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Top-tested sheet sets for all seasons, according to bedding experts.

Quality sheets are the key to a good night's sleep. After all, it's impossible to get comfortable if you're wrapped up in scratchy material or a fabric that makes you feel too hot. And since nothing's worse than investing in bedding that constantly needs to be replaced, you'll also want sheets that are long-lasting.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab tests dozens of sheet sets every year to find the ones you'll love sleeping in. We evaluate bed sheets of all kinds — from cotton sheets and linen sheets to cooling sheets, flannel sheets, soft sheets, silk sheets, microfiber sheets, organic sheets and everything in between. Over the past few years, we've tested well over 250 sheet sets and collected over 10,000 data points to find the best sheets for every type of sleeper.

You can read more about how we evaluate sheets in our lab and consumer tests — plus everything you need to know to help shop for your perfect set — at the end of this guide. We most recently updated this article in July 2022 to make sure all of our top-tested picks were in stock and showed accurate prices. Read on to learn more about the best sheets to buy for your bed, with prices listed for Queen size. Looking for more ways to upgrade your bed? Check out our guides to the best pillows and the best mattresses for your money.

This popular set is a top performer in our tests and has an easy-shopping platform with free shipping both ways, making it our Textile Lab's number one pick. The smooth cotton fabric comes in a variety of neutral colors and prints, with limited edition options added regularly. Brooklinen has a variety of sheet offerings in their assortment (including a cotton percale), but this one's the most popular and by far our favorite because of its durability and feedback from users.

As an added bonus, making your bed is much easier thanks to clever tabs labeled "long side" and "short side" on the fitted sheet. Plus, the brand offers a lenient any-reason return policy for an entire year so there's little risk in trying it out.

Testing notes: The fabric was durable across the board in our lab tests: It was strong, didn't pill easily and held up well to repeated laundering. Testers liked its basic, no-frill construction and gave it comments like "soft" and "smooth" when rating the feel. Just note that the fitted sheet isn't as deep as others and may not fit as well on taller mattresses.

• Material: 100% cotton sateen • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

After seeing this Amazon best-seller available at such a low cost, we couldn't wait to test it ourselves — and it did not disappoint! The set stands out for its soft, buttery feel and has over 250,000 reviews from real users. On top of that, it comes in variations to fit a wide range of bed sizes — with options for split or taller mattresses — plus a whopping 44 colors and prints to match any bedroom decor.

Besides the silky feel, the polyester also helps keep it durable and easy to care for. Just keep in mind that the synthetic material might not be as substantial or breathable as natural cotton, and those who prefer a crisp sheet might find the fabric too soft. Still, if you're looking to save and want the best bang for your buck, this one's value can't be beat.

Testing notes: Our panel loved the comfy feel and gave it feedback like "extremely soft," "smooth and luxurious" and "silky and lightweight" in a feel test. Some noted that it felt thinner than other sheets in a blind comparison, but that can be expected for microfiber. In lab tests, the sheets were generously sized on our sample bed, hardly shrunk in the wash and stood up to pilling.

• Material: 100% polyester microfiber • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King, plus extra deep options for taller mattresses

Percale sheets are ideal for anyone that prefers a light and crisp feel instead of silky smooth, but they sometimes get a bad rap for feeling rough. This luxe set stands out for outperforming other percale fabrics, both in our lab and consumer tests.

It's made of premium Pima cotton, which has longer fibers for more softness, and it uses a simple weave that offers good breathability. It's also more affordable than other premium cotton sets on the market. Besides its range of solid colors, the set is also available in prints for a slightly higher cost.

Testing notes: Our experts were impressed by the set's durability after the fabric held up to strenuous strength, shrinkage and pilling evaluations. And while some percale sheets wrinkle easily, these were noticeably less creased than others. One tester described it as feeling "like quality hotel sheets. It also feels a bit cool to the touch, which I like. I would love these sheets in my home."

• Material: 100% cotton percale • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Your best bet for soft sheets made of natural fibers, this set is manufactured with special techniques that helped it earn top smoothness ratings, both for feel by consumer testers and for appearance by lab analysts. It uses long-staple combed cotton so there are no short fibers to poke you, a sateen weave that feels silky smooth and a wrinkle-resistant finish to prevent creases. The sheets are also Oeko-Tex certified so you don't have to worry about dangerous chemical levels from its finish.

The pillowcases and sheets are sold separately so you can mix and match colors, order spares or buy only what you need – e.g., if you want to forgo the flat sheet or use standard pillows on a King-size bed. For an extra personal feel, you can add a monogram to the pillowcases for $12.

Testing notes: These sheets proved to be durable and didn't pill at all, which is an impressive feat after our abrasion machine rubbed them 1,000 times. They were also tester favorites, with high scores from our panel for softness and liking the overall feel. As one tester told us, it's a "great combination of softness and heft," while another said "I love this! It's smooth and feels luxurious."

• Material: 100% cotton sateen • Sizes: Double, Queen, King, California King

If you're looking to spend as little as possible, Amazon's own brand is a total steal for around $20. Similar to the Mellanni set, the polyester microfiber has an incredibly smooth feel, which the brand describes as a "peach-like finish." The synthetic fiber also has built-in shrink- and wrinkle-resistant properties.

On top of that, it comes in 44 colors and has over 280,000 reviews with an average 4.6-star rating. It's the perfect set for anyone on a budget, a spare bedroom, or a temporary living space, like dorms and starter apartments.

Testing notes: Despite its low cost, this was another top performer in our tests thanks to its durable material, meaning you can expect it to hold up to long-term use. And while some testers thought these sheets felt thin and flimsy compared to others, most raved about the smoothness, with one calling it "soft and lightweight."

• Material: 100% polyester microfiber • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

If you're willing and able to splurge on sheets, this luxury set is among the softest cotton you can find and definitely worth the extra cost. Some ultra-soft sheets like polyester and rayon feel thinner, but this sateen fabric is thicker and made with Supima cotton, a premium fiber grown in the U.S. It also comes in more than 20 colors to match any bedroom.

If you prefer to build your own set, you can purchase the fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillowcases separately, with the option for a deep-pocket version that fits mattresses up to 20-inches high. You can even request a free swatch from the company if you want to see and feel the fabric before you buy it.

Testing Notes: The fabric earned a higher softness rating than all other cotton sheets in our test. In fact, several testers told us they wanted to buy these sheets after feeling them in a blind comparison. One described it as "buttery soft and very luxurious without being slippery." The fabric was also strong and shrink-resistant in our tests, though it did show some pilling after the fabrics were rubbed together and some creases after laundering, despite the "Wrinkle-Free" name.

• Material: 100% cotton sateen • Material: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

If you sleep hot or sweat, this set can help keep you cool and dry all night. The fabric is a blend of moisture-wicking Tencel lyocell and viscose with Outlast technology, which stores and releases your body heat. Besides its cooling features, it's also incredibly soft and smooth against skin.

The brand offers a 60-day any-reason return period, meaning you can get a full refund if you don't love the set after sleeping on it. Just note that unlike other sets with a range of colors, this one only comes in blue or white.

Testing notes: At-home reviewers unanimously said they stayed at a comfortable body temperature throughout the night while sleeping on this set. The fabric also had high softness and overall comfort ratings from our panel of at-home testers, who told us they wanted to continue using it on their beds. The fabric also held up to our pilling tests with no signs of wear, though it did shrink somewhat in the wash.

• Material: Lyocell/viscose blend • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Good news: you don't have to spend a fortune or sacrifice quality to go green. Smooth luxury sheets that are truly organic can cost several hundred dollars, but this set is GOTS certified and costs less than $200.

The GOTS certification is especially important because it means the entire manufacturing process is organic, not just the way the cotton is grown. This set doesn't come in a wide of variety of sizes and colors like some other sets, but is available in neutral hues and three sizes to fit most beds.

Testing notes: The fabric outperformed other organic sheets in our series of tests. Though the sheets did have some shrinkage and creases after washing, the sateen fabric proved to be both soft and strong in Lab and consumer evaluations. The fabric is not as thick or hefty as some other sateen sheets we've reviewed, and one tester noted "I love the lightweight feel and overall smoothness."

• Material: 100% organic cotton sateen • Sizes: Twin, Queen, King

This sheet set stands out for being GOTS-certified organic as well as crisp and breathable thanks to its airy percale weave instead of sateen. It's ideal for people who like a relaxed bed as opposed to a super smooth fabric; the brand uses a special process to achieve its unique crinkled look.

Besides its GOTS certification, it's also Fair Trade Certified, which focuses on ethics throughout the supply chain. So even though this one's a bit pricier than others, the brand works to improve the wages and working conditions at the farms and factories where it's produced.

Testing notes: At-home users raved about its relax look and feel. One user even described it as "soft, luxurious and yet crisp and cool." The fabric also held up to lab laundering tests with hardly any shrinkage. It did show some pilling and the fabric looked creased after washing, but that's expected for these "crinkled" sheets with their casual aesthetic.

• Material: 100% organic cotton percale • Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

If you can't stand the look of crumpled sheets, this sateen set has a wrinkle-resistant finish that keeps it looking smoother than other cotton fabrics. And while there are sometimes concerns around chemicals like formaldehyde in wrinkle-resistant fabrics, this one is Oeko-Tex certified so you know it's been tested to ensure there are no unsafe levels in the fabric.

The cotton is also combed, which means short, poking fibers are removed so it feels extra soft. It comes in white with various options for colored stitching as a decorative accent, and the brand says these sheets are used in luxury hotels throughout the country.

Testing notes: This set had the smoothest appearance after laundering, plus our testers said it had a smooth feel and they gave it high softness ratings in a blind comparison. The fabric wasn't the strongest in our test, but it still proved to be overall durable and was generously sized, fitting our test mattress with room to spare.

• Material: 100% cotton sateen • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King

This percale set has a brushed surface that makes it softer than other basic weaves. The brushing gives it a cozy texture that feels a bit like flannel, but the fuzzy surface is much more minimal and won't feel as hot when you sleep. The brand describes these as feeling like "your favorite lived-in t-shirt."

It's an ideal option for those that want the lightweight structure of percale, but prefer a softer feel instead of one that's crisp. The set is sold without the flat sheet, but you can add one in to the set when you shop.

Testing notes: It earned the highest softness rating compared to all other percales we've evaluated. One tester told us: "I love the relaxed look and feel to this fabric. It's a nice medium weight, has a natural feel, and is soft without feeling too soft." And while brushed fabrics can easily show signs of wear, these sheets stood up to our pilling tests that check for how easily the surface fibers rub off. They also resisted shrinkage well in laundering tests.

• Material: 100% cotton brushed percale • Sizes: Full, Queen, King, California King

Besides the traditional sheet fabrics described in this article, there are also some novelty materials on the market that our experts think are worth trying if you're in the market for a specific feel.

We put bed sheets through the wringer both in our Textiles Lab and with consumers to see how comfortable they'll feel and well well they'll hold up over time. Here's what we consider when we test sheets in our labs:

Consider both the fiber content and the construction when picking out your best material. Here are your top choices for each:

✔️ Fiber content lets you know what the fabric is made of. This information is required to be listed on the product label, and virtually all sheet sets will have the fiber content displayed when you shop online.

✔️ Construction tells you how the fabric is built (regardless of the fibers used) and has a major effect on how the sheets feel. Most brands list the construction in online descriptions and packaging.

Here's what to consider as you pick out your perfect set of sheets:

Some bedding brands get carried away with their marketing claims, which can mislead to shoppers buying sheets for the wrong reasons. Here are some common areas with suspicious claims, and what you need to know about them to avoid getting duped:

Lexie Sachs is the Executive Director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Fiber Science from Cornell University and more than 15 years experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development for home products. Lexie joined Good Housekeeping in 2013 and has extensively tested all types of bedding — including mattresses, mattress toppers, pillows, comforters and more — using specialized lab equipment and with hundreds of consumer testers.

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