The best bed sheets and duvet covers to upgrade your sleep set-up, tried and tested

Score: 96/100

With a thread count of 600, this Egyptian cotton sateen bedding is one of the most luxurious sets on our list. So unsurprisingly, it was a huge hit both in the lab and with our testers at home.

Everything fitted perfectly, washed well, and felt gorgeously soft against the skin, leaving our testers “cool and rested” come morning. Some noted that you may want to iron it for a crisper look, but if that’s the only flaw, you won’t find us complaining. Ultimately, these sheets wouldn’t be out of place in a five star hotel.

Score: 95/100

Compared to fancy hotel bedding by our panel of testers, this is an undeniably luxe set. It’s made with 400 thread count Egyptian cotton in a percale weave, giving you a crisp yet soft feel.

The sheets exude quality too, washing well and fitting our bedding perfectly. For a crease free (and hotel-worthy) look, you will likely need to iron them. But that’s probably worth the effort, given the fact our testers raved about how they helped them fall asleep, making bedtime something to look forward to.

Score: 95/100

This soft and cosy Egyptian cotton bedding is suited to budding interior designers thanks to the array of colours you can choose from. It’s sold individually too, so you could even mix and match if you wanted.

Our testers were impressed with its quality, especially after washing – it kept its shape and was colour fast. Its zip fastening is a nice touch too, meaning your duvet can’t escape.

And it has an OEKO-TEX Made in Green certification, so you can rest assured that it was made in certified factories that meet higher environmental and social standards.

If you run hot at night, consider Dunelm's Fogarty Cooling Cotton bedding, which scored 93/100 in our tests.

Score: 93/100

Like the sound of sliding into buttery-soft sheets? John Lewis's Egyptian Cotton Sateen set delivers a taste of little slice of hotel luxury – minus the room service.

It impressed straight out of the packaging; easy to unpack and fit, with sheets that stay snug and pillowcases that slide on smoothly. The silky 400-thread count fabric feels undeniably indulgent yet breathable, and the colour stayed vibrant after washing. Result.

The set holds its shape well, with no signs of pilling or stray threads, though it does require ironing to look its best (classic cotton). But if you’re after a well-made set that’s just as suited to everyday use as it is to guest-room glory, this one’s a strong contender.

Score: 92/100

First impressions count, and this set impressed straight away with 100% of testers agreeing it was easy to unpack, fitted perfectly, and felt luxuriously soft. It scored bonus points for breathability and temperature regulation.

There was no noticeable shrinkage or piling and the bedding stayed in shape throughout washing, though some people reported colour fading after three washes. But, honestly, that was the product’s only real flaw.

In short, if you can live with a bit of colour fading and don’t mind whipping the iron out for crease-free sheets, this is a crowd-pleasing option for every sleeper; so much so that all our panellists said they’d buy the bedding set again and recommend it to others.

Score: 92/100

With a thread count of 500, this is seriously silky bedding. Testers had no bother making the bed and washing proved stress free – it emerged from the machine with the same high quality as before.

Our panel loved spending their nights wrapped up in the sateen sheets, but if you don’t like yours creased, note that these required a long ironing session to banish wrinkles. That is the case with most Egyptian cotton bedding though (including our other winners). Otherwise, this breathable, premium set is a real treat.

Score: 90/100

This bedding arrives pre-washed, which means it’s not as scratchy as some linen can be on first arrival (the fibre is known to soften with time). In fact, testers loved how it felt to touch, finding it cosy yet breathable, so they didn’t overheat at night.

It also shone in our wash tests. The linen retained its shape and colour and wasn’t even too creased (which is nothing short of a miracle with linen, even if the textured finish does look chic!).

The fitted sheet stayed in place nicely (it’s also available separately), and it comes with a fabric bag, which you can use for storage if another bedding set is on rotation.

Score: 90/100

True to its “Supersoft” billing, this brushed cotton set delivers a warm, cocoon-like feel that’s ideal for cooler nights. Testers loved how easy it was to fit, with everyone confirming the duvet cover and pillowcases slipped on effortlessly with no wrestling required.

After three washes, the colour stayed true and shrinkage was barely noticeable (just 6.5% at most). However, some testers found it lost softness after a few vigorous washes, and felt the heavier fabric would be best suited for winter use.

That said, if you’re looking for a low-maintenance option that balances warmth and durability, this is an excellent choice, especially when the temperatures drop.

Score: 89/100

Derived entirely from organic bamboo, this bedding was a hit with our panel for its breathability. We received lots of positive feedback about how well it adapted to their body temperature and changing weather, and one tester said that they didn’t experience any hot sweats while using it.

The set was soft to touch, and it fitted our duvets and pillows snugly, although the sheet wasn’t quite suited to deeper mattresses. Stains washed away easily (so you don’t need to worry about any spills from breakfast in bed or your early morning coffee) and the premium set remained pristine after a few goes in our lab washing machines.

Score: 88/100

These thick linen bedsheets were a delight to curl up in. According to one tester, “the quality is exceptional,” while another declared it their new favourite bedding set. The velvety soft fabric was snuggly yet breathable, making it a top pick, whatever the weather.

They were a little lint-y after the first wash but this dissipated. And while our colour analysis tech detected some colour fading after a few washes, this only added to the linen’s lived-in charm.

The duvet cover and pillows were roomy too, so you don’t have to struggle to squeeze in your pillow or duvet, and the fitted sheets stayed securely in place. All our panellists said they would recommend this bedding to friends and family.

Score: 87/100

The name of this bedding isn’t misleading – our panellists thought these bed sheets were “pure luxury”. They generally found them smooth and comfortable, and as you’d expect from linen, they were temperature regulating too.

Plus, they liked the duvet cover design, which has ties to close it rather than buttons. It washed well too, only bobbling slightly, and although it wasn’t the most colour fast, it held its shape impeccably.

Score: 86/100

With its crisp, matte finish, this set from popular mattress brand, Emma was smooth and comfortable on test. It was well made and kept its soft texture after washing. The sheet stayed in place, and panellists didn’t have to wrestle it to pop their duvet into the cover.

Testers were divided over its breathability – it was cooling for some but not others. So keep that in mind if you do run hot. Each side is a different colour, giving you some flexibility when it comes to the overall aesthetic of your bedroom.

Score: 86/100

This textured bedding set is perfect for making a minimalist statement in your bedroom. It’s made with 200 thread count cotton in a percale weave, so it’s crisp, breathable and comfortable.

Our testers were also impressed with its “beautiful quality” and how easy it was to make the bed, thanks to the good-sized pillowcases and duvet cover, as well as a secure fitted sheet.

It was quite a heavy set, so it took a while to dry after washing, and our experts detected some loss of colour when analysing the darker shades. But given how inviting this bed set looks (and the fact we use tech that’s more observant than the human eye), we’d pop this on our beds in an instant.

Score: 85/100

Another set from Emma, but this is a sateen version, so it has a silkier finish. Our panel said it felt luxurious while still proving breathable. One added that it “washes like a dream.”

This was true in our lab tests too – although it creased and there was some colour loss, this stabilised by our final wash (it’s not unusual for new clothes and textiles to lose some dye at first, either).

Score: 80/100

This slinky set was another temperature-regulating design that slipped easily on to our panellists' beds. It felt dreamy against testers' skin, with one declaring it, “the most comfortable bedding I have ever slept on.”

It held its colour well (and is available in an array of classic shades) but it did shrink on test. You need to wash it on cold and line dry it – but it’s worth it for a high-end sleep.