All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
There is no one mythical, hallowed set of the best bed sheets that will please anyone and everyone. Some people are blazing infernos of sleepers (with all the cooling systems in the world to keep them from melting into their mattress), while others run perpetually cold. Seasonally, some people chase flannel in winter or linen in summer, while others prefer the consistent promise of an all-season percale or sateen. Some people care what their bedsheets look like, others mysteriously don’t…like, at all. Whoever you are, our intrepid testers here at GQ have got you covered, though if you're hoping to find one of those weird quilts made out of T-shirts, we're afraid we can't help you there.
The Best Sheets, At a Glance
Just want to beeline to our rankings of the best of the best sheets? Get to browsing here:
- The Best Percale Sheets: Snowe, $209
- The Best Sateen Sheets: Cuddledown, $232
- The Best Flannel Sheets: L.L. Bean, $159
- The Best Linen Sheets: Parachute, $329
- The Best Eucalyptus Sheets: Sijo, $175
- The Best Patterned Sheets: Brooklinen Luxe Core, $152
- The Best Budget Sheets: Target Threshold, $55
If you're in the market for the best bed sheets for a good night's sleep, your timing couldn't be better. We’re in somewhat of a sheets revolution. The era of direct-to consumer goods—where the only thing between you and $5 million venture capital dollars is a Futura logo, a pastel subway ad, and some product that's reverse-engineered to target someone's insecurity—has sufficiently “disrupted” (ugh) the textile industry. The same kind of manufacturers who make some of our favorite mattresses, toothbrushes, and meal kits are now making some excellent sheets.
That said, some of our favorite bedding manufacturers are exactly what you’d expect—seasoned companies that sold sheets to your parents and their parents. But we tend to prefer those that don’t try to trick you with jargon-y specifications like a high thread count.
What is thread count, and what's the best thread count for bed sheets?
Speaking of: Thread count denotes the number of threads woven into one square inch of fabric. And contrary to all the marketing hoopla out there (and all the people waxing poetic about their 1,000 thread count sheets), a higher thread count doesn't automatically guarantee a higher quality sheet set. A more densely woven sheet doesn't actually mean a softer or more wrinkle-resistant fabric; that typically has to do with the quality of the yarn itself, not how tightly woven the fabric is. According to certified sleep coach Daniel Neyod, the ideal thread count for every kind of sheet (from percale to bamboo) is at least 200—sheets between a 200 and 600 thread count are the sweet spot. One big exception, he says, are linen options, which you'll want in an airier, less dense weave for summer.
Sizing can also vary widely depending on the brand (some tend to have wider pockets for fitted sheets), so you'll want to be aware of the dimensions of your bed—especially if it's a mattress with a loftier top cushion—to avoid straining to stretch the corners on your top sheet or having it sag like a deflated balloon once it's actually on your bed. At the very least, double-check each brand's return policy so you can try out their wares at home risk-free.
What kind of sheets are out there?
Sheets come in a range of finishes, depending on the kind of texture and breathability that piques your interest. Percale, one of the most common fabrics used for sheets, is kind of like the basic white tee of bedding—it's cotton, but without a silky finish, and tends to run a little bit lighter, cooler, and crisper than sateen. If you're looking for a year-round option that's super breathable, a percale weave is the perfect place to get your feet wet.
Sateen (so called because of its similarity to satin) is another extremely common type of sheet fabric. It’s also cotton, but sleepers gravitate toward it for its sleek texture, with a silky finish and a slight sheen to it, and high-quality, luxe handfeel. Sateen sheets are breathable but decently warm, so they're also a great all-season option, especially if you tend to sleep cold. And if you hate the perennially crumpled appearance of linen sheets, you’re in luck: Sateen’s smoother surface makes keeping your bedding wrinkle-free a cinch.
At the height of winter and summer, you might want to reach for something cozier or airier to temper the extreme temperatures. Not everyone is a fan of flannel sheets (detractors often point to their relative lack of breathability), but if you find yourself in a truly glacial environment—or just want something cozy to get you through that telltale Daylight Savings Time funk—they can be a godsend. Flannel sheets have the feel of your favorite cozy button-ups, including all the warmth and softness. (Just don't be surprised if you have trouble ambling out of bed in the morning.)
If you tend to sleep hot and are eager to save on your energy bill during the peak of August, you should seriously consider investing in a few sets of linen sheets. Linen fibers are a bit sturdier and harder to work with than cotton fibers, so linen sheets are more loosely woven and feel a tad rougher to the touch. (That loose weave is excellent for breathability, since your body heat can escape more easily through the extra room.) Linen can be a mixed bag in terms of handfeel—before several softening cycles in the wash, some linen sheets might make you feel like you’re being constantly licked by an uncharacteristically affectionate cat. So if you have particularly sensitive skin (or aren't a cat person), make sure to read the reviews and browse accordingly.
Because you're a person of impeccable taste, you'll naturally have preferences when it comes to colorways (and will probably want to stick to a certain budget). Luckily, if you’re looking for a sheet set with patterns a little more inviting than “Smoke” or “Arctic Winter”—and don't want to drop a hefty bag securing it—we tested sheets of all stripes, fabrics, and price points to help make surveying the landscape a breeze.
How we tested
When we be began this process, we looked for sheets made with a ton of different high-quality materials (long-staple cotton, eco-friendly Egyptian cotton, flax plant fibers, oh my!) to satisfy a variety of sleep preferences—and then crashed hard on them over a series of (mostly) blissful nights.
To help refine your search even further, we evaluated each option based on the leading characteristics of their genre: The crispest percale, the silkiest sateen, the airiest linen, the coziest flannel. Across the board, though, we were looking for truly stellar sheets that held up after a couple of washes without immediately pilling, and felt comfortable enough to pass out on night in and night out. All of which is to say, every option included here—even our honorable mentions, because there can only be so many top picks—will help you get the rest you need, mercifully unencumbered by course textures and unbearable weaves.
The Best Percale Sheets
Out all of the percale sheets we tested, Snowe’s ultra-luxurious option struck the most impressive balance of sturdiness and softness. The brand's sheets have that classic “all-inclusive resort” feel, which means after a few circuits in the washing machine they'll feel like a pile of perfectly broken-in Ralph Lauren button-ups. The color range is limited, but the tinted shades they come in are—and we don't say this lightly—downright lovely. The premium make and high-end feel will cost you, but we've never slept on a more luxurious set of percale sheets.
L.L. Bean's percale sheet set is a stalwart of the genre, the type of legendarily dependable bedding your parents probably invested in right after moving to their first home. (Y'know, back before they had children and still had time to care about the state of their sheets.) Heck, we wouldn't be surprised if they're still a benchmark for all the startups trying to manufacture some lesser version of their own—the percale is that damn crisp. In 2022, you can get cotton percale sheets that break in a bit faster and feel a little softer (see: the Snowe option above) but if overall softness isn't as important to you as color options and stellar customer service, these are a ridiculously good alternative.
The Best Sateen Sheets
Don't let the childish name fool you: Cuddledown makes great sheets that nail the luxurious, almost slick, silky feel you'd come to expect from sateen, and in nearly every color you can imagine. That variety extends to its sizing, too: There's even an option to get a fitted sheet with deep pockets if you have a particularly lofty mattress. The Cuddledowns are slightly less accessible than the Cloudtens, but the texture you'll find here is significantly more silky to the touch. Cuddledown is the perfect upgrade sheet set for someone that wants something smoooooth like butter to gently doze off to sleep sandwiched between.
Cloudten's sateen sheets don't come in a rainbow of colors or finished off with especially fancy stitching, but they are super well-made, and withstand the gauntlet of the washing machine without emerging hopelessly pilled. They're far more durable than plenty of other sateen sheets we've tried, without losing their smooth and silky texture after one spin cycle. They’re extremely soft and have a light sheen, but not so much that you'd expect to be sliding around in them, or feel like a guy who calls his apartment a “bachelor pad.” Plus, the “smoke” color looks like an instant bedroom upgrade—bold enough to be interesting, but not so bold that you'll have to worry about it matching your other linens. (You do have other linens…right?)
The Best Flannel Sheets
L.L. Bean has been in the sheets game for a long time, so it makes sense that most of their sets are pretty damn good. (You might remember them from when we were raving about their percale sheets three paragraphs ago.) But the company’s flannel sheets are in a league of their own—soft, warm, and sturdy enough to last through many a winter, though some shoppers do report pilling (which is fairly normal) after extensive use. And as you’d expect from a brand famous for its durable Americana, the super soft sheets come in the flannel-iest patterns known to man.
If you're looking to spend a little less, Tar-zhay, maker of our very favorite budget sheets, also sells a killer flannel set. The retailer has been pumping out cozy threads (in plenty of seasonal patterns and fabrics) for years at this point, and for a mere $30 for a full set of queen size sheets, the quality is a whole better than its peers at this price point. Being this cheap, these flannels inevitably sacrifice a few finer flourishes, but we think they still hold their own.
The Best Linen Sheets
The old adage about summer clothing—all linen everything—applies equally well to summer bedding. If traditional linen's mild burlap-like texture turns you off, we'd suggest Parachute's sheets, made in Portugal out of fine European flax, which feel smooth straight out of the box and only get softer with time. They're also remarkably durable, so they won't snag or tear after a couple of REM cycles. They're not cheap (because most good linen isn't) and aren't quite as breathable as the set from Cultiver below, but they come in a whopping 12 colorways if you're looking to upgrade your existing rotation of tired whites and beiges.
Unlike Parachute's linen sheets, Cultiver's come pre-washed. That means they're going to feel softer than untreated linen straight out of the box and won't need to be broken in with a couple of spin cycles. Compared to the Parachute sheet set, Cultiver's is a substantial uptick in price, but for the money, you're getting sheets that are somehow both a bit smoother and a bit more airy. Parachute's linen sheets are plenty breathable, but fire-hot sleepers should consider Cultiver's next-level option.
The Best Eucalyptus Sheets
Eucalyptus sheets are known for their cooling properties and Sijo's AiryWeight ones, sold at both the ‘Zon (hello, two-day shipping!) and directly on its site, delivers on the promises of lightweight satisfaction during the most scorching months of the year. Sijo's hot-sleeper-friendly bedding is quickly becoming one of our favorite new purveyors of good quality, approachable sheets and comforters, and these AiryWeight sheets are our favorites so far. Our tester describes these sheets as lightweight and buttery enough to slip into like a silky envelope at night, while being extra breathable for sleep. “I’ve sent them through the wash twice now (they come pre-washed for softness regardless) and so far they’ve held up beautifully,” he noted.
Helix’s hot sleeper-friendly bed sheets are sourced from Tencel, a fabric derived from the wood pulp of eucalyptus trees that's supposedly more eco-friendly than cotton. This eucalyptus gives the sheet set the soft and smooth feel of sateen while also adding some moisture-wicking capabilities. They’re not quite as breathable as fully linen sheets, but they’re a lot cheaper. If you sleep a little hot but your partner doesn't, this sheet set is an excellent compromise.
The Best Patterned Sheet Sets
No matter the style of sheets (from percale to ultra-luxe sateen), Brooklinen always seems to have some handsome prints on deck, give or take some extra splashy seasonal options that the brand phases in and out every year. Its sheets and duvet covers feature a variety of bold but not too polarizing patterns that are generally designed to be unisex. (We like the “graphite and steel oxford stripe” and “windowpane” options.) These luxe sheets felt a little less smooth than our favorite sateen options, but unless you’re doing a blind test, you probably wouldn’t notice the difference. And at this price, you're looking at one of the best deals around.
If you're leaning more towards a linen blend this summer, Garnet Hill has a selection of tasteful prints—from patterns like these to the stripes seen here—that feature a nice lived-in feel. Despite being pre-washed, they're a little rougher straight out of the box than our top linen picks, but they're also wildly breathable so they'll serve you well when the temperature starts creeping up. Building a set individually, from the pillowcases to the sheets, will add up, but the construction and understated prints make the extra cost worth it.
The Best Budget Sheets
We’ll level with you: the rest of the sheets on this list are pretty expensive. Considering that you’ll spend a third of your life nestled between them, we think they’re worth it. (Invest in your comfort!) But if you’re not at a place to do that right now—or if you need something for your kids—these Oeko-tex cotton sheets from Target are one of the best budget-friendly options on the market. They aren’t as soft or breathable as some of the more primo versions included here, but they hold up well after years of use, and unlike other microfiber sheets or jersey sheets made from mellanni or rayon, they don’t feel like stretchy single-ply toilet paper. They’re the perfect sheets to buy if you’re just starting off on your own—and once you’ve worn them in, they’ll still be great on that guest bed.
Italic prides itself on making high quality versions of things you love (from yoga mats to cashmere pants to cookware) at wholesale prices, working with manufacturers from some of the top retail brands out there—like Lululemon and Le Creuset—to offer upstanding products for less. Case in point: These luxe sateen sheets, which supposedly come from the same manufacturer that supplies the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton with fancy hotel linens. True to their promise, our tester found these sheets to be luxuriously smooth, with a crisp but satin-y finish, and a breathable density. Sadly, he noted that the sheets lost their wonderful luster after just one wash, but remained smooth and cool-to-the-touch nonetheless. At just over $100, these aren't cheap cheap, but they're certainly more approachable than most picks on this list (and considerably less than something ritzy from Sferra). And for a brand that shares production partners with major hotel chains, you'd be hard-pressed to find better value sheets in this price bucket anywhere else.
7 More Sheet Sets We Love
Many bedding companies promise a luxury hotel experience, transforming your bed into something you might immediately want to fling yourself onto after a long day at some indiscriminate conference. But these Egyptian cotton sheet sets from 10 Grove actually look like they came from one of those hotels, thanks to some tasteful accents, like delicate piping on the edge of a pillowcase or the perforated stitching on the brand's popular Madison set. Those details are a major plus if you prefer understated bedding, and the sheets feel decadently soft and breathable in either percale or sateen. The only downside here is that those luxury flourishes come at a steeper price and the sheets are a little thinner than most (which keeps them airy, but also make them feel a little precious for regular use). Still, they're a steal compared to pricier Frette linens that can run upwards of $600 for a set. We think they're well-worth it if you really want the five-star treatment in your own home, except at a more down-to-earth price point.
Brooklinen's classic sheets were most people's first introduction to the brand when it kickstarted the DTC bedding category. Though the brand has expanded far beyond tastefully unisex bedding at this point, its original percale sheets are still some of the best out there, and we appreciate that they come in a bevy of handsome prints like the brand's signature windowpane designs. They hold up well wash after wash, and feel crisp and cool all seasons of the year. These sit comfortably around the same price as our favorite Snowe percale sheets, though we'd recommend the Snowe option if you want a slightly more luxe, upscale feel.
We like this pre-washed flax linen sheet set from Riley because it felt soft to the touch the moment we removed it from its packaging, and it remains one of the softest linen sheet sets we've tried so far. A complete set is pricey—though the company offers everything individually for you monsters who sleep without a top sheet—but it's about on par with other 100% linen sheet sets of this caliber. Our top pick from Parachute is still our gut recommendation for most people, since the Riley option only comes in queen and king sizes, and with a smaller shade range to choose from. Still, the breathable weave is a major boon during AC weather if you want to cool down quickly without racking up high electricity bills.
Boll & Branch's sheets aren't exactly cheap, but we like that they had a few more “refined” features—things like accent bands (great) and pleated finishes (fine, but some appreciate a good pleat finish more than others). These are the type of breathable, premium sheets you put on a bed to convince your in-laws that you're a respectable person with a good credit score. The brand claims three presidents—one Clinton and two Bushes—have slept in these sheets, and we have no way to confirm this, but it is a pretty funny marketing detail. Plus, they’re made sustainably and with organic cotton, which is a win-win on all counts.
These sheets from Kassatex are a best-of-both-worlds blend of bamboo and linen. We don’t love the feel of 100% bamboo sheets too much, but when blended with linen, the combination actually works out for the better. The bamboo adds a softer hand feel without diminishing the sheets’ breathability too much, and the sheets offer a good balance of breeziness and coziness for year-round comfort. Sadly, you'll only be able to enjoy this pairing if you sleep in a king size or queen size bed (so much full-size discrimination!) but if you own a larger bed, you're in for a delightfully tactile experience.
Riley also makes a sateen set that’s smooth and highly durable, though we'd still recommend the Cloudten alternative for a cheaper, slightly silkier buy. This set comes in several different colors, all of which would passably match with each other, but we especially dig the pinstripe designs.
To absolutely no one's surprise, Amazon boasts a thriving sheet section with plenty of highly-reviewed options that cost less than a meal for two at Shake Shack…but most of them are made out of suspect materials that will fall apart after a dozen washes. Not these. Peru Pima's cotton sheets are nowhere near as luxurious as our favorites, but for setting up that rarely used guest room, we really dug the temperature-regulating properties of these sheets for the price (and the cheaper ones certainly hold up to scrutiny, too).
