When people find out I'm an analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab and test bedding for a living, the number-one thing I get asked is, "Which sheets should I buy?" My first response is always a slew of questions: "Are you a hot sleeper? Do you like something nice and smooth or crisp? What style are you going for?" There are so many types of sheets offered by seemingly endless brands, that there really isn't one cut-and-dry answer that's going to work for everyone, but there are still some definite guidelines that can steer you in the right direction.
After four years of testing sheets in the Textiles Lab with our specialized equipment, coordinating bedding testing with hundreds of sleepers, analyzing product for our Bedding Awards, and reviewing decades of past testing data (we've tested over 350 sets of sheets), I've learned a whole lot about picking out a good sheet set.
This guide will walk you through the different types of fiber, construction, and more to help you make the perfect choice for you and your bed.
Sheet fiber types
Fibers may be small, but they're what affects the feel of the sheets most. They can be natural, regenerated, or synthetic, and each fiber type has its own unique properties.
✔️ Cotton
Durable, highly breathable, and soft, this natural fiber is the most popular type for bedding. There are a variety of different cottons, including long-staple cottons like Pima or Egyptian cotton. The longer and more uniform fibers make the fabric more luxurious, smoother, and stronger.
✔️ Linen
Another natural fiber, linen is derived from flax plants. It tends to feel rougher than cotton because the fibers are more textured. Linen makes for a lightweight and airy fabric, so it's an especially great option for warmer months and hot sleepers.
✔️ Silk
Silk is a natural fiber that comes from silk worms rather than a plant. It's considered a filament fiber, meaning it's long, smooth, and lustrous, but it's expensive and high maintenance to care for.
✔️ Rayon
Rayon is a buttery smooth fabric with a lightweight feel, however it's really an umbrella term for regenerated cellulose fibers including viscose, modal, and lyocell. Rayon is derived from wood or plant pulp that goes through chemical processing before being formed into a fiber, and the final product actually contains no trace of the original plant.
✔️ Polyester
A synthetic fiber, polyester is derived from polyethylene terephthalate (commonly used in plastic water bottles). It's more affordable than natural fibers and is also more durable and wrinkle-resistant, but it's not as luxurious and is notoriously not breathable.
Sheet construction
The method of fabric construction—which includes a variety of weave types, knits, and added treatments—can have a big impact on the sheets' performance. I personally love sateen sheets, but I have plenty of friends and family who prefer percale, jersey, and even flannel (which is my worst nightmare as a hot sleeper).
✔️ Sateen
Sateen is the type of construction most loved by our bedding testers. It's a woven fabric created by interlacing yarns together in a four-over and one-under pattern, so the yarn floats across the surface of the fabric, making for a smooth feel with a nice sheen. In our Lab tests, we've found that sateen doesn't wrinkle as much other materials, so it looks great on the bed.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: I recommend sateen sheets for sleepers who prioritize comfort. Year after year, our consumer testers have rated sateen sheets higher for softness than any other material in a blind comparison test. Sateen is a more substantial weave, so it feels slightly thicker and more luxurious than other bedding materials. That means that sateen sheets may feel warmer than other bedding types.
RELATED: Best Sateen Sheets
✔️ Percale
Another popular material for sheets, percale is a plain weave with a very basic over-under woven pattern. This simple design results in sheets that have a crisp hand feel and a matte look. Percale is more prone to wrinkling than sateen, but in our Lab tests percale has proven to be more durable, resisting tears and pilling better than other materials.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Percale is for bedding purists—it's as simple as they come. Percale is also breathable so it's a good option for hot sleepers looking for relief from night sweats. Many of our testers appreciate the crisper feel of percale and describe it as "fresh." But it isn't for everyone because the texture can feel a bit rougher against the skin than sateen and other types of bedding.
RELATED: Best Percale Sheets
✔️ Microfiber
A fabric made from synthetic polyester fibers, microfiber has a buttery soft feel unlike any other material on the market. These sheets are cheaper to produce but tend to be thinner than other sheet materials. In our tests, we've noticed that microfiber tends to shed, especially with laundering, and the material is more prone to pilling. However, it has proven to be less wrinkly out of the dryer than natural sheets like cotton sateen.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Microfiber sheets are typically more affordable than other styles, making them a solid choice for shoppers on a budget. They're not breathable though, so hot sleepers should steer clear. But if you sleep cold and want something warm, buttery, and cozy, consider a set of microfiber sheets.
✔️ Jersey
While most sheets are woven, jersey is a knit fabric—think of a basic T-shirt. It has nice stretch and is typically made with cotton for a soft feel. However, there are some synthetic and regenerated cellulose jersey sheets on the market, and they often offer some sort of added performance feature like being moisture-wicking or cooling, so they end up feeling more like a workout top than a T-shirt. We've found jersey sheets to be less durable and more prone to pilling than sateen or percale.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Jersey can be a great option for someone looking for a comfortable, worn-in feel. Our testers who are younger and starting college are often fans of the cozy jersey feel. In addition, a set of jersey sheets made with cooling in mind can provide hot sleepers the relief they're looking for.
RELATED: Best Jersey Sheets
✔️ Flannel
Flannel is a woven material that's brushed on the surface, which creates a fuzzy texture that traps heat. Whether made with cotton, polyester, or a blend, flannel sheets are very warm and cozy. They're known to pill, though, so you might notice small clumps of fibers on your sheets, just like with a sweater.
WHO IT'S BEST FOR: Sleepers who are cold at night and want to wrap up in something warm. Many of our testers opt for a sateen or percale sheet set in the spring and summer and transition to flannel for the fall and winter.
RELATED: Best Flannel Sheets
Sheet depth
Most mattresses are somewhere between 10 and 14 inches tall, so the majority of sheets are designed to fit mattresses of that height. If your mattress is 14+ inches or you use a mattress topper on your bed, it's worth opting for a set of deep-pocket sheets. These are typically designed to accommodate mattresses up to 18 inches tall, but there are some brands that sell deeper or extra-deep pocket sheets that fit beds more than 20 inches tall.
Choosing the right sheet depth can help ensure your sheets won't slip off the corners of your mattress and eliminate the need to pull them down constantly. Some sheets come with built-in straps for the corners or thicker elastic bands to secure them in place too.
Care instructions
Most sheets are machine washable, so it's OK to throw them in the washer and dryer at home. However, there are some sheets that require more careful maintenance like delicate/gentle wash cycles or cold water. Sheets are cleanest when washed in warm and hot water, so it's best to choose sheets that can withstand more heat and agitation to ensure your sheets stay nice and clean.
Organic certification
If you specifically want organic sheets, it's a good idea to look for a certification from the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). GOTS-certified bedding is produced to meet strict standards throughout the entire manufacturing process—from fiber farming to weaving to dyeing and more. To see if a brand is certified through GOTS, you can check the GOTS public database.
Price
The majority of sheets we recommend are priced somewhere between $100 and $300, but that doesn't mean there aren't high quality sheets out there for less (and many that cost much more!). Some of our top-tested sheets are just $56 and are usually on sale for less—and they have performed better than sheets more than four times the price when we've evaluated them in the Lab. If you want specialty sheets like ones designed specifically for cooling or that are certified organic, expect to pay more.
What to avoid
Now that you know the basics of what to consider when shopping for sheets, it's just as important to understand what to stay away from.
✔️ Thread count inflation
Thread count correlates to the number of threads within a square inch of fabric. It used to be said that the higher the thread count, the better quality the sheets would be. That's no longer the case. Advancements in manufacturing now allow for thinner multi-ply yarns, so thread count isn't necessarily relevant—especially if the sheets aren't made with 100% cotton.
Most of our top-performing 100% cotton sheets are somewhere in the 300 to 500 thread count range, and brands still market their thread count to attract shoppers, but they sometimes inflate the thread count numbers. We recommend focusing more on fiber content and fabric construction than on thread count when shopping for a new set of sheets.
RELATED: What's the Best Thread Count for Sheets?
✔️ Bamboo and eucalyptus bedding
Many brands market their sheets as "bamboo" or "eucalyptus," but they're actually falsely labeled—they're simply rayon. Bedding made from these plants might sound like a more natural and luxurious option, but like with all rayon materials, the bamboo goes through intensive chemical processing. In the end, there are no traces of bamboo left in the fibers. The sheets may still perform well, and while you might end up loving the look and feel, it's important to shop with caution and not let the "bamboo" claims impact your purchase decision.
RELATED: The Truth About Bamboo Sheets and Plant-Based Fabrics
✔️ Misleading eco claims
Some brands say their bedding is better for you and the environment than other bedding on the market, but this can be misleading. Unless the product is certified organic from a trusted source like the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS), it's hard to validate these claims. Brands like to highlight the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, which means the material has been tested to ensure there aren't unsafe levels of harmful chemicals, but it doesn't guarantee that the fabric is completely free of chemicals—just that there are low levels. Plus, toxic chemicals can still be used during the production processes prior to finalizing the product.
✔️ Self-cleaning bedding
Be wary of the new trend of "antimicrobial" bedding, which is advertised as being self-cleaning. Brands claim that sheets with silver-infused fibers and certain chemical finishes can reduce the amount of bacteria build-up on your bedding, and some say that you won't need to wash your sheets as often because they stay fresher and cleaner longer. Our team of fiber scientists and Lab analysts have evaluated bedding in this category and reviewed the data provided by manufacturers, and we're not convinced that the sheets are as fresh as the brands claim. Any antimicrobial product should be registered with the EPA because it's considered a pesticide.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Amanda Constantine is a home and apparel reviews analyst who joined the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab in 2022. Constantine tests a variety of apparel and home goods, including bedding. She has formally tested more than 50 sets of sheets in the Lab and has shared hundreds of samples with our consumer testers who sleep on the sheets at home before sharing their feedback. Along with testing in the Lab, Constantine has slept on sheets using all of the aforementioned fiber types and fabrications from mainstream and up-and-coming brands. She works in the Textiles Lab with Associate Director Emma Seymour and Product Analyst Grace Wu, who have fiber science backgrounds and also contribute to sheet and bedding testing.
