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Written by
Daniel Noyed
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As you’re setting up your bedroom, sheets can be easy to overlook. Since they are the key material that rests against your body all night long, however, their feel and performance can have a huge impact on your comfort and quality of sleep.
When you decide to buy new sheets, you may be shocked by the diversity of fabrics, weaves, features, and prices. As a result, choosing sheets can at times feel overwhelming.
Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be complicated. In the key categories, we’ve outlined our picks for the best sheets and why they are among our favorites. In addition, we’ve covered essential background information that can help you understand your options and choose the best bedding for your home.
Best Overall
The Brooklinen Classic Core Sheets boast a range of features that place them at our top spot for the best overall sheets. They are made with quality materials, have excellent finishing touches, and are backed by customer-friendly policies, all while being offered at an extremely competitive price.
The Classic Core Sheets are made with 100% long-staple cotton. They are woven using a classic percale weave and have a thread count of 270. Cotton is naturally breathable, and with an airy percale weave, it stays extra crisp. This lightweight feel and moisture-wicking performance make the Brooklinen Classic Core Sheets a solid fit for hot sleepers.
The interior of the fitted sheet has labels indicating which are the long and short sides, a nice added touch for making putting the sheets on your bed stress-free. With a deep pocket, the sheets fit mattresses up to 15 inches tall.
There are nine standard colors and patterns to choose from with a handful of rotating limited edition designs. The sheets are sold in a set and also available as separates.
The Classic Core Sheets can be machine-washed and either line- or machine-dried. While some wrinkling may occur, this can be avoided by laying the sheets flat as they finish drying.
On top of an already excellent price for 100% cotton sheets, Brooklinen offers free shipping in the United States and an industry-leading 365-night sleep trial to try the sheets risk-free. A lifetime warranty has you covered if defects arise in the future.
Softest Sheets
Breathable, durable, and very soft, the Touché Eucalyptus sheets are an excellent option for those looking for a great all-around sheet set. This Tencel eucalyptus fabric is 100% organic, hypoallergenic, vegan, and responsibly sourced. Plus, it requires less water to produce than cotton.
Tencel is a proprietary fabric used to produce a variety of goods and is known for its high performance. Tencel eucalyptus fabric tends to breathe well, making this a great option for those who sleep hot throughout the night. Additionally, the fabric is more durable than most sheet materials, and we expect a lifetime upwards of six years. These sheets have a smooth, soft to the touch feel and get softer with each wash.
The Touché Eucalyptus sheets come at a slightly above average price point compared to other sheets, but are more affordable than most luxury options. These sheets only come in queen and king sizes, meaning those with smaller beds have to settle for oversized sheets. The set comes with 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcases, and a sleep mask — keep in mind this doesn’t include a top sheet.
Best Percale
It’s an old adage that if you want to make a great product, start with great materials, and this saying is proven by our best percale option, the Parachute Percale Sheets. This bedding utilizes high-end cotton to create a crisp and inviting feel all year-round.
These sheets are made with 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton, which is considered by many to be the finest in cotton fabrics thanks to its long fibers. A one-over, one-under percale weave keeps the sheets feeling fresh to the touch with plenty of airflow to stay cool even in summer months. The sheets are manufactured in Portugal in a family-owned factory that has generations of experience weaving textiles for high-end bedding.
The matte look from percale is stylish and elegant in any of the five design choices, all of which are classic solid colors. The sheets and pillowcases are sold in a set and a la carte. The pockets of the fitted sheet can accommodate mattresses up to 16 inches tall.
It is safe for the sheets to be machine-washed and dried on gentle settings, and you can expect them to slowly get softer over time.
Parachute provides free shipping throughout the U.S. and international shipping to some locations for an extra fee. The sheets come with a 60-day return window that lets you test them out on your own mattress.
Best Linen
The Tuft & Needle Linen Sheets, offered by this popular online mattress brand, are our selection for the best linen sheets. They offer the quintessential performance of linen at an excellent price point, backed by a customer-friendly return policy and warranty.
Tuft & Needle’s sheets are 100% linen that is derived from certified European flax that has been woven in India. The sheets are well-suited for year-round use because of linen’s natural temperature regulation. During the winter, its weighty feel offers a touch of warmth, but in the summer, its breathability wicks away moisture and enhances comfort cooling.
While linen isn’t known for being the softest material, the Tuft & Needle sheets are garment-washed to make them softer straight out of the box, and they’ll continue to slightly soften over time as they are used and washed. Keeping them clean is easy as the sheets can be safely put in the washing machine and dryer.
There are five solid colors to choose from, and linen has a heavier drape and a greater tendency to wrinkle, making it a better fit for customers with a more casual sense of style in their bedroom. Tight elastic on the fitted sheet helps to keep it taut, and the pocket depth works on mattresses up to 14 inches tall.
Tuft & Needle ships the sheets for free, and after arrival, customers have 100 nights to feel them out with the option to return them if unsatisfied. A two-year warranty provides coverage against defects.
Best Sateen
Well-made sateen sheets have a certain “wow” factor — one that you’ll find with the Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheets. With an elegant look and feel, a lifetime warranty, and a price that won’t break the bank, these sheets take home our award for the best sateen sheet set.
The source material for the Luxe sheets is 100% long-staple cotton. Its extended fibers are put to use with a sateen weave and a dense thread count of 480. The sateen weave makes the sheets especially smooth and soft against the skin.
The look of sateen is almost shiny, delivering a sense of elegance. As an added bonus, customers can select from 9 essential designs plus a number of limited-edition options. Those designs include both solid colors and more creative patterns.
The fitted sheet can comfortably fit on mattresses that are up to 15” tall, and the interior labels make it easy to know which is the long and short side when putting the sheets on the bed. Caring for the sheets is easy as they can be machine-washed with cold water and line-dried or put in the dryer on a low-heat, tumble-dry setting.
The high-quality cotton and thread count increase the durability of these sheets, and Brooklinen also stands behind them with a lifetime warranty. Customers also have a full year (365 nights) to try out the sheets during a no-risk sleep trial.
Best Luxury
A classic sheet set from Peacock Alley, the Soprano sheets are a luxury sateen cotton sheet set that’s nearly unmatched in its quality and comfort. Made with 100% extra long staple cotton, these sheets are softer, more durable, and more breathable than the average cotton sheets.
Cotton featuring a sateen weave has a softer, more silky feel compared to percale. While not quite as breathable, sateen is considered by many to be the more comfortable and luxurious of the two. Nevertheless, long staple cotton is a fairly breathable material, so those who sleep hot at night have no need to worry. These sheets have an authentic 420 thread count, which indicates extreme durability and a soft, consistent feel.
The Peacock Alley Soprano sheets come in all the standard bed sizes and in six different colors. Understandably, the supreme quality of these sheets come with a higher price tag, making this a good luxury option. Peacock Alley offers a 60 day sleep trial and free shipping.
Best Value
The 6-piece Essential Sheet Set from Linens & Hutch comes in sizes from twin to California king. Available in 13 muted colors, the sheets feature a 16-inch pocket depth, making them roomy enough to accommodate even high-profile mattresses or beds with toppers on them easily.
Made of a double-brushed woven microfiber, the fabric resists wrinkles and is hypoallergenic and easy to care for. Linens & Hutch recommends machine washing the sheets with cold water and tumble drying on low.
Most sets include one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and four pillowcases, with the exception of twin and twin XL sizes, which come with two pillowcases instead. The sheet set is backed by a 101-night trial period and free returns. Linens & Hutch also offers free shipping on all orders.
Best Cooling
In the last few years, Molecule has emerged as a dynamic company offering mattresses and bedding with resounding endorsements from some of the world’s most renowned athletes. The Molecule Percale Sheets are a welcome relief for hot sleepers who need top-notch cooling sheets.
The driving force behind these Molecule sheets is a blend of 52% cotton and 48% Tencel Lyocell. Tencel is a special textile made from the pulp of Eucalyptus trees, and it brings excellent moisture-wicking properties to help pull sweat away from the body even in hot climates. At the same time, Tencel is smooth to the touch and, when blended with cotton using a percale weave and a 300 thread count, offers an extremely comfortable and cooling feel.
This cotton-Tencel blend can be securely laundered in your washer and dryer on gentle settings, and though Tencel is wrinkle-resistant, light ironing is fine if you want an extra sleek look.
The Tencel is produced using sustainable sources of wood pulp, and almost all of the water in the process is recycled back into closed-loop systems, helping to minimize the environmental footprint of the sheets.
The fitted sheet has a pocket depth of 15” that suits most mattresses, and four solid color options are available to identify the best match with the rest of your bedroom decoration.
Shipping is free within the contiguous United States, and Molecule extends customers a 30-night sleep trial period to try the sheets with the option to get a full refund if they aren’t completely satisfied.
Best Organic
Saatva’s Lofton Organic Sheets are a top choice for customers who want their bedding to have high-end performance and meet rigorous standards for organic and sustainable production.
The Lofton sheets are made with 100% organic cotton that has gone through the certification process of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). On top of that certification, the sheets are validated as Fair Trade, meaning that they promote safe factory conditions and the economic betterment of workers. With this commitment to natural and just production, users of the Lofton sheets can rest easy knowing their bedding is chemical-free and made without undue harm to workers or the environment.
These sheets use long-staple organic cotton with a sateen weave and a thread count of 300. The sateen weave facilitates notable softness against the skin, and it has a sleek appearance marked by an elegant drape over the edge of the bed. Three straightforward colors are offered to advance this understated-yet-classic look.
The sheets can be machine washed with cold water and put in the dryer to tumble dry on low heat. The pocket of the fitted sheet holds taut on mattresses that range from 11 to 16 inches in height.
Saatva has earned a strong reputation in the mattress industry for its quality products and customer care. The sheets come with free shipping as well as a 45-day sleep trial to give customers an extended opportunity to see how these sheets feel on their own bed.
Best Egyptian Cotton
The Pure Parima Yalda Sheet Set is made of 100% Egyptian cotton with a silky sateen weave. When it comes to Egyptian Cotton, which is extra-long staple cotton grown in Egypt, certification and authenticity is key. These sheets have been certified by the Cotton Egypt Association, ensuring that they do indeed provide the softness and durability that Egyptian cotton is known for.
Pure Parima’s sheets feature a sateen weave. Sateen is known for its smooth silky feel, and generally thought to be the most luxurious cotton weave. Cotton is fairly breathable, making these sheets a safe option for hot sleepers. The Yalda Sheet set comes at a slightly below average price point for cotton sheets, and Pure Parima offers a 100 night risk-free trial.
Best Microfiber
The Comphy Sheets are a high-quality set of microfiber sheets developed by Comphy, a company known for making bedding and bath products for the home as well as for spas and hotels. These sheets capture some of the best qualities of microfiber fabric, providing both softness and durability, as well as being lightweight and wrinkle-resistant.
The Comphy Sheets are made of microfiber fashioned into a twill weave. Microfiber is a strong, lightweight fabric made from synthetic fibers. While the feel and properties of microfiber vary somewhat depending on the weave, it is known for its incredibly soft, plush feel. Adding to that, twill is a breathable weave that is more durable than typical percale and sateen sheet weaves.
The sheets are available in all of the standard sizes, as well as a few specialty ones like a split king. Sheet depth varies depending on the size of the set, though Comphy also sells sheets with different depths if needed.
The Comphy Sheets come in a wide variety of soft, solid colors from cream to lavender. The microfiber construction resists wrinkling along with the buildup of common allergens, and the fabric is also stain release treated to prevent stains from setting in. The sheets can be machine-washed and -dried for easy care, and they will resist shrinking compared to other materials.
Comphy ships to the U.S. as well as Canada. Returns are available within 30 days of delivery as long as the sheets have not been washed or slept on, and they are protected by a 1-year warranty.
Because there are so many brands and models of sheets on the market, it’s important to know what really matters when shopping for new bedding.
The first step in finding your optimal sheets is learning how to sort out the key details from the buzz. In order to try to differentiate their products, some companies in the bedding industry end up using confusing or trumped-up marketing language, especially for luxury items.
While some high-end brands and products are truly worth the expense, savvy shoppers can figure out what to look for to avoid overhyped features and inflated prices. To be one of those shoppers, focus on the most important considerations and reflect on which are your highest priorities.
Different types of sheets — based on the fabric and weave — come with distinct potential benefits and downsides. For example, long-staple cotton is soft and breathable, but it has a higher cost. Linen has excellent temperature regulation but can also be expensive, rougher, and may have a rumpled look.
Reviewing the merits of the most popular types of materials used in sheets can help lead you toward your optimal bedding set.
In addition to the material itself, sheets are often categorized by how the fabric is woven.
A solid thread count for sheets depends on the type of fabric, and the reality is that identifying an ideal thread count can be a challenge.
The thread count does offer some clear information about the total number of yarns in a square inch of fabric. While a higher number can be indicative of quality, that isn’t always the case.
In most cases, it’s rare to find a thread count above 600, so if you see a number higher than that, there’s a good chance they are counting multi-ply yarns. In that case, remember that it doesn’t necessarily reflect a higher-end fabric.
For different kinds of sheets, generally look for thread counts in the following ranges while remembering that thread count isn’t the be-all, end-all.
For some materials, weight is used to describe the fabric density rather than the thread count. As with thread count, these figures shouldn’t be treated as the most important determinant of quality.
Egyptian cotton sheets are worth their premium price if you want to splurge for the material that is typically the most luxurious and durable. Egyptian cotton has an excellent reputation and a trustworthy track record.
That said, you don’t have to break the bank on Egyptian cotton to get high-quality sheets that are soft and long-lasting. Great value can be found with other types of fabrics, so while Egyptian cotton is a worthy consideration, it’s not necessarily the top choice for every shopper.
As a general rule, sheets last for around two years. Higher-quality and heavier-duty sheets can last longer, and poorly made sheets with low-end materials will have a shorter useful life.
How long the sheets last will also depend on how you use them. If you rotate using two sheet sets, both sets will last longer. In addition, it’s critical to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for laundering sheets to prevent premature damage. Keeping food and drinks out of the bedroom can also avoid harmful spills and stains.
It is generally recommended that you change your sheets at least once every two weeks. This helps to prevent the buildup of sweat, dust, allergens, and other particles that you want to keep out of your bed.
Sheets produced with natural materials like cotton and linen are often the most sustainably produced, and semi-synthetic materials like Tencel and bamboo-rayon also frequently involve sustainable production practices. Some fabrics carry certifications from third-party organizations that validate that the material was produced according to organic, chemical-free, or other standards meant to protect the environment and human health.
You should expect to pay at least $125, and often considerably more, for a luxury sheet set. Discounts and promotions can help make luxury sheets more affordable, but at the end of the day, quality materials and craftsmanship carry a higher price tag. While luxury sheets don’t have to cost an arm and a leg, they also won’t be found in the bargain bin.
