Pros and Cons of Bamboo Sheets (Fabric Disadvantages vs Benefits)

What are the pros and cons of bamboo sheets? Bamboo fabric has become very popular but is it worth the money? Let’s compare its disadvantages to advantages and find out!

In a hurry? Bamboo sheets pros and cons – the benefits outweigh the disadvantages in many aspects such as health, comfort, durability, and heat regulation compared to sheet materials like cotton and polyester. The main cons of bamboo sheets are the price and the extra care they need.

However, because of the durability of bamboo fabric, they become the more economical choice in the long run.

If you’re looking for the best bamboo sheets try the highly rated Cariloha Resort Bamboo Sheet Set. But if you’re on a budget then the Royal Hotel 100% Bamboo bed sheets are your best choice.

Benefits of Bamboo Sheets

Bamboo sheets have been seeing a rise in popularity and demand these days as more and more people discover the advantages bamboo sheets provide. But what exactly are these pros of using bedding made of bamboo fabric?

1. Breathability

One of the great things about bamboo sheets is that they’re super breathable. This means that air can pass through the bamboo fabric, allowing you to have cool nights even during hot summer. It’s especially beneficial for sweaty sleepers.

Bamboo sheets even have excellent moisture-wicking capabilities that can keep your sweat away from you as you sleep.

Pair its breathability and moisture-wicking ability and you have the perfect bedding combination for hot sleepers and women who are going through menopause and suffer from night sweats.

2. Health

Another benefit of the bamboo bed sheets is the fact that they are incredibly porous. Because they’re so porous, the bamboo fabric is also heat-regulating which makes it easier to sleep in the summertime.

The breathability of the fabric creates a less moist environment to discourage the mites and bed bugs from living in your bed as well as being;

Hypoallergenic,
Anti-bacterial
Anti-fungal

3. Durability

For cotton sheets, there’s a thing called thread count – the higher the number, the softer, better quality the sheets are.

However, for bamboo sheets, the thread count doesn’t matter in most cases as some people report 350ct being softer than 500ct.

When it comes to Bamboo bed sheets, what matters is the quality of the brand. Below are a couple of things to look out for if you want to find the best bamboo sheets.

Price: 100% organic bamboo sheets that are the highest quality are not going to be below $100 but will last for a long time and may come with pillowcases
Check to see if they are twill-woven: the highest quality of the bamboo sheets will be twill-woven which will feel amazing against your skin
Research the brand on the internet and check their reviews to make sure you are spending your money wisely

You must know about how comfortable Egyptian Cotton sheets are, but Bamboo sheets feel better, are stronger yet lighter than Egyptian cotton sheets and not even a little slippery, providing years of comfort and a new-like appearance.

4. Insulation

Bamboo fabric is something really special because, despite being breathable, you can still use it in winter and feel warm.

But how can something that can keep you cool when the weather is hot work out as your cold-weather bedding?

Well, it has thermoregulating properties that will keep you warm when the weather is cold. No more changing your set of sheets as the seasons change.

Your bamboo sheets will keep you comfortable all year round, allowing you to stay cool in summer and warm in winter.

5. Naturally Hypoallergenic

Another benefit of bamboo sheets is that they’re naturally hypoallergenic.

Since a lot of bamboo species can be grown without the use of pesticides due to their resistance to insects and diseases, sheets made from bamboo won’t cause you to have itchy skin and other allergies.

This makes bamboo bedding the ideal choice for you if you have allergies and sensitive skin.

6. Odor Control

You also won’t have to worry about bad smell interrupting your beauty sleep since this type of sheet stays fresh for a long time.

Bamboo sheets are naturally resistant to mildew, mold, and bacteria and have a moisture-wicking property that prevents odor from building up.

7. Comfort and Feel

Bamboo fabric is light and super soft to touch. Now, combine these two with its other properties and you have the perfect recipe for a good night’s sleep.

8. Eco-Friendly

One of the things that attract consumers to bamboo sheets is its eco-friendliness. The bamboo plant is very resilient, so it doesn’t need pesticides and insecticides.

This means that the soil where the bamboo plants are planted remain unpolluted. Also, compared to cotton, bamboo requires much less water as it grows and during processing.

Cons of bamboo sheets

Just like any other product, bamboo sheets have their own disadvantages as well. Let’s check out some of the drawbacks of bamboo fabric.

1. Price

Bamboo material is quite expensive due to a couple of reasons.

Processing

The bamboo plant is quite woody so it’s harder to extract the fibers that will be converted into fabric. First, the bamboo trunks are steamed and mechanically crushed. Then, a process called retting is done to separate the fibers.

Duties

Most of the bamboo sheets that you see in the market today are made in China and Far East Asia where the bamboo plant is abundant.

Hence, the shipping and duties imposed by the countries greatly add to the cost of bamboo sheets.

2. Care

Like many organic fabrics and material, washing bamboo made stuff needs much gentler care than regular cotton or microfiber sheets. It’s recommended that you wash bamboo sheets:

By themselves
With warm water
Without fabric softener (believe me, you won’t need it anyway)
Line dry instead of tumble dry

But remember, with gentle care, the already durable bamboo sheets will become even more durable, remaining brand new for many years to come.

Pros and Cons of Bamboo Sheets: Are They Worth The Money?

Now that we’ve talked about the pros and cons of bamboo sheets, the real question remains – are they worth your hard-earned money?

Yes, bamboo sheets are definitely worth it.

Despite the high cost of bamboo sheets, you’ll be able to use them for years to come because they’re very durable.

You can think of it as an investment since you won’t have to keep buying new bedsheets and its properties will help you stay healthy.

Not to mention that they’re so comfortable and soft that you’ll have a refreshing sleep each night.

Final Recount: Benefits vs Disadvantages of Bamboo Sheets

The benefits that you get from bamboo sheets far outweigh the disadvantages.

In fact, like most products, you just get what you pay for.

Pros of Bamboo Sheets Compared to Other Sheets

So, we’ve talked about the pros and cons of bamboo sheets. But how do they compare to other types of sheets like cotton, linen, and microfiber?

Benefits of Bamboo Sheets Compared to Cotton Sheets

Bamboo sheets are softer than cotton sheets. They’re more durable as well though they do require proper care. Cotton is also a crop that requires a lot of water and it uses pesticides that can pollute the soil.

Since bamboo is more sustainable and environment-friendly, they appeal more to consumers that take carbon footprint into account when choosing the products that they use.

It’s also important to know that quality bamboo sheets are comparable to sheets made from Egyptian cotton. Bamboo sheets are indeed pricey but Egyptian cotton beddings are usually far more expensive.

To know more about the pros and cons of these two types of sheets and how they fare against each other, check out my in-depth Bamboo Sheets vs Cotton Sheets article.

Pros and Cons of Bamboo Sheets Compared to Linen Fabric

Linen is another popular type of bedding that is often compared with bamboo sheets. Bamboo and linen bed sheets each have their own pros and cons, but both are comfortable, breathable and hypoallergenic.

However, though linen sheets are still pricey, they ‘re a bit cheaper than bamboo sheets. But, if you’re willing to look past this small difference, you’ll reap your rewards in terms of the bamboo sheet’s durability.

Plus, bamboo sheets don’t get dirty easily, so you don’t have to wash them as often as linen sheets.

For more information about advantages and disadvantages of linen and bamboo fabric, you can go to our detailed post about Bamboo Sheets vs Linen Sheets.

Bamboo Sheets Pros and Cons Compared to Microfiber Fabric

Microfiber is a synthetic fiber that is cheap and easily available in the market. So, how do bamboo sheets hold up to microfiber sheets?

Well, when it comes to durability, comfort and being hypoallergenic, they are equals. On the other hand, microfiber sheets are ahead when it comes to maintenance and cost since they are easy to care for and very cheap.

But bamboo sheets still shine because, unlike microfiber sheets, they are very breathable and eco-friendly.

If you’d like to know more about the pros and cons of these two types of sheets, check out my Bamboo Sheets vs Linen Sheets article.

How are bamboo sheets made?

If you’ve seen a bamboo plant before, you probably don’t picture sleeping on them to be comfortable.

But once the plant is crushed into the fibrous and stringy material and put through mechanical or chemical processing, we get the silky, soft touch we love. There are two ways Bamboo sheets are made.

Process

The mechanical process produces 100% eco-friendly, green and organic bamboo whereas, the chemical process produces less natural fibers, like Bamboo rayon and Bamboo lyocell and uses toxic chemicals like sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, and carbon disulfide, making it harder to recycle and reuse.

Bamboo is easier to dye so they still carry fewer chemicals than other types of sheets.

Outcome

Bamboo sheets tend to be much softer and comfortable against your skin because instead of multiple short threats being woven together, like with cotton and polyester sheets, bamboo sheets are made by stretching thin bamboo strings across the sheet.

Where to Get Some Bamboo Sheets?

I personally love Amazon for shopping. Especially because of the customer reviews.

Best Rated 100% Bamboo Sheets in 2024

Cariloha Resort Bamboo sheet set

These bed sheets impressed me with the smooth, silky look and its amazing customer reviews!

Some described the sheets as superb. I mean, if you look at the other reviews, most of them agree so who am I to be suspicious.

Customers appraised the bamboo sheet set, explaining they were happy with their purchase, how comfortable the sheets were and hot sleepers said that it helped with not sweating so much while sleeping.

Pros

Soft with a sateen finish
Has advanced box-stitched seams
Light and thin
Durable
Comes with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee
Body temperature-regulating
Has extra-deep pockets
Very comfortable to use
Great customer support

Cons

Quite expensive

Check Current Price

Best Cheap Bamboo Bed Sheet Set

Royal Hotel Bamboo Viscose Sheets

If you’re on a tight budget but still want to feel the luxurious soft feel 100% bamboo sheets provide, go for the Royal Hotel.

They have a lot of different color options, all bed sizes, and the reviews say the sheet set is fresh and lighter than air as well as being comfortable and durable.

Some customers added that they couldn’t wait to get their second set. With reviews like this, it was easy for me to switch from cotton sheets to bamboo sheets.

Pros

Available in various colors and sizes
Anti-static
Adjusts to body temperature
Soft and silky
Lightweight and durable

Cons

Could shrink a bit

Check Current Price

FAQ

Are bamboo sheets more comfortable than Egyptian cotton sheets?

Yes. Bamboo sheets have the softest fibers, are heat-regulating, lighter yet still stronger than Egyptian cotton.

Does the thread count matter when it comes to Bamboo sheets?

Thread count will matter as long as it is the same brand or two brands that are similar in quality.

A 350ct bamboo sheet set from brand A might be more comfortable than a 500ct bamboo sheets of brand B. Make sure to do your research before purchasing.

Are bamboo sheets more durable than cotton?

Yes. Bamboo sheets are more durable than cotton.

Bamboo sheets are made with an individual, long strings of thread instead of using a blend of multiple, short threads woven together.

Bamboo is also a stronger material than cotton, fitting your bed perfectly after a couple washes and remaining perfect, without shrinkage for a long time.

Why are bamboo sheets more expensive?

Bamboo sheets are made with 100% bamboo instead of using blends of different fabrics. They are also the most comfortable sheets to sleep on the market, therefore, creating a higher demand.

See more 100% bamboo sheets available on Amazon