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Key Takeaways
  • Pillowcases are an important piece of bedding. Sleepers can choose from a wide range of pillowcase styles based on qualities like fabric, weave, closure, and size. For practical reasons, you should also consider ease of care, storage, and price when choosing new pillowcases.

When it comes to choosing the right sleep products, pillowcases can be an afterthought, but a surprising range of styles are available today. You can opt for a case with an envelope closure to prevent your pillow from slipping out during the night, a zippered or buttoned case to maintain full shape retention, or a sham that slips over the pillow at the back instead of the end. 

Design isn’t the only consideration when shopping for pillowcases. Choosing the right material can help ensure fewer wrinkles, less skin irritation, and comfortable temperature control. Other qualities to take into account include size, color, ease of care, and whether the fabric is stain-resistant. 

We’ll discuss our top picks for pillowcases sold today.

In-Depth Reviews

The Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Pillowcase boasts high-quality materials, a thoughtful design, and a wide range of styles. All this at an approachable sticker price, and you’ll have an entire year to test the pillowcase and ensure it’s right for you.

  • Pros

    1. People with sensitive skin

    2. Hot sleepers

    3. Shoppers looking for pillowcases with a wide design selection

  • Cons

    1. Long-staple cotton is soft, breathable, and long-lasting

    2. Envelope closure helps your pillow maintain a full shape

    3. Available in a range of solid colors and patterns

Price

$50

Material

100% long-staple cotton

Brooklinen’s Luxe Sateen Pillowcase is a solid pick across the board. Composed of durable long-staple cotton in a smooth sateen weave, the case balances softness, breathability, and lasting power. We also like the extensive selection of solid colors and patterns, including some limited edition prints that bring offbeat style to your bedroom decor.

One notable feature is the envelope closure, which tucks over the end of your insert and prevents it from slipping out during the night. This helps your pillow maintain full shape and loft. The sateen weave also gives the fabric a silky-soft feel, so the case shouldn’t cause irritation if you have sensitive skin.

You can choose from standard or king sizes. The pillowcase is also available in a total of 18 solid colors and patterns. For quick and easy cleaning, the pillowcase can be washed and dried in your household machines. Follow the care instructions to ensure a long lifespan for your pillowcase.

The Luxe Sateen Pillowcase carries an approachable sticker price, and shipping is free for customers in the contiguous U.S. who order two or more cases. Brooklinen’s generous 365-night sleep trial gives you plenty of time to test the pillowcase and decide if it’s right for you. If you choose to keep it, you’ll receive an extra year of warranty coverage.

The Rough Linen Smooth Pillowcase is luxuriously soft, creating a lived-in feel and charmingly rumpled look. Shoppers can also choose from a wide range of sizes and colors based on their bedroom decor and personal tastes.

  • Who it’s best for

    1. People who normally find linen bedding too coarse

    2. Those who own Euro-style pillow inserts

    3. Hot sleepers

  • Highlights

    1. Pure linen is soft, smooth, and exceptionally breathable

    2. Envelope closure folds over the insert to maintain a full shape and prevent clumping

    3. Available in 4 sizes and 6 colors

Price

$40

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Material

100% linen

Linen is prized for its natural longevity and cooling properties, but the fabric is also polarizing because many find its texture too coarse.The Rough Linen Smooth Pillowcase is much softer and gentler than many linen-based bedding products on the market today. Don’t let the brand’s name fool you — the linen used to craft this pillowcase is comparable to natural cotton, and should become softer with each laundry cycle without pilling or wearing out too quickly.

The pillowcase’s envelope-style closure tucks over the insert to hold it in place. This ensures full loft and shape retention throughout the night, even if you flip the pillow to its opposite side. Standard, queen, and king rectangular sizes are available. You can also choose a square “Euro” size that measures 26 by 26 inches. Rough Linens offers six color options ranging from classic neutrals to more striking options like sky blue and black.

To clean the pillowcase, wash in cold water with gentle detergent. Tumble dry on low heat and remove the case from your dryer before the moisture has been completely removed — this helps prevent wrinkles. Line drying is another option, as natural sunlight can refresh the fabric.

The Smooth Pillowcase is reasonably priced, and you’ll receive a 15% discount when you purchase two cases. Rough Linens offers worldwide shipping, though delivery costs vary by destination. Returns and exchanges are honored within 30 days of receipt, even for used and washed pillowcases.

The Sweet Zzz Bamboo Pillowcase Set offers exceptional softness and cooling. Although the sticker price may seem a bit high at first glance, the bamboo-derived fabric is highly durable and significant discounts from the brand are frequently available.

  • Who it’s best for

    1. People with sensitive skin

    2. Hot sleepers

    3. Eco-conscious shoppers

  • Highlights

    1. Bamboo-derived viscose feels luxuriously soft and smooth

    2. Naturally breathable fabric with moisture-wicking properties

    3. Material is produced from organic bamboo plants

Price

$70

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Material

100% viscose derived from bamboo

Our testing team found the Sweet Zzz’s two-piece Bamboo Pillowcase Set delivered comfort, cooling, and durability at a reasonable price-point. Viscose derived from bamboo is prized for its smooth hand-feel, so sleeping on these pillowcases shouldn’t cause too many lines or wrinkles. A sateen weave adds to the fabric’s silkiness, while envelope closures hold your pillow in place throughout the night.

Bamboo-derived viscose sleeps cool and wicks away moisture, making these pillowcases a good choice for those who live in hot or humid temperatures. The set might also appeal to shoppers who prioritize sustainable purchases, as the bamboo used to produce the viscose is organically grown. Sweet Zzz also ships the set in a reusable storage bag.

The set is available in six neutral colors, ranging from classic white to more unconventional shades like charcoal and taupe. You can preserve the colors by carefully following the care instructions. Sweet Zzz recommends washing on a cool, gentle cycle and laying the pillowcases flat to dry while they are slightly damp. The latter step helps minimize wrinkles.

In addition to carrying an approachable sticker price, the Bamboo Pillowcase Set qualifies for free ground shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Sweet Zzz permits returns within 50 days. Should you decide to keep the pillowcases, they’re backed by a lifetime warranty against material defects.

Our testing team found the PlushBeds Silk Pillowcase was remarkably smooth, making it a good option for sleepers who want to reduce lines, wrinkles, and hair breakage. Silk’s natural breathability should also help the pillowcase sleep cool throughout the year.

  • Who it’s best for

    1. People with long hair prone to tangles or frizziness

    2. Those who are prone to night sweats

    3. Shoppers who want to invest in durable sheets

  • Highlights

    1. Pure mulberry silk is luxuriously soft, yet also strong and long-lasting

    2. Available in four lustrous colors

    3. Each purchase includes a laundry bag and bottle of antimicrobial treatment

Price

$112

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Material

100% Mulberry silk

Few bedding materials offer the natural softness and smoothness of pure mulberry silk. The PlushBeds Silk Pillowcase exemplifies these qualities, creating a gentle surface that preserves your skin and protects your hair. Silk fibers are also exceptionally durable. With proper care and storage, this pillowcase can hold up for several years, making it a solid long-term investment that justifies its high-end price.

Mulberry silk is breathable and has moisture-wicking properties, making it a good option for sleepers who tend to sweat in their sleep. The case is designed for a tight, contoured fit and features a hidden zipper closure to ensure your pillow stays in place while you sleep. Four colors are available, all of which bring out the silk’s vibrant sheen, and tonal piping along the edges accents the look while also protecting the design from rips and tears.

While silk is a long-lasting material, you’ll need to take extra measures when cleaning your pillowcase. PlushBeds includes a mesh laundry bag with each purchase. Shoppers should turn the case inside out before washing, and hang it to dry in natural sunlight if possible. PlushBeds also includes a bottle of antimicrobial treatment to keep the silk free of bacteria and smelling fresh.

PlushBeds offers free ground shipping to customers in the contiguous U.S. You may return the Silk Pillowcase in new and unused condition for a full refund, but opened parcels are not eligible for return. If you decide to keep the pillowcase, it’s backed by a one-year warranty.

The Cozy Earth Bamboo Pillowcases are among the softest our team has tested firsthand. Bamboo-derived viscose in a silky-smooth sateen weave creates a material that’s easy on the skin and hair, making it a good option for sleepers wanting to prevent wrinkles and lines from forming.

  • Who it’s best for

    1. Sleepers hoping to minimize wrinkles and lines

    2. Those who reside in hot or humid climates

    3. Shoppers who want to invest in pillowcases that resist pilling over time

  • Highlights

    1. Viscose derived from bamboo gives the pillowcases a silky-smooth feel

    2. Available in five neutral colors and two sizes

    3. Warranty protects against pilling

Price

$89

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Material

100% viscose derived from bamboo

For those who prefer a softer pillowcase material over crisper fabrics like linen or cotton, viscose derived from bamboo should suit your needs. Viscose glides gently over the skin, and Cozy Earth’s Bamboo Pillowcases are produced with a sateen weave to further bring out this quality. Despite the exceptionally smooth feel, the pillowcases shouldn’t pill with subsequent laundry cycles. In fact, Cozy Earth’s product warranty considers this a defect.

Much like natural silk, the viscose used to make these pillowcases should reduce lines and wrinkles on your face. We also recommend these pillowcases if your hair is prone to tangles, frizziness, or breakage. Temperature control is another standout quality. The viscose sleeps cool and wicks moisture away from your face, so you should feel comfortable even on exceptionally warm or humid nights.

You can choose from more than a dozen colors to complement your bedroom decor. Standard and king sizes are also available. Envelope closures tuck in your pillows to keep them secure and maintain a full shape. To clean the pillowcases, machine wash in cold water without fabric softener or bleach, then tumble dry on low heat. Remove the cases as soon as the drying cycle is complete to reduce wrinkles.

The Bamboo Pillowcases are competitively priced and Cozy Earth ships for free within the contiguous U.S. The company’s generous sleep trial allows you to return or exchange the pillowcases free of charge within 100 days of the original order.

Buffy Breeze Pillowcases offer luxurious softness thanks to their composition, which consists of eucalyptus-derived Tencel fabric in a smooth sateen weave. As an added bonus for eco-conscious shoppers, the cases are colored with natural dyes, biodegradable, and compostable.

  • Who it’s best for

    1. Hot sleepers and people who perspire in bed

    2. Those who prefer to buy and use sustainable products

    3. Value seekers

  • Highlights

    1. Tencel fabric in a sateen weave is both soft and breathable

    2. Available in 10 colors and patterns produced using natural dyes

    3. Pillowcases are fully biodegradable and compostable

Price

$55

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Material

100% Tencel lyocell

Tencel is one of the few bedding materials that approaches the softness and durability of natural silk. The material also tends to be much more affordable, making it a good option for budget-conscious shoppers who want the look of silk at a more approachable price-point. The Buffy Breeze Pillowcases are made from 100% Tencel that glides over the skin without any coarseness, and a sateen weave further enhances this quality to create a luxuriously smooth finish.

We also recommend the Buffy Breeze Pillowcases for hot sleepers because Tencel is highly breathable and has moisture-wicking properties to help you stay dry. The pillowcases are available in seven solid colors and three stripe patterns, all produced using natural dyes with ingredients such as turmeric, rose petals, bark, and gardenia. Both pillowcases in the set are completely biodegradable and can be composted.

We found the pillowcases are easy to keep clean. Simply machine wash in cold water, then tumble dry on low heat. Standard and king sizes are available. Buffy allows returns within 100 days of the original order, provided the pillowcases are in donatable condition. As an added incentive, the company won’t bill your credit card for seven days to ensure your purchase arrives intact.

Why You Should Trust Us

At SleepFoundation.org, we pride ourselves on expertise and experience when it comes to testing sleep products. Each member of our team has spent years researching, evaluating, and recommending mattresses, pillows, bedding, and other sleep essentials.

We test pillowcases both as individual items and as part of larger sheet sets. As part of this process, we use different types of pillows to gauge performance with different materials and weaves. We also focus on practical performance criteria such as durability, ease of care, and long-term value.

Still have questions?

Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market.

Send an email to [email protected] with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

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