Bamboo Sheets vs Cotton Sheets

Bamboo Sheets Pros & Cons

Pros

Taking fibres from bamboo grass and weaving them into a lyocell or modal fabric, bamboo sheets are a sustainable choice. Perfect for the eco-conscious shopper, bamboo is grown without pesticides, fertilizers, or irrigation.  
 
The fibres are naturally antibacterial, preventing odours, mould and bacteria from growing – helping you to sleep and breathe clearly. In turn, the bamboo cotton sheets also help to protect your mattress and pillows. The fibres are also naturally hypoallergenic, meaning they won’t irritate allergy sufferers. You might be experiencing nightly allergies if you regularly wake up with a headache, stuffy nose, or fatigued.  

Perfect for hot sleepers, bamboo cotton sheets wick moisture away from your skin and absorb it without feeling wet. The result is sheets that feel cool and dry to the touch, even if you’re experiencing night sweats.  Plus, with exceptional temperature-regulating qualities, these sheets are the perfect match for summer.  

Cons

If you’re a big fan of crisp, hotel-looking beds with perfectly folded edges, bamboo cotton might not be for you. The fibres lend themselves to a relaxed, undone look, and are tricky to fold into hospital corners. Bamboo is also more likely to wrinkle and crease, while being difficult to iron. As a result, bamboo is best left for modern “artfully rumpled” beds.  

Bamboo is also more expensive than other options, like cotton. The process of weaving bamboo is more technical, and there are fewer bamboo plantations, leading to a higher, luxury price point. As such, families with lots of bedrooms might find switching over to bamboo costly. Instead, we would recommend flannelette or classic cotton.  

Cotton Sheets Pros & Cons

Pros

Cotton is the family favourite for a reason! Easy to care for, you can easily pop these cotton sheets into the wash, and then straight into a warm tumble dryer – making laundry days go much faster.

Cotton bedlinen and bedding is also cheaper than many alternatives, meaning you can buy a few sets of sheets for every bed in your home. We have cotton sheets in a huge range of thread counts, patterns, and colours, meaning that no matter your style, we have the bed sheets you’re looking for.

Resistant to wrinkles, the threads in cotton sheets make the fabric ideal for a crisp, perfectly made bed (without having to get the iron out). We love the look of a pure, white cotton sheet set paired with a fluffy white quilt.

Cons

Cotton may not be the most sustainable choice for your bedroom. While we source our cotton as ethically as possible, the plant still requires more water than bamboo to grow. There may also be pesticides used during the growing season, which some families choose to avoid.

Cotton is also slightly more likely to shrink than bamboo, so it’s important to follow the care instructions on your sheets.

Cotton is light and airy but doesn’t have the same moisture-wicking properties as bamboo, making it less desirable for hot sleepers.