Experts break down the different materials, weaves, and wash instructions in this sheets buying guide. No more guesswork in shopping for linens.
Slipping between comfy bedsheets at the end of a long day is one of life’s little luxuries. Shopping for said bedsheets? Far from dreamy. With a staggering number of options and factors to consider, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Cotton, linen, Tencel…Thread count, weave, wash instructions…And we haven’t even touched on the great top sheet debate. But finding a sheet set that feels just right for you is well worth it: Creating a cozy sleep environment can lead to high-quality Z’s, which is important for your overall health. “You’re literally going to spend a third of your life in bed,” Saana Baker, a textile designer and consultant with 25 years of experience based in San Francisco, tells SELF. “So the right sheets do make a difference.” To streamline the amount of time between scrolling and snoozing, we’ve put together this sheet buying guide that breaks down all the key considerations and lingo you’ll come across when perusing your choices. Your personal preferences and sleep tendencies will lead you to the right type of sheet for you, and here are a few quick questions to think about before you type anything into your search bar. Angela Holliday-Bell, MD, a pediatrician and primary care physician at UChicago Medicine who specializes in healthy sleep habits, encourages you to consider how breathable the fabric is—will that help you stay cool at night? And do you have allergies that some fabrics could trigger ? Last but not least: “Is it something that you personally find comfortable?” Dr. Holliday-Bell tells SELF. Cotton Highlights of cotton Did someone say fabric all-star? Cotton is “probably the most important fiber in sheeting and the biggest seller,” Baker says; it accounts for up to 35% of the textile market, according to some estimates. That’s in no small part thanks to its long list of perks—cotton sheets are soft, breathable, high quality, and biodegradable. The material can also be treated in different ways to change its look and feel. Take, for example, the different weave structures cotton can have . Two of the most popular weaves are sateen and percale, and they result in very different-feeling sheets. Percale is a plain weave, meaning one thread goes under, one goes over. It creates sheets that feel crispy and a little more tailored with a matte finish. Sateen sheets, on the other hand, have a weave with fewer interlacings, and they tend to be drapey and shiny. “They’re not made of silk, but they have a silky quality,” Baker says. You’ll also want to pay attention to the staple—or the length of the little fibers that come together to create the yarn—when shopping for cotton sheets. Long-staple cotton is smoother and lasts longer, Baker explains, and high-quality cottons feature these longer fibers. Cheaper cotton sheets tend to have short-staple cottons, which means they’re more likely to wear out quickly. Drawbacks of cotton Cotton can shrink , but the shrinking usually stops after the first wash or two, Baker says. And while cotton is a renewable resource and biodegradable when untreated, its farming and manufacturing processes use lots of water and high levels of energy and chemicals. So, it gets a mixed bag from a sustainability POV. To choose more sustainable cotton sheets, look for options that don’t use dyes or are made from recycled materials. Some of our favorite cotton sheets: Brooklinen Classic Percale Sheet Set Saatva Organic Sateen Sheet Set Linen Highlights of linen Linen sheets are made from flax, a natural plant fiber. The material is more textured than cotton or bamboo, and many people love its relaxed, slouchy look. It’s durable, fast-drying, and tends not to pill. And if you associate “linen” with “summer,” that makes sense: This fiber is great at regulating temperature, so it can keep you cool in the summer but still cozy on colder nights. Experts also say linen is more environmentally friendly than some other fabrics. Note that while linen sheets are never going to be silky smooth , Baker says they’ve gotten more supple in recent years, thanks to newer enzyme and stone-washing techniques. Drawbacks of linen Linen’s slightly nubby, rougher texture may be perfect to one person and totally sandpaper-y to another. So if you love a soft, silky sheet, linen probably isn’t right for you. These types of sheets can be more expensive, too, Baker notes, though there's a good reason for that: “Linen is a harder fiber to get.” Some of our favorite linen sheets: Sijo French Linen Sheet Set Brooklinen Core Sheet Set Silk Highlights of silk Silk has a well-earned reputation for feeling luxurious. Made from natural proteins produced by silkworms, these sheets feel great against your skin, conduct heat nicely, and even have allergen-friendly and microbial qualities. Silk production uses less water and chemicals than some other kinds of sheets, and the material is biodegradable. Make sure you read the label so you know exactly what you’re getting; some sheet sets blend silk with cotton or synthetic fibers to recreate that smooth texture, but the quality of these materials varies. Drawbacks of silk Silk sheets are a specialty item, Baker says, with the material making up only 0.2% of the global fiber market, according to the Council of Fashion Designers of America . So, they’re typically more expensive. Silk sheets are also delicate , so you have to be more careful with them than other fabrics. Washing them with other items, for example, may wear them down, and it’s better to line-dry silk sheets than put them in the dryer. Some of our favorite silk sheets: Lunya Washable Silk Flat Sheet Set Tencel Highlights of Tencel Sheets made from Tencel, eucalyptus, and bamboo are very similar; all are human-made fibers derived from rayon, a semi-synthetic fiber that can be regenerated in different forms. Tencel sheets are made from raw wood, which is chipped down and mixed with an acid that turns the concoction into a pulp. That pulp is then skimmed, so it looks smooth like polyester when spun, Baker explains. The result is a highly durable, lustrous-looking material that’s even shinier and silkier than cotton sateen. Worth noting: Tencel is the brand name for the lyocell fibers FWIW, Tencel is often considered a better alternative to bamboo, Baker says . “It’s the same in terms of the way it feels and shines, but it’s made in an environmentally responsible way.” Drawbacks of Tencel When Tencel sheets get wet, such as when you wash them, they lose some of their strength, Baker explains. This isn’t usually a problem, but you do have to be a little careful when you pull a Tencel sheet out of the washing machine, for example, since “it can rip more easily when it’s wet.” Some of our favorite Tencel sheets: Helix Tencel Sheet Set Brooklyn Bedding Tencel Sateen Sheets Highlights of bamboo The bamboo plant can be used to create linen, but when we talk about bamboo sheets, we’re usually referring to bamboo rayon, a man-made fiber derived from natural materials. Sheets made from bamboo tend to be soft, drapey, and breathable. They also can look lovely on a bed, Baker says, pointing out that bamboo has a fancy-looking sheen and absorbs color well. Drawbacks of bamboo You might find yourself spending more for high-quality bamboo sheets, since lower-priced options “would probably pill,” Baker says. Like eucalyptus and Tencel, this material also isn’t right for anyone who prefers sleeping on stiff, crisp sheets like percale. And although bamboo itself is a renewable resource and biodegradable, these sheets aren’t considered the most environmentally friendly because their manufacturing process requires a lot of energy and the use of harsh chemicals. Some of our favorite bamboo sheets: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set Puffy Bamboo Sheets Eucalyptus Highlights of eucalyptus As with Tencel, eucalyptus is a type of rayon, but these sheets are made from eucalyptus wood. This fabric is generally considered environmentally friendly, especially compared to bamboo, Baker says, since its manufacturing process uses less water. Eucalyptus sheets are soft and super silky. Drawbacks of eucalyptus Like Tencel, eucalyptus sheets have less strength when they’re wet, so you’ll want to be careful loading them into the dryer. Also like Tencel, they’re silky smooth, so they wouldn’t be the right option for someone who loves that crisp feeling of hotel-bed sheets. Some of our favorite eucalyptus sheets: Buffy Eucalyptus Sheets Sijo Eucalyptus Sheets Polyester Highlights of polyester Polyester is a synthetic fiber usually derived from petroleum. Sheets made from this fabric don’t wrinkle easily and tend to be super affordable, but the benefits end there. Drawbacks of polyester Because polyester sheets are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource, they’re one of the least environmentally friendly fabrics. Tons of energy is required to manufacture polyester; according to some estimates, it produces nearly three times more greenhouse gasses than cotton and isn’t biodegradable. Plus, polyester sheets usually aren’t the most comfortable to sleep on, Baker says, particularly because they’re not as breathable as other types. Polyester is also more likely to pill, even if it’s mixed with cotton, she adds. Whether you use a top sheet or skip the layer and dive directly between your fitted sheet and comforter is really a matter of personal preference, according to Dr. Holliday-Bell. “It’s not necessary per se,” she says, “but it does add an extra that can help regulate temperature and provide added comfort.” Plus, a top sheet can keep your comforter, blanket, or quilts cleaner, Dr. Holliday-Bell adds. That can be handy, since heavier blankets like these are often harder to clean . Thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch that are woven horizontally and vertically into the fabric of a sheet. Many people have come to associate a higher thread count with better-quality sheets, and that’s not necessarily wrong, experts say—but it also doesn’t give you the full picture. “Thread count is important, but it’s overstated,” says Baker. For one thing, thread count doesn’t matter for every type of fabric. “It mostly refers to cotton, and maybe a rayon or blend,” Baker says, so it’s less relevant when talking about linen sheets, for example. To make things more confusing, retailers can be a little sneaky with how they market their sheets. “There are different ways of counting threads,” Baker explains. “Some companies will count a two-ply yarn as individual threads, and it’s really hard to know from one company to the next how they’re counting it.” Unless the sheets are made from a super-fine yarn , Baker adds, a higher thread count also means the fabric is more tightly woven together. Cramming more fibers into every square inch will leave less room for air to flow through the fabric and cool you down. All that being said, when it comes to sheets made from cotton and types of rayon or cotton-rayon blends, a good thread count is going to be somewhere between 200 and 400, experts say. But you might look for a slightly higher thread count for percale cotton sheets—possibly up to 500, according to Baker. Thread count is one factor to keep in mind when assessing the quality of sheets, but there are others too: What does the label say? While the right material for you is really a personal-preference thing, polyester sheets are considered lower quality, Baker says. And when it comes to cotton, you can tell sheets are superior if the fabric is made from “long-staple” cotton. Do they have any added certifications? Sheets made from textiles certified by organizations like OEKO-TEX or GOTS—which assess the manufacturing processes and materials used in fabrics—aren’t necessarily better. But these stamps do tell you that the company cares enough about the product they’re making to go to the effort to get certified, Baker notes, which can be an indicator of quality. How do they feel to you? If you’re shopping IRL, spend some time touching the fabric: “Good-quality sheets typically feel soft yet substantial,” says Dr. Holliday-Bell). For answers to some of your top Q’s about buying sheets, read on. What type of bed sheets are best? Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer for this one; the best bed sheets for you will really depend on a lot of very personal factors. For example, do you tend to be a hot sleeper or live somewhere that’s warm pretty much year-round or? If so, you’ll want to prioritize lightweight, breathable fabrics like 100% cotton or linen. How do you like your sheets to feel against your skin? Someone who loves a silky sheet may be drawn towards cotton sateen or bamboo, while percale cotton sheets tend to be stiffer and crispier. And obviously, your budget should come into play too. For many people, though, experts say cotton sheets are a safe bet. “They’re often considered the best choice for their breathability, softness, and durability,” Dr. Holliday-Bell notes. They also work well across different climates and get softer with time. How often should I replace my sheets? If your sheets aren’t ripped, torn, or pilled, don’t bother buying new ones . “There’s absolutely no reason to start replacing sheets until they fail,” Baker says. “And the longer you can keep them, the less you’ve spent on them.” Related: The Best Pillows of 2024, According to Sleep Expert How to Choose a Mattress The 11 Best Mattresses-in-a-Box of 2024
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