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Although sleep itself is a solo endeavor, the logistics around it are surprisingly up for debate. From how often to wash your sheets to how many pillows belong on the bed, everyone has an opinion on bedroom etiquette. One of the longest-running debates? The thin layer between you and your comforter. For decades, people have wondered: Do you really need a top sheet? What purpose does it serve? And can you skip it altogether?
To get a definitive answer, we turned to our in-house experts: Emma Seymour, Associate Textiles Lab Director, and Noah Pinsonnault, Home Care & Cleaning Reviews Analyst. Here’s what they had to say.
Do you really need a top sheet?
The case against top sheets is fairly straightforward—and increasingly popular. For some, the once-standard layer feels more like a nuisance than a necessity. It often ends up tangled at the foot of the bed, making it easy to question why it’s there at all. Others see it as just another step in the bed-making process—an extra layer without a clearly defined purpose. And as many travelers have noticed, top sheets aren’t always the norm; in much of Europe, they’re often skipped entirely.
But that’s only one side of the story.
For top sheet loyalists, the argument is just as clear: it’s an essential, not an extra. After all, it’s included in a standard sheet set for a reason—every layer is designed to serve a purpose. Many consider it a practical must-have, both for keeping bedding cleaner and for stretching the time between washing bulkier pieces. There’s also a comfort factor: in warmer months, when a comforter feels too heavy, a top sheet offers just enough coverage to stay comfortable without overheating.
What’s the purpose of a top sheet?
Before deciding whether a top sheet is worth it, it helps to understand what it’s actually there for. According to Pinsonnault, the purpose is twofold. “The original purpose of the top sheet was to protect the skin from the heavier blanket on top (which was often made of coarse wool or other less comfortable materials) and to protect the heavy blanket from sweat and body oils.”
While protecting yourself from scratchy wool isn’t much of a concern anymore, the second benefit still matters. A top sheet helps keep sweat, oils, and other buildup from reaching your comforter—cutting down on how often you need to wash it.
What the experts say
According to the experts, it ultimately comes down to your washing habits and personal preference—but they’re firmly on the side of using a top sheet. The biggest advantage is that it adds a layer between you and your comforter, helping catch bodily fluids before they reach the bulkier bedding. As a result, you won’t need to wash your comforter as often as your sheets—which, our experts say, should be cleaned weekly.
If you strongly prefer to skip the top sheet, you can—but you’ll need to adjust your routine. “You [will] have to wash the duvet cover with the rest of your bedding,” says Seymour.
For many people—including our experts—that extra laundry isn’t worth it. “I hate taking my duvet cover off and putting it back on,” Seymour admits. “I wash my top sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases every week, and then wash my duvet cover every month or so.” If you’re up for the added effort, though, going without a top sheet is still doable.
The bottom line
At the end of the day, your bed is your business. If you like sleeping with a top sheet, keep it in the mix—but if you’d rather go without, that’s your call. The one thing you can’t ignore is hygiene. Without that extra layer, your comforter or duvet cover will need more frequent washing—there’s no real way around it.
As for our experts? They’re firmly in favor of keeping the top sheet.
Noah works as a product reviews analyst in the Home Care & Cleaning Lab where he helps design and perform tests on various product categories. He draws on scientific expertise garnered during his time as an environmental researcher, where he managed environmental monitoring equipment, analyzed water samples in a lab and developed protocols for restoration projects. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental science from the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
