Bed Sheets

Best all-cotton bed sheets

Reviewers say that 100% cotton is relatively easy to care for and makes durable and comfortable bed sheets. Cotton can be woven into a variety of fabrics, with the most popular for bedding being sateen and percale. One way to gauge the quality of the sheeting material is to check the thread count, meaning the number of threads per square inch of fabric. Experts say a thread count anywhere between 200 and 400 is a good choice, with some increase in softness at the upper end of that range. Anything higher, say reviewers, is unnecessary and often an exaggeration.

Sealy's Best Fit 330 Thread Count (*est. $120 for a queen set) is a top-rated sheet set with a mid-range thread count of 330. One comparative review says these sheets perform well overall and fit well with a wide range of mattresses. Users posting to Amazon.com agree that the fit is good, and most add that they find the sheets light and soft. Although there are a handful of negative reviews that mention poor durability along with roughness and pilling, most say these sheets are easy to care for and that they maintain their smoothness after multiple washings. The Sealy Best Fit 330 Thread Count is available in ten color choices. A 400 thread-count version (*est. $120 for a queen set) is also available in five color choices. Both are machine washable and safe to tumble dry.

Sears 600 Count Sheets (*est. $140 for a queen set) are made of cotton sateen. These score very poorly in the same comparative review that top-rates the Sealy Best Fit sheets. One explanation for the poor review, which could also account for the few user complaints about the Sealy, is that cotton sateen is not the best fabric choice for bed sheets. Both sateen and percale can be made of 100% cotton, but percale has one vertical thread for every horizontal thread while sateen has four or more. Experts say that this process, which gives sateen its gloss and smoothness, also makes it snag easily on bed hardware or even toenails. Percale, on the other hand, is considered by most reviewers to be the best choice for durable easy-care cotton bed sheets.

According to users posting at Apartment Therapy, Garnet Hill's sheets have an excellent reputation for durability. Their Signature Scalloped Percale (*est. $135 for a queen set) is one of Real Simple's top picks for sheets with thread counts under 250. The Scalloped Percale sheets have a thread count of 220 and come in white or ivory with scallop-embroidered edges in 13 color choices. A similar option for those who prefer more color or a simpler design is Garnet Hill's Signature Hemstitched Percale (*est. $135 for a queen set), a 250 thread-count cotton sheet set available in 13 colors from pale blue "water" to deep red "cardinal."

Although it calls them "the very best in organic bedding," Allergy Buyers Club gives their own 230 thread-count Premium Organic Bedding (*est. $240 for a queen set) its lowest rating of only three out of five stars. These sheets actually do better in an independent comparative review, where they rank just below the top picks and get good scores for everything but strength. Although sheets made of non-organically-grown cotton are less expensive, these may be a good choice for consumers who prefer to buy sheets made of pesticide-free cotton crops. According to Allergy Buyers Club, no pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers have been used in the production of the Premium Organic sheets, but the review does caution that they are prone to wrinkling in the dryer.

Flannel sheets

Fabric experts say cotton flannel bedding is an especially good choice in cold weather or for extra softness and warmth, but that inexpensive flannel is prone to pilling and roughness after a few washings. L.L. Bean's Warm Feelings Flannel (*est. $100 for a queen set) is Good Housekeeping's top pick for the coziest bed sheets. Besides calling them "luxurious and practical," the review says they perform especially well in independent tests of strength and fade-resistance. Users posting to a "Where are the best flannel sheets" thread on Ask MetaFilter choose the Warm Feelings Flannel more than any other sheet. Their responses highlight the same strengths found in Good Housekeeping's tests: warmth, resilience, coziness and resistance to pilling.

The second most recommended flannel sheet on the same Ask MetaFilter thread is Garnet Hill's Paintbrush Flannel (*est. $80 for a queen set). One user calls these sheets "the most snuggly and wonderful things in the world," saying they stand up very well to washing and long-term use. Posters at Apartment Therapy agree on both points, calling them cozy, resilient and easy to care for. One strength of the Paintbrush Flannel sheets according to user reviews is that they come in 13 bright colors – from "red hot" to "deep sea blue" that won't fade in the wash.

Pinzon's flannel sheets -- both their 190-Gram Velvet and their 200-Gram Supima Velvet Flannel (*est. $60 to $65 for a queen set) -- are the top-rated sheets on Amazon.com, earning over 100 five-star reviews along with a handful of threes and fours. Customers post that these sheets are comfortable, soft and warm. Other positives are ease of machine washing, durability and the fact that they fit well even on extra-thick mattresses. The only negatives mentioned involve the color: one poster says these sheets fade too quickly and another adds that there's not enough selection.

Pinzon's 160-Gram Solid Flannel Sheets (*est. $65 for a queen set) get similar reviews on Amazon.com, but with a few more negatives. While most users mention the same positives for these sheets as they do for the 190-Gram and 200-Gram versions, some complain of color bleeding, pilling and lint-shedding. Considering the uniformly excellent reviews of Garnet Hill's Paintbrush Flannel and L.L. Bean's Warm Feelings Flannel, reviewers indicate that you may be better off spending the few extra dollars for longer-lasting top-rated flannel sheets.

Cotton-blend and bamboo sheets

One of the downsides of 100% cotton, according to some reviewers, is that it can come out of the dryer slightly wrinkled. Consumers who like wrinkle-free sheets but would rather skip the ironing might want to try a polyester-cotton blend. Land's End Easy Care (*est. $80 for a queen set) is a 250 thread-count blend of 65% Supima cotton and 35% polyester. Real Simple includes these sheets in their "250 thread count and under" category, saying that they're a good alternative for those who want a low-maintenance, crisp-looking sheet set.

A less expensive option in a similar blend is Target's Polyester/Cotton 300 Thread-Count Easy-Care Sheet Set (*est. $40 for a queen set). Although Australia's Choice magazine's 2003 ratings give Target's Polyester/Cotton Percale an excellent score and a recommendation, the sheets currently sold get much less impressive reviews from owners. User reviews posted to Target's website say these sheets are actually difficult to care for in that they come out of the dryer quite wrinkled and attract lint easily. Target's Percale 2 in 1 Connected Top to Bottom sheets (*est. $60 for a queen set) do slightly better. Although one reviewer says the set was sewn wrong and arrived twisted, another calls the sheets "awesome" and says the connected design makes them easier for older children to change bedding themselves.

Target's 530 Cotton/Silk Jacquard (*est. $180 for a queen set) actually does very well in one top-ranked review, earning high scores for softness and lack of shrinkage. This 530 thread-count set is made of 60% cotton and 40% silk sateen, and is machine washable. Although any sateen fabric is prone to snagging, and these sheets in particular get poor ratings for strength, they may be a good choice for consumers who like the idea of silk sheets but don't want to spend time hand washing or dry cleaning them.

Wamsutta Zen Comforts (*est. $70 for a queen set) is a 300 thread-count blend of 60% cotton and 40% bamboo. Bamboo fabric, which is made by pulping bamboo grass and separating the fibers, has a strong following among ecologically-focused consumers. Experts say that bamboo, unlike cotton, is easily grown without pesticides, but some also point out that actually separating the fibers is often a chemical-intensive process. They also note that while bamboo fabric tends to be soft and breathable, it is prone to shrinkage, especially when it's not mixed with another fiber. Because the Zen Comforts sheets do contain 60% cotton, reviewers say they hold their shape well, resist shrinkage and are easy to care for. Editors of Real Simple choose the Zen Comforts sheets as one of their top picks in the mid-range thread-count category, calling them "surprisingly supple," and saying the cotton/bamboo fabric "breathes well and feels nice to the touch."

Silk and satin sheets

If you like the feel of "slick" satin and silk sheets, which can also help you feel cooler in warmer weather, Scent-Sation's Charmeuse Satin (*est. $120 for a queen set) are made of 300 thread-count polyester satin and get the top spot among non-cotton sheets in one large comparative review. The handful of ratings at Amazon.com are also mostly positive. Although one user does post that these sheets are thinner and less breathable than more expensive options, most customers say they are durable and high quality with a thick satiny feel. Another plus is that they can be machine washed and tumble dried. Scent-Sation's Charmeuse Satin sheets are available in 12 colors and two prints, and fit mattresses up to 18 inches thick.

Silk is a natural alternative to polyester satin at a significantly higher price. Allergy Buyers Club gives Kumi Kookoon's Silk Classic Collection (*est. $790 for a queen set) its highest rating in the non-cotton category. Allergy Buyers Club says silk is naturally hypoallergenic, inhospitable to dust mites and resistant to mold and mildew, making it a good luxury choice for allergy sufferers. On the other hand, the fact that it needs to be dry cleaned means that chemicals may be introduced during the cleaning process -- something that's less of a problem with washable fabrics like cotton or polyester.

Important Features: Sheets

Reviewers say the following about shopping for bed sheets:

• Start with a good quality fabric. Reviewers say 100% cotton is durable, comfortable and easy to care for.

• Keep mattress size in mind. Some fitted sheets aren't deep enough to fit pillowtop or oversized mattresses. Reviewers suggest buying a fitted sheet that's labeled one or two inches deeper than the mattress you'll be using it with.

• Inspect in the store and keep your receipts. Because bed linens are prone to quality problems, reviewers suggest opening the package and counting and inspecting the contents before you buy it. Even once you've used the sheets and run them through the wash a few times, don't be afraid to return them if there's undue shrinkage or fading.

• Higher thread counts aren't always better. While good bed sheets should have a minimum thread count of 200, reviewers say there's no need to go over 400. Within the 200 to 400 range, higher thread counts can mean slightly softer sheets along with higher prices.

• Although it's possible to measure the thread count of flannel sheets, they are usually classified by weight instead. Experts say high-quality flannel should have a weight of at least 4 ounces per square yard.

• Be aware of thread-count inflation. Manufacturers claiming very high thread counts could be inflating their numbers by counting individual strands rather than threads or by doubling up each thread and then counting it as two. It's better to feel sheets yourself than buy entirely by thread count.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of picks	Model (with Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
2	L.L. Bean Warm Feelings Flannel (*est. $100 for a queen set)	-
2	Garnet Hill Paintbrush Flannel (*est. $80 for a queen set)	-
1 each	Sealy Best Fit , Scent-Sation Charmeuse Satin , JCPenney Hotel Tuxedo-Pleat Sheet Set, Target Polyester/Cotton Percale , Actil, David Jones, Cotton House Stanton, Sheridan Fashion Dye, Mansours Pure Luxury Cotton Percale, Lands End Easy Care, The Company Store Percale, Garnet Hill Signature Scalloped Percale , Frette , Target Premier 300 Egyptian Cotton , Primavera & Dolce Vita, Ife, Brazza, Mopti, Walata, Lilas, Luxor, Tiga, Riga, Sferra Marianna , Ygle, Addis, Carthage, Legna Saville, Purists Collection, Indika, Kumi Kookoon , Charisma Alexa , Wamsutta 600 Elite Sateen, Sferra Celeste , Grand Patrician Seduction, Style & Co. Solid Sheet, Wamsutta Zen Comforts

Because of the tremendous selection of bed sheets available, we found a wide variety of recommended brands. Only L.L. Bean’s Warm Feelings Flannel and Garnet Hill’s Paintbrush Flannel stood out with more than one top rating each. Of the remaining expert picks, Sealy’s Best Fit and Scent-Sation’s Charmeuse Satin are chosen by reviewers we rate highly.

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