Sweet dreams start with soft sheets. Or, at the very least, big sheets mean I sleep better, whether my dreams are peaceful or hallucinations from failed superpowers and the internet. There’s a lot to navigate when buying bed linens, from understanding percale and sateen to thread counts. But the right sheet set can make your old bed look like a hotel, or be the perfect pair with a new mattress. (Because what’s the point of putting a new mattress with stale sheets?) We’ve tried dozens of options to find the best sheets in almost every style. However, there is an infinite supply of sheets, so we will continue to update this guide as we try more. All prices shown are for queen size sets. For more bedding recommendations, read related guides, such as Best Mattresses, Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers, Best Mattresses for Back Pain, Best Organic Mattresses, Best Pillows, and Best Pillows for Side Sleepers. Updated January 2025: The flannel section is already there. updated with new options for the season. There are also new notes on Rough Linen and Boll & Branch sheet sets. List of Contents Linen Sheets Why buy linen sheets? Linen is a woven fabric made from the flax plant. It is a material that breathes and does not retain heat, so you stay cool during the summer. It is good for hot sleepers. At first, it’s rougher than a simple cotton set, but it should get softer after washing. Linen is often expensive, but it is also more durable than cotton, so a good sheet set should last longer. Linen sheets aren’t for everyone, but if you like linen clothes, you’ll love linen sheets.Our Favorite Linen Sheets. linen sets are Goldilocks sheets. They are light and breathable but still have a nice, soft drape that you don’t often find in new linens. It usually takes a little rest to get to this stage, but the Citizen’s sheets felt like they had been washed and softened. Thanks to the good air flow, this sheet is cool enough for warm nights, but not so cold that it cannot be used all year round. They are also Oeko-Tex certified, meaning they have been tested for harmful chemicals and have been deemed harmless. Citizenry linen sheets not only feel fantastic to sleep on but come in lots of colors to go with any bedroom color scheme. have. Parts of the sheet set (only the top sheet, pillowcase, etc.) can be purchased individually if something happens to one of the pieces. I didn’t even realize I had swapped the soft flannel set for this one! They are very comfortable to sleep on but still have a light linen feel. The Cultiver sheets feel silkier (a word I don’t think I would use to describe the fabric) and drape better on the body and on the bed. These sheets are a splurge, but if you want extra-soft linens, this is the way to go. The only thing I don’t like about it is that the lint tray overflows after drying. My husband notes that they are “slippery” compared to other sheets we usually sleep on, adding to the almost silky feel of the sheets. But such softness does not come cheap, and these sheets are a splurge. You can buy one piece at a time if you want to work it all the way up or are worried that one piece might be destroyed by your cat (although my cat has not destroyed this yet). Belgian Flax Linen Sheet Set for $299: These are my favorite cooling linen sheets, because they have the most breathable fabric I’ve ever slept on. The airflow is great with this sheet, it stays nice and cool. This sheet is a bit thinner than Citizenry but not as soft. Quince Linen Bamboo Deluxe Sheet Set for $240: This is not 100 percent linen, but I love the combination of the softness of bamboo and the breathability of linen that it offers. This is a great option if you want the benefits of linen but aren’t sure about the roughness or texture of standard linen (or about spending too much!) The original sheet set is discontinued, but the deluxe set is still available, although it’s sold out. and on the waitlist now. Quince’s European Linen Sheets ($170) is also a great price if you’re looking for affordable all-linen sheets.Rough Linen Orkney Sheet Set for $540: If you’re a lover of weaving and want heavy linen, then this Rough Linen set is perfect for you. It’s the heaviest our team has tested, with around 260 gsm (grams per square meter) of linen – most others we’ve tested and recommend are around 160 gsm. WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson said despite the heavy weight, it still dries quickly, and loves the rich color these sheets come in. He said the forest green is one of the most intensely green sheet sets he’s ever tried. Looking for more linen? Read about every linen set we’ve tested and shopping advice in our guide to the best linen sheets. Percale Sheet Why buy percale sheet? Percale is a type of cotton weave, not a type of fabric. It is also called plain weave. See how you can describe the classic woven look, with an over-under style like checkerboard. These sheets tend to be dry, cool, and light, and make great cooling sheets. Try a hotel sheet or your favorite button-down shirt. This is a great middle ground if you sleep in the heat but don’t want to spring for linens and higher prices. Our Favorite Breathable Percale Sheets It wouldn’t surprise me that I fell in love with these percale sheets, after I fell in love with Citizenry. linen sheets. Citizenry launched a percale line this summer, and it’s one of our favorite cooling sheets. I’m usually not a huge fan of percale, since I don’t like super crispy sheets, but Citizenry percale manages to be soft without losing air flow and the slight stiffness that makes percale, well, percale. While this is not as super soft as Supima or Egyptian cotton – other options with the following!-Citizenry uses long-staple cotton that helps these sheets feel softer than regular cotton percale sheets. This sheet set is also organic and Oeko-Tex and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified. Specifically, Buffy mostly uses white wood-based lyocell to make sheets and comforters. But Buffy now has the first cotton sheets on the menu: Supima Cotton Percale Sheets. The name is not only made of cotton, but Supima cotton, which is a higher quality cotton that has longer fibers and better strength. The longer fibers help make these cotton sheets softer than your standard percale without sacrificing the airflow and structure that make percale so great to sleep on. can be found for less. Another Large Percale SheetSaatva Percale Sheet Set for $205: I love this sheet just like the Citizenship above. They cost a little more, but two fantastic percale sets that make you cool and crisp while still being soft.Pure Parima Ultra Percale Sheet Set for $230: these sheets are super soft thanks to their Egyptian cotton. They are a bit more expensive and a touch heavier than other percales, but if you want something super soft without going full sateen or bamboo, this is a great choice. Riley Percale Sheet Set for $260: Riley makes nice percale sheets, but they’re pricey — fitted sheets and pillowcases are $135, and extra flat sheets are $85. We liked their crispness, but Brooklinen’s is cheaper for even an organic set. Parachute Percale Sheet Set for $269: WIRED reviewer Julian Chokkattu said these sheets feel hard at first but soften up the more they are washed. They have held up very well after years of use, even with dogs sleeping in the same bed. Looking for more percale or cooling options? We’ve got a comprehensive guide to cooling sheets including percale options and testing notes. Flannel Sheets Why buy flannel sheets? Flannel sheets are made of cotton, but the cotton fibers are brushed to create a fuzzy texture. These fibers also make flannel warm and comfortable to sleep on – the boiled cotton layer is better at retaining heat than other styles of cotton sheets, so you’ll stay warmer than other sheets. style. They are good for cooler climates and seasons. What about brushed cotton? Brushed cotton is similar to flannel in that it has brushed fibers, but brushed cotton is usually brushed on one side, making it slightly less soft and warm than your classic cotton. It’s a good choice for hot sleepers who try to stay a little warmer without overheating. Our Favorite Flannel Sheet This sheet is super soft and fantastic to sleep on. They are warm and cozy, but lighter than the Company Store sets we usually recommend, making them a great choice for those who want to stay comfortable without overheating. It’s a splurge compared to other flannels you can find, but it won’t cost you more than a great linen set. Additionally, these sheets are made from organic cotton. Our Favorite Brushed Cotton Sheets These brushed cotton sheets from Riley are my go-to for winter. These are some of the softest I’ve tried without being too hot, thanks to brushed cotton instead of full flannel, which makes it a little lighter while still being fuzzy to the touch. They hold more heat than percale cotton sheets, but not so hot that I needed to remove the extra blanket I used in winter. This has been a perfect choice for me and my husband as we are hot sleepers. (Not helping us in a room on the third floor in Southern California!) Riley also allows you to choose if you want a flat sheet (aka top sheet) or not with this set, which can make it a little cheaper. You may want to skip the flat sheet if you’re sleeping super warm, or already have a duvet cover that you prefer. Other Great Flannel (Or Similar) SheetsL.L. UltraSoft Bean Flannel Sheet for $139: These are definitely soft, but not as soft as the top flannel options, and they’re also lighter. They are almost like a warm jersey rather than flannel. If you’re looking for a light but still soft sheet set, this is a great choice. Company Legend Hotel Velvet Sheet Set for $179: This was a top pick before, but the Company Store has replaced it with the Company Cotton Velvet Flannel Sheet Set ($184) which I’m testing today, along with the Legend Luxury Luxe Ultra-Cozy Flannel Fitted Sheet ($63). and Flat Sheet ($59). I will update this guide soon with notes.Brooklinen’s Heathered Cashmere Sheets for $350: these sheets are a major splurge. It’s 95 percent cotton and 5 percent cashmere wool, giving it a rougher texture than regular flannel sheets. I still really enjoy sleeping in them and find them warm and comfortable, but my husband, who likes soft sheets, doesn’t care. Sateen is a cotton weave that is similar to percale, but uses a triple thread style weave rather than one. The extra thread gives it a silkier feel even though it’s still cotton, and tends to be cooler and heavier. It’s good for the summer months if you want something cool to the touch, but it also works for the cold months if you’re not looking for something too hot-trap like flannel but still want to retain some heat. Our Favorite Sateen Sheets I have several sets of JCPenney’s Wrinkle Guard sateen sheets in closet linen thanks to my wedding registry. They are soft and cool to the touch, with the silky finish sateen is known for without being slippery. They drape well on the bed and do not make me too warm, but be careful how to fold them, because they are not completely wrinkle-free. The craziest thing for me about these sheets I can barely tell the difference between them and Brooklinen Luxe Core Set, which is twice the price (it also has a wedding registry). They’re the same and both are incredibly comfortable to sleep on, but the JCPenney sheets are just hard to beat in value.
