I Test Bedding for a Living and I Love to Sleep on These $50 Sheets

I test bedding for a living at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, so when a sheet set is a top performer in Lab tests and a favorite among consumer sleep testers who tried them at home, I have to try it out for myself. That was the case with these California Design Den sheets. Most sateen sheets I evaluate cost well over $150, so I couldn't believe these 100% cotton sheets cost under $50 for a Queen set (and they're regularly on sale for less!) and did so well in our Lab tests.

We consider them to be the best value in our best sheets round-up because they stood out in Lab evaluations, don't break the bank, and come in a ton of stylish shades and patterns. Plus, they're loved by thousands of Amazon reviewers. After washing them repeatedly and putting them through the ringer with our abrasion tester machine, it's safe to confirm: These sheets are definitely worth the buy. They're super soft, feel substantial, and also look amazing on my bed. They've become one of my new favorite sets!

California Design Den 400-Thread-Count Bed Sheets

California Design Den 400-Thread-Count Bed Sheets

$53Amazon

Pros

• Impressive price for quality cotton sheets
• Great balance between soft and crisp
• Pill-resistant in Lab evaluations

Cons

• May not feel as smooth as pricier sateen sheets

Material: 100% cotton sateen | Colors: Over 30 options | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King, plus six-piece sets with extra pillowcases

Who they're best for: Soft cotton sheet lovers who appreciate an excellent value and want a stylish look for their bed

There are a wide range of sheet materials out there, from linen, viscose, and microfiber to something more luxurious like silk. But out of all of them, cotton is by far the most popular. Among cotton sheets, there are two common weaves: percale and sateen. These California Design Den sheets are 100% cotton with a sateen weave—the most popular bed sheet material. A sateen weave feels extra soft and silken and has a more lustrous look compared to the crispness of a percale weave. From our evaluations, sleep testers tend to prefer the smoother feel of sateen over other types of bedding.

Many of our consumer testers think that the higher the thread count, the better the sheets, but this isn't necessarily true. In our guide to the best thread count for sheets, we recommend that 100% cotton sheets with single-ply weaves (like this set) should have a thread count between 300–500. The California Design Den sheets have a 400 thread count, so they're right in the middle of our recommended range.

To evaluate bed sheet durability, I assess fabric strength, pilling resistance, and shrinkage after laundering in the Textiles Lab. I was shocked to see that these sheets received a perfect score for pilling resistance, showing no pills after 1,000 rubs in our abrasion tester—an impressive feat!

After five wash-and-dry cycles, the fitted sheet showed minimal shrinkage or changes in appearance, holding up well to repeated laundering. However, the sheets were not as strong in our fabric strength tests. Still, overall, these California Design Den sheets proved to be quite durable.

All our testers said the sheets stayed put throughout the night without sliding or bunching up at the corners, and agreed that it was easy to make their bed with these sheets. Testers also found the sheets helped them maintain a stable, comfortable body temperature as they slept. Most testers reported that the fabric felt soft, but a few noted that they would have preferred if it felt softer and smoother.

"These were very well made and comfortable sheets and seemed a bit more substantial in weight to my previous sheets," noted one tester. Another said she liked the "crispness and soft feel" of the sheets. The majority of our testers reported that they plan to keep sleeping on them, and one said, "I really enjoyed using these sheets and will absolutely continue to use them."

It can be hard to find a reliable sheet set for your bed—especially if you and your partner disagree on what type of material is best. While my partner prefers super soft sheets, I'd rather they have a crisp feel. To our surprise, these California Design Den sheets manage to be both soft and crisp without feeling too heavy.

I agree with testers that these are easy to put on your mattress and found the fitted sheet stays secure. I like that the brand offers a great range of colors compared to other bedding brands, so I could find just the right shade to complement my other colorful bedding.

Because these sheets weren't as strong as other sets we tested, they may be more prone to rips, which could be an issue if you have pets that join you in bed. That being said, I personally didn't have any issues with tearing while testing the sheets.

To me, the sheets felt warm, and I prefer bedding that's nice and cozy, rather than cool-to-the-touch, so I was happy with the temperature. Though our testers said that the sheets helped them to maintain a comfy temperature as they slept, very hot sleepers might prefer sheets with a percale weave or cooling sheets instead.

Another note: I'm a proponent of envelope closures on pillowcases because they keep my pillow secure inside, but these are open, so my pillows slid out sometimes and needed readjusting.

Yes! Not only are they pill-resistant, soft, and comfortable for year-round use, they also cost a fraction of what other top-performing sheets cost. I prefer these sheets to other styles that are priced four times higher. Though my higher-end sheets are softer and have luxe stitching and detailing and these sheets are a bit simpler, I really like the feel of my California Design Den sheets. The smooth sateen is soft while still feeling crisp and substantial. If you're looking for 100% cotton sheets without having to spend a ton, this set from California Design Den is an excellent buy.

Emma Seymour is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab where she has been testing sheets since 2018. She has tested more than 100 sheets in Lab and many at home too. She prefers bright colored bedding and believes there's no such thing as too many throw pillows. Seymour has a degree in fiber science and apparel design from Cornell University.