What Are the Best Bedsheets?
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“Bedsheets are the most important thing in the world,” says Bunny Williams, AD100 Hall of Famer who has been decorating Upper East Side apartments and Connecticut country homes for more than 40 years. Because if you’re going to spend one-third of your life between the sheets, shouldn’t they feel fabulous? Naturally, one person’s gravelly linen duvet cover is another person’s practically silk sateen.
Thus began our journey to find the best bedsheets. No one has the time nor the attention span for the dozens of products and advertisements that pop up on Google, so we sought to come up with a simple list of 17 very good options ourselves.
FAQs
The Best Bedsheets
The Sateen Ones
Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set
Highlights: 100 percent long-staple cotton | Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified | 480 thread count | Five core colors and a handful of limited-edition colors | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
Sateen sheets can take your bed to resortlike heights. In the case of Brooklinen, they’re made of long-staple cotton, making these sheets soft and durable (a plus if you don’t have a linen cabinet to store extras). The pitfall of sateen is that many manufacturers use chemicals to get the textile’s classic slip and luxe sheen. You don’t have to worry about that with Brooklinen; these sheets are Oeko-Tex certified — which means the textiles have been tested for harmful substances — and, if you want to go a step further, you can shop the brand’s just-launched organic collection.
The Bamboo Ones
BedVoyage Pure Bamboo Sheet Set
Highlights: 100 percent viscose from bamboo | Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified | Sized slightly larger to fit most mattresses | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
Anishka Clarke, co-owner of Ishka Designs, says that after using one specific set of bamboo-derived linens for a large project, she’s never going back. Her find? BedVoyage, which uses all-organic viscose from bamboo. “The quality of the product is excellent. Bamboo is one of the strongest and hardest natural materials, and yet when you feel the fibers on these sheets, they’re just incredibly soft. Softer than you’d imagine.” Clarke says these sheets are extremely durable (“They generally last about two times longer than cotton sheets”) and that though they’re a more expensive option, the overall quality and durability make them “the hands-down winner.”
The Best Value One
Mellanni Hotel Luxury 1800 Microfiber Sheet Set
Highlights: Soft polyester microfiber | 42 color options | Great customer service | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
Another Amazon find worth considering is this set from Mellanni, which has 15 mattress options you can choose from — including a deep-pocketed, extra-large twin for any IRL “Princess and the Pea” kids. Like the sheets from Amazon Basics, these are made of polyester microfiber but with 42 colors to choose from. If there were an award for best guest sheets, these would win — with many among the more than 240,000 five-star reviews stating they use these for every room in their home.
The Ones for Hot Sleepers
The Budget Ones
AmazonBasics Lightweight Supersoft Easy Care Microfiber Sheet Set
Highlights: Soft polyester microfiber | Green by Oeko-Tex certified | 41 color options | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
If you want to talk about customer-backed sheets, look to this Amazon Basics set with 317,000 five-star ratings and counting. Reviewers love how soft the microfiber sheets are and the fact that they’re versatile enough to sleep in year round. They’re not made of 100 percent natural anything, but they are made in a Green by Oeko-Tex certified factory. Plus they come in more than three dozen colors, so they’re basically couture!
The Ones That Are Priced Unbelievably Well
Quince Luxury Organic Sateen Sheet Set
Highlights: 100 percent organic cotton| 300 thread count | Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
“I can confidently say that I have tested at least 100 different sheets in my career and these are my favorite,” says Samlin. As you’d expect from sateen, these are supersoft (and get softer over time), but notably, they have a very subtle luster that sets them apart: “I have always been partial to a sateen sheet versus a percale sheet, but tend to be turned off by how shiny sateen can be.” She calls these the perfect blend of luxury and ease — which is the same way we’d describe all the bedding offered by Quince. If that weren’t it, Samlin says Quince avoids wrinkle-resistant treatments. (“As much as I would love my bedding to look perfectly ironed, who wants the added chemicals?!”)
The Ones Recommended by Oprah
Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set
Highlights: 100 percent viscose from bamboo | Deep pocket (20 inches) for thick mattresses | Seven color options | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
You may not know the brand by name, but Cozy Earth has frequented Oprah’s list of favorite things for years. The product that started it all is the Bamboo Sheet Set, which isn’t just Oprah-backed; it’s a customer and Cut Shop favorite. We deemed these the Goldilocks sheets after testing; if your bed is crowded (partner, cat, dog), these will keep those who run cold warm enough and those who run hot, cool. They’re soft and durable, hardly wrinkle, and are moisture-wicking thanks to the viscose from bamboo. Plus if you sleep on an absolute unit of a mattress, the deep pockets on the fitted sheet will actually wrap around it and stay put.
The Linen Ones
Parachute Linen Venice Set
Highlights: 100 percent European flax | Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified | Option to add or remove a top sheet from your set | Ten color options | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
Parachute? For linens? It may not be groundbreaking, but it’s true. No other brand has stonewashed sheets (which uses literal stones to break the fabric in, resulting in linen sheets that already feel lived-in) at a decent price. The sheets get softer over time — with minimal or zero piling after years — and come in soothing tones that say, “No, I didn’t pay an interior designer to refresh my space, but I fuck with Jersey Ice Cream Co.”
The Percale Ones
Snowe Percale Sheet Set
Highlights: 100 percent long-staple cotton | Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified | 500 thread count | Sized slightly larger to fit most mattresses | Four color options | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
“As I got older, I realized the importance of having quality sheets, and with these, I finally feel like an adult,” says Kai Avent-deLeon, founder of Sincerely, Tommy. That rings especially true if you invest in percale sheets, which are the kind of linens you probably associate with hotels. They’re the ultimate Goldilocks bedding: crisp and cool but soft and plush. And if you get them from Snowe, which uses long-staple cotton and a 500 thread count, Avent-deLeon says they’re particularly breathable and low-maintenance.
The Ones for Cold Sleepers
L.L. Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set
Highlights: 100 percent brushed cotton flannel | Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
If you have icicles for feet, keep you house as cold as a meat locker, or use a pet or human companion as a portable heater, you need flannel sheets. These are warm but aren’t so stifling hot that they can’t be used year-round. They’re soft as worn-in pajamas, have a velvety brushed-cotton feel, and are easy to maintain. While flannel sheets are more prone to pilling than other materials, these are manufactured to be resistant to those menacing little balls of lint.
The Ones to Impress
Matouk Classic Chain Scallop Flat Sheet
Highlights: 100 percent Egyptian percale cotton | 600 thread count | Generous personalization options |U.S. facility is Oeko-Tex STeP certified for sustainable production | The company has a handful of philanthropic efforts
“My favorite sheets are Matouk, mostly because everything’s customizable — from the color of the threading to the monogram and the ruffles,” says Sasha Bikoff, founder of Sasha Bikoff Interior Design. Matouk has been making luxury linens for more than 90 years, and though you can find more affordable (this is a relative term) sets at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, if you’re going to go for it, Bikoff suggests the Chain Scallop: “It’s this very Hollywood Regency scallop-shell pattern that’s kind of Miami-influenced. It’s very 1940s, 1950s glam.
The Ones You Can Only Describe As ‘Couture’
Julia B. Calais Sheets & Pillow Cases Set
Highlights: European cotton | 800 thread count | More than 80 styles of monograms | Get better over time | Machine-washable, line- or air-drying recommended
“Bedsheets are the most important thing in the whole world. Good sheets should be like buying a couture dress — they’re worth the investment.” Sage words to live by from Bunny Williams. The interiors legend really likes fine-cotton percale like the ones Julia B. makes, nay, handcrafts: “She does couture linens with beautiful monograms and embroidery all done by hand.”
The Bedroom Flex
Tekla Fabrics Percale Bedding - Island Blue
Highlights: 100 percent organic cotton | 200 thread count | 24 color options | Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
We like to think this Tekla bedding set is exactly what Gwyneth Paltrow victory-napped (reposed?) in post–courtroom win. The bedding is made with extra-long threads that get bendier and softer with each wash, but they won’t lose their signature percale crispness. The color options range from a quiet luxury “Soft Grey” to a preppy pink “Mallow” pinstripe.
The More-Is-More Sheets
Piglet Mix & Match: Linen Bedtime Bundle
Highlights: 100 percent European (French) flax | 33 color options | Pre-washed and get softer over time | Wooden button fastenings | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
Can’t decide whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert? Live the best of both worlds from your mattress. Piglet in Bed has a “Bedtime Bundle” that lets you pair any of the British brand’s refined maximalist bedding to create your dream set. The linen sheets are sustainably sourced and pre-washed so they’re ridiculously soft. We’re sorry in advance, but you won’t be able to resist heading back to the site to buy a matching (or clashing!) duvet cover to complete your set.
The Really Good Target Find
Threshold 400 Thread Count Solid Performance Sheet Set
Highlights: 100 percent organic cotton | 400 thread count | Oeko-Tex Standard “Made in Green” | Low-maintenance, machine-washable
Target has long served us Cotswolds-cute, so it’s quite fitting that these sheets would be right at home in an English cottage … or your junior one-bedroom on the Upper East Side. From cleaning products to bath towels, you don’t need us to tell you that Target excels in basically every kind of home good — but its bedding selection is pretty, well, dreamy. This set has a sterling 4.7-out-of-5-star rating from customers, and it’s backed by Cut Shop shopping writer Brooke LaMantia. For what you’re getting, the price is hard to beat: There are four pieces (two pillowcases, one flat sheet, and one fitted sheet), all at a luxe 400 thread count.
The One Lurking in Your Feed
Ever Lasting Silky Ruffle Bedding Set
Highlights: 100 percent organic cotton | Unique styles
Coquette, ’80s dress shirt, or Doên’s foray into bedding? The statement will be loud and somewhat clear, whatever aesthetic ruffles your bedsheets. Ever Lasting is a newcomer to the scene; you may have seen its videos of perfectly undone bedrooms targeting you (or your Gen Z sister) across social media. While commenters say the bedding can take a while to ship out, the brand does offer regular promo codes, including a student discount. Just watch out for vague claims like “ecofriendly,” “long-lasting,” and “nontoxic” across the site, as Ever Lasting does not tout any recognized certifications.
The Cool Breeze
Muji Washed Cotton Fitted Sheet
Highlights: 100 percent cotton | Low-maintenance, machine-washable | Does not come in a set (must buy each item separately)
If you’re mentally summering in the Hamptons, frequenting croquet parties, counting money, and playing fetch with golden retrievers, these are the bedsheets for you. Yes, it comes from Muji, the minimalist Japanese retailer, but that shouldn’t surprise you. Muji has a dedicated group of customers, including the Cut’s deputy culture editor Brooke Marine, who particularly likes its bedding options. The brand takes a no-frills approach to basically everything; don’t expect fancy certifications or effusive product storytelling, but do expect a well-priced item that gets the job done. While Muji offers a range of fabrics, we like this unique seersucker option since it’s inherently a cooler material. Mint Julep on the nightstand optional.
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