From comforters to pillows, duvet covers to sheets, bamboo bedding accessories have become increasingly popular over the past few years. This is partly due to how eco-friendly these products are. The bamboo plant is exceptionally fast-growing and relatively easy to harvest. When woven into fabric, bamboo is also naturally super soft, breathable, moisture-wicking, and durable.

Bamboo can produce several bed sheet fabric types, including linen, rayon, and lyocell sheets. In addition to the inherent qualities of raw bamboo listed above, bamboo sheets have a pleasant draping effect and feel cool to the touch. In this article, we’re sharing our picks for the best bamboo sheets and a buyer’s guide to bamboo sheets. In the guide, you’ll find important considerations for first-time buyers and tips for how to choose the best bamboo bed sheets for your lifestyle and bedroom.

Best Bamboo Sheets

• Brooklyn Bedding Bamboo Twill Sheets: Editor’s Pick
• Cariloha 400-Thread-Count Resort Bamboo Sheets: Runner Up
• Target Rayon from Bamboo Deep Pocket Sheet Set: Most Variety
• Royal Hotel Silky Bamboo Sheet Set: Best Value
• MALOUF 100% Rayon Bamboo Sheet Set: Best Luxury
• Luxor Linens Bamboo Sheet Set: Best Color Selection

Bamboo Sheet Buying Guide

Bamboo sheets are among the most enjoyable on the market, thanks to their silky texture, plush feel, breathability, and durable construction. It’s no wonder bamboo has become such a popular material for bedding over the last decade: What’s not to love? While bamboo is technically a synthetic when woven into a fabric, it’s one of the most sustainable textile sources available, making every 100% bamboo purchase an eco-friendly one.

Below, we’re sharing our bamboo sheet buying guide. It includes information about how bamboo is used to produce fabric, types of bamboo sheets, considerations for first-time buyers, and how to ensure you’re purchasing the best bamboo sheet set for your needs.

How Bamboo Sheets are Made

Contrary to popular belief, bamboo products are not necessarily made from 100% bamboo. Rather, bamboo’s cellular walls are extracted and chemically treated to produce a fabric. This fabric is then threaded into a variety of weaves, such as sateen. There are two ways bamboo can be processed into a fabric:

• Chemical process—Bamboo cellulose (cell walls) is treated with chemicals that soften the fibers. The resulting substance is crushed, pressed, and processed to produce threads that are woven into fabrics.
• Mechanical process—Bamboo leaves and other materials are extracted from the bamboo plant. Then, they’re crushed to separate the cellulose from the roughage. Cellulose is then spun into a yarn that’s woven into fabrics.

Whether chemically or mechanically processed, the yarn that results from bamboo cellulose can be made into viscose, rayon, or lyocell. Each of these is a type of textile that is relatively similar in terms of softness, breathability, and durability.

Types of Bamboo Sheets

The types of bamboo sheets available fall into the three categories listed above: rayon, viscose, and lyocell. 

• Rayon from bamboo—The most common type of bamboo fabric, rayon is a synthetic fabric derived from bamboo cellulose that’s softened with lye and dissolved in carbon disulfide. Rayon is light, breathable, and soft as a result. 
• Viscose from bamboo—Viscose, and rayon are sometimes referred to interchangeably. Viscose is the preferred term in Europe, whereas rayon is the preferred term in North America.
• Lyocell from bamboo—Lyocell is a textile made from bamboo cellulose that is a subtype of rayon. The process for creating lyocell is similar to rayon, but with one difference: cellulose is dissolved with an organic compound rather than lye, making the resulting material more environmentally-friendly. 

Considerations for Buying

Regardless of type, size, color, or manufacturer of bamboo sheets you select, all sheets made with material derived from bamboo have similar benefits. They’re naturally hypoallergenic, cool and breathable, moisture-wicking, soft, and durable. However, bamboo sheet products vary in other characteristics, such as thread count, weave, color, price, and maintenance. We consider each below.

• Thread Count—The majority of bamboo sheets on the market have a thread count of 300-400. This range is a nice benchmark, and we recommend investigating sheets advertised with higher thread counts. Customer reviews can be a great source of information to determine if these claims are legitimate.
• Weave—Like all bed sheets, bamboo-derived yarn can be threaded, or interlaced, in a variety of patterns that have a distinct feel. percale weave, for example, mimics a men’s dress shirt, whereas a sateen weave is silkier and has a slight sheen.
• Maintenance—Bamboo sheets always require special care and the majority of manufacturers discourage cleaning materials like bleach, dryer sheets, and fabric softener. Check the washing instructions to make sure the cleaning guidelines for the sheet set you’re considering align with your preferred level of maintenance.
• Color—Bamboo-based sheets have excellent durability, meaning you may have them for a long time. If you’re outfitting a guest or master bedroom, consider neutral colors that match with any aesthetic. Neutral colors also help create a calm sleep environment, while dark or jewel-toned colors can stimulate the brain and interrupt sleep.

How to Pick the Right Bamboo Sheets for You

We hope this guide has provided enough helpful information to serve as a launching pad in your bamboo sheet shopping journey. While there’s no “right” or “wrong” bamboo sheet set, the best option for you will depend on your budget, preferences, and other factors. We also recommend reviewing the manufacturer’s warranty, sleep trial, and return policies, as these will inform how flexible your purchase is and whether your investment is protected.