The best sheets for every bed and budget, tested and reviewed (2025)

Sweet dreams begin With soft leaves. Or, at the very least, larger sheets mean I sleep better, whether my dreams are peaceful or hallucinations of failed superpowers and… Internet. There’s a lot to navigate when purchasing sheets for your bed, from understanding percale and sateen to thread count. But the right sheet set can make your old bed feel like a hotel, or be the perfect pairing with a brand-new mattress. (Because what’s the point of pairing your new mattress with old sheets?)

We tested dozens of options to find the best sheets in almost every style. However, there are an endless number of papers, so we will continue to update this guide as we test more. All prices shown are for queen size sets. For more bedding recommendations, read our related guides, such as Best mattresses, Best mattresses for side sleepersbest mattresses for back pain, Best organic mattresses, Best pillowsand Best pillows for side sleepers .

Updated January 2025: The Flannel section has been updated with new selections for the winter season. There are also new notes on the Rough Linen and Bowl & Branch decks.

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Linen sheets

Why buy linen sheets? Linen is a woven fabric made from flax plants. It’s a breathable material that doesn’t trap heat, so it keeps you cool during the summer months. It’s great for people who sleep hot. It is a little rougher at first than plain cotton, but will become softer the more it is washed. Linen is often more expensive, but it’s 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 probably love linen sheets.

Our favorite linen sheets

I’ve slept on a lot of linen (don’t miss it My complete guide to linen sheets), and the Citizenry linen set is my Goldilocks sheets. It’s lightweight and breathable but still has a nice drape and softness that you don’t often find in brand new linen. It usually takes a little break-in to get to this point, but Citizen’s sheets feel like you’ve already washed and softened them. With great airflow, these sheets are cool enough for warm nights but not so cold that I won’t be using them all year round. They are Oeko-Tex certifiedWhich means they have been tested for harmful substances and deemed harmless.

Not only do Citizenry’s linen sheets feel great for sleeping in, but they come in many colors to match whatever color scheme your bedroom may be in. Parts of a sheet set (just the top sheet, pillowcases, etc.) can be purchased individually in case something happens to one of your pieces.

Softest linen ever

These sheets are the softest linen I’ve ever tried – so soft that my husband didn’t even realize I replaced my soft flannel set with these! They are very comfortable to sleep on but still have the light feel of linen. Cultiver sheets feel extra silky (a word I never thought I’d use to describe linen) and drape nicely around my body and on the bed. These sheets are more expensive, but if you want super soft linens, this is the one for you.

The only thing I didn’t like about them was the overflowing lint tray after drying. My husband noticed that they were “slippery” compared to other sheets we usually sleep on, which adds to the experience of these semi-silky sheets. But that softness doesn’t come cheap, and these sheets are amazing. You can purchase the pieces individually if you want to work on a full set or worry that one piece could be torn off by your cat (although my cat has not done any damage to these pieces yet).

Other great linen sheets

• Pottery Barn Belgian Linen Sheet Set is $299: These are my favorite linen sheets, because they have the most breathable fabric I’ve ever slept on. Airflow is great with these sheets, keeping me nice and cool. These sheets are a little thinner than Citizenry sheets but not quite as soft.
• Luxury Quince Bamboo Linen Sheet Set $240: These are not made from 100% linen, but I love the combination of the softness of bamboo and the breathability of linen that it provides. They’re a great choice if you want the benefits of linen but aren’t sure about the roughness or feel of standard linen (or about spending so much!) The original sheet set has been discontinued, but the deluxe set is still there, although sold out and on a waiting list now. Quince European Linen Sheets ($170) They’re also a great price if you’re looking for affordable linen sheets.
• Orkney raw linen sheet set, $540: If you are a linen lover and want heavier linen, this coarse linen set is perfect for you. This is the heaviest our team has tested, at around 260gsm (grams per square meter) of linen – most of the others we’ve tested and recommend are around 160gsm. WIRED magazine reviewer Scott Gilbertson says that despite the heavy weight, they still dry quickly, and he likes the rich colors these papers come in. He says the forest green is one of the densest collections of green leaves he has ever experienced.

Looking for more linen? Read about each linen set we tested and our shopping tips Our guide to the best linen sheets.

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Percale leaves

Why buy percale sheets? Percale is a type of cotton weave, not a type of fabric. It is also referred to as plain weave. It’s as if you imagine a classic look for the fabric, with an exaggerated checkerboard style. These tend to be crisp, cool and lightweight, and they also make great cooling sheets. Think hotel sheets or your favorite button-up shirt. It’s a good compromise if you sleep hot but don’t want to buy linen and its high prices.

Our favorite breathable percale sheets

I shouldn’t be surprised by how much I loved these cotton sheets, having loved Citizenry’s linen sheets. The Citizenry launched their line this summer, and it has become one of my favorite cooling sheets to sleep on. I’m usually not a big fan of percale, since I don’t like very crunchy bars, but Citizenry Percale manages to be soft without losing the airflow and slight firmness that makes percale, well, percale.

Although it’s not as super soft as Supima or Egyptian cotton – more options with those below! – Citizenry uses long-staple cotton which helps these sheets feel softer than regular cotton sheets. This sheet set is also organic and is Oeko-Tex and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified.

Another great Percale set

Buffy is known for its alternative materials used in bedding. Specifically, Buffy typically uses eucalyptus-based lyocell to make sheets and comforters. But Buffy now has the first cotton bedding on the list: Supima Cotton Percale Sheets. The name makes it clear that it is not just made of cotton; Supima cottonIt is a high quality cotton that has longer fibers and better strength. These longer fibers help make these cotton sheets softer than your standard sheets without sacrificing the airflow and structure that make the sheets so nice to sleep on.

Buffy runs a large number of sales, so although the price of these sheets is usually similar to Citizenry, you may be able to find them for cheaper.

Another great percale leaf

• Saatva Percale deck for $205: I love these papers as much as I love the Nationals above. They cost a little more, but both are great sets of cotton fabric that keeps you fresh and crisp while still being soft.
• Pure Parima Ultra Percale Sheet Set for $230: These sheets are extremely soft thanks to Egyptian cotton. It’s a little more expensive and a little heavier than others, but if you want something super soft without going all satin or bamboo, this is a great option.
• Riley Percale sheet set for $260: Riley makes nice cotton sheets, but they’re expensive — a fitted sheet and pillowcases cost $135, and a flat sheet costs an additional $85. We liked their crispness, but Brooklyn is even cheaper for the organic variety.
• Parachute Percale deck for $269: These sheets feel rough at first but get softer the more they are washed, says WIRED reviewer Julian Choccato. It has held up very well after years of use, even with the dog sleeping in the same bed.

Looking for more cooling or cooling options? We have The Complete Guide to Cooling Sheets Includes more screenshots and test notes.

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Flannel sheets

Why buy vanilla sheets? Flannel sheets are made from cotton, but the cotton fibers are brushed to create a fuzzy texture. These puffy fibers are also what makes flannel so warm and comfortable to sleep on – the herringbone cotton layers do a better job at retaining heat than other styles of cotton sheets, so you’ll stay warmer while sleeping on them than you would with other styles of sheets. They are great for cold climates and seasons.

What about brushed cotton? Combed cotton is similar to flannel in that it has combed fibers, but combed cotton is usually combed on one side, making it less fluffy and warm than classic cotton. It’s a great option for hotter sleepers who are trying to stay warmer without overheating.

Our favorite vanilla leaves

These sheets are very soft and great to sleep on. They’re warm and cozy, but a little lighter than the Company Store range we used to recommend, making them a great choice for people who want to stay comfortable without overheating. It’s overkill compared to other flannel you can find, but it won’t cost you any more than a nice linen set. Additionally, these sheets are made of organic cotton.

Our favorite brushed cotton sheets

These Riley Brushed Cotton Sheets are what I’m currently using for the winter. These are some of the softest I’ve tried without being too hot, thanks to brushed cotton instead of full flannel, making them a little lighter while still being fuzzy to the touch. They retain more heat than cotton sheets, but not as much as I need to remove my extra comforter that I use in the winter. This was a perfect choice for myself and my husband since we are both natural sleepers. (It doesn’t help that we’re in a third floor room in Southern California!)

Riley also lets you choose whether or not you want a flat sheet (aka top sheet) with this set, which may make it a little cheaper. You may want to skip the flat sheet if you sleep too warm, or already have one Your favorite duvet cover.

Other great vanilla sheets (or similar).

• L.L. Bean Ultra Soft Flannel Sheets for $139: They’re definitely soft, but not as soft as our flannel tops, and they feel lighter, too. They’re almost like a warm shirt rather than a flannel. If you are looking for a light but soft sheet set, this is a good choice.
• The Company Store Legends Hotel Velvet Sheet Set for $179: This was our previous top pick, but the company store has replaced it with The Company’s Velvet Cotton Flannel Sheet Set ($184) Which I’m testing now, along with the Legends Luxury Luxe Ultra-Cozy Flannel Fitted Sheet ($63) and Flat Sheet ($59). I will update this guide soon with my feedback.
• Brooklinen Heathered Cashmere Sheets, $350: These papers are a big splurge. They’re made of 95% cotton and 5% cashmere wool, giving them a rougher feel than your usual flannel sheets. I still love sleeping on it and find it warm and comfortable, but my husband, who prefers soft sheets, didn’t care for it.

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Sateen sheets

Why buy sateen sheets? Sateen is a cotton weave similar to percale, but uses a three-over-one weave pattern compared to one-over-one. These extra threads give it a silky feel even though it’s still cotton, and it tends to be a little cooler and heavier. They’re great for the summer months if you want something cool to the touch, but they also work in the colder months if you’re not looking for something that traps heat like flannel but still wants to retain some heat.

Our favorite sateen papers

I have a few sets of JCPenney’s Wrinkle Guard satin sheets in my linen closet thanks to my wedding registry. It’s soft and wonderful to the touch, with a silky satin finish that’s known to be soft without being slippery. It hangs well on my bed and doesn’t keep me too warm, but be careful how you fold it, as it’s not completely wrinkle-free.

The craziest thing to me about these papers is that I can barely tell them apart from the Brooklinen Luxe Core Set, which is twice the price (also courtesy of my wedding registry). They’re similar and incredibly comfortable to sleep on, but JCPenney sheets are hard to beat for value.