We've Tested Over 350 Sets of Bed Sheets. These Are the Best.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

It's a crowd-pleasing set that performed well in our softness and durability tests. It's also not too expensive for its level of quality and has a lenient return policy, making it a low-risk purchase.

WHAT TO KNOW:

The fabric is a cotton sateen, which is ideal for people who prefer a soft and thick material. Sateen is a type of a satin weave in which the yarns in one direction float over several yarns in the opposite direction. Although sateen sheets do have a smooth feel, this pick's fabric isn't too smooth, so it's a good option for people who want a soft set that doesn't feel slippery.

The fitted sheet has a 16-inch depth, which should fit most mattresses, but may be a bit tight on taller beds or ones with mattress toppers. It also has tabs labeled "long side" and "short side" so it takes the headache out of making your bed on laundry day.

Another benefit: You can buy the set online with free shipping and an any-reason return policy for an entire year (minus a $9.95 return fee). The brand offers a wide variety of sheet options (including a cotton percale), but the Luxe Sateen set is its best-seller and our favorite because of its durability and positive feedback from users. It's the set I prefer for my own bed.

HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS:

We found the fabric to be 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-frills construction. One shared, "These are classic sateen sheets — soft and smooth," while another said, "I really liked the material they were made of. It was a much softer material without being a silk sheet. They feel nice on my skin."

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Brooklinen Sheets

WHY WE LOVE IT:

This one is hands down the best bet on a budget. It's hard to find any cotton sheets for under $100, let alone a set that's as soft and durable as this is. I regularly recommend this set to friends and family, and they always tell me they're thrilled with the purchase after trying it out.

WHAT TO KNOW:

The fabric has a great balance between soft and crisp and feels substantial with a good weight. It's not going to be quite as soft as the pricier cotton sateen sets we recommend, but it's ideal for anyone who wants to spend as little as possible without sacrificing comfort.

Popular on Amazon, this set comes in a wide range of colors, patterns and sizes to fit just about any bed. You can purchase pillowcases separately if you need extras (a simple yet genius offering that we don't always see with other sheets). The brand says it's made to fit mattresses ranging from 8 to 16 inches tall, and our testers found that to be true in their reviews.

HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS:

Most of our reviewers loved the feel of these sheets with one who said, "I like the weight and quality of the fabric. It also had a nice sheen and a smooth feel." One tester said they weren't quite as soft as other sheets she's slept on but noted, "I liked the shape and fit of these better than any other sheets I've tried. There wasn't any additional fabric that bunched or came untucked easily."

In Textiles Lab tests, we especially loved how this set could be washed in warm water (which is better for keeping your sheets clean). It had average scores for fabric strength, but perfect ratings in our pill-resistance tests, meaning you're less likely to see those unsightly balls on the surface.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

If softness is your top priority and you're willing to splurge, this set made of luxurious, top-quality fabric is for you. It also offers good sizing flexibility so you can find a set that works best for your mattress.

WHAT TO KNOW:

Besides having a sateen weave, the fabric is made of Supima cotton, a U.S.-grown premium fiber that's longer than traditional cotton and helps the fabric become softer and stronger. Some ultra-soft sheets are made from polyester and rayon so they feel noticeably thinner, but this one is fairly thick in comparison.

Another perk: 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 tall. You can even request a free swatch from its customer service if you want to see and feel the fabric before you buy .

HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS:

This fabric earned the highest softness rating compared to other cotton sheets in a side-by-side comparison review. One sleep tester described it as "buttery soft and very luxurious without being slippery." Several also commented that they wanted to buy these sheets after feeling them. 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" claim in the name.

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WHY WE LOVE IT:

This set proves 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 Global Organic Textile Standard certified (GOTS) and costs less than $200.

WHAT TO KNOW:

There are plenty of cotton sheet sets that claim to be organic, but this one proves it with its GOTS certification. This certification is especially important because it means the entire manufacturing process is organic, not just the way the cotton is grown. The sateen fabric is smooth, while the fitted sheet is designed to fit mattresses up to 17 inches deep.

It doesn't come in a wide variety of colors like some others, but it is available in neutral hues to go with almost any bedroom palette. You can also purchase extra pillowcases and a matching duvet cover to complete your set.

HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS:

The set outperformed other organic sheets in our series of tests. Though the sheets did experience some shrinkage and creases after washing, the fabric proved to be both soft and strong in both Lab and consumer evaluations. Sateen sheets tend to be thicker, but one tester shared, "I love the lightweight feel and overall smoothness."

RELATED: The Best Organic Sheets

WHY WE LOVE IT:

Percale sheets are great for anyone who prefers a light and crisp feel instead of a silky smooth one, but they sometimes get a bad rap for feeling rough. This luxe set stood out for feeling soft and outperforming other percale fabrics, both in our Lab and with consumer testers.

WHAT TO KNOW:

Percale means the fabric has a basic grid-like weave, making it feel more breathable and less smooth than sateen. This set is made of premium Pima cotton, which uses longer cotton fibers for increased softness. And selling for under $200, it's also more affordable than other quality cotton sets on the market. Besides its range of solid colors, it's available in prints at a slightly higher cost.

HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS:

It proved to be durable in our Lab's tests: The fabric held up to strenuous strength, shrinkage and pilling evaluations. And while some percale sheets wrinkle easily, these became noticeably less creased than others. One tester who felt the fabric in a blinded comparison described it as feeling "like quality hotel sheets" and said, "It also feels a bit cool to the touch, which I like. I would love these sheets in my home."

RELATED: The Best Percale Sheets

WHY WE LOVE IT:

These set gives you a relaxed, lived-in look and feel for your bed, making it much more casual than the smooth hotel aesthetic. The company is also one of the most trusted and innovative sustainable brands companies in the bedding space.

WHAT TO KNOW:

Not only does this set feel crisp and breathable due to its airy percale weave, but it also has a special process to achieve its unique crinkled texture. If you prefer your bed to look more casual and cozy, this is the set for you. It's also both GOTS organic and Fair Trade Certified, which focuses on ethics throughout the supply chain, including wages and working conditions at the farms and factories where it's produced.

HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS:

At-home testers praised the comfort and appearance of this sheet set. One user even described it as "soft [and] luxurious yet crisp and cool." The fabric also held up in 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 and their laid-back appearance.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

This microfiber set is smoother, more durable and less expensive than cotton sheets. I first tested it years ago because of its popularity and low cost — and it continues to be a top performer year after year.

WHAT TO KNOW:

Microfiber uses thin polyester fibers that give the fabric a buttery soft feel. Polyester also means the fabric is more wrinkle- and shrink-resistant than natural fibers like cotton, but at the same time, it won't feel as luxurious or substantial. And though many love its smooth feel, it may be too smooth for some that prefer a crisp sheet.

The bottom line: If you're shopping for sheets on a budget, it'd be hard to find better than this best-selling Amazon sheet set. On top of that, it comes in variations to fit a wide range of bed sizes — with options for split or extra-deep mattresses — plus dozens of colors and prints.

HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS:

Our testers loved the comfy material and several called the fabric "extremely soft," "smooth and luxurious" and "silky and lightweight" in a feel test. Some noted that it felt thinner than other sheet fabrications in a blind comparison, but that can be expected for this material.

One at-home tester described it by saying, "I like the softness and smoothness of these sheets. My body felt like it was gliding over them as I moved." In Lab tests, the sheets were generously sized on our sample bed, hardly shrunk in the wash and stood up to pilling tests.

RELATED: The Best Microfiber Sheets

WHY WE LOVE IT:

This set is lightweight, soft and super smooth — and it's made with sustainable lyocell rather than synthetic microfiber.

This West Elm set is made entirely from Tencel lyocell and it outperformed over a dozen other sheets with similar material in our evaluations. Lyocell is a type of rayon that's trending in bedding because it feels substantially softer and smoother than cotton. It's made using wood pulp as the raw material, which then gets chemically processed into the lyocell fiber, making it partially natural and partially synthetic. Tencel is a brand of lyocell that's recognized for its sustainable production practices.

The fabric is both lightweight and moisture-wicking (great for managing night sweats!). Besides its sustainable sourcing, it's also made at a Fair Trade Certified factory. I've personally used this set many times on my bed at home and can attest to its softness, though it doesn't feel quite as substantial or crisp as cotton.

Despite being lightweight, the fabric proved to be strong and pill-resistant when we tested it with our Lab equipment. It experienced slight shrinkage, but that was on par with others made from similar fabrics. Sleep testers loved that it was cooling and soft without feeling too slippery.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

A lot of sheets claim to be "cooling," but these are actually effective at keeping you at a comfortable temperature throughout the night. They're also super soft and the fitted sheet has stay-in-place features.

The fabric is a blend of Tencel lyocell (which is lightweight and moisture-wicking) and Outlast viscose (which has phase-change materials to store and release your body heat). The result is a temperature-regulating sheet set, which is especially helpful for hot sleepers or people who experience night sweats.

Both of the fibers in the blend are types of rayon, which help to make the fabric incredibly soft and smooth against skin. And though they're a bit pricey, 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.

At-home testers unanimously said their bodies stayed at a comfortable temperature throughout the night while sleeping on this set. They also gave the fabric high ratings for softness and overall comfort. One tester noted, "I didn't have trouble making the bed, and the elastics on the fitted sheet were functional and didn't shift in the night." The fabric held up to wash testing without shrinkage, though it wasn't as durable as other materials in our fabric strength evaluations.

RELATED: The Best Cooling Sheets

WHY WE LOVE IT:

Although linen is known for feeling a bit scratchy, this set uses a stonewash process that produces impressive softness while still being breathable and chic looking on the bed. It's ideal for summer use or for hot sleepers.

WHAT TO KNOW:

Linen is one of the most luxurious sheet materials because of its effortlessly stylish appearance while feeling airy and cool to lie in. Because of it's breathable weave, it's great for summer use or anywhere with a hot climate. It's produced using the flax plant. This set is made with French flax, which is considered premium quality.

Linen tends to be more expensive than cotton because the flax plant can only be grown in certain climates and the fabric requires a more involved manufacturing process.

HOW IT PERFORMED IN OUR TESTS:

Testers all said they preferred this set over their previous linen sheets. Multiple testers even said they got softer with each wash. "I loved the feel of the sheets. They are so soft yet substantial and natural feeling. I can't wait to get in bed and don't want to get out," noted one satisfied tester. One said they felt "airy and light during the hot summer nights." Some testers noted extra lint after washing.

These sheets outperformed all other linen sheet sets, combining durable construction with a comfortable feel. In a blinded softness evaluation, testers rated this set as softer than any other linen sheet. The material showed minimal shrinkage after laundering and proved to be strong in Lab tests too.

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