14 Best Sheets for All Kinds of Sleepers in 2024, Tested

GQ RecommendsThe airiest linen, the smoothest sateen, and everything in-between.By Timothy Beck Werth, Lori Keong, and Kristen GeilNovember 14, 2024Photographs: Getty Images; Collage by Gabe ConteSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.In a quest for the best sheets, you should know there's no single hallowed set that will please everyone. Some people are blazing infernos at night, while others run perpetually cold. Certain people get seasonal with their sheets, breaking out linen in the summer or flannel in winter—while others prefer a crisp percale or swishy sateen all year long. Some of you just want to order everything you can from Amazon, bedding included. We've spent months testing sheets (hard job, we know), and we've definitively sourced the best of the best here for your sleeping pleasures.Our Favorite Sheets OverallThe Luxome Luxury Sheet Set absolutely wowed our testers. The elegant packaging and lightweight, cooling texture meant we could truly rest easy, and the sheets have held up well in the wash so far. One tester even called them "a game-changer in regulating my body temperature."Best Sheets: At a GlanceGo straight to sleep, do not pass Go—here's the TL;DR of the best sheets we tested.Best Sheets Overall: Luxome Luxury Sheet SetSoftest Sheets: Buffy Supima Sheet SetBest Budget Sheets: Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Rayon SheetsBest Percale Sheets: Saatva Percale Sheet SetBest Bamboo Sheets: Layla Bamboo SheetsBest Luxury Sheets: Tempur-Pedic Breeze Sheet SetBest Cooling Sheets: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet SetBest Organic Sheets on a Budget: Quince Classic Organic Percale Fitted Sheet SetBest Sateen Sheets: Ettitude CleanBamboo Signature Sateen Sheet SetBest Linen Sheets: The Citizenry Stone Washed Linen Sheet SetBest Elevated Percale Sheets: Coyuchi 300 Thread Count Organic Percale Sheet SetBest Patterned Sheets: Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet SetMost Durable Linen Sheets: Parachute Linen Sheet SetThe Fanciest Linen Sheets: Cultiver Linen Sheet Set With PillowcasesHow We Chose the Best SheetsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWe hit the sheets, of course. Armed with knowledge of the best materials for sheets, the difference between various thread counts, and what, exactly, "long-staple cotton" means, our test team got to work making—and unmaking—the bed. After hours of sleeping and rolling around on dozens of sheet sets, we scored each set on appearance and feel, comfort, cooling abilities, washing and care, and overall value.Looking for Something Specific?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronBest Sheets Overall: Luxome Luxury Sheet SetSoftest Sheets: Buffy Supima Sheet SetBest Budget Sheets: Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Rayon SheetsBest Percale Sheets: Saatva Percale Sheet SetBest Bamboo Sheets: Layla Bamboo SheetsBest Luxury Sheets: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Breeze Cooling Sheet SetBest Cooling Sheets: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet SetBest Organic Sheets on a Budget: Quince Classic Organic Percale Fitted Sheet SetBest Sateen Sheets: Ettitude CleanBamboo Signature Sateen Sheet SetBest Linen Sheets: The Citizenry Stone Washed Linen Sheet SetBest Elevated Percale Sheets: Coyuchi 300 Thread Count Organic Percale Sheet SetBest Patterned Sheets: Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet SetMost Durable Linen Sheets: Parachute Linen Sheet SetThe Absolute Fanciest Linen Sheets: Cultiver Linen Sheet Set With PillowcasesLet’s Compare the Costs of These SheetsHow We Tested the Best SheetsWhat to Look for in the Best SheetsDoes Thread Count Matter?FAQBest Sheets Overall: Luxome Luxury Sheet SetLuxome Luxury Sheet Set$170 LuxomePros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsLightweight, breezy sheetsMade from 100% viscose from bambooAvailable in 11 colors and seven sizesConsNot pre-shrunk, so expect some shrinking after dryingDifficult to remove stainsMaterial: 100% viscose from bambooIncludes: Fitted sheet, flat sheet, 2 pillowcasesSizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split kingReturns: 30 daysThe Luxome Luxury Sheet Set was by far the most popular option among our testers. Its upscale packaging made a swanky first impression, and the breathable bamboo viscose material sealed the deal by protecting our tester from night sweats during hot summer evenings.Our Tester’s TakeWe have to preface this review with a warning: The Luxome Luxury Sheet Set will ruin other sheet sets for you. But if that's a risk you're willing to take, read on.Right off the bat, the packaging made these sheets feel like a gift, rather than a utilitarian household item. They arrive in a reusable storage bag, perfect for keeping your linen closet organized. "The packaging was sleek and pristine, giving the impression of a true luxury product," notes our tester. Plus, they feel soft enough to use right out of the box. "I literally called for my wife to come touch these sheets and experience the softness for h

Nov 15, 2024 - 11:21
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14 Best Sheets for All Kinds of Sleepers in 2024, Tested
The airiest linen, the smoothest sateen, and everything in-between.
A collage of a bed with sheets draping over the side made of clouds at dusk with light breaking through the clouds
Photographs: Getty Images; Collage by Gabe Conte

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

In a quest for the best sheets, you should know there's no single hallowed set that will please everyone. Some people are blazing infernos at night, while others run perpetually cold. Certain people get seasonal with their sheets, breaking out linen in the summer or flannel in winter—while others prefer a crisp percale or swishy sateen all year long. Some of you just want to order everything you can from Amazon, bedding included. We've spent months testing sheets (hard job, we know), and we've definitively sourced the best of the best here for your sleeping pleasures.


Our Favorite Sheets Overall

The Luxome Luxury Sheet Set absolutely wowed our testers. The elegant packaging and lightweight, cooling texture meant we could truly rest easy, and the sheets have held up well in the wash so far. One tester even called them "a game-changer in regulating my body temperature."


Best Sheets: At a Glance

Go straight to sleep, do not pass Go—here's the TL;DR of the best sheets we tested.

How We Chose the Best Sheets

We hit the sheets, of course. Armed with knowledge of the best materials for sheets, the difference between various thread counts, and what, exactly, "long-staple cotton" means, our test team got to work making—and unmaking—the bed. After hours of sleeping and rolling around on dozens of sheet sets, we scored each set on appearance and feel, comfort, cooling abilities, washing and care, and overall value.

Best Sheets Overall: Luxome Luxury Sheet Set

Image may contain: Blanket

Luxome Luxury Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Lightweight, breezy sheets
  • Made from 100% viscose from bamboo
  • Available in 11 colors and seven sizes
Cons
  • Not pre-shrunk, so expect some shrinking after drying
  • Difficult to remove stains

The Luxome Luxury Sheet Set was by far the most popular option among our testers. Its upscale packaging made a swanky first impression, and the breathable bamboo viscose material sealed the deal by protecting our tester from night sweats during hot summer evenings.

Our Tester’s Take

We have to preface this review with a warning: The Luxome Luxury Sheet Set will ruin other sheet sets for you. But if that's a risk you're willing to take, read on.

Right off the bat, the packaging made these sheets feel like a gift, rather than a utilitarian household item. They arrive in a reusable storage bag, perfect for keeping your linen closet organized. "The packaging was sleek and pristine, giving the impression of a true luxury product," notes our tester. Plus, they feel soft enough to use right out of the box. "I literally called for my wife to come touch these sheets and experience the softness for herself," he says.

Once unboxed, the sheets felt light and airy, a welcome respite for our North Carolina-based tester, who tried these out during the dog days of summer and called them a "game-changer" for keeping cool and preventing night sweats. You can thank the bamboo material and sateen weave for that; bamboo is a naturally breathable, cool material, as Raj Dasgupta, MD, a sleep medicine specialist, previously reported to GQ.

Even though these sheets feel totally premium, the price is in line with other options we've tested, at around $170 for a queen set. We'd call that a worthy investment, and our tester agrees: "These sheets have been the biggest upgrade to my sleep routine. Although I was initially hesitant to splurge on high-quality fabrics, I’m amazed at how much they’ve improved my sleep. Now, I can never go back to standard off-the-shelf cotton sheets."

Softest Sheets: Buffy Supima Sheet Set

Image may contain: Cushion, Home Decor, Pillow, and Linen

Buffy

Buffy Supima Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 100% Supima cotton is premium
  • Supima cotton is color-fast and will resist fading
  • 7-day free trial
  • Soft hand-feel and exceptionally durable
Cons
  • Limited colors
  • Cotton is breathable, but doesn't feel cool to the touch

The Buffy Supima Sheet Set is what you turn to when you want your bed to feel like a fluffy nest. Made from long-staple Supima cotton, these sheets have a softness factor that’s off the charts.

Our Tester’s Take

Sometimes, the crisp, cool feeling of a hotel bed just isn't the vibe. When we need a bed that doubles as a welcoming nighttime cocoon, we turn to the softest sheets around: the Buffy Supima Sheet Set.

Quick primer on Supima cotton: It’s grown in the United States and has longer fiber than regular cotton, which increases its durability and lends a more high-quality feel. The longer fibers also create a softer, smoother feel. Think of Supima as the plush brand-name toilet paper, and all other cotton as the generic kind—that's how stark the difference is.

Needless to say, we're so into these soft-as-a-kitten sheets when comfort is the top priority. We also love that the fitted sheet has head/foot labels, because admittedly, we've yet to make the bed correctly without them. (Just us?)

Image may contain: Cushion, Home Decor, Pillow, Flower, Plant, and Rose

Brooklyn Bedding

Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Rayon Sheets

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Deep pockets fit a variety of mattress heights
  • Rayon and cotton blend feels softer with each wash
  • Lightweight, breathable feel
Cons
  • Sheets tend to slip off bed too easily
  • If you don't have a tall mattress, the deep pockets may bunch up

The Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Rayon Sheets are versatile, soft, and breathable. They also have a very generous fit—we love that they're deep enough to accommodate mattresses 17" high.

Our Tester’s Take

Sometimes, you just need a great set of budget sheets—for a guest room, for a college dorm, or as a spare set in the linen closet. The Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Rayon Sheets are budget-friendly enough to justify grabbing a couple of sets, but they're also nice enough that you may find yourself making your own bed with them every now and then.

The sheets are made from rayon derived from bamboo, which means they have a bit of a gloss to them that makes them feel more expensive than they are. Despite this, our testers found them to be incredibly soft rather than slippery. The blend of cotton and rayon materials keeps things breezy and moisture-wicking, so you won't overheat. One of our favorite features is the depth of the fitted sheets—an underrated quality until you find yours slowly migrating off the mattress like an undersized beanie. The Deep Pocket Rayon Sheets’ fitted sheet can snap onto any mattress from 11" to 17" (most queen-size fitted sheets top out at 12" to 14") for the perfect fit, every time.

Best Percale Sheets: Saatva Percale Sheet Set

Saatva

Saatva Percale Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Long-staple cotton increases the lifespan of these sheets
  • Crisp, matte feel doesn't sacrifice breathability
  • Pre-washed for softness
Cons
  • Prone to wrinkling
  • Thinner weave may not be warm enough in cold temps

The Saatva Percale Sheet Set might have a slightly lower thread count than most luxury sheets, but we think that's a feature, not a bug. These long-staple cotton sheets are extra soft and breathable to boot.

Our Tester’s Take

You've probably always assumed that a higher thread count automatically means a better set of sheets—but that's not necessarily true. Thread count is the measure of how many threads are woven into one square inch of fabric. A higher thread count has a tighter weave (and more threads), and a lower thread count is looser. Sheets with a higher thread count may feel softer than sheets with a lower thread count, but the material and quality of fabric matters more. Plus, a lower thread count means the sheets are more breathable, since there's increased airflow with a less-tight weave.

All that is to say, the Saatva Percale Sheet Set has a high enough thread count to meet our standards (we generally look for 200 to 600), with a lived-in softness that just feels right. Of note: The sheets are made of long-staple cotton, which makes the sheets extra-durable, and the percale weave has an upscale matte finish that feels as crisp as a fall morning.

Best Bamboo Sheets: Layla Bamboo Sheets

Layla

Layla Bamboo Sheets

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 100% bamboo viscose
  • Five-year warranty
  • Not as slippery as sateen
Cons
  • Fitted sheet isn't very sturdy
  • Stains are tough to remove

The Layla Bamboo Sheets are perfect for hot sleepers on the hunt for breathable, moisture-wicking bedding. Plus, the natural fibers are softer and more odor-resistant than synthetics.

Our Tester’s Take

Bamboo, ICYDK, is similar to cotton in that it's a natural fiber known for its breathability. It's also naturally hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and antibacterial—a win-win-win. Bamboo sheets are often a little more expensive than cotton ones, so we were pleasantly surprised that this set from Layla rang in at under $200 for a queen size.

Right off the bat, our tester noticed the cool-to-the-touch bamboo fabric. "These sheets felt light and soft," she says. "I never felt overheated throughout the night, even after the initial cool touch faded." She added that they seem like a great value for the price, especially considering the durability she noticed after washing them several times.

However, we did knock off a few points for spots and stains. Bamboo is known for holding dye well—which is perfect for colored sheet sets that need to resist fading. However, our tester has a chaotic household overrun with dogs and kids, and she found that spots and stains didn't wash out easily.

Tempur-Pedic

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Breeze Cooling Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Made with Tencel Lyocell and cooling nylon
  • Reinforced corner straps
  • Available in eight mattress sizes
Cons
  • Limited color options
  • Might be too short for mattresses taller than 13"
  • No returns

The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Breeze Cooling Sheets elevated our Z's to new heights of fanciness and comfort. The cooling Tencel felt way more luxe than cheaper, "slippery" sheet sets.

Our Tester’s Take

If you've decided this is the year you completely devote yourself to getting the best sleep of your life, you may be more willing than most to invest in a set of luxury sheets—something that helps in the fight against bedtime procrastination and quest for deeper quality of sleep. We tried the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Breeze Cooling Sheet Set and thought it lived up to the (somewhat steep) price tag.

Our tester says she was "pleasantly surprised" by the look and feel of the sheets. "I'm so accustomed to the slippery feel of sheets that claim to be cooling, but these sheets were soft to the touch, lightweight, and very breathable." We'll attribute this to the Tencel material, a semi-synthetic fabric known for its moisture-wicking and breathability. She also gave points to the elastic bands that kept the fitted sheet "firmly planted" on her mattress overnight. At around $350 for a queen set, these sheets aren't cheap—but our tester felt like if your bed sees a lot of wear and tear from dogs, kids, or—ahemother activities, the Tempur-Breeze sheets are well worth it. Just note that the sheets aren't returnable.

Best Cooling Sheets: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set

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Cozy Earth

Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 100% premium bamboo viscose fabric
  • Hold up well on laundry day
  • 100-night sleep trial
Cons
  • One of the most expensive sets on our list

The Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set kept our tester feeling crisp during a Texas summer heat wave—need we say more?

Our Tester’s Take

The best sheets need to be versatile enough to adapt to your environment, and for our tester, that was Texas. She noted right away that the sheets have a smooth, silky feel that made sliding into bed after a shower "an almost transcendent experience."

As for cooling specifically, the Cozy Earth sheets are made with bamboo viscose, which our tester described as "light and airy, like it breathes well" without being as slick as other cooling sheets. We were able to feel cozy and contained under the covers, without wanting to kick the sheets off our bodies. "I don't think I can go back to regular budget sheets now," our tester commented ruefully.

Best Organic Sheets on a Budget: Quince Classic Organic Percale Fitted Sheet Set

Image may contain: Blanket, Home Decor, Cushion, and Linen

Quince

Quince Classic Organic Percale Fitted Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Thoughtfully made with sustainable practices
  • Crisp, cool handfeel
  • The cheapest sheets we tested—but you'd never be able to tell
Cons
  • A little on the thin side
  • We could hear a slight rustling when shifting positions

The Quince Classic Organic Percale Sheets break the stereotype that anything 100% organic has to be prohibitively expensive. To further add to their sustainability cred, the sheets are crafted using windmill power and without the use of any toxic chemicals.

Our Tester’s Take

If your wallet preemptively shudders when you pick up something labeled "organic," you can now rest easy. The Quince Classic Organic Percale Sheets are not only woven from 100% organic cotton, but they're also among the cheapest sheets we tested for this article. In fact, sustainability is woven (see what we did there?) into every aspect of these sheets, from the windmill-powered green energy used in the manufacturing process to the lack of pesticides, GMOs, or toxins used in the finishing process. They also boast the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 label, meaning they passed third-party regulated tests and are free of harmful substances. All that, and they feel satisfyingly smooth? We're so in.

Ettitude Signature Sateen Sheets

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Closed loop process for 100% bamboo Lyocell fabric
  • Available in seven colors and six sizes
  • Long sleep trial at 60 days
Cons
  • Overwashing can affect the color and create holes

The Ettitude CleanBamboo Signature Sateen Sheets feel like pure luxury, thanks to a cool, silky texture that's fit for royalty.

Our Tester’s Take

If you prefer silky-smooth bedding over crisp, percale cotton, our testers unanimously recommend the Ettitude CleanBamboo Signature Sateen Sheets. "The sheets have a very silky and soft feel and are wildly cooling to the touch," said one tester, who typically sleeps very hot thanks to her large dog. "They have that refreshing, cool-to-the-touch feel that every hot sleeper dreams of."

Testers also shouted out the proprietary CleanBamboo material, a plant-based sateen made from organic bamboo and processed with organic solvents. This, plus a closed-loop manufacturing system, makes the sheets hypoallergenic, free of harmful chemicals, and so eco-friendly that they’re even biodegradable.

The Citizenry

Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Lightweight texture
  • Soft, not scratchy
  • Worn-in, stonewashed appearance
  • Reasonably priced for linen, which runs expensive
Cons
  • Airy and breathable, but not cool to touch
  • Sheds in the washer and dryer

The Citizenry Stone Washed Linen Sheet Set proves that delicate linen sheets don't have to have an eye-popping price.

Our Tester's Take

If traditional linen's burlap-lite texture turns you off but you really want its easy-breezy feel, give The Citizenry's linen sheets a chance. The brand's best known for its interior design goods, but its bedding deserves attention even if you don't vibe to the ersatz boho furniture. Straight out of the packaging, the linen is soft and gentle to the touch—and it gets even more so after the first wash. The Goldilocks weight somehow makes for a great bedding option in both the dog days of summer and in the chilliest winter nights. Linen won't even be buttery smooth like sateen, but the barely-there texture feels like a steal at this price, knowing how expensive linen sheet sets can be.

Coyuchi

Coyuchi 300 Thread Count Organic Percale Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Long-staple cotton feels soft and broken-in on arrival
  • Extra breathable for hot sleepers
  • Can send back to the brand for renewing and upcycling
Cons
  • Limited color variety
  • Feel a bit rough upon opening

The Coyuchi 300 Thread Count Organic Percale Sheet Set is for anyone dedicated to sustainability in the bedroom—or just really, really crisp sheets.

Our Tester's Take

Coyuchi has been setting the standard for eco-friendly practices in bedding since it launched in Northern California in the '90s. And while other brands talk a big game about sustainability, Coyuchi brings the receipts. Coyuchi's organic percale sheets, which nabbed a GQ Sleep Award in 2024, take this commitment a step further by using GOTS-certified organic cotton that can be sent back to the brand to be renewed or upcycled when it's on its last threads. The feel is even softer and crisper than other percale varieties thanks to a plant-based softener that the long-staple cotton sheets are tumbled in before being shipped out.

Our tester notes that they're light without feeling threadbare, and that their durable weave soldiers on even after several trips through the washer and dryer. As a hot sleeper, he says these are even breathable enough to trounce eucalyptus. We'd still suggest Brooklinen for sheer variety and value, but for an upgrade pick, you can't get any better than Coyuchi.

Brooklinen

Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Seasonal drops of colors and patterns
  • Envelope enclosures keep pillows secure
  • "Long" and "Short" tags for easy bed-making
Cons
  • Not as soft as other sateen sheets we've tested
  • $9.95 return fee

With a wide variety of patterns, the Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet Set sets the right vibe for your bedroom aesthetic, whether it's cool and classic or bright and punchy.

Our Tester's Take

No matter the style of sheets (from percale to sateen), Brooklinen always seems to have some handsome prints on deck, particularly when it drops new seasonal styles. 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.

Most Durable Linen Sheets: Parachute Linen Sheet Set

Image may contain: Cushion, Home Decor, Linen, and Pillow

Parachute

Parachute Linen Sheet Set

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Durable enough to withstand tears and holes
  • Soften with every wash
Cons
  • Rougher than other sheets we tested
  • Not as airy as linen sheets typically are

The Parachute Linen Sheet Set dares you to keep up with your weekly sheet-washing appointment—these sheets are durable enough to withstand even the most aggressive washer and dryer.

Our Tester's Take

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 even after months and months of REM cycles. They're not cheap (good linen isn't!), and aren't quite as breathable as the set from The Citizenry above. Like all good linen bed sheets, these will only continue to break in the more often you wash them (which we hope is every week or two). And so long as you pay attention to the care label, you'll be rewarded with years of blissfully un-sweaty shut-eye.

The Absolute Fanciest Linen Sheets: Cultiver Linen Sheet Set With Pillowcases

Image may contain: Blanket, Diaper, and Towel

Cultiver

Cultiver Linen Sheet Set with Pillowcases

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Arrive soft and worn-in
  • Sophisticated color palette includes blush, a rarity among sheets we tested
  • Generously sized to avoid sheet tug-of-war
Cons
  • Most expensive sheets we tested—by far
  • California king options are limited and often sold out

If your bed is your sanctuary, your castle, the place where you work and live and play, you may be able to justify spending out on the Cultiver Linen Sheet Set.

Our Tester's Take

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 before you stretch them over your mattress. 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. If you're a truly hot sleeper and/or a big baller, Cultiver's linen sheets are worth the price.


Let’s Compare the Costs of These Sheets

Take a look at how the best sheets we tested stack up, price-wise (all prices listed are for queen-sized sets and before any sales or discounts).


How We Tested the Best Sheets

The best way to test sheets? Get under the covers, of course. Our team of dedicated and deeply devoted sleep testers took a set of sheets home to get a real-life feel for how the sheets perform. Testers were instructed to keep the sheets on their beds for a two-week period at minimum. They were also asked to wash the sheets (following the manufacturer's care instructions) at least twice over the testing period to analyze the sheets' durability and how easy they were to clean.

After the testing period, we gave our guinea pigs a survey to fill out asking them about every single detail of using the sheets. How was the packaging? Did the sheets stay on the bed, or did they slip off? Did they feel cool-to-the-touch, and what was the texture like on a spectrum from crispy to silky? Testers shared it all, and with their insights in mind, we scored each pair of sheets and assigned them a superlative to help you narrow down your choices. You can learn more about our rigorous testing standards here.

What to Look for in the Best Sheets

Sheets come in a range of fabrics and finishes. The best sheets for you depends on the texture and breathability you're looking for.

Material

Not all sheet materials are created equally. Some will work better for hot sleepers, others for those with chronically icy feet. Depending on your climate, you might even want different fabrics for different seasons. Here’s what to know before you add to cart.

  • Percale: The basic white tee of bedding, it's a crisp cotton that tends to run a little bit lighter and cooler than cotton sateen. If you're looking for a year-round option that's super breathable, a percale weave is the perfect place to start.
  • Sateen: The other common cotton sheet fabric has a glossy look that's reminiscent of satin (hence the name). Sleepers gravitate toward it for its sleek texture, with a silky finish and a slight sheen to it, which can impart a high-quality feel. Sateen sheets are a bit warmer than percale, so they're a great all-season option, especially if you tend to sleep cold. For the fastidiously tidy, sateen’s smoother surface makes it less prone to wrinkles than percale and that most rumply of fabrics, linen.
  • Linen: The hot sleeper's first stop is usually linen sheets. They're loosely woven from flax fibers and feel a tad rougher to the touch than cotton, but that loose weave lets the hot air out, and the extra texture keeps the fabric from “sticking” to skin. Some linen sheets can feel extra rough out of the bag, but good linen continues to get softer over time as it's washed and the threads break in.
  • Eucalyptus and Bamboo: Both are made from pulped trees—and more importantly, both are used to make the best non-linen “cooling” sheets, because these semi-synthetic cotton alternatives wick moisture and feel a little cooler to the touch. They're also hypoallergenic and anti-microbial, which is nice. You'll often see them referred to as “lyocell” (the term for any semi-synthetic fabric made from wood pulp) or “Tencel” (a brand name for lyocell-based fabric). We haven't included any bamboo sheet sets here, as we find eucalyptus to be just as cooling, but less wrinkle-prone and silky-slick.
  • Flannel: On the opposite end of the breathability spectrum sit flannel sheets. They tend to be soft and cozy, like your favorite checked shirt, right out of the box. If you—or your house—runs cold, they can be a godsend.

Thread Count

Thread count denotes the number of threads woven into one square inch of fabric. According to certified sleep coach Daniel Noyed, the baseline thread count for quality sheets (whether it's crisp percale or soft eucalyptus) is at least 200. A thread count between that and 600 is the general sweet spot. One big exception, he says, are linen sheets, whose airier, less-dense weave can drop into the double digits.

Weave Style

The weave style of a sheet refers to the way the threads are woven together; a looser, airy weave may feel more breathable, while a tighter, more denser weave will trap heat more effectively. Most of the best sheets we tested are either sateen or percale weaves.

  • Sateen: The soft, silky feel comes from a three or four over, one under weave.
  • Percale: Percale sheets have a crisp, matte feel due to the basic one over, one under weave.

Does Thread Count Matter?

Thread count does matter when choosing the best sheets, but probably not as much as you've been led to believe. Contrary to all the marketing hoopla, a higher thread count doesn't guarantee higher quality sheets—nor does it mean they're softer or more wrinkle-resistant. (If you prefer cooling sheets, you'll actually want a lower thread count.) In fact, when we began this process, we basically ignored thread count and used fabric quality—long-staple cotton, Egyptian cotton, flax plant fibers—to designate the top contenders.

What matters more than thread count is the quality of the fabric itself, and that can be trickier to determine depending on the brand's transparency—and whether you can feel the sheets for yourself.

FAQ

What is the best quality sheet?

The best sheets, according to our testing, are the Luxome Luxury Sheets. Our testers loved the sleek, glossy sateen weave and were impressed by the cool-to-the-touch feel.

What sheets do luxury hotels use?

Luxury hotels prioritize comfort and durability in bedding, so they often choose percale cotton sheets. Percale cotton sheets offer the right blend of coziness and breathability, and they're strong enough to withstand lots of wear and tear.

What is the best thread count for sheets?

The best thread count for sheets is between 200 and 600.

Are bamboo sheets better than cotton?

Both bamboo and cotton sheets are great options if you value durability, comfort, and breathability in your bedding. Bamboo sheets may feel slightly softer than cotton sheets (especially percale cotton), and bamboo sheets are also often a little more expensive than cotton sheets.

What are the best sheets for hot sleepers?

The best sheets for hot sleepers are made of bamboo, which is naturally breathable and moisture-wicking.

About the Experts

Raj Dasgupta, MD, is a quadruple-certified physician by the American Board of Internal Medicine specializing in internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care and sleep medicine. He has over two decades of experience in the industry.

Daniel Noyed is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of sleep and the body’s needs. He studied neuroscience as well as human development from a psychological perspective at the University of Puget Sound.

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