8 Best Organic Sheets for a Sustainable Bed
These are our top picks for luxury to affordable organic sheets — plus, expert tips to avoid getting duped by false organic claims.
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Shopping for new sheets? An organic set could be an easy step towards living a more sustainable lifestyle. Unfortunately, not all cotton or linen fabrics are equal: Natural fibers are often grown with pesticides and fertilizers that can be harmful to the farmers, workers and wildlife in the area. Organic fibers stand out for not using synthetic treatments and actually require less water to grow. Still, growing the organic fiber is only the first step and truly organic sheets follow strict standards throughout the entire manufacturing process.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've tested over 300 sheet sets in the past few years, from your standard cotton sheets to luxurious hotel sheets, through a combination of in-Lab testing, consumer feedback and expert analysis. In the Lab, our scientists evaluate everything from fabric strength and pilling resistance to ease of laundering and shrinkage while at home, our consumer testers share their thoughts on everything from mattress fit to comfort and body temperature regulation after an extended testing period. The picks ahead are organic options from the top performers in our test.
We've confirmed that all picks are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which has strict guidelines on even minor components (like dyes and finishes) throughout the production process.
Delilah Home 100% Organic Cotton Bed Sheet Set
Pros
- Strong, durable fabric
- Great pilling resistance
- Lightweight and smooth
Cons
- Some wrinkles in Lab tests
Delilah Home proves that you can have quality, GOTS-certified organic sheets without paying an arm and a leg. This top-performing set costs less than $200 for a Queen and impressed our Lab experts in recent durability tests. You can even skip the top sheet by purchasing a fitted sheet and pillowcases separately for select sizes (like Queen and King).
Tester notes: Compared to other organic sheets we've tested, the soft sateen fabric proved strong with minimal pilling after our abrasion tester rubbed swatches together 1,000 times. Testers also liked its lightweight feel and smooth texture: One said, "The lightweight cotton was gentle on my sensitive skin and kept me cool and comfortable throughout the night." Others agreed, though some noted that the relaxed fabric wrinkled more than other sheets they've own.
| Organic certifications | GOTS |
| Material | Cotton sateen |
| Sizes | Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King |
| Depth | 17" |
Pros
- Affordable at under $100
- Good range of color options
- 365-day return policy
Cons
- Some reviewers note initial rough feel
This set is a steal: Not only is it affordable at under $100 for a Queen-size set, but it's also certified organic by GOTS, which is impressive compared to other inexpensive organic cotton options and even luxe sets made of "organically-grown cotton." You can choose from a wide variety of colors, and even test the set out for up to a year, thanks to the brand's any-reason return policy.
Tester notes: Our consumer testers praised how the fabric softened with each wash, although some reviewers noted it had an initial rough feel. One shared that after a month,"I felt like I was sleeping in a cloud!" Others appreciated the generously oversize flat sheet and agreed that it helped them and their partners not fight over the sheets at night. Its performance during our in-Lab tests was nothing to scoff at either: It outperformed other organic sheets almost three times the price.
RELATED: The Best Organic Pillows, According to Sustainability and Bedding Experts
| Organic certifications | GOTS |
| Material | Cotton sateen |
| Sizes | Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King |
| Depth | 16" |
Pros
- Classic crisp texture
- Soft, garment-washed feel
- High scores in durability tests
Cons
- May be loose on shorter mattresses, according to testers
Brooklinen's organic cotton sheets have the classic feel of crisp percale with a garment wash finish for softness. It's an ideal pick for those looking for quintessential percale that doesn't feel too rough or scratchy. The fitted sheet comes with "short" and "long" labels, which testers applauded for making bed-making a breeze.
Tester notes: They're one of the best percale sheets we've tested: Not only did they wash well (with little to no shrinkage) during our in-Lab tests, but there were no signs of pilling after 10,000 rubs on our abrasion tester. Testers described the texture as "soft but crisp." One added, "I liked how lightweight and breathable they felt...I think they're still a little smoother and softer than other percale [sheets I've tried]." Another was impressed by how well the fitted sheet fit her tall mattress, but some noted it looked baggy on their low-profile beds.
| Organic certifications | GOTS |
| Material | Cotton percale |
| Sizes | Full, Queen, King, California King |
| Depth | 16" |
Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheet Set
Pros
- Fits mattresses up to 17 inches
- Soft, smooth fabric
- High scores for wrinkle resistance
Cons
- Lower scores for fabric strength compared to similar sets
Described as soft and luxurious by several testers, it's no surprise that these Fair Trade Certified sateen sheets earned top scores for their soft texture and comfortable feel. Beyond that, they come in a generous 17-inch depth with thick elastic for a secure fit, and you can pick from a variety of colorways, including prints. Though pricey, we think the quality makes them worth the splurge.
Tester notes: In our Lab, the 100% cotton fabric proved durable, despite lower scores in tensile strength, with minimal wrinkles after laundering. Though the fabric is sateen, testers who typically prefer percale were surprised by how much they liked the texture, calling it "soft and smooth but not overwhelmingly so." One tester said, "These sheets are some of the most luxurious I've ever slept on. I felt like I was in a five-star hotel."
RELATED: The Best Sateen Sheets, Tested and Reviewed by Experts
| Organic Certifications | GOTS |
| Material | Cotton sateen |
| Sizes | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King |
| Depth | 17" |
Pros
- Lightweight and crisp
- Relaxed look
- Durable fabric
Cons
- Not as soft and smooth as sateen
Percale is your best bet if you prefer sheets that are lightweight, breathable and crisp, and Coyuchi makes some of the best. Beyond the GOTS certification, this set is Fair Trade and Made Safe certified so you can trust that you're buying from a brand with a big focus on sustainability.
Tester notes: These sheets performed well in our evaluations: The fabric was strong and hardly shrank in the wash, plus they were favorites among our consumer testers for their relaxed texture. While the percale fabric isn't as soft as sateen, many of our testers loved the airy feel. One said, " I tend to be a hot sleeper and these sheets were soft, luxurious and yet crisp and cool." Others found them softer than non-organic percale sets they've owned.
| Organic Certification | GOTS |
| Material | Cotton percale |
| Sizes | win, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King |
| Depth | 15" |
Pact Organic Favorite Tee Jersey Sheet Set
Pros
- Super soft texture
- Thick, substantial fabric
- Gorgeous colorways
Cons
- Not as durable as woven sheets
Pact is one of our favorite sustainable fashion brands for its organic cotton basics, but don't overlook its bedding. These sheets are some of the brand's most popular. They use cotton jersey fabric (which is knit, unlike the others that are woven), so they feel super soft like a T-shirt. Plus, they're made by a Fair Trade Certified manufacturer.
Tester notes: In the Lab, the set stood out for its strong knit fabric and minimal shrinkage. We were also impressed by the thick feel and found it more substantial than other jersey sheets that we've tested. Our testers agreed, giving this set high scores for its comfortable feel. Several highlighted the soft texture and called the sheets "perfect," and one said, "they aren't super heavy and feel breathable."
Just remember: Jersey sheets tend to shrink and show signs of wear faster than percale or sateen weaves.
RELATED: The Best Duvet Covers, According to Bedding Experts
| Organic certifications | GOTS |
| Material | Cotton jersey |
| Sizes | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King |
| Depth | 15" |
Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel Sheet Set
Pros
- Cozy, heavyweight flannel
- Blend of recycled and organic cotton
- Wide range of muted colorways
Cons
- Lower scores in pilling resistance compared to non-flannel fabrics
Flannel sheets are typically heavy cotton fabrics that are brushed to trap air, making you feel warmer. This set from Coyuchi uses a blend of pre-consumer recycled cotton and organic cotton for a heavyweight flannel fabric that you'll feel good about buying.
Tester notes: Having a fabric weight of 6 ounces, these sheets proved warm and comfortable for our testers. One described them as "soft and cozy without being heavy or stiff," while another said, "[the sheets] make sleeping in our bed a joy." Many appreciated the thick yet supple fabric, which also washed well in our tests and shrank less than other flannel sets we tested. Still, because of its brushed nature, flannel is prone to pilling, and these sheets weren't an exception.
| Organic certifications | GOTS |
| Material | Cotton flannel |
| Sizes | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King |
| Depth | 17" |
Pros
- Gorgeous texture
- Airy and lightweight feel
- Minimal shrinkage in wash tests
Cons
- Pilled more than other styles in our tests
Linen comes from the flax plant and it's a popular choice for bedding, thanks to its textured fabric that feels airy and lightweight, making it perfect for summer. While linen sheets aren't as smooth as cotton bedding (both in terms of the feel and appearance), the relaxed look is part of their appeal. Avocado's not only outperformed many sets in our tests, but we like its commitment to sustainability as a Climate Neutral Certified brand.
Tester notes: This set proved shrink-resistant in the Lab, but it also pilled more than similar sheets we tested. Still, it won over testers who highlighted the luxurious yet cool feel and beautiful look. One tester shared, "These sheets stayed cool all night long and I didn't have to kick them off when I get hot in the middle of the night like I usually do."
For a sustainable alternative, Avocado's Organic Hemp Sheets also performed well in our tests but are currently on final sale.
| Organic certifications | GOTS |
| Material | Linen |
| Sizes | Full, Queen, King, California King |
| Depth | 16" |
How we test organic sheets
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we're devoted to finding the best sheets out there. We've rigorously tested over 300 sets in recent years, both in our Lab with industry-standard machinery and testing methods and in the homes of thousands of consumer testers.
To find the best organic sheets, we made sure to also verify any organic certifications on top of our standard testing process by looking in public databases or checking with the brand to see if they can supply a copy of their manufacturer's certification.
Here's a few attributes we consider when evaluating all sorts of sheets:
✔️ Fabric strength: To calculate how strong the sheets are, our tensile strength testing machine, called an Instron (pictured), pulls swatches of fabric until they break. For knit fabrics, like jersey sheets, we instead use a pneumatic bursting strength tester to measure fabric strength, due to the construction.
✔️ Pilling resistance: Our abrasion tester, called a Martindale, rubs fabric swatches together 1,000 times to mimic tossing and turning as well as any wear and tear. After every 100 cycles, Lab analysts visibly assess and score any signs of pilling (pictured), according to textile industry standards.
✔️ Dimensional stability: Each sheet is laundered several times and measured for shrinkage using industry-standardized methods and tools, once after the initial wash and again after multiple wash cycles.
✔️ Wrinkle resistance: Immediately after the first and final laundering cycles, our analysts take each sheet to a specialized lighting room to visually assess any wrinkles or creases, assigning scores based on industry standards.
✔️ Softness: We wash all sheets once in order to remove any leftover finishes and have consumer testers rate each fabric in a blind comparison for softness and overall feel.
✔️ Consumer testing: Beyond in-Lab softness tests, our reviewers try out the sheets in their homes in order to provide feedback, through quantitative ratings on performance aspects like comfort, temperature regulation, fit and ease of use and longform answers on how they compared to other sheets they've tried as well as any likes, dislikes or additional comments.
How to make sure your sheets are actually organic
Buyer beware: Sheets that are "made with organic cotton" may not actually be organic sheets. That's because the fibers go through several manufacturing steps with the potential to use synthetic chemicals along the way. To make sure you're buying organic sheets, look for certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which has strict guidelines on things like the dyes and finishes throughout the production process.
But heads up: The GOTS certification is often misused by brands, usually due to confusion around the lengthy production processes. For instance, some products use organic cotton sourced from a GOTS-certified factory, but the final item is mixed with synthetic materials so it's not accurate to call it an organic product. This is an issue we've seen in all textile-related categories.
So how can you make sure your sheets are actually organic? GOTS has a public database where you can double check that the brands are actually GOTS certified, but keep in mind some brands may carry products that are instead certified through the manufacturer. For the sheets featured in this story, we made sure to confirm certifications with brand representatives at the time of publishing.
How to decode other certifications and claims on organic sheets
You may also see other certifications used in tandem with organic claims. While these are good ones to look out for, they don't necessarily mean the product is organic. Here are common labels you'll see with organic textiles and what they really mean:
- USDA Organic: A certification for organic agricultural products. The USDA label is mainly for food instead of textiles because it doesn't cover the rest of the manufacturing process for organic fibers like cotton, wool, or flax (i.e. linen)
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100: A standard that shows a textile product has been tested for harmful substances. It doesn't necessarily tell you what happens during production, but rather detects substances at the end to make sure they're within an acceptable limit
- OEKO-TEX Made In Green: A standard that shows a textile product has been manufactured in an environmentally friendly facility under safe and socially responsible working conditions in addition to being tested for harmful substances.
- Fair Trade Certified: An emblem that focuses on social issues throughout the production process, like fair wages and safe working conditions
- Made Safe: A certification that screens ingredients to make sure there are no hazardous materials that could be harmful to humans.
What to keep in mind when shopping for organic sheets
Besides checking for any organic certifications, here are some other important attributes to consider when choosing organic sheets.
✔️ Fiber content lets you know what material the sheets are made from. It's listed on the physical product and often brands will display this information on online product listings.
- Cotton is the most popular fabric in bedding and comes in a wide variety of constructions including crisp percale, smooth sateen, cozy flannel and soft jersey. Percale and sateen are the most popular styles when you think of cotton sheets — percale is known for its light and breathable feel, while sateen is smooth and almost silky. Flannel sheets are made of a thick, brushed fabric for added warmth, whereas jersey sheets are made of knit, T-shirt-like material for stretchy softness that isn't as durable as woven options.
- Linen is known for its relaxed look and unique texture. It's ideal for hot summer nights because of its looser weave and hollow fiber structure, allowing for excellent breathability.
- Hemp is similar to linen but is often stronger because of its longer fibers. While it's not as soft as cotton, it softens up with each wash and tends to get soft faster than linen fabric. Hemp is a new material in the bedding space that's getting increasingly popular, thanks to its sustainable source and manufacturing process.
✔️ Depth: If you have a tall mattress or use a mattress topper, make sure to check the depth measurement of the sheets to ensure they'll stay put on your bed.
✔️ Price: Organic sheets may come at a premium due to increased material and production costs. You'll still be able to find quality sheets for under $200, but there are certainly some luxury styles above that price point that are worth the splurge.
✔️ Care instructions: Most cotton, linen and hemp sheets are machine washable, but some may recommend washing in cold water or using delicate cycles. For those who get night sweats or don't wash their sheets regularly, using warm or hot water is ideal, so search for ones that can withstand higher temperatures.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've been actively researching, testing and reporting on home products for over a century. To find the best organic sheets available, we consider in-Lab testing results, consumer feedback and our own expert analysis.
Grace Wu most recently updated this article. She's a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and has tested over 50 sheet sets. She's written several stories on various types of sheets, including cotton sheets and linen sheets to flannel sheets and percale sheets. Prior to joining GH, Wu earned a Masters of Engineering in materials science & engineering and a Bachelor of Science in fiber science from Cornell University.
Lexie Sachs originally wrote this story. She is the Executive Director of Testing Strategy & Operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Sachs began evaluating sheets when she joined Good Housekeeping in 2013 and has rigorously tested more than 200 sets. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in fiber science from Cornell University and more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development for home products.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.
