Sleeping Too Hot
Room Too Hot to Sleep? Fixes That Cost Under $50
By the Good Sleep team · October 22, 2026
Quick answer: keep the heat out during the day, flush it out at night, and move air across the bed. A box fan, blackout curtains or a cheap set of cotton percale sheets each cost under $50 and make a noticeable difference.
Free
- Close blinds on sunny windows from late morning on.
- Open windows when it's cooler outside than in, on opposite sides of the home for crossflow.
- Turn off heat sources: lamps, chargers, gaming consoles, and the oven late in the day.
- Sleep low. Heat rises; a lower bed or a downstairs room can be cooler.
- Freeze a water bottle, wrap it in a towel and keep it by your feet.
Under $25
- A box or window fan, set to blow out at night to pull cooler air in from another window.
- A thin cotton blanket to replace a heavy duvet.
- Moisture-wicking sleepwear.
Under $50
- Blackout or thermal curtains for the sunniest window.
- Cotton percale or linen-blend sheets.
- A clip-on or oscillating fan aimed across the bed, not at the ceiling.
When cheap isn't enough
If the room is cool and you're still hot, the heat is probably coming from the mattress or your body. That's when cooling the sleep surface matters. Good Sleep has a clear explainer on this, and this article covers the best temperature for a bedroom.
When to see a doctor
In extreme heat, overheating can be dangerous, particularly for older adults and people with heart or lung conditions. Seek urgent care for confusion, fainting, vomiting, or a very high body temperature. See a doctor if you feel hot at night even in a cool room.