The Best Bedding to Improve Your Sleep

Sheets, comforters, and pillows are much more than just a decorative element. The right bedding can contribute to a better night of sleep, while the wrong bedding can keep you tossing and turning. That’s why it’s important to choose bedding made from breathable, comfortable fabrics that are conducive to good sleep.

Today’s shoppers have access to a large range of bedding of various styles and price-points. As a result, shoppers may feel a little intimidated by all the options. We’ll provide a full overview of what to look for when buying bedding. We’ll also share our top picks for sheets, pillows, and comforters to help get you started on your search.

Product Details

Best Overall Sheets

Luxome Luxury Sheet Set

Price:

$160

Material:

100% viscose from bamboo

Weave:

Sateen

• Who it’s best for

  1. Hot sleepers
  2. Sleepers with sensitive skin
  3. People who own adjustable beds

• Highlights

  1. Breathable bamboo-derived viscose construction
  2. Silky sateen weave drapes closely to the body
  3. 30-day returns

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Every item in the Luxome Luxury Sheet Set is made from bamboo-derived viscose, a naturally breathable, soft, and moisture-wicking material. These features make the sheet set a great choice for many sleepers, including those who sleep hot or live in warm and humid climates. 

The bamboo-derived fabric’s natural softness is enhanced by a sateen weave that gives it a silky feel and lustrous sheen. Our testers with sensitive skin especially loved the sateen weave, finding they could move across the sheets easily without harsh rubbing or irritation. 

Six standard sizes are available, as well as a split king size that comes with two fitted sheets. This makes the set a great choice for couples with adjustable beds. All other sizes come with a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and one to two pillowcases. The fitted sheet has a 17-inch pocket depth that accommodates most mattresses in our testing lab. Every item is machine-washable for easy care. Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle, and tumble dry on low heat. 

You can choose between eight colors, ranging from neutrals to orange and blue. Luxome ships free to customers living in the contiguous U.S. Returns are accepted for like-new products within 30 days of delivery.

Best Value Sheets

Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Bamboo Cotton Sheets

Price:

$159

Material:

Cotton and rayon derived from bamboo

Weave:

Sateen

• Who it’s best for

  1. Hot sleepers
  2. Anyone with a mattress up to 17 inches thick
  3. Value seekers

• Highlights

  1. Ultra-breathable blend of cotton and bamboo-derived rayon
  2. Generous pocket depth can accommodate most mattresses regardless of profile
  3. Available in three colors and seven sizes

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High-quality sheets can be somewhat costly, but this isn’t always the case. The Deep Pocket Bamboo Cotton Sheets from Brooklyn Bedding are a prime example of a well-made bedding collection with an approachable price-point. Made from a blend of natural cotton and rayon derived from bamboo, the sheets and pillowcases in this set are quite breathable and well suited to hot sleepers. The fabric is also exceptionally soft and smooth, so the bedding is also a good option for people with sensitive skin.

You can choose from seven sizes. Six correspond with standard mattress dimensions, and you can also select a split king if you and your partner share an adjustable bed. The set is also available in three neutral colors to complement your bedroom decor. A pocket depth of 17 inches makes the fitted sheet compatible with the vast majority of mattresses sold today. To launder the sheets and pillowcases, simply machine wash in cool or warm water and tumble dry on low heat or line dry. 

Brooklyn Bedding offers free ground shipping for customers in the contiguous U.S. Your purchase includes a 30-night sleep trial with free return shipping. Should you decide to keep the Deep Pocket Bamboo Cotton Sheets, you’ll receive warranty coverage for 1 year.

Best Luxury Sheets

Boll & Branch Signature Eyelet Sheet Set

Price:

$299

Material:

100% GOTS-certified organic cotton

Weave:

Sateen

• Who it’s best for

  1. Those who prefer sateen sheets
  2. Shoppers who prioritize ethical, sustainable production
  3. Sleepers in any climate

• Highlights

  1. GOTS and Fair Trade certified cotton
  2. Hand-embroidered accents
  3. Durable and easy to care for

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The Signature Eyelet Sheet Set from Boll & Branch is made with organic cotton with a 300 thread count. The company is Fair Trade certified, and the cotton is certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Cotton is highly breathable, and the sheets should get softer as time goes on.

The Boll & Branch Signature Eyelet Sheet Set has a sateen weave with a smooth matte finish and an elegant drape. This set also features hand-embroidered decorative eyelets in a choice of four accent colors: white, pewter, shore, or blush. The sheets are designed to be resistant to pilling and fading, and stand up well to machine washing.

Boll & Branch offers free standard shipping to all 50 U.S. states, and orders usually arrive within 2 to 10 days. Expedited shipping and shipping to Canada are available for an additional charge. Customers have 30 nights to try out the sheets and return them for a full refund if they are not satisfied

Best Overall Comforter

Buffy Breeze

Price:

$249

Cover Material:

Lyocell from eucalyptus

Fill Material:

Eucalyptus-based fiber fill

• Who it’s best for

  1. Hot sleepers and people who live in warmer climates
  2. Those who value vegan and cruelty-free products
  3. People who suffer from allergies

• Highlights

  1. Made of 100% plant-based eucalyptus materials
  2. Lightweight and breathable
  3. Designed to be resistant to allergens

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The Buffy Breeze is a lightweight comforter designed for hot sleepers and people in warm climates. The comforter is relatively thin with a low loft, which helps promote airflow to minimize heat buildup.

Both the filling and the cover of the Breeze are made of 100% lyocell derived from eucalyptus. The filling is made from breathable lyocell fiber fill, with wave-stitching throughout that is designed to reduce clumping. The cover is made from durable eucalyptus fabric with a thread count of 300.

The tight weave is intended to help keep out mold, mildew, and other allergens, which may benefit people with allergies or those with sensitive skin. The eucalyptus is sourced from renewable forests in the Czech Republic and Austria and processed with minimal waste. The final product has been certified free of harmful chemicals by OEKO-TEX.

The comforter should be dry cleaned only, but the cover has built-in loops that can be attached to a duvet cover for easier care. The Breeze comes in three sizes: twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king/California king. Buffy ships for free to the U.S. Shipping to Canada may incur an additional fee. Buffy has a 30-day return policy.

Best Value Comforter

Slumber Cloud Lightweight Comforter

Price:

$209

Cover Material:

100% cotton damask

Fill Material:

Polyester down alternative

• Who it’s best for

  1. Hot sleepers
  2. Value-minded shoppers
  3. Those looking for a machine-washable comforter

• Highlights

  1. Specialized cooling technology
  2. Soft and breathable cotton cover
  3. Easy to care for and long-lasting

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

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The Slumber Cloud Lightweight Comforter is made with ClimaDry by Outlast technology, which was originally developed by NASA. This is a type of down alternative fiber fill designed to absorb and disperse heat and wick away moisture from your body. The comforter has a soft, breathable cover made from 300 thread count cotton, and it is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.

The Lightweight Comforter features 12-inch quilt boxing, which helps keep the filling in place. The comforter is only available in white, although Slumber Cloud sells an assortment of duvet covers in different colors. Corner loops allow users to easily attach the comforter to a duvet cover.

Slumber Cloud offers the comforter in twin XL, queen, and king sizes. Unlike most comforters, this one can be machine washed in cold water and machine dried on low heat or line dried.

The comforter ships for free to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Armed Forces addresses, and can also be purchased in Canada and Mexico. The company offers a 60-day trial period and a 180-day warranty.

Best Luxury Comforter

Brooklinen Down Comforter – All-Season

Price:

$379

Cover Material:

100% cotton sateen

Fill Material:

Down

• Who it’s best for

  1. People who like the feel of a classic down comforter
  2. Individuals with allergies or sensitive skin
  3. Those who want a comforter suitable for year-round use

• Highlights

  1. Fluffy, full-weight traditional comforter
  2. Made with ethically sourced cotton and down
  3. Antimicrobial treatments to help prevent allergen and bacteria buildup

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

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The Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter is made from 700 fill power duck down, designed to be comfortable in both summer and winter. The duck down is sourced from Hutterite farms in Canada, and the comforter holds OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification. The cover of the All-Season Down Comforter is made from long-staple cotton with a sateen weave and a 400 thread count.

The All-Season Comforter is built with baffle box construction, meaning it’s sewn in a checkered pattern to keep the fill in place and prevent bunching. The baffle box design also helps keep the blanket fluffy and warm, while a series of ties helps make it easier to attach to a duvet cover.

The down is treated with antimicrobials designed to keep out bacteria, allergens, and odors. Brooklinen recommends spot cleaning as needed, and dry cleaning only for serious stains. For regular maintenance, the comforter can be air fluffed in the dryer without heat, or hung outside if weather permits.

The All-Season Down Comforter ships for free to the U.S. It is backed by a 1-year sleep trial and 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects such as fraying or tearing. Brooklinen sells a Lightweight Comforter designed for warmer climates, as well as a Down Alternative Comforter for those who prefer to avoid the use of animal products.

Best Overall Pillow

Saatva Latex Pillow

Price:

$165 – $185

Fill:

Shredded Talalay latex and down alternative

Firmness:

Medium Soft

• Who it’s best for

  1. Hot sleepers
  2. Those who dislike the close hug of memory foam
  3. Anyone seeking a pillow that’s easy to keep clean

• Highlights

  1. Shredded latex and down alternative fill creates a plush, squishy surface for your head and neck
  2. Available in two loft levels to accommodate different sleep positions
  3. Cover made of soft, breathable organic cotton

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

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The Saatva Latex Pillow should appeal to a wide range of sleepers thanks to its versatile design and balanced feel. Shredded latex and down alternative clusters make the pillow both plush and adaptive, and neither of these materials retains much heat. You’ll also notice gentle contouring, which may be appealing if you aren’t a fan of memory foam’s “hugging” effect.

A breathable organic cotton cover encases the fill. Two loft levels are available. We recommend the lower loft of 4 to 5 inches if you sleep on your back or stomach, or are a combination sleeper who uses both of these positions. The higher loft of 6 to 7 inches should provide ample cushioning for side sleepers, many of whom need thicker pillows to ensure even alignment and minimal pressure in the neck and shoulders.

You can machine wash the cover and the pouch containing the down alternative fibers, making the pillow exceptionally easy to keep clean. Customers choose between queen and king sizes, and may add a pair of cotton sateen pillowcases to their order for an additional fee. Saatva offers free ground shipping within the contiguous U.S. Your order includes a 45-night trial period, and you’ll also receive a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty if you decide to keep the pillow.

Best Value Pillow

Sweet Zzz Plant-Based Pillow

Price:

$135 – $150

Fill:

Plant-based down alternative fibers

Firmness:

Medium

• Who it’s best for

  1. People with down allergies
  2. Hot sleepers
  3. Value seekers

• Highlights

  1. Plush, plant-based fibers mimic the lightness and softness of real down
  2. Breathable, natural cotton cover
  3. Inexpensive pricing and a 50-night trial period

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

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The Sweet Zzz Plant-Based pillow is filled with down alternative fibers derived from botanical matter. This material offers the same loftiness and plushness of real down, but without triggering allergy symptoms or using animal-based components. A cover made of soft natural cotton encases the fill.

The plant-based fibers retain very little body heat and the cover is breathable, so this pillow is well suited to hot sleepers and people who reside in warm or humid climates. The smooth cover and gentle overall feel of this pillow can also be soothing for people with acne, rashes, and other conditions that cause sensitive skin.

Standard and king sizes are available. For cleaning, Sweet Zzz recommends machine washing in cold water on a gentle cycle, then tumble drying on low heat. You should avoid ironing, steam cleaning, and dry cleaning.

The Plant-Based Pillow is affordably priced in both sizes and shipping is free for all orders. Your purchase will include a generous sleep trial that runs 50 nights in length. Returns are accepted during this timeframe as long as the pillow is clean and not damaged. Those who keep the pillow also receive a year of warranty coverage.

Best Luxury Pillow

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Ergo Cooling Neck Pillow

Price:

$129

Fill:

TEMPUR memory foam

Firmness:

Firm

• Who it’s best for

  1. Those who suffer from back, neck, or shoulder pain
  2. Side and back sleepers
  3. People who like the conforming feel of memory foam

• Highlights

  1. Ergonomic design for improved spinal alignment
  2. Cooling gel absorbs and disperses heat
  3. TEMPUR memory foam provides contouring pressure relief

Sleep Foundation Special Offer

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The TEMPUR-Ergo Cooling Neck Pillow combines Tempur-Pedic’s trademark memory foam with a highly stretchy and breathable cover. The pillow is responsive and has a medium firmness that contours closely to provide pressure relief.

The pillow has an ergonomic design that is engineered to support the head and neck. With one side slightly higher than the other, it can be used by side sleepers and back sleepers alike. A layer of cooling gel just beneath the cover is designed to help disperse heat and maintain a neutral temperature on the pillow’s surface.

Though the memory foam core should not be immersed in water, the TEMPUR-Ergo Pillow has a removable cover that can be machine washed in a cold cycle with mild detergent. TempurPedic offers free UPS Ground shipping to the 48 continental U.S. states, and to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories for an additional charge. The pillow is covered under a 5-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects.

In-Depth Bedding Guides

For more personalized bedding recommendations, check out the following pages:

Types of Bedding

Along with your mattress, bedding plays a key role in helping you sleep soundly, so it’s important to choose bedding that is appropriate for your sleeping style. Additional factors to consider when shopping for new bedding include design, cost, availability, and care instructions. We’ll break down the top considerations to keep in mind when shopping for common bedding staples such as sheets, pillows, comforters, and blankets.

Sheets

Sheet sets usually include three basic components: fitted sheets, flat sheets, and pillowcases. Sheets are widely available both online and in brick-and-mortar stores.

Fitted sheets fit snugly against your mattress and are almost always secured with elastic edges. They help protect your mattress and create a softer feel against the skin. Flat sheets go between fitted sheets and blankets to protect your blankets and comforters from body oils and sweat. Pillowcases cover your pillows to help keep them clean and provide a smoother surface to lie on.

Common sheet materials include cotton, linen, silk, polyester, and Tencel. Different materials may be more appropriate depending on whether you primarily value softness, warmth, breathability, price, or durability. Some materials are more prone to wrinkling, pilling, and fading, and others may require more care and attention when washing.

Pillows

The best pillows help cushion your head and neck while you sleep, and they can also be used to support other areas of your body. Some pillows are designed for people who sleep in specific positions, for those with specific conditions such as chronic pain, or for use in specific contexts such as travel or pregnancy.

When choosing a pillow, it’s important to consider whether the firmness, the shape, and the loft are suitable for your preferred sleeping position. Common pillow fillings include conforming and supportive materials such as down, down alternative, memory foam, kapok fibers, buckwheat, and latex. Pillow covers are usually made of fabrics such as cotton, polyester, or Tencel lyocell, and many pillows have removable covers that can be machine washed.

Online and brick-and-mortar retailers offer a wide selection of pillows to choose from.

Comforters

Most comforters are designed for warmth in colder months, although some comforters balance insulation with breathability for year-round use.

Comforters are usually filled with soft materials such as down, polyester fiberfill, cotton batting, or silk, and they may be quilted to keep the filling material from bunching. Their outer covers are made from fabrics like cotton, silk, or polyester. While they are designed to be used as-is, some sleepers choose to add a duvet cover for easier maintenance, as comforters may not fit in a household washing machine.

Quality comforters are relatively expensive, but they are typically built to withstand long-term use. You may be able to find them bundled with a sheet set, or sold individually online or in-store.

Blankets

Blanket is actually an umbrella term that groups together comforters, duvets, quilts, throws, coverlets, waffle blankets, and specialty options like weighted or heated blankets. Accordingly, blankets can be made with wool, cotton, polyester, fleece, or many other materials. Some blankets are thicker and warmer, while others are thinner and more breathable.

Most blankets aren’t designed to be washed regularly, so be sure to read the care instructions before choosing a model. Due to their versatile nature, blankets are one of the most commonly available bedding items and may even be found in stores that don’t specialize in bedding.

Optional Bedding

Though they aren’t strictly necessary for every home, many sleepers find that certain optional bedding pieces can enhance their sleep environment:

• Duvets: Duvets are very similar to comforters. The main difference is that while comforters are generally one quilted piece, duvets consist of two separate pieces: an insert, which contains the filling, and a cover. The removable cover facilitates cleaning, offers more design options, and may eliminate the need for a top sheet. Duvets may also be fluffier and loftier than comforters.

• Weighted Blankets: Weighted blankets are designed to be heavier than regular blankets, typically between 5 pounds and 30 pounds. They may be filled with glass, plastic beads, or similarly weighty materials, and encased in a soft cover. For some people, the feeling of weight may help relieve stress and anxiety.

• Mattress Toppers: Mattress toppers are additional layers of material, usually foam, latex, wool, feathers, or down, that are intended to change the feel of a mattress. They are similar to mattress pads, but tend to be thicker, plusher, and geared more toward providing comfort as opposed to protecting the mattress from spills.

• Mattress Protectors: Mattress protectors are basically waterproof fitted sheets designed to either cover or totally encase a mattress. They are designed to protect mattresses against damage from moisture, bugs, mold, and bodily fluids, which may have the added benefit of maintaining your mattress warranty coverage. Some mattress protectors can form a hermetic seal to protect against bed bug infestations.

• Bed Skirts: Sometimes referred to as dust ruffles, bed skirts are used to cover the area between the end of your mattress and the floor. They are largely decorative, but they can also be useful if you want to prevent dust or conceal storage under your bed.

How to Choose Bedding

With such an endless array of products, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed when searching for new bedding. Having a clear idea of what you want can help you narrow down your choices.

What to Consider When Buying Bedding

The bedding industry is rich with vaguely defined buzzwords and misleading claims. While many brands advertise their bedding as being the best, the truth is that bedding is highly individual. Knowing how to evaluate bedding by its materials, quality, feel, and other factors can help you pick items that cater to your personal needs and preferences.

Quality Materials
The quality of the materials used to make bedding can affect how it looks, feels, and costs. You might be able to get an idea about the quality of a given item by examining the thread count, fiber length, density of the fabric, or the source of the raw materials. Recognized third-party certifications for quality and sustainability may also help guide you toward more reputable brands.

Brand Reputation
Though brand names aren’t everything, knowing a company’s reputation is one way to evaluate their products. If you can, take the time to read reliable reviews about bedding products and look into each company’s practices, especially around issues like customer service and returns. If sustainability and worker rights are important to you, seek out companies that are transparent about their policies.

Feel
Depending on factors like material, weave, and thread count, bedding can be smooth, silky, coarse, textured, heavy, lightweight, and anything in between. The type of material is a good place to start when trying to ascertain how an item of bedding is likely to feel. For example, cotton sheets with a percale weave usually feel crisp and breathable, while bamboo-derived lyocell tends to feel sleeker.

Price
The prices for bedding products vary significantly based on the materials used, as well as factors like thread counts and brand names. Although there are plenty of options at every price-point, you may find that special features or more durable constructions will set you back a little more.

Comfort
It goes without saying that you want your bedding to be comfortable. However, what that means varies from person to person. For instance, some people prefer soft, satiny sheets, while others prefer crisp, cool sheets. When selecting bedding, seek out what’s comfortable to you rather than what’s advertised as comfortable.

Design, Color, and Pattern
Bedding tends to set the tone for your bedroom, so try to pick bedding that you will be happy to wake up to every day. If you already have an established look for your bedroom, you may want to restrict your choices to bedding that matches or complements it. For sheets and comforters,don’t forget to consider the way the fabric drapes and how easily it wrinkles.

Breathability and Cooling
Your bedding should be optimized for your sleeping temperature. If you tend to sleep hot, consider more lightweight, breathable bedding, like percale sheets. If you sleep cold, consider warmer, more heavy-duty bedding, like flannel sheets and duvets. Those who run extra hot or cold might consider bedding with cooling or warming features, like warming electric blankets or cooling comforters with phase change material.

Durability
High-quality bedding is usually more durable than lower-quality bedding, which may be more prone to fraying, discoloration, fading, dulling, or pilling. By investing a little more for quality bedding, you may find you need to buy new bedding less often.

Ease of Care
Bedding that is used every night needs to be regularly washed, so ease of care is an important factor when shopping for new sheets, pillowcases, or blankets. Look for machine washable fabrics or removable covers that can help protect the delicate interiors of pillows and duvets. Pieces that require hand washing or dry cleaning may cost you more time and money over the long run.

Warranty, Returns, and Sleep Trials
You may not know how you’re going to feel about bedding until you sleep on it for a few nights. If you wind up not liking it, you want to be able to easily return it for a refund or store credit. Check if your chosen bedding company offers a sleep trial, and whether they provide full refunds or require customers to cover return shipping or restocking fees. Some companies may also offer a warranty against workmanship and manufacturing defects.

How Much Does Quality Bedding Cost?

Bedding comes in a wide range of prices. Some products that are more expensive are also higher-quality. However, this is not always the case, and quality bedding can be found at many different price-points.

Sheets

Sheet sets typically run between $50 and $300 for a queen set. Polyester, microfiber, and standard cotton sheets tend to be on the lower end of this range, while viscose, silk, linen, and organic or long-staple cotton are more costly.

Comforters

Quality comforters range from as low as $75 to $400 and above. If you’re on a budget, many synthetic comforters cost around $70 to $100. For $80 to $200, you may find higher-end synthetic comforters, as well as relatively basic down comforters. Higher-quality comforters made with materials like down or eucalyptus may cost more than $250.

Pillows

Pillows typically cost between $40 and $200. Down alternative, polyester fiberfill, and basic memory foam pillows are the most budget-friendly options. More expensive options include buckwheat, down, kapok, and more complex memory foam designs with cooling or other special features.

Blankets

Since there are so many types and sizes of blankets, the price-points vary tremendously. Materials such as cashmere, certain wools, long-staple cottons, and linen tend to be more expensive, while acrylic, polyester, fleece, and regular cottons tend to be less expensive.

Weighted blankets usually cost between $100 to $300, while heated blankets can cost between $30 and $200.

How Often Should Bedding Be Replaced?

Most people don’t think of replacing their bedding until it’s visibly worn down, or even outright unusable. However, bedding should be replaced once you’re unable to get it clean, once it starts feeling uncomfortable against your skin, or once it fails to keep its shape. Buying bedding made from high-quality materials, using covers to protect pillows and duvets, and following the recommended care instructions may help your bedding withstand more wear and tear before reaching this point.

Still have questions?

Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] or call us at (877) 672-8966 with your questions and we'll help you find exactly what you're looking for.