admin To help refine your search even further, we evaluated each option based on the leading characteristics of their genre: The crispest percale, the silkiest sateen, the airiest linen, the coziest flannel. Across the board, though, we were looking for truly stellar sheets that held up after a couple of washes without immediately pilling, and felt comfortable enough to pass out on night in and night out. All of which is to say, every option included here—even our honorable mentions, because there can only be so many top picks—will help you get the rest you need, mercifully unencumbered by course textures and unbearable weaves.
The Best Cotton Percale Sheets: Snowe
Out all of the percale sheets we tested, Snowe’s ultra-luxurious option struck the most impressive balance of sturdiness and softness. The brand’s sheets have that classic “all-inclusive resort” feel, which means after a few circuits in the washing machine they’ll feel like a pile of perfectly broken-in Ralph Lauren button-ups. The color range is limited, but the tinted shades they come in are—and we don’t say this lightly—downright lovely. The premium make and high-end feel will cost you, but we’ve never slept on a more luxurious set of percale sheets.
Another Solid Percale Option
L.L. Bean’s percale sheet set is a stalwart of the genre, the type of legendarily dependable bedding your parents probably invested in right after moving to their first home. (Y’know, back before they had children and still had time to care about the state of their sheets.) Heck, we wouldn’t be surprised if they’re still a benchmark for all the startups trying to manufacture some lesser version of their own—the percale is that damn crisp. In 2023, you can get cotton percale sheets that break in a bit faster and feel a little softer (see: the Snowe option above) but if overall softness isn’t as important to you as color options and stellar customer service, these are a ridiculously good alternative.
The Best Cotton Sateen Sheets: Cuddledown
Don’t let the childish name fool you: Cuddledown makes great sheets that nail the luxurious, almost slick, silky feel you’d come to expect from sateen, and in nearly every color you can imagine. That variety extends to its sizing, too: There’s even an option to get a fitted sheet with deep pockets if you have a particularly lofty mattress. Cuddledown is the perfect upgrade sheet set for someone that wants something smoooooth like butter to gently doze off to sleep sandwiched between.
Another Solid Sateen Option
Riley also makes a sateen set that’s smooth and highly durable, though we’d still recommend the Cuddledown set as a more worthwhile buy for a silkier, smoother buy. This set comes in several different colors, all of which would passably match with each other, but we especially dig the pinstripe designs. The brand even adds the flourish of a baratta stitch along the perimeter of the flat sheet and pillowcases, which is usually in a contrast color to add a touch of panache, but this color-on-color addition just makes the set feel more high-end, even at its affordable price point.
The Best Flannel Sheets: L.L. Bean
L.L. Bean has been in the sheets game for a long time, so it makes sense that most of their sets are pretty damn good. (You might remember them from when we were raving about their percale sheets three paragraphs ago.) But the company’s flannel sheets are in a league of their own—soft, warm, and sturdy enough to last through many a winter, though some shoppers do report pilling (which is fairly normal) after extensive use. And as you’d expect from a brand famous for its durable Americana, the super soft sheets come in the flannel-iest patterns known to man.
Another Solid Flannel Option
If you’re looking to spend a little less, Tar-zhay, maker of our very favorite budget sheets, also sells a killer flannel set. The retailer has been pumping out cozy threads (in plenty of seasonal patterns and fabrics) for years at this point, and for a mere $35 for a full set of queen size sheets, the quality is a whole better than its peers at this price point. Being this cheap, these flannels inevitably sacrifice a few finer flourishes, but we think they still hold their own.
The Best Linen Sheets: The Citizenry
The old adage about summer clothing—all linen everything—applies equally well to summer bedding. If traditional linen’s mild burlap-like texture turns you off, we’d suggest The Citizenry’s linen sheets to get you onto the year-round linen trend. The brand, known for its globally inspired home decor, might be less known for its bedding, but we’re hoping to change that. Even out of the packaging, the linen is soft and amazing to touch—and after its first cycle through the washer and dryer, it’s even more luxurious than you could ever imagine. It’s the perfect thickness that makes it a great bedding option for the dog days of summer and the chilliest winter nights. No, these won’t be buttery soft like sateen, but the little bit of texture from the sheets are some of the most exceptional we could find at a still somewhat affordable price point.
Another Solid Linen Option
Like The Citizenry’s linen sheets, Cultiver’s come pre-washed. That means they’re going to feel softer than untreated linen straight out of the box and won’t need to be broken in with a couple of spin cycles. Compared to the Citizenry’s sheet set, Cultiver’s is a substantial uptick in price, but for the money, you’re getting sheets that are somehow both a bit smoother and a bit more airy. The former’s linen sheets are plenty breathable, but fire-hot sleepers could consider Cultiver’s next-level option for a luxe upgrade.
The Best Eucalyptus Sheets: Sijo
Eucalyptus sheets are known for their cooling properties and Sijo’s AiryWeight ones, sold at both the ‘Zon (hello, two-day shipping!) and directly on its site, delivers on the promises of lightweight satisfaction during the most scorching months of the year. Sijo’s hot-sleeper-friendly bedding is quickly becoming one of our favorite new purveyors of good quality, approachable sheets and comforters, and these AiryWeight sheets are our favorites so far. Our tester describes these sheets as lightweight and buttery enough to slip into like a silky envelope at night, while being extra breathable for sleep. “I’ve sent them through the wash twice now (they come pre-washed for softness regardless) and so far they’ve held up beautifully,” he noted.
Another Solid Eucalyptus Option
Helix’s hot sleeper-friendly bed sheets are sourced from Tencel, a fabric derived from the wood pulp of eucalyptus trees that’s supposedly more eco-friendly than cotton. This eucalyptus gives the sheet set the soft and smooth feel of sateen while also adding some moisture-wicking capabilities. They’re not quite as breathable as fully linen sheets, but they’re a lot cheaper. If you sleep a little hot but your partner doesn’t, this sheet set is an excellent compromise.
The Best Patterned Sheet Sets: Brooklinen
No matter the style of sheets (from percale to ultra-luxe sateen), Brooklinen always seems to have some handsome prints on deck, give or take some extra splashy seasonal options that the brand phases in and out every year. Its sheets and duvet covers feature a variety of bold but not too polarizing patterns that are generally designed to be unisex. (We like the “graphite and steel oxford stripe” and “windowpane” options.) These luxe sheets felt a little less smooth than our favorite sateen options, but unless you’re doing a blind test, you probably wouldn’t notice the difference. And at this price, you’re looking at one of the best deals around.
Another Superb Set of Printed Sheets
If you’re leaning more towards a linen blend this summer, Garnet Hill has a selection of tasteful prints—from patterns like these to the stripes seen here—that feature a nice lived-in feel. Despite being pre-washed, they’re a little rougher straight out of the box than our top linen picks, but they’re also wildly breathable so they’ll serve you well when the temperature starts creeping up. Building a set individually, from the pillowcases to the sheets, will add up, but the construction and understated prints make the extra cost worth it.
The Best Budget Sheets
We’ll level with you: the rest of the sheets on this list are pretty expensive. Considering that you’ll spend a third of your life nestled between them, we think they’re worth it. (Invest in your comfort!) But if you’re not at a place to do that right now—or if you need something for your kids—these Oeko-tex cotton sheets from Target are one of the best budget-friendly options on the market. They aren’t as soft or breathable as some of the more primo versions included here, but they hold up well after years of use, and unlike other microfiber sheets or jersey sheets made from mellanni or rayon, they don’t feel like stretchy single-ply toilet paper. They’re the perfect sheets to buy if you’re just starting off on your own—and once you’ve worn them in, they’ll still be great on that guest bed.
Another Solid Budget Option
Italic prides itself on making high quality versions of things you love (from yoga mats to cashmere pants to cookware) at wholesale prices, working with manufacturers from some of the top retail brands out there—like Lululemon and Le Creuset—to offer upstanding products for less. Case in point: These luxe sateen sheets, which supposedly come from the same manufacturer that supplies the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton with fancy hotel linens. True to their promise, our tester found these sheets to be luxuriously smooth, with a crisp but satin-y finish, and a breathable density. Sadly, he noted that the sheets lost their wonderful luster after just one wash, but remained smooth and cool-to-the-touch nonetheless. At just over $100, these aren’t cheap cheap, but they’re certainly more approachable than most picks on this list (and considerably less than something ritzy from Sferra). And for a brand that shares production partners with major hotel chains, you’d be hard-pressed to find better value sheets in this price bucket anywhere else.
The Best Sheets on Amazon: Mellanni
Why, yes, you can get good sheets on Amazon. These random brands made up of an assortment of consonants might not fully compete with the competition on this list like Brooklinen or Parachute, but when you need a net set of sheets in two days, then Amazon’s the way to go. If that’s the case, you can’t go wrong with Mellanni’s Hotel Luxury sheet set, Amazon’s most popular bedding option. Its microfiber construction keeps the price low but it’s also wildly soft and shrink resistant for those who never bothered to learn how to read a care label. The deep-pocket fitted sheet is well-accustomed to loftier mattresses though those who are essentially sleeping on a thin piece of cardboard might find the sheets are ill fitting and will shift with the slightest movements. And for those who are afraid to buy anything from Amazon, these sheets are backed by a lifetime warranty, a blessing since you’re essentially guaranteed sheets for the rest of your life at the low price of a couple of Andrew Jacksons.
Another Solid Amazon Option
To absolutely no one’s surprise, Amazon boasts a thriving sheet section with plenty of highly-reviewed options that cost less than a meal for two at Shake Shack…but most of them are made out of suspect materials that will fall apart after a dozen washes. Not these. Peru Pima’s cotton sheets are nowhere near as luxurious as our favorites, but for setting up that rarely used guest room, we really dug the temperature-regulating properties of these sheets for the price (and the cheaper ones certainly hold up to scrutiny, too).
9 More Sheet Sets We Love
After years of testing (and sleeping), Parachute’s linen bed sheets still hold up. They’re remarkably durable, so they won’t snag or tear after a couple of REM cycles. They’re not cheap (because most good linen isn’t) and aren’t quite as breathable as the set from The Citizenry above, but they come in a whopping 13 colorways if you’re looking to upgrade your existing rotation of tired whites and beiges. Like all good linen bed sheets, these will only continue to break in the more often you wash them—which we hope is fairly often—and if you actually pay attention to the care label, we can foresee a lifetime of wonderful sleep with these sheets.
Many bedding companies promise a luxury hotel experience, transforming your bed into something you might immediately want to fling yourself onto after a long day at some indiscriminate conference. But these Egyptian cotton sheet sets from 10 Grove actually look like they came from one of those hotels, thanks to some tasteful accents, like delicate piping on the edge of a pillowcase or the perforated stitching on the brand’s popular Madison set. Those details are a major plus if you prefer understated bedding, and the sheets feel decadently soft and breathable in either percale or sateen. The only downside here is that those luxury flourishes come at a steeper price and the sheets are a little thinner than most (which keeps them airy, but also make them feel a little precious for regular use).
Brooklinen’s classic sheets were most people’s first introduction to the brand when it kickstarted the DTC bedding category. Though the brand has expanded far beyond tastefully unisex bedding at this point, its original percale sheets are still some of the best out there, and we appreciate that they come in a bevy of handsome prints like the brand’s signature windowpane designs. They hold up well wash after wash, and feel crisp and cool all seasons of the year. These sit comfortably around the same price as our favorite Snowe percale sheets, though we’d recommend the Snowe option if you want a slightly more luxe, upscale feel.
We like this pre-washed flax linen sheet set from Riley because it felt soft to the touch the moment we removed it from its packaging, and it remains one of the softest linen sheet sets we’ve tried so far. A complete set is pricey—though the company offers everything individually for you monsters who sleep without a top sheet—but it’s about on par with other 100% linen sheet sets of this caliber. Our top pick from Parachute is still our gut recommendation for most people, since the Riley option only comes in queen and king sizes, and with a smaller shade range to choose from. Still, the breathable weave is a major boon during AC weather if you want to cool down quickly without racking up high electricity bills.
Boll & Branch’s sheets aren’t exactly cheap, but we like that they had a few more “refined” features—things like accent bands (great) and pleated finishes (fine, but some appreciate a good pleat finish more than others). These are the type of breathable, premium sheets you put on a bed to convince your in-laws that you’re a respectable person with a good credit score. The brand claims three presidents—one Clinton and two Bushes—have slept in these sheets, and we have no way to confirm this, but it is a pretty funny marketing detail. Plus, they’re made sustainably and with organic cotton, which is a win-win on all counts.
These sheets from Kassatex are a best-of-both-worlds blend of bamboo and linen. We don’t love the feel of 100% bamboo sheets too much, but when blended with linen, the combination actually works out for the better. The bamboo adds a softer hand feel without diminishing the sheets’ breathability too much, and the sheets offer a good balance of breeziness and coziness for year-round comfort. Sadly, you’ll only be able to enjoy this pairing if you sleep in a king size or queen size bed (so much full-size discrimination!) but if you own a larger bed, you’re in for a delightfully tactile experience.
For cooling sheets that have a soft sateen feel, consider Layla’s 100% bamboo viscose sheets which feel a bit like you’re sleeping on silk. Blessed with moisture-wicking properties for the sweatiest of sleepers, they’ll ensure that you spend more time resting and less time tossing and turning. Another perk: the unusually long five-year warranty that’ll cover any fraying or wear over time. The only drawback is that these sheets only come in two shades (white and grey), so you’re pretty limited in your color choices.
Ettitude’s latest bedding option is the Linen+ sheet set, and while the “plus” might make you assume it’s made of a more premium linen, it’s not quite that—it merely denotes that the sheets are made of linen plus bamboo lyocell. The result yields a fabric that has a sleekness reminiscent of cotton sateen that’s breathable and cooling like linen. The sizing options and colorways are limited, but for those looking to give linen a spin without jumping in all the way, this is a fairly cozy option.
Crane and Canopy’s luxe cotton percale sheets are like what you expect from a five-star hotel—they’re crisp, cooling, and oh so comfortable. The 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton is some of the finest we could find though it only comes in white, which is super limiting to those looking to add some color to their bedroom setup. Also, you can’t return the sheets for a full refund if you’ve already tried them, which is a huge bummer. On the bright side, the ability to add a monogram adds some true luxury to these already premium bed sheets.
