Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
These luxury sateen sheets are a splurge, made from Egyptian cotton. Set includes a larger than most flat sheet for extra coverage in bed. Read More
Super soft and lightweight, these percale sheets are delightful to sleep on and worth the high price if you want absolute top-tier sheets. Read More
Boll and Branch's Flannel Solid Sheet set is our favorite we tried. The sheets were extremely high quality and luxuriously soft. Read More
Saatva's sheets performed well in our testing overall, but they were a little expensive compared to most sets. Read More
Super silky and very soft, these bamboo sheets have heft and are great in winter. Unfortunately, they snag. Read More
We spend a third of our lives sleeping, and the right bedding can make all the difference between a good night and a bad one. But with thousands of sheets out there at just about every price point, how are you supposed to pick the best bed sheets?
Well, we did the testing—and snoozing—to find the best sheets for you. If you want buttery soft sateen, you can’t go wrong with our top pick, the Pure Parima Triple Luxe Sateen Sheet Set (available at Amazon) , and if you’re after a crisp percale feel, we recommend the Sferra Giza 45 Sheets. Hoping to cozy up under flannel? We think you'll love the Boll and Branch Flannel Solid Sheet? No matter your preference, we've got the sheets you'll love.
Exceptional comfort make this sateen set the best bed sheets we tested.
These luxury percale sheets have a steep price tag, but if that's OK with your wallet, you'll definitely sleep like a baby.
Cozy flannel is coming to the rescue this winter.
Smooth linen means premium comfort all summer and beyond.
Fed up with cotton? Start here.
Sleep in the lap of luxury.
Get familiar with the different types of fabrics used in bed sheets and you'll have a better idea of what you want and need.
The easiest thing to figure out about sheets is whether they feel nice against your skin, and that’s obviously important. But there are other factors to consider, as well. The fiber, construction method, and thread count can all affect how sheets feel, perform, and wear over time, and we consider them all when testing and recommending the best sheets.
There are three types of fiber that go into sheet material: natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic.
Natural fibers include plant-derived fabrics like cotton and linen, as well as animal-derived fabrics like silk and wool. Synthetic materials like polyester are made from petroleum. Semi-synthetics start with natural products such as wood pulp or cellulose from plants, which are then chemically broken down so they can be made into thread and woven or knit into fabric. Rayon, bamboo viscose, and lyocell (sold under the brand name Tencel) are semi-synthetics.
The best sheets are going to combine high-quality, long-staple fabric with a quality weave. The types of construction, from sateen to percale to flannel, aren’t any better or worse than the others. They each have unique qualities that make them suitable for different people or situations.
Cotton is known for breathability. Popular types of cotton include Pima, Egyptian, and American Upland. Each has a different staple length—the length of a piece of fiber once it’s harvested. Longer-staple cotton makes more durable fabrics.
Pima or Egyptian cotton tend to be longer-staple. While Egyptian cotton is a kind of cotton, some people will refer to any cotton grown in Egypt as “Egyptian cotton.” To make sure you’re getting the right, high-quality material, look specifically for cotton labeled “long” or “extra long.”
Synthetic fibers aren’t generally as breathable as cotton, though some polyesters can be soft and have moisture-wicking properties. Some synthetic blends combine benefits from different fibers, such as the softness of cotton and strength of polyester. Microfiber sheets also fall under synthetics. Often, these fabrics are affordable and stain resistant, because of this, a lot of the twin XL sheets you'll see marketed to college students are made of synthetics.
Synthetic naturals, or semi-synthetics, include fabrics like bamboo viscose and rayon. They’re made from processed wood pulp or plant cellulose that’s chemically processed to create fiber that can be woven or knit into fabric. These materials may provide benefits like moisture wicking and cooling, but they can lack the durability that cotton offers.
Pilling is when fibers break, pulling to the surface and forming little balls. Longer-staple fabrics can help prevent pilling.
Linens or “bed linens” are common, general names for bedsheets. However, there is also a fabric called linen that comes from flax. Some sheets actually are made of linen, but you may hear the term thrown around for bedding in general.
Thread count refers to the number of threads in a square inch of fabric. The number is everywhere when shopping for woven sheets like percale or sateen. Most people assume that higher thread counts equal higher quality. Unfortunately, the best thread count for sheets isn’t that straightforward.
Different countries measure thread count differently. In the United States, the ply—the number of fiber pieces twisted together to make a thread—is not counted toward the total thread count. In other countries, plies get counted, so thread counts may appear double those of comparable sheets manufactured in the U.S.
On top of that, thread count is less important than the quality of the cotton. Long-staple cottons like pima cotton or Egyptian cotton can be key to making soft, durable sheets. (Just make sure that you’re buying actual, long-staple Egyptian cotton and not just “cotton made in Egypt.”)
Finally, too-high thread counts can actually make bed sheets feel stiff and uncomfortable. Generally speaking, experts recommend not worrying too much about thread count. You may generally aim for a thread count above 200 to 250 for durability’s sake. But it’s not the most important factor, and some companies no longer even share the information.
Fabric’s construction, whether woven or knit, also affects the texture. Woven fabrics used in bedding include percale, satin or sateen, twill, and flannel. The main type of knit used is jersey.
Percale weave follows a simple over-under weave pattern and is usually made from long-staple cotton. The long fiber and the weave combine to make a smooth, durable fabric that give percale sheets their signature feel.
Satin/sateen weaves are composed of threads woven together in a perpendicular and parallel pattern. The unique sateen weave makes the fabric smoother and gives them their characteristic sheen. However, the floating threads in these fabrics can be more prone to snagging. Because of its soft feel, sateen is highly recommended for people with sensitive skin.
Twill is newer to the bedding market and known for its durability. The diagonal weave allows for a higher number of yarns to be packed tightly together. Twill sheets tend to have a more textured feel than satin and sateen. Even if you haven’t seen twill sheets, you’ve encountered at least one twill fabric in clothing: denim.
Flannel starts with a plain or twill weave, usually with a higher thread count. It’s then treated with a process called “calendaring” to make it fuzzy. Flannel is extra warm, and popular in cooler seasons and locales.
Jersey sheets have a soft and stretchy feel. Because this type of knit fabric is commonly used for T-shirts, many jersey sheets feel like you are sleeping on one.
To find the best sheets available now, we have our testers sleep on bed sheets multiple times, evaluating factors like softness, comfort, temperature regulation, and even whether they make noise when shifting around. Our sheet testers also use their textile expertise to examine the stitching and construction.
Additionally, we evaluate how prone bed sheets are to wrinkles and shrinkage when they come out of the wash, and how well the fitted sheets hug mattresses of different depths.
Camryn Rabideau is a full-time freelance writer and product tester with eight years of experience. She's been lucky enough to test hundreds of products firsthand, and her specialties include bedding and pet products, which often require help from her two dogs, three cats, and flock of rambunctious chickens.
Lindsey writes about sleep, lifestyle, and more for Reviewed. In her waking hours, she likes to spend time outside, read, cook, and bake. She holds a master’s in journalism from Boston University and bachelors' degrees in English Literature and Anthropology from the University of Utah.
Jamie Ueda
Apparel Staff Writer
Jamie writes about clothing, shoes, and accessories for Reviewed. She loves apparel and doesn't like to sacrifice fashion, comfort, or quality in whatever she wears.
Gabriel Morgan
Staff Writer, Home
Gabriel Morgan is a staff writer on Reviewed's home team, where he covers consumer education topics such as earthquake preparedness, radon in the home, and concerns about health and wellness in product design. He also writes product reviews and how-to articles on appliances, smart home technology, and goods for the home.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email
