The best bed sheets

How to shop for bed sheets

Brooklinen

What fabric are you looking for?

When it’s time to buy sheets, many people simply assume that the higher the thread count, the better, and make their choice based on this feature alone. While it’s true that thread count (a measurement of how many threads run vertically and horizontally in one square inch of fabric) is important, it turns out that there’s another factor that plays a bigger part in sheet comfort: type of fabric.

In fact, according to Consumer Reports, there’s no reason to pay extra for sheets with a thread count over 400, but it is worth your while to spend a little more on sheets made from the best kinds of cotton: Pima, Egyptian, or Supima. These long-fiber types of cotton weave into the softest, most comfortable sheets.

Linen is great for summer and for sleepers who run hot, while flannel is a good choice for colder months. If you have the budget, cashmere sheets can be a solid luxury for the winter months as well.

What about the weave?

Weave is also important when it comes to choosing sheets you’ll love. There are two basic weaves: percale and sateen.

• Percale sheets have the same number of combed, tightly woven threads running horizontally and vertically. If you prefer sheets with a slightly crisp, cool feel, this is the weave to choose. Percale sheets are durable and strong, standing up to repeated washing even in hot water. Look for a thread count between 200 and 400 for lightweight sheets, or 400 to 600 if you prefer more weight.
• Sateen sheets (not the same as satin, which is a fabric and not a weave) have more threads running vertically than horizontally, creating fabric with a slight sheen and a very soft, silky feel. Sateen sheets are generally more delicate than percale bedding, and more likely to pill or come apart in the wash. Still, if you crave the silkiest feel against your skin, this is the weave for you. Thread counts between 300 and 600 are the sweet spot for softness and strength.

The best sheets overall

L.L. Bean

L.L.Bean’s wonderfully smooth 280-thread-count Pima Cotton Percale Sheets are durable, comfortable, and just the right weight to give you sweet dreams all year round.

Woven from 100% Pima cotton for the smoothest, softest, make-you-want-to-wiggle feel, L.L.Bean struck gold with its highly rated percale sheet set.

As with all percale sheets, these have just a bit of a “crisp” finish, which feels nice and cool against your skin. They are the perfect weight for summer, and unless you live in a very cold climate or prefer to switch to heavier winter sheets, they are cozy enough for the colder months with the addition of a heavier blanket or comforter.

When you toss them in your washing machine and dryer, the sheets come out fresh, unwrinkled, and ready to coax you into the land of Nod. Sized to fit over mattresses up to 15-inches thick, these cotton sheets won’t slip or slide as you sleep, and they hold firm to the mattress. They are available in seven basic colors, although alas, no brights. There are a few prints, as well.

L.L.Bean shoppers praise these sheets for their refusal to pill, long life, and wrinkle resistance. Quite a few customers commented that they have purchased several sets of the L.L.Bean sheets, and a common remark was, “These are the only sheets I’ll buy.”

We chose these sheets as our top pick in our guide to the best cotton sheets. In our testing, these sheets had a soft feel right out of the packaging and they were cool and soft to sleep on. Though L.L.Bean recently discontinued its famous lifetime guarantee, your purchase is still covered for a year, so if you find you’re dissatisfied you can return the sheets for any reason.

And we’re not the only ones who think the sheets are great. Wirecutter has chosen the L.L.Bean 280-thread-count Percale Sheets as its number one choice six years running, saying these sheets offer a “superior cool feel at a great price.”

Pros: Smooth, crisp feel, durability, reasonable price

Cons: Only fit mattresses up to 15 inches thick, no bright colors, few prints

$149.00 from L.L. Bean

The best sateen cotton sheets

Brooklinen

If you take your sleep comfort seriously, the pampering touch and good looks of Brooklinen’s Luxe Sheets will have you sleeping like a baby.

Started as a Kickstarter project in 2014, Brooklinen has quickly soared to the heights of success, due to its reasonable prices for high-quality bedding. Luxe Sheets start with the long-fiber cotton, which is woven into single-ply yarn for the finest, yet softest threads. This also means that the finished thread count of 480 is the true number; many other manufacturers weave lower quality, three-ply yarn into their sheets, then use this trick to inflate their thread count.

Brooklinen’s Luxe Collection is a sateen weave with a soft-as-the-clouds feel. Because sateen is woven more tightly than percale, you’ll find these sheets cozy and warm, with a soothingly “heavy” feel that many sleepers love. In fact, Insider Reviews’s Executive Director of Content Strategy Ellen Hoffman has been sleeping on these sheets for more than three years, and says that they are “hands down the best sheets I’ve ever put on my bed.”

She washes her Brooklinen sheets every two weeks and hasn’t experienced a degradation in quality; in fact, she says they’ve softened with time and, thankfully, don’t hold on to stains. Her white sheet set has not yellowed after frequent washings either. Overall, Ellen’s sheets are in great condition (no rips or tears, no stains, etc.) after years of use, which is comforting to hear given their higher price.

The sheets get softer every time they are washed. As a bonus, the sheets’ wrinkle-resistance improves with each wash, as well. You can do that washing in your machine, then either line-dry your bedding or use your dryer on low heat.

Brooklinen currently offers the Luxe Sheets in seven solid colors, along with patterns like stripes and grids. It also frequently releases limited-editor colors and patterns. You can even mix and match colors or patterns within a sheet set, which is definitely a unique perk. The sheets fit mattresses up to 15 inches thick, so be sure to measure before ordering.

Pros: Super soft, high quality, mix-and-match sheet sets

Cons: Expensive, best if line-dried

$134.10 from Brooklinen

The best percale sheets

Jada Wong/Business Insider

Riley’s percale sheets are smooth, crisp, and stay cool to the touch all night long.

Percale sheets are cool and crisp, and have a matte finish, while sateen is soft like silk and has a sheen to match. The fabric is tightly woven but in a way that lends itself to better breathability than sateen so like linen, it’s great for hot sleepers and summer months.

During my testing, I machine-washed and dried these sheets at least three times to test durability and washability. Out of the box, the sheets felt stiff but they were easy to wash and dry, getting softer but more wrinkled with every session. Wrinkling is par for the course with percale, just like linen, and once the sheets were fitted over my bed and pillow, they smoothed out and weren’t too obvious.

Despite the wrinkles, the fabric felt silky-smooth and crisp, and was a dream to sleep on. In fact, it felt like I was staying at a luxury hotel every night I tested the sheets because they were so crisp. There’s an immediate cooling effect, which comes in handy during balmy summer nights, and stays cool throughout the night without any air conditioner. It’s a good alternative to linen for hot sleepers looking for something that’s more crisp and less drapey.

The fabric is also OEKO-TEX-certified so it’s free of harmful chemicals.

Percale creates a bit of noise, almost like the swishy athletic gear of the ’90s, so that’s something to keep in mind for light sleepers. It’s noticeable if your partner tosses and turns in bed.

Prices start at $99 for a sheet set that includes a fitted sheet with a 14-inch depth (for Twin and Twin XL mattresses) or 16-inch depth (for Full, Queen King, and California King mattresses) and two standard or King pillowcases. You can also add an optional flat sheet for $50+.

There are currently 10 solid colors and three patterns to choose from, and a full suite of sizes from Twin to California King. — Jada Wong

Pros: Crisp percale is cool and breathable for hot sleepers and warm nights, made with OEKO-TEX-certified cotton, fabric gets softer with every wash

Cons: Potentially noisy for light sleepers, wrinkles easily

$129.00 from RiLEY

The best Supima cotton sheets

Casper

You don’t need to own a Casper mattress to get the benefits of their  Cool Supima Sheet Set and Duvet Cover. Woven from some of the best cotton on the market, these sheets are worth their price.

Supima is considered some of the highest quality cotton you can find. It’s a trademark for US-grown cotton with extra-long fibers. “Longer fibers contribute to the strength and softness of apparel and home products, ensuring that they are more comfortable, retain color longer and resist pilling over time,” according to the organization that licenses that name to companies that use Supima. While the origin of most cotton is difficult to trace, Supima is strictly regulated and represents only 1% of the world’s cotton. Which is what makes Casper’s Cool Supima Sheets so unique and so comfortable.

Insider Picks reporter Connie Chen tested the Cool Supima sheets and duvet cover, as well as Casper’s pillow. “After many nights of great sleep, I can now count (Casper’s) bedding products among my favorites.” Overall, she thought the sheets were cool and crisp, and the duvet cover had a balanced weight and was well-designed.

The elastic band of the fitted sheet is rubberized, which makes gripping onto the mattress more effective and prevents them from pulling off. The sheet may seem bigger than normal during the first use, but that’s to account for a 2% shrink factor — a couple of washes should bring them down in size.

These are “longer-lasting, pilling-resistant, and comfortable sheets that are certainly worth the investment,” she said. “The percale weave is what gives the sheets their crisp, cool feel. They’re perfect for the summer and warmer climates, or if you tend to overheat in your sleep.”

The duvet cover is equally comfortable. Insider Reviews’ Executive Director of Content Strategy Ellen Hoffman said the “superior design details that solve for the annoying inconveniences of typical duvet covers.” If the quilt shifts around inside, there are hidden openings that let you easily readjust. It has a good weight, but it’s not so heavy that it overwhelms.

In terms of price, the sheets are reasonable. “At $120, its Cool Supima queen-sized sheet set sits between the value-focused Brooklinen and $200-plus options from Parachute, Boll & Branch, and Snowe, so purely based on price, it seemed to strike a good balance,” Chen said. — Les Shu

Read our review of Casper Cool Supima sheets and duvet cover.

Pros: Made from high-quality US-grown cotton, cool and crisp, well designed, rubberized elastic

Cons: Does not fit deeper mattresses

$240.00 from Casper

The best organic cotton sheets

Boll and Branch

If organic cotton and Fair Trade standards are important to you, the Boll & Branch Signature Soft Solid Hemmed Sheet Sets will help you sleep easy.

Boll & Branch’s sateen sheets are made from 300-thread-count long-staple organic cotton, which makes them an unusual find since only 2% of the world’s cotton is considered organic. Beyond that, they’re both GOTS certified (the whole manufacturing process is considered organic) and Fair Trade certified, which means they hit standards for ethical wages and working conditions.

If that alone doesn’t make you feel good about the sheets, the quality of the fabric will convince you. We found them to be super soft and silky to the touch.

Boll & Branch’s sheets were also top pick at the Good Housekeeping textile labs, where testers found that the sheets keep their generous sizing even after washing. Although they’re more expensive than other sheets, many owners consider them a luxury that’s worth it.

The sheets are available in nine tasteful colors and have a 17-inch deep pocket to accommodate taller mattresses. Boll & Branch sells the sheets in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and split king sizes. If you’re at all unsatisfied, these sheets can be returned for a full refund within 30 days. — Ayn-Monique Klahre

Pros:  Super-soft, organic, good color range, 17-inch-deep pocket, more size options

Cons: Slightly less soft and breathable than other brands

$240.00 from Boll & Branch

The best linen sheets for summer

MagicLinen

Having tested many linen sheets, we found MagicLinen‘s to be best because of the wide range of colors and an option for thicker mattresses, and they age beautifully.

If linen is your bedsheet material of choice, the best is from MagicLinen. The Lithuanian company may be a little-known brand, but its sheets rival those from established players in terms of price and quality. That’s because linen is the only fabric the company works with.

As a linen sheets aficionado who has tested many, Insider Picks’ editor Sally Kaplan swears by MagicLinen. Why linen? It’s cozy, cooling, and keeps you from sweating through the night, she said.

One problem with linen sheets, she said, is that there are few options for deeper mattresses. She found that linen sheets have “constant bunching and corner flipping.” But this is something MagicLinen addresses: Besides the many color and pattern options, there’s a “deep” option for thicker mattresses.

Brand new, the sheets won’t feel as soft as you might expect. However, over time, they will get softer. After many washes, instead of ripping apart, the MagicLinen sheets only “age as gracefully as Meryl Streep,” she said. “I’m wary of linen sheets that come to me super silky right out of the bag because that’s often a sign that they were treated with chemical conditioners and softeners. MagicLinen is stonewashed — a softening process that’s completely natural and nontoxic — and Okeo-tex certified, meaning they’re not processed with any harmful chemicals.”

Incredibly, the sheets are hand-cut and sewn, yet the company has managed to keep prices competitive. If you end up loving these sheets as much as she does, MagicLinen also makes other products, like curtains and tablecloths. — Les Shu

Read our full review of MagicLinen sheets.

Pros: Soft, ages well, comes in many colors and patterns, “deep” option for thick mattresses, natural and non-toxic

Cons: Not the softest right out of the bag

$268.00 from Magic Linen

The best flannel sheets for winter

Pinzon

Cozy as a hug and warm as a sweater, the Pinzon Heavyweight Velvet Flannel Sheets are the perfect accompaniment to your cold-weather Zzz’s.

When Old Man Winter starts nipping at your nose, it’s time to break out the flannel sheets. The Pinzon Heavyweight Velvet Flannel Sheets will keep you sleeping cozy, and the great price won’t have you waking up in a cold sweat.

Made from 100% combed cotton, these sheets are crafted in Portugal, and have a double-napped, velvety soft finish. Flannel sheets are not rated in thread count, but rather, in ounces per square yard. The sweet spot for high-quality flannel sheets is 5 to 6 ounces per square yard, and at 5.6 ounces, these are perfect. The weight adds to the coziness, giving you a snug feeling.

One caution: While the Pinzon sheets are very durable, and resist pilling or ripping, we did come across a few customer reviews complaining that the sheets shed for the first few washes, so you might want to send your set through several washing machine cycles before making up your bed for the first time.

There are several colors to choose from and a few patterns. The Pinzon sheets fit mattresses up to 18-inches thick but are only available for Queen, King, and California King sizes.

Pros: Cozy, soft warmth at a great price

Cons: Some shedding, not available for twin or full mattresses

$76.98 from Amazon

The best modal bed sheets

Pure Beech

If you crave the softness of silk without the diva-level fuss and bother silk demands, you’ll love the feel of Pure Beech’s Modal Sateen Sheets.

Modal is another fairly new addition to the bed sheet scene, and like bamboo, it’s quickly rising in popularity. Also like bamboo, modal is a form of rayon. It starts with beechwood chips, which are dissolved into pulp, dried, and then spun into thread. The resulting material is extremely soft, resists shrinking, fading, or discoloring, and breathes quite well. Modal tends to resist pilling and is very durable.

Pure Beech specializes in modal sheets, and the Modal Sateen Sheets are remarkably soft and breathe well, remaining cool even on hot summer nights.

On the downside, we did come across some customer reviews mentioning that the sheets did not last as long as they expected, and ripped or shredded after just a year or two of use. The problem may well lie in the sheet’s care. Unlike cotton, modal must be washed in cold water and dried on low — not subjected to the high temperatures that cotton tolerates.

The Pure Beech Modal Sateen Sheets are 400 thread count, fit mattresses up to 16 inches thick, and are available in many colors for twin through California king beds.

Pros: Extremely soft, resist fading or shrinking, don’t pill or become scratchy, good selection of colors

Cons: Need to be washed and dried on cool settings, may weaken or tear otherwise

$99.99 from Bed Bath and Beyond

The best microfiber sheets

Brooklyn Bedding

The Brushed Microfiber Sheets from Brooklyn Bedding offer comfort and durability at an affordable price, so you can have luxuriously soft sheets on a budget.

Brooklyn Bedding made its first appearance in the bedding industry with mattresses crafted in the US and sold directly to shoppers for a more affordable price. This company was one of the first to become a part of the bed-in-a-box industry. Since then, the product line has expanded to include sheets and pillows.

I tested the Brushed Microfiber Sheets, and was immediately impressed with how soft they felt right out of the package. These aren’t the type of sheets you’ll have to wash multiple times to “break in.” I also liked that they didn’t feel too thin. These are durable sheets that hold up well in the wash, and I’ve washed and dried them multiple times with no issues.

They come out of the dryer feeling as soft as they did when I first took them out of the packaging. These aren’t as prone to wrinkling as cotton or bamboo-derived sheets tend to be, which is great if you’re like me and you tend to procrastinate when it comes to folding your laundry.

The Brooklyn Bedding Brushed Microfiber sheets are made from 100% polyester, constructed with a tight weave that lends to their soft feel. Surprisingly, these sheets do have a lower thread count at 300, but in my experience, this didn’t affect the quality at all. Thanks to the material used, I also like that they won’t have you sleeping too warm. They have a durable feel, but they don’t trap in heat during the night.

These fit my Saatva mattress perfectly, but if you do have a thinner mattress, you may find that they are a little roomier than you’d like, causing them to slip around a bit. If you’re unsure, Brooklyn Bedding offers a 30-night trial, so you can return them no questions asked if you find you don’t like them.

With the comfort, high-quality feel, and durability these sheets offer, I was especially impressed with their affordable price.

When it comes to size and options, there are plenty with these sheets. You can choose from several different solid colors, and they’re available in a wide range of sizes, from Twin to California King, so you can find the perfect fit for your bed. — Kylie Joyner

Pros: Soft and comfortable, durable, affordable, color options available, come with a 120-night trial and one year warranty for extra peace of mind

Cons: May be a bit roomy on thinner mattresses

$49.00 from Brooklyn Bedding

The best budget sheets

Target

The Room Essentials Jersey Sheet Set comes with a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases. Made out of a cotton-poly blend, the jersey fabric is so warm, comfortable, and soft, you may not need a blanket.

For an affordable price, this Jersey Sheet Set from Room Essentials gives you all the sheets you need. Made of 100% cotton (solid colors) or 50-50 cotton-poly blend, the sheets have that worn-in feel of a nice T-shirt.

These sheets are recommended by Insider Picks’ SEO strategist, Shalom Goodman. “I was brought up with rough sheets, but now I don’t think I could go back to that,” he said. “There’s just a cozy feeling about these.”

The top sheet is so warm that he has even foregone the use of a comforter. And, he likes the stretchiness of the fabric, which makes the fitted sheet easy to tuck into the mattress. One downside is that they take a while to dry after washing. — Les Shu

Pros: Soft and warm, stretchy fabric easy to put on, top sheet can sub for a blanket, affordable

Cons: Jersey may not appeal to everyone, longer to dry

$19.98 from Target

The best sheets for a variety of fun colors and patterns

Crane & Canopy

Crane & Canopy makes beautiful, silky-soft sheets in tons of fun patterns and colors.

Crane & Canopy is a startup that began selling easy-to-use duvet covers in 2012. Since then, the company has branched out into sheets, comforters, pillows, blankets, towels, washcloths, and more. We tried a set of sheets from Crane & Canopy and we loved them. Not only are the sheets silky smooth and soft straight out of the package, but they also come in several fun prints and colors.

If you’re bored with solid colors and your pile of white sheets, you’ll enjoy looking through Crane & Canopy’s selection. You can get polka dots, stripes, herringbone, embroidery, and other unique prints that look different from your run of the mill chevron. There are also fun solid colors like coral and lilac as well as more traditional shades like cream, white, gray, and blue.

I tried the gray striped 300-thread count cotton sheet set on my bed, and it felt amazingly soft right out of the package. The fitted sheet is generous in size so you don’t feel like you’re running out of fabric when it comes time to tuck it in under your mattress. The stripes look classic and cool, especially with a fun bright blanket and pillowcases on the bed for contrast.

Crane & Canopy gives you the option to buy a set with one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and two pillowcases or you can buy each piece on its own. It’s nice to have the option because sometimes you just don’t need more pillowcases or flat sheets, but you do need a new fitted sheet to fit a new mattress or what have you.

All the sheets are made from long-staple cotton or Belgian linen, and the company’s bedding is Oeko-Tex certified, so you know your sheets are free from strange chemicals. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Super soft out of the package, fun colors and prints, can buy as sets or as individual pieces, decent price, long-staple cotton

Cons: Tad pricey for budget buyers

$179.00 from Crane and Canopy

Check out our other great bedding guides

Zinus

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