5 Softest Twin XL Sheet Sets That Make Dorm Beds Feel Like Home
Sets in Twin XL size that are soft, comfy, durable—and even adorable.
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One lesson I've learned in my six years and counting of having kids in college is that their dorm bed is their sanctuary. I get them a mattress topper and add soft sheets so it feels extra homey. You don't need to spend a lot on bedding. but you do want to give them something comfortable and durable, something that's good quality at an affordable price.
Our top picks:
- Best overall: Mellanni Iconic Collection Twin XL Sheet Set
- Best value: IKEA DVALA Fitted Sheet
- Best cotton: California Design Den Twin XL Sheet Set
Most choices below have been tested by the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, while others were selected based on editor experience, brand familiarity, and value—no set is over $100.
Best Deal
Pros
- Luxury feel for a reasonable price
- Holds up to washings
- Super soft
Cons
- Synthetic microfiber is not as crisp as cotton
WHAT WE LIKE: These soft and cozy micorfiber sheets hold up to washings and provide a lot of luxury for the price.
WHAT TO KNOW: These sheets won one of our most recent Good Housekeeping Bedding Awards. The experts in our Textiles Lab love them, describing them as "buttery and cozy." Keep in mind that microfiber does not feel crisp like cotton.
In testing, our experts found that after five wash-and-dry cycles, these sheets maintained their shape with barely any shrinkage. One consumer tester said, “They are the softest sheets I’ve ever touched." The set includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and one pillowcase. It earns hundreds of thousands of reviews on Amazon.
Mellanni Twin XL sheets comes in dozens of colors and basic patterns, including cute stripes.
Pros
- $10 per sheet
- Can buy just a fitted sheet if your child uses a duvet cover
- 100% cotton for breathability
Cons
- Flat sheets sold separately
WHAT WE LIKE: IKEA's fitted Twin XL sheets are $10 each. These are what I bought for my kids.
WHAT TO KNOW: I have two sons and neither expressed a desire to decorate their bed—they just wanted it to be comfy. I prioritized buying a good mattress topper and spending less on sheets.
You have to buy the flat sheet separately. Or if your kid sleeps with a comforter and washable duvet, you could skip the flat sheet altogether. Then it's easy for them to make their bed. (Not that they necessarily will!)
DVALA sheets are 100% cotton and get softer the more you wash them. I can attest, as I now have a set on our guest bed. They come in solid colors: gray, blue, pink, green, and white.
Pros
- Soft, durable cotton
- Dozens of colors and patterns
- Among the most popular on Amazon
Cons
- Won't feel as smooth as luxury cotton sheets
WHAT WE LIKE: Our Textiles Lab experts regularly recommend this brand to friends looking for soft, durable cotton sheets under $100.
WHAT TO KNOW: These sheets are the best value pick on our list of the best sheets. While they're not as smooth as luxury cotton sheets, they're great for a college dorm bed. There are dozens of colors and patterns available, and California Design Den sheets are among the most popular on Amazon. They also hold the Good Housekeeping Seal.
One consumer tester said, "I like the weight and quality of the fabric. It also had a nice sheen and a smooth feel." In Textiles Lab tests, these sheets held up to warm-water washing, which is nice if your college kid is not super savvy with washing machine settings.
Pros
- Cool to the touch
- Can help keep a warm kid at a comfortable temperature
- Moisture-wicking to keep sleepers dry
Cons
- Average fabric strength
WHAT WE LIKE: Kids are sweaty and dorm rooms are hot, so cooling sheets make sense. My youngest goes to school in Vermont but runs a fan in his room because the heat blasts all winter long.
WHAT TO KNOW: These are our best cooling sheets on Amazon. Textiles Lab Associate Director Emma Seymour said, “I liked the immediate cool feel when I slept on these sheets. I stayed at a comfortable body temperature all night long because the sheets are super lightweight.”
Seymour says the sheets are soft and smooth but not silky or slippery. They are a mix of polyester and Coolmax microfiber which makes them soft. In Lab testing, the sheets got an average rating for strength.
Pros
- Vast collection of girl- and guy-coded sheets
- 100% organic cotton
- Coordinating throw pillows available
Cons
- So specific that your teen might outgrow them
WHAT WE LIKE: Many parents look for girl- or guy-coded patterns, and Pottery Barn Teen has that. Freshmen are still teens, and teens can be delightfully over the top with their themes!
WHAT TO KNOW: Pottery Barn Teen has all the best collabs: Think florals from partnerships with LoveShackFancy, Hill House Home, and Rifle Paper Co., sheets covered in sports-team logos from the MLB, NFL, or NBA, and more, including sheets from franchises like Harry Potter and Wicked. See all the choices here. Most are 100% organic cotton in Twin XL size and include a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and pillowcase.
Pottery Barn Teen sells coordinating throw pillows. I love that the sheets help broadcast a student's personality or passions, but you do run the risk of them outgrowing it and wanting something new next year.
How we choose the best Twin XL sheets for dorms
Recommendations were informed by a combination of Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab testing, consumer tester feedback, editor experience, and evaluations of the product features. The Mellanni, California Design Den, and Comfort Spaces sheet sets have all been tested in the Textiles Lab. The Mellanni and California Design Den choices were also evaluated by consumer testers who answered surveys about their experiences with the sheets.
Mellanni sheets and California Design Den sheets have each earned one of the most recent Good Housekeeping Bedding Awards. In addition, California Design Den holds the Good Housekeeping Seal.
I have personally used the IKEA DVALA sheets with my kids. I've had friends buy the patterned Pottery Barn Teen sheets for their college students. Textiles Lab experts have tested various kid's sheets from the Pottery Barn brand as part of the Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards, and trust their quality.
What to look for when shopping for the best dorm bed sheets
✔️ Size. Most college dorm beds are a Twin XL, which is a slightly longer Twin size. Be sure to buy the XL option because a regular Twin-size fitted sheet won't fit.
✔️ Materials. As described by our Textiles Lab experts, cotton feels light and crisp and is the most popular sheets material. Microfiber sheets are made from polyester that's buttery soft but typically thinner than cotton. There's no right or wrong answer—choosing a material comes down to your kid's preference, and their tastes might change as they start to learn what they prefer.
✔️ Colors and patterns. The look of the sheets is vitally important to some college students who coordinate the colors of the room with their roommate or roommates. Others, like my kids, don't seem to much care about the decor aspect. it's smart to get their approval and sign-off before you buy!
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab regularly tests and evaluates bedding of all kind, including all types of sheets.
Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn is a mom of two, one college graduate and one student entering his senior year. Previously she was an editor at Parents magazine.
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