Bamboo sheets are snowballing in popularity, giving tough competition to cotton sheets, which have been a bedding staple for a long time.
While both are derived from plants, the two fabrics have their own pros and cons. So, how different is a bamboo sheet from a cotton one? Which fabric is more sustainable? And most importantly, which sheet will support your sleep preferences the best?
This blog breaks it all down for you.
Table of Contents
What is Bamboo Fabric?
While cotton rules the bedding world, bamboo isn’t far behind, fast becoming a material of choice for the eco-conscious. From cutlery to furniture to bedding, bamboo is everywhere and here to stay.
What we love the most about bamboo is its renewability. It’s one of the fastest-growing woody plants that doesn’t require much irrigation, pesticides, or fertilizers to grow.
This makes bamboo naturally hypoallergenic and good for the planet. The trouble is the industrial processing it must undergo to go from raw material to soft fabric.
As a woody plant, raw bamboo needs a fair amount of chemicals to break down. The process starts with bamboo pulp, which is dissolved using chemical solvents and put into a machine to extract cellulose.
These filaments or cellulose are later spun into rayon, modal, or viscose fabric - none of which can be termed sustainable because of their chemical-intensive manufacturing process. That’s not to say all bamboo-based products are bad for the environment.
For example, bamboo linen and lyocell are made using chemical-free or close-looped manufacturing methods. One method involves transforming bamboo pulp into fibers by crushing the leaves and pith by hand and then soaking them in a natural enzyme solution.
What is Cotton?
Cotton is one of the most widely produced natural fibers on earth. Like bamboo, cotton fibers are derived from plants. The fabric’s exceptional breathability makes its sheets a huge hit with people who struggle with night sweats. Some organic cotton sheets, like percale and sateen bed sheets, are airier than others, such as flannel.
Not all cotton sheets are made equal. They vary in quality, thread count, and the type of cotton used.
For example, Egyptian cotton sheets are considered royalty in the bedding world. They are made from extra-long staple cotton fibers, often boasting a very high thread count.
Pima is another prized variety of cotton with long-staple fibers. Sheets made from Pima cotton are more pocket-friendly than Egyptian cotton ones.
Upland cotton dominates the cotton production in the U.S.. Its breathable, slightly coarser fabric is used to make budget-friendly sheets.
Is your cotton bedsheet environmentally friendly? Yes, if it’s made from 100% organic cotton. Unlike regular cotton, the organic variety is grown without pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs and with energy-saving cultivation methods. Plus, no step of its production involves the use of harsh chemicals and dyes.
Bamboo Sheets vs. Cotton Sheets – A Detailed Comparison
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Durability: Both bamboo and cotton are extremely durable fabrics. Bamboo sheets are also known for their resistance to wear and tear, pilling, and fading.
They hold shape and dye better in comparison to cotton sheets. Opt for long-staple cotton fiber sheets for superior comfort and durability. They may be steeply priced but are certainly worth the investment.
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Temperature Control: Both bamboo and cotton score high in breathability and moisture-wicking abilities. Their porous structure wicks sweat and allows air to pass through freely, helping hot sleepers stay cool and dry through the night.
While cotton is synonymous with summer, its sheets can be used in every season except peak winters. The same applies to bamboo sheets. If you’re looking for winter-friendly bedding, consider investing in a set of cozy flannel sheets.
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Eco-Friendly: You’d think that since both bamboo and cotton are plant-derived textiles, sheets made from them will undoubtedly be eco-friendly.
While as a raw material, bamboo is a highly renewable and water-conserving crop, turning it into rayon, model, or lyocell requires subjecting it to harsh chemical solvents.
That said, with bamboo becoming more popular, manufacturers are increasingly switching to a more sustainable and closed-lopped production process.
Regular cotton is one of the most water-intensive crops, taking up to 5,283 gallons to make 2.2 pounds of cotton. It gets worse. Traditional cotton cultivation relies heavily on pesticides, GMOs, and chemicals.
In sharp contrast, organic cotton is grown without chemicals or pesticides and with energy-conserving methods. It’s got all the benefits of regular cotton while also being the more sustainable option.
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Hypoallergenic: Sustainably produced bamboo fabric that hasn’t been exposed to a lot of chemicals tends to be anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It repels dust, mites, and mold while also being gentle on the skin.
Organic cotton fabric is naturally hypoallergenic thanks to its chemical-free nature. This makes it a popular candidate for making baby bedding and sheets for those with itchy and sensitive skin.
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Feel and Comfort: Bamboo sheets' silk-like texture and exceptional softness often come at a high cost to the environment. The softer a bamboo fabric is, the more likely it has undergone chemical-intensive processing.
If you want more eco-friendly sheets, opt for bamboo linen. However, their coarse texture may not sit well with some. As far as comfort goes, bamboo sheets are incredibly comfy. They’ll keep you cool through the night thanks to bamboo’s airiness and moisture-wicking properties.
Among cotton sheets, organic cotton percale sheets are lightweight, crisp, and feel flat to the touch. If you love soft and smooth bed sheets, then higher thread count sateen sheets are just what you need.
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Maintenance: Both bamboo and cotton sheets are fairly low maintenance. They’re usually machine washable and can withstand tumble drying.
However, for best upkeep, we recommend washing and drying the sheets in the lowest possible heat settings.
Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping for Bamboo Bedsheets
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Sustainability: This is a tricky one. Bamboo sheets aren’t made from raw bamboo fibers like cotton or organic cotton sheets. The sheets you’ll come across will either be made from bamboo rayon or bamboo viscose.
Both fabrics are the end products of chemical-heavy industrial processing that transforms pulp into soft fibers. Among these, bamboo lyocell is considered the most eco-friendly option because of its closed-loop manufacturing, where compounds and water used are recycled instead of released into the environment.
But the greenest bamboo sheets of all are the ones made from bamboo linen. But these are harder to come by. In contrast to other variants, linen is made using mechanical methods with fewer resources and natural enzymes as solvents.
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Weave: Like cotton, bamboo sheets come in percale, sateen, or twill weave. Percale is a plain weave with one thread over and one thread under pattern.
These sheets are lightweight, airy, and feel crisp and cool to the touch, making them ideal for hot and humid months. Sateen sheets more than makeup for their low breathability with their silky, smooth feel. They are typically heavier than percale, with a tighter weave and a higher thread count.
Twill sheets have a dense weave, making them a good pick for winter. However, they aren’t as smooth as sateen or cool as percale.
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Thread Count: Good quality bamboo sheets have a thread count in the range of 200 to 400. Anything lower than that wouldn’t last you long.
Unlike cotton, thread count in bamboo sheets isn’t given much importance. It is a factor worth keeping in mind when distinguishing good bamboo sheets from poorly made ones.
Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping for Cotton Bedsheets
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Sustainability: If sustainability matters to you, you can’t go wrong with organic cotton sheets. Available in cool percale and smooth sateen, our organic bed sheets are a far greener choice compared to regular cotton ones.
The raw cotton from which our fabric is derived is cultivated without pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs. Even the water needed to grow it is significantly lower than that of conventional cotton.
Our cotton sheets and pillow covers are hypoallergenic, with no harsh chemicals or dyes involved in the manufacturing process.
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Weave: Cotton sheets from natural fibers woven in different patterns, like percale, sateen, and flannel. Cool and airy percale sheets are great for warmer climates and sleepers who love the feel of a crisply ironed shirt.
The soft, hotel-chic sateen sheets aren’t far behind in breathability. Plus, their distinctive weave and higher thread counts make them resistant to wrinkles. If it’s a warm set of sheets you’re after, fuzzy flannel sheets with a napped finish will not disappoint.
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Thread Count: Thread count matters when it comes to choosing soft, long-lasting cotton sheets. You’ll come across sheets with thread counts anywhere from 200 to 800 range.
Sheets with higher thread count are generally made from either Egyptian or Pima type of cotton. These are softer, smoother, and more durable. Weave-wise, sateen sheets typically boast the highest thread count in the range of 300-600, while percale is generally found in the 200 to 400 range.
Final Thoughts
Made from plant-derived fabrics, both bamboo and cotton sheets share plenty of characteristics. However, whether a set of sheets is right for you depends on your sleeping preferences.
It’s also a good idea to take into account factors like thread count, weave, durability, feel, and comfort while making a decision.
For eco-conscious shoppers, we recommend bamboo sheets that have been made with mechanical methods or closed-loop manufacturing.