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After more than 10,000 nights of sleep testing, our experts and real consumers swear by these sheets. tensile testing machine
Comfortable sheets are key to a good night's sleep, but finding the best ones can be overwhelming due to the endless options. At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, my team and I have spent years testing hundreds of sheets, focusing on aspects like comfort and durability to help find the best options for every preference.
Our top pick: Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set. It's soft without being overly smooth, luxurious without a high price tag, and a favorite among our GH staffers and at-home sleep testers.
We've tested 324 sheet sets, cut 2,592 fabric swatches for lab equipment, taken 3,888 shrinkage measurements after washing the sheets and conducted 10,090 nights of sleep testing. You can learn about our rigorous sheet testing process — and find tips for choosing the best sheets for you — after our reviews (with prices listed for Queen sizes). We’ve organized our top-tested picks by fabric type, but if you're unsure where to start, note that sateen is the most popular fabric among our consumer testers.
It's a classic, crowd-pleasing set that performed well in our softness and durability tests. It's also not too expensive for being high quality and has a lenient return policy, making it a low-risk purchase.
The fabric is a cotton sateen, which is ideal for people who prefer a soft and thicker material. Sateen is a type of a satin weave in which the yarns in one direction float over several yarns in the opposite direction. Although sateen sheets do have a smooth feel, this pick's fabric isn't too smooth, making it a good option for people who want a soft set that doesn't feel slippery.
The fitted sheet has a 16-inch depth, which should fit most mattresses, but may be a bit tight on taller beds or ones with mattress toppers. It also has tabs labeled "long side" and "short side" so it takes the headache out of making your bed on laundry day.
Another benefit: You can buy the set online with free shipping and an any-reason return policy for an entire year (minus a $9.95 return fee). The brand offers a wide variety of sheet options (including a cotton percale), but the Luxe Sateen set is its bestseller and our favorite because of its durability and positive feedback from users. In fact, it earned the Good Housekeeping Seal (meaning we stand behind it with our limited warranty) and it's the set I prefer on my own bed.
We found the fabric to be durable across the board in our Lab tests: It was strong, didn't pill easily and held up well to repeated laundering. Testers liked its basic, no-frills construction. One shared, "These are classic sateen sheets — soft and smooth," while another said, "I really liked the material they were made of. It was a much softer material without being a silk sheet. They feel nice on my skin."
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Brooklinen Sheets
This one is hands down the best bet on a budget. It's hard to find any cotton sheets for under $100, let alone a set that's as soft and durable as this is. I regularly recommend this set to friends and family, and they always tell me they're thrilled with the purchase after trying it out.
The fabric has a great balance between soft and crisp and feels substantial with a good weight. It's not going to be quite as soft as the pricier cotton sateen sets we recommend, but it's ideal for anyone who wants to spend as little as possible without sacrificing comfort.
The set is also popular on Amazon with over 80,000 reviews and an average 4.5-star rating. It comes in a wide range of colors, patterns and sizes to fit just about any bed. You can purchase pillowcases separately if you need extras (a simple yet genius offering that we don't always see with other sheets). The brand says it's made to fit mattresses ranging from 8- to 16-inches tall, and our testers found that to be true in their reviews.
Most of our reviewers loved the feel of these sheets with one who said, "I like the weight and quality of the fabric. It also had a nice sheen and a smooth feel." One tester said they weren't quite as soft as other sheets she's slept on but noted, "I liked the shape and fit of these better than any other sheets I've tried. There wasn't any additional fabric that bunched or came untucked easily."
In Textiles Lab tests, we especially loved how this set could be washed in warm water (which is better for keeping your sheets clean). It had average scores for fabric strength, but perfect ratings in our pill-resistance tests, meaning you're less likely to see those unsightly balls on the surface.
If softness is your top priority and you're willing to splurge, this set made of luxurious, top-quality fabric is for you. It also offers good sizing flexibility so you can find a set that works best for your mattress.
Besides having a sateen weave, the fabric is made of Supima cotton, a U.S.-grown premium fiber that's longer than traditional cotton and helps the fabric become softer and stronger. Some ultra-soft sheets are made from polyester and rayon so they feel noticeably thinner, but this one is fairly thick in comparison.
Another perk: If you prefer to build your own set, you can purchase the fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillowcases separately, with the option for a deep-pocket version that fits mattresses up to 20 inches tall. You can even request a free swatch from its customer service if you want to see and feel the fabric before you buy it.
This fabric earned the highest softness rating compared to other cotton sheets in a side-by-side comparison review. One sleep tester described it as "buttery soft and very luxurious without being slippery." Several also commented that they wanted to buy these sheets after feeling them. The fabric was also strong and shrink-resistant in our tests, though it did show some pilling after the fabrics were rubbed together and some creases after laundering, despite the "Wrinkle-Free" claim in the name.
Testers said these sheets were not only super soft, but also breathable — a huge feat for sateen because of its dense weave. The fabric is also smooth, with top ratings in both wrinkle and pilling resistance tests.
This sateen set stands out for using long-staple cotton (ideal for smooth and durable fabrics) and a combing technique that removes short fibers, leaving behind only the long and smooth ones. This helps make the fabric softer and sturdier.
Besides its quality material, it also has convenient features, like its side envelope-closure pillowcases (so pillows don't slip out), "top" and "bottom" tabs on the fitted sheet (for easier bed-making) and generous sizing that fits even tall mattresses. Just note that while the set is made of organic cotton, we weren't able to verify that the entire production process follows organic standards without proper certification. We also noticed that it sometimes has sizes and colors listed as out of stock.
Our testers especially loved how the sheets felt both comfortable yet and lightweight. One even highlighted how they felt "more breathable than most sateen sheets." And while cotton sheets tend to wrinkle easily, these resisted creases better than other sets in our Lab's evaluations. Beyond that, they held up to washing with minimal shrinkage and didn't pill during our durability tests.
This set proves you don't have to spend a fortune or sacrifice quality to go green. Smooth luxury sheets that are truly organic can cost several hundred dollars, but this set is GOTS-certified and costs less than $200.
There are plenty of cotton sheet sets that claim to be organic, but this one proves it with its GOTS certification. This certification is especially important because it means the entire manufacturing process is organic, not just the way the cotton is grown. The sateen fabric is smooth, while the fitted sheet is designed to fit mattresses up to 17 inches deep.
It doesn't come in a wide variety of colors like some others, but it is available in neutral hues to go with almost any bedroom palette. You can also purchase extra pillowcases and a matching duvet cover to complete your set.
The set outperformed other organic sheets in our series of tests. Though the sheets did experience some shrinkage and creases after washing, the fabric proved to be both soft and strong in both Lab and consumer evaluations. Sateen sheets tend to be thicker, but one tester shared, "I love the lightweight feel and overall smoothness."
These sheets give you the smooth look and feel of a fancy hotel bed. Besides having a finish that prevents creases in the fabric, it also has elegant stitching around the edges.
This sateen set is made with a wrinkle-resistant finish that keeps it looking smoother than other cotton fabrics. And while there are sometimes concerns around chemicals like formaldehyde used in these types of finishes, this one is certified to the Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which means it's been tested to ensure there are no unsafe levels in the fabric. The cotton is also combed to remove short fibers, leaving it feeling extra soft. Unlike most sheets that come in a variety of colors, this one's only available in white, but it has colorful stitching as a decorative accent available. Also noteworthy: The brand says these sheets are used in luxury inns and hotels throughout the country.
We test wrinkle resistance by visually grading the fabric in a standardized light room after laundering — and this one had the smoothest appearance compared to other cotton sheets we tested. Our reviewers also said the fabric had a smooth feel and gave it high softness ratings in a blind comparison. The fabric wasn't the strongest in our Lab tests, but it still proved to be durable overall, and the set was generously sized, fitting our test mattress with room to spare.
Percale sheets are ideal for anyone who prefers a light and crisp feel instead of a silky smooth one, but they sometimes get a bad rap for feeling rough. This luxe set stood out for feeling soft and outperforming other percale fabrics, both in our Lab and with consumer testers.
Percale means the fabric has a basic grid-like weave, making it feel more breathable and less smooth than sateen. This set is made of premium Pima cotton, which uses longer cotton fibers for increased softness. And selling for under $200, it's also more affordable than other quality cotton sets on the market. Besides its range of solid colors, it's available in prints at a slightly higher cost.
It proved to be durable in our Lab's tests: The fabric held up to strenuous strength, shrinkage and pilling evaluations. And while some percale sheets wrinkle easily, these became noticeably less creased than others. One tester who felt the fabric in a blinded comparison described it as feeling "like quality hotel sheets" and said, "It also feels a bit cool to the touch, which I like. I would love these sheets in my home."
These set gives you a relaxed, lived-in look and feel for your bed, making it much more casual than the smooth hotel aesthetic. The company is also one of the most trusted and innovative sustainable brands companies in the bedding space.
Not only does this set feel crisp and breathable due to its airy percale weave, but it also has a special process to achieve its unique crinkled texture. If you prefer your bed to look more casual and cozy, this is the set for you. It's also both GOTS organic and Fair Trade Certified, which focuses on ethics throughout the supply chain, including wages and working conditions at the farms and factories where it's produced.
At-home testers praised the comfort and appearance of this sheet set. One user even described it as "soft [and] luxurious yet crisp and cool." The fabric also held up to in-Lab laundering tests with hardly any shrinkage. It did show some pilling and the fabric looked creased after washing, but that's expected for these "crinkled" sheets and their laid-back appearance.
This microfiber set is smoother, more durable and less expensive than cotton sheets. I first tested it years ago because of its popularity and low cost — and it continues to be a top performer year after year.
Microfiber uses thin polyester fibers that give the fabric a buttery soft feel. Polyester also means the fabric is more wrinkle- and shrink-resistant than natural fibers like cotton, but at the same time, it won't feel as luxurious or substantial. And though many love its smooth feel, it may be too smooth for some that prefer a crisp sheet.
The bottom line: If you're looking to spend as little as possible on your sheets, it'd be hard to find better than this best-selling Amazon sheet set, which has over 340,000 reviews and an average 4.4-star rating. On top of that, it comes in variations to fit a wide range of bed sizes — with options for split or extra-deep mattresses — plus dozens of colors and prints.
Our testers loved the comfy material and several called the fabric "extremely soft," "smooth and luxurious" and "silky and lightweight" in a feel test. Some noted that it felt thinner than other sheet fabrications in a blind comparison, but that can be expected for this material.
One at-home tester described it by saying, "I like the softness and smoothness of these sheets. My body felt like it was gliding over them as I moved." In Lab tests, the sheets were generously sized on our sample bed, hardly shrunk in the wash and stood up to pilling tests.
The price is unbeatable. Despite its low cost, this Amazon-branded set was a top performer in softness and durability tests.
This fabric is made of polyester microfiber that feels incredibly smooth and has shrink- and wrinkle-resistant properties. Overall it's similar to the Mellanni set, though it may feel just a bit flimsier and it doesn't come in as many size options. That being said, it's a total steal for under $20 and is perfect for anyone on a tight budget when shopping for sheets. It also comes in a wide range of colors and has over 400,000 reviews on Amazon with an average 4.5-star rating.
The material proved to be durable, so you can expect it to hold up to repeated use. It resisted shrinkage, pilling and wrinkles exceptionally well in our Lab tests. And while some consumer testers thought the fabric felt thin and "cheap" compared to other sheets in a side-by-side comparison test, most loved the smoothness, with one calling it "soft and lightweight."
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This set is lightweight, soft and super smooth — and it's made with sustainable lyocell rather than synthetic microfiber.
This West Elm set is made entirely from Tencel lyocell and it outperformed over a dozen other sheets with similar material in our evaluations. Lyocell is a type of rayon that's trending in bedding because it feels substantially softer and smoother than cotton. It's made using wood pulp as the raw material, which then gets chemically processed into the lyocell fiber, making it partially natural and partially synthetic. Tencel is a brand of lyocell that's recognized for its sustainable production practices.
The fabric is both lightweight and moisture-wicking (great for managing night sweats!). Besides its sustainable sourcing, it's also made at a Fair Trade Certified factory. I've personally used this set many times on my bed at home and can attest to its softness, though it doesn't feel quite as substantial or crisp as cotton.
Despite being lightweight, the fabric proved to be strong and pill-resistant when we tested it with our Lab equipment. It experienced slight shrinkage, but that was on par with others made from similar fabrics. Sleep testers loved that it was cooling and soft without feeling too slippery.
A lot of sheets claim to be "cooling," but these are actually effective at keeping you at a comfortable temperature throughout the night. They're also super soft and the fitted sheet has stay-in-place features.
The fabric is a blend of Tencel lyocell (which is lightweight and moisture-wicking) and Outlast viscose (which has phase-change materials to store and release your body heat). The result is a temperature-regulating sheet set, which is especially helpful for hot sleepers or people who experience night sweats. Both of the fibers in the blend are types of rayon, which help to make the fabric incredibly soft and smooth against skin. And though they're a bit pricey, the brand offers a 60-day any-reason return period, meaning you can get a full refund if you don't love the set after sleeping on it.
At-home testers unanimously said their bodies stayed at a comfortable temperature throughout the night while sleeping on this set. They also gave the fabric high ratings for softness and overall comfort. One tester noted, "I didn't have trouble making the bed, and the elastics on the fitted sheet were functional and didn't shift in the night." The fabric held up to wash testing without shrinkage, though it wasn't as durable as other materials in our fabric strength evaluations.
Besides the traditional sheet fabrics described in this article, there are also some less typical materials on the market that I recommend trying if you're interested in a unique feel:
We've put over 300 bed sheets through the wringer in recent years, both in our Textiles Lab and with consumer testers to see how comfortable they feel and how well they'll hold up over time. Here's what we consider when we test sheets in our Lab:
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
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