low impact dyes and no chemicals
• Comes as a set

Cons

• Some reviewers say straps are uncomfortable

Best short-sleeve set: Ekouaer Pajama Set — $39.00

For those who like to wear matching pajamas, this set is made of a polyester/spandex blend that’s both super soft and breathable. It comes with a short-sleeve button-up top with a chest pocket and drawstring shorts. It’s available in a ton of color and patterns, and is at such an affordable price that you can pick up a few sets to switch between.

One reviewer said, “These PJs are so comfortable. I live in a place with high humidity so I love the fact the fabric doesn’t cling to you. The fabric is the perfect thickness, not too thin but not so thick you’re sweating in them. Plus they feel so smooth and soft and very breathable.”

Pros

• Button front allows you to adjust to your preference
• Lots of color options
• Comes as a set

Cons

• Reviewers say the shorts run small

Best nightshirt: Cool-Jams Moisture Wicking V-Neck Nightshirt — $59.00

This is the bedtime version of the comfy t-shirt dresses that have become a staple in our pants-less WFH outfit rotation. It’s made with a fabric that feels like soft cotton, but is better because it wicks away moisture and is anti-microbial. It’s also compact and wrinkle-resistant, which makes it especially travel-friendly, so you never have to sleep hot even on the road. It comes in sizes S to 3X.

Pros

• Moisture-wicking
• Antimicrobial
• One-piece

Cons

• Runs short

Best linen: Quince 100% European Linen Pajama Set — $60.00

Breathable and lightweight, linen is a great option for anyone who runs hot year round. This pajama set is made of eco-friendly European flax linen and has an effortlessly relaxed look. The top has kimono sleeves and the pants have an elastic waistband and pockets. The great thing with linen is that is gets softer with each wash, so your pajamas will only get more comfy with time.

Pros

• Linen
• Breathable
• Hypoallergenic

Cons

• Runs slightly small

Best budget: Joyaria Pajama Set — $33.00

Looking for new pajamas but don’t want to spend a fortune? This set is budget-friendly and comes with a short-sleeve, button up top, and drawstring boxer shorts. The pajamas are made from bamboo lycra, which is soft, quick-drying, and cooling — what more can you ask for when it comes to sleepwear? It comes in approximately a zillion colors and prints, and is available in sizes S to 2X.

Pros

• Lost of color options
• Soft and moisture-wicking
• Comes as a set

Cons

• Runs small

Best t-shirt set: Recliner Sleep Tee Set — $110.00

There’s something so comforting about sleeping in a soft tee. This set comes with a slouchy, jersey tee with side vents that give you extra room to move and allow more airflow. The fabric is also antibacterial, thermo-regulating, and deodorizing so you can bid goodbye to waking up hot and stinky. It also comes with a pair of stretchy shorts.

Pros

• Naturally deodorizing and antibacterial
• Side vents for more air flow
• Comes as a set

Cons

• Expensive

Best cami: Athleta Nighttime Bliss Sleep Cami — $29.00

Say goodbye to that heavy cotton shirt you got for free and turned into a sleep shirt. And especially if you don’t like wearing sleeves, this Athleta camis is for you. It’s made of a TENCEL modal and spandex jersey fabric, making it super lightweight and soft, and it drapes just right, making it perfect for lounging around the house or sleeping comfortably at night. You can also get the shorts or joggers for matching set.

Pros

• Breathable and lightweight
• Relaxed fit

Cons

• Runs big

Best Cooling Pajamas for Men

Best overall: Hanes X-Temp Pajamas — $52.00

You may already have some classic Hanes shirts or underwear in your closet, now add a pair of cooling pajamas. This short sleeve and pants set is made with a cotton/polyester blend and has X-Temp technology, which adapts to your body’s temperature and also wicks away sweat.

Pros

• Breathable
• Designed to adapt to body temperature
• Comes as a set

Cons

• Pants run big/long

Best long-sleeve: Dagsmejan Long Sleeve Top — $100.00

Don’t let the sleeves fool you. Even though this sleep shirt has long sleeves, it’s made of with eucalyptus fibers, making it more breathable, softer, and quicker-drying than cotton. It has flat seams and no tags, so you can sleep comfy and cool, knowing nothing will be scratching your skin throughout the night.

Pros

• Breathable
• Eucalyptus fiber
• Fast-drying

Cons

• Expensive

Best pants: 32 Degrees Cool Knit Sleep Pants — $15.00

If you’re looking some cooling pants, this 32 Degrees pair is lightweight, breathable, and have four-way stretch.  They have an adjustable drawstring and have a relaxed fit for comfort. They’re also moisture-wicking and anti-odor, so you can feel and smell fresh on even hot nights. And the price is easy on the wallet, too — you can pick up a pair for every day of the week.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Moisture-wicking
• Affordable

Cons

• Pants run long

Best sleep tee: Sheex Short Sleeve Tee — $43.00

Breathable and moisture-wicking, this comfy t-shirt will help regulate your body temperature while you sleep. It’s quick-drying, soft, and tagless, and it has an easy-to-wear, relaxed fit.

One reviewer said, “Superior to any sleep wear I’ve ever worn by far. I instantly felt cooler just wearing this sleep wear outside of bed and once in bed it delivered as advertised and beyond my expectations.”

Pros

• Breathable
• Moisture-wicking
• Tagless

Cons

• Shorts sold separately

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