Why do I sweat at night? Causes and the right duvet

Night sweats are uncomfortable and can significantly disrupt your sleep. The causes are varied – sometimes it is the duvet, sometimes other factors. This guide will help you identify the cause and choose the right solution.

Common causes of night sweats

The wrong duvet

A duvet that is too warm or not breathable enough is the most common cause. Inexpensive synthetic fibre duvets do not allow moisture to escape easily – you will sweat significantly more under them than under high-quality natural materials or Primaloft Bio.

A bedroom that is too warm

The ideal bedroom temperature is around 16 to 19 °C. Many bedrooms are significantly warmer in winter – especially if the heating is not turned down at night. If you also use a winter duvet, sweating is almost inevitable.

Hormonal changes

Menopause, thyroid problems or certain medications can cause night sweats. In these cases, you should consult a doctor. The guide Duvets for Menopause explains how to adjust your bed for hot flushes at night during menopause.

Stress and tension

Psychological stress activates the autonomic nervous system and can lead to increased sweating – even at night.

What helps with night sweats?

If heat builds up under the duvet: a climate duvet with climate bands

If the warmth rating is suitable for your bedroom but you still wake up sweating, heat is probably building up under the duvet. In this case, a climate duvet is our first recommendation. It has the same filling as our classic down duvets – 90% down and 10% feathers of grade I – but instead of squares, it has continuous channels separated by breathable climate bands. Excess heat and moisture can escape more easily through these bands. A climate duvet does not actively cool, but less heat builds up under it. It is designed for anyone who gets hot quickly at night.

It is available in three warmth ratings: the Summer Climate Duvet for bedrooms from around 22 °C, the All-Season Climate Duvet for around 18–22 °C, and the Winter Climate Duvet for rooms below 18 °C. The delivery time is approximately 4 working days. The guide Climate Duvet or Baffle Box Duvet? explains how it differs from a classic down duvet.

Choosing the right duvet

If the duvet is the problem, high-quality, breathable materials will help. Natural down is a particularly breathable material – it absorbs moisture and releases it quickly. Primaloft Bio is an excellent vegan alternative with similarly good moisture-regulating properties. Both materials are significantly better than inexpensive synthetic fibre duvets.

Choosing the right warmth rating

If your bedroom is warmer than around 22 °C, switch from an all-season duvet to a summer duvet. The lighter filling provides less warmth and better air circulation.

Keep the bedroom cooler

Ventilate the room thoroughly before going to bed and turn down the heating at night. Even a reduction of 2–3 °C can make a big difference.

What about the pillow?

Your head releases a lot of heat at night, and the pillow rests directly against your face and neck all night. A breathable filling helps here too: down absorbs moisture and releases it. With the 3-Chamber Down Pillow, you rest your head on the outer down chambers. If you prefer a vegan pillow, choose the Primaloft Bio Pillow – it can be washed at 60 °C, which is practical if you sweat a lot. You should also change the pillowcase frequently; all Traumwelt pillows have a 100% cotton cover.

What about the bedding?

The pillowcase also rests directly against your skin all night. Cotton bedding absorbs moisture and is more breathable than polyester covers, under which heat and moisture are more likely to build up. If you sweat a lot, change the cover more frequently than usual – this keeps the bed dry and hygienic. Our satin bedding is made from 100% cotton and can be washed at 60 °C.

Our recommendation if you sweat a lot

If you wake up sweating despite having a suitable warmth rating because heat is building up under the duvet, a climate duvet is our first recommendation – for example, the All-Season Climate Duvet for normally tempered bedrooms or the Summer Climate Duvet for warm rooms.

Our summer duvets made from natural down or Primaloft Bio are ideal if you sweat at night – ultralight, highly breathable and moisture-regulating. If you sweat all year round, we recommend our all-season duvet made from 90% natural down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Traumwelt duvet helps with heavy sweating?
A summer duvet: in 135 × 200 cm, it has only 250 g of filling – as a down duvet or a vegan Primaloft Bio summer duvet. For comparison: the all-season duvet has 624 g, and the winter duvet has 900 g.

Does a climate duvet help with night sweats?
Yes, if the cause is heat building up under the duvet. Excess heat and moisture can escape more easily through the breathable climate bands – while maintaining the same warmth rating. If the duvet is generally too warm for your bedroom, a lighter warmth rating is more likely to help. And if sweating has other causes, such as hormonal changes, medication or an illness, no duvet can replace a medical consultation.

Do you sweat less under down than under synthetic fibre?
Usually yes, because inexpensive synthetic fibres do not allow moisture to escape as easily as down, which absorbs moisture and releases it quickly. High-quality fibres such as Primaloft Bio perform similarly. However, it is more important that the warmth rating is suitable for the room temperature.

Which winter duvet keeps me warm without making me sweat?
One with a warmth rating suitable for your bedroom: the winter duvet is designed for rooms below around 18 °C; above that, an all-season duvet is usually more comfortable. Fillings such as down or Primaloft Bio allow moisture to escape easily.

Sometimes I sweat, sometimes I feel cold – what helps?
The duvet is often too warm: you sweat, the moisture cools down, and then you feel cold. A suitable warmth rating and a breathable filling will help more than an even warmer duvet. Find out more in the guide Feeling Cold at Night Despite a Duvet.

When should I see a doctor about night sweats?
If you regularly sweat heavily despite having a cool bedroom and a light duvet, or if you have other symptoms. In this case, a doctor should rule out any underlying cause.

Related products

• Climate duvets
• Summer duvets
• Summer down duvet 90% down
• Summer duvet Primaloft Bio