Finding the right bed sheets that are soft, breathable, stay put on your bed, and hold up to regular wear and washing is an exhausting endeavor. But, as a fiber scientist in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, I know the payoff is worth all the effort. My team and I have tested over 350 bed sheets in recent years with both in-Lab testing and at-home consumer testing to find the best sheets on the market.
Most sheets recommendations are only based on someone’s experience sleeping on it, but we do it differently at Good Housekeeping. Our fiber scientists start off testing sheets in the Lab using specialized equipment and following industry standard protocols (from standards organizations like ASTM and AATCC). Using these standards allows us to evaluate the products comparatively and in a controlled setting. We also enlist thousands of at-home sleep testers to capture various perspectives and preferences. Our goal is thorough, unbiased testing to make your decision process that much easier and to ensure you’ll be happy with your purchase even after repeated wash cycles and many nights of sleeping on them.
How we test bed sheets in the Textiles Lab
Up-to-date research:
Before we start a test, analysts research new bed sheet launches, material innovations, and updates to previously tested styles to create a list of bed sheets to test. We perform our bed sheet testing yearly to ensure we’re staying on top of what’s happening in the market.
Fabric strength:
To assess the material’s strength, we use a specialized machine called an Instron. The Instron pulls swatches of fabric apart until they break. We then measure the force it took to break the fabric. This tells us how sturdy each bed sheet is (based on industry standard ASTM D5034).
Washability:
Lab analysts put benchmarks on the fitted sheet’s length and width. After washing and drying the sheets according to the care label, we measure the benchmarks to see if the material shrunk (following the industry standard AATCC 135) and we score any changes in appearance (using industry standard AATCC 124) after one wash and dry cycle and again after five.
Wrinkle resistance:
Immediately after the sheet dries, each one is taken to our specialized lighting room that allows us to examine each and every wrinkle in the material. We then measure and count each crease to see how much the sheets tend to wrinkle (following industry standard AATCC 124).
Pilling resistance:
Pilling on sheets commonly occurs when you toss and turn at night and the top sheet rubs against the fitted sheet. To evaluate the sheet’s ability to resist pilling, we use our abrasion machine to rub swatches of the same material together. We then score signs of pilling against industry standards (ASTM D4970).
Softness:
Because there maybe fabric finishes leftover from production, analysts first wash the sheets one time to test the true feel of the material. Then we ask consumer testers to rate the softness and how they like the feel. We also invite dozens of testers to touch the samples in a blinded comparison, comparing the fabrics against similar constructions such as sateen, percale, linen, and jersey.
Mattress fit:
Analysts measure the fitted sheet to ensure that it’ll actually fit the mattress depth the brand says it will. For deep-pocket sheets, analysts will put them on a deep mattress to see how easily they go on in real life.
Expert claim review:
Sometimes a brand’s marketing may overstate the benefits of its product. Fiber scientists review all product claims to weed out those that overpromise performance, use misleading language, or violate FTC guidelines. We also closely monitor organic and sustainability claims.
Consumer testers sleep on the sheet sets in their homes
We match products to thousands of consumer testers based on an initial recruitment survey where testers share their preferences and sleep habits. Testers use the sheets in their own home for a minimum of 14 days, and then provide feedback on softness, comfort, temperature regulation, mattress fit, appearance, and overall satisfaction. Testers provide scored and open-ended feedback, giving the analysts thorough insights. Analysts often follow-up with testers after years of use to see how the sheets have continued to perform.
We analyze all the results before making our recommendations
The Textiles Lab fiber scientists who oversee the testing process combine all the results from our in-Lab tests and consumer feedback before making our final editorial recommendations. But we don’t just focus purely on the scores, we make sure our picks are specifically curated for sleepers of all types and preferences, from night-sweats sufferers who want moisture-wicking materials to cold sleepers looking for super cozy, soft bedding. We focus on attributes like durability, performance, softness, value, style, and ease of care, but we also take factors like ease of purchasing, return policies, and sleep trials into consideration as well.
Who tests bed sheets for Good Housekeeping
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've been testing home products for 125 years. We closely follow all new launches and innovations in the industry whether from new direct-to-consumer brands or legacy companies.
Emma Seymour is the Textiles, Apparel, and Paper Lab associate director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Seymour has a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University and has been testing bedding for more than seven years at Good Housekeeping.
Grace Wu is a textiles product analyst and regularly assesses bed sheets in the Textiles Lab. Prior to joining GH, she earned a master of engineering in materials science & engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University.
Amanda Constantine is a home & apparel reviews analyst, testing home items like sheets as well as apparel. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University.
