10 Percale Sheet Sets That Are Cooler and Crisper Than Your Current Linens

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Have you ever put on a crisp button-down dress shirt and thought, I wish my sheets felt like this...? Neither have I—and yet, I can’t help but fixate on the hunt for the best percale sheets. If you aren’t sure what makes percale sheets any different from, say, flannel sheets or perhaps silk sheets, fret not. The poplin top analogy might not be relatable, but it should click when I tell you that luxe hotel sheets are usually made of the percale variety. Ah, yes; you know that specific feeling well. This breathable type of bedding is famous for its crisp and cool feel that appears matte. Need I say more?

Whether you’re a diehard percale fan or just looking to try something different, you wouldn’t want to waste your time or money on a product that isn’t up to snuff. I get that, so I read through customer reviews and even called on two experts to help me conjure a list of linens that are sure to satisfy. Katie Elks, design director at Brooklinen, and Melanie Kaplan, chief creative officer for The Company Store, had some great tips on shopping for percale, but you can find more of that information at the end of this page. For now, scroll on for the 10 best percale sheets, including some incredible Amazon sheet sets.

Classic Core Sheet Set

I will shout from the mountaintops at every chance I get about how much I love Brooklinen’s labeled sheets. The long and short sides are marked accordingly, so there’s no more fumbling and guessing when making the bed.

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Colors: 14 options

Material: Cotton

Customer review: “Love these sheets and they look great. Exceptionally nice feel that puts others to shame. ”

Classic Cool Cotton Percale Bed Sheet Set

Is anything swankier than monogrammed bed linens? Methinks not.

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Colors: 18 options

Material: 100% cotton

Customer review: “Beautiful sheet set. The cotton is crisp and soft at the same time, beautiful texture and color. Great fit on the mattress too.”

Percale Hemmed Sheet Set

Sheets are a perfectly reasonable item to invest in. Sleep impacts your entire well-being, so it’s basically an investment for your health.

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King

Colors: 11 options

Material: 100% cotton

Customer review: “The best sheets I’ve ever had. A few weeks ago I purchased a third set for my 86 year old mother, who said they were the softest sheets she has ever slept on. Well worth the money.”

Organic Crinkled Percale Sheet Set

You don’t have to worry so much about the wrinkling effect when the sheets are designed to be crinkled. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Coyuchi makes some of the best sheets in the game.

Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California King

Colors: 9 options

Material: 100% cotton

Customer review: “Feels so good next to your skin. Wash and dry great. Excellent fit. Will buy again and again.”

Percale Sheet Set

I love having choices. For instance, Parachute Home lets customers pick between side opening or envelope-style pillowcases when you buy this set. Further, there’s an option to forgo the top sheet. (I know there are a lot of top sheet haters out there.)

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Colors: 10 options

Material: 100% cotton

Customer review: “The feeling of the fabric is luxurious and soft. The percale pillow cases improved my sleeping and the fitted sheet felt great on my skin. A great choice set!! Happy!”

Percale Sheet Set

Attention sweaty sleepers, these sheets are designed to wick away moisture. Hooray!

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King

Colors: White, Ivory, Grey

Material: Cotton

Customer review: “Can’t begin to explain the total difference in my sleep quality now. I’m a Saatva believer for life. There’s nothing else to compare.”

Cloud Sheet Set

While I haven’t yet tried these sheets, I am utterly obsessed with everything else I have from Buffy, so I feel confident these are equally incredible.

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Colors: White, Shadow, Rain, Neptune, Cream

Material: 100% cotton

100 Percent Organic Cotton White Sheets Set, 3-Piece

If you love percale and you know it, consider buying a multipack for the best value.

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, RV/Short Queen, Queen, King, California King

Colors: 30 options

Material: 100% cotton

Customer review: “I have purchased two of these sets for myself and just ordered a set for my son and we both love these! They are a nice quality and have a crisp feel to them. I am definitely ordering more sets and they will be the only sheets I order!”

100 Percent Cotton Percale Sheets

You never understand the value of sheets that fit well until you get a set that simply doesn’t. If it’s labeled queen, it better fit my queen mattress! Across the board, reviewers say this Amazon set fits very well.

Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Colors: 31 options

Material: 100% cotton

Customer review: “I love the crispness of these they're very crisp and soft. They feel luxurious & make sleeping more comfortable. Percale is amazing.”

100 Percent Cotton Sheets Queen Size Set

Variety is the spice of life. If you just want to add a set of percale sheets to your collection, you can save with this Amazon option. Percale today, flannel tomorrow, and silk the day after—the world is your oyster.

Sizes: 13 options

Colors: 33 options

Material: 100% cotton

Customer review: “After a couple of washes, they are deliciously cool, smooth, and ever so slightly crisp in the best way. A perfect summer-weight sheet set.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly are percale sheets?

The short answer is that percale is a specific type of woven fabric. “Percale’s simple one-over, one-under weave results in its distinctive matte finish and crisp handfeel,” says Kaplan. “In addition, percale’s medium-tight weave resists snags and pilling making it a durable option—with proper care, high-quality percale sheets can last three to five years…or more,” she finishes.

What should I consider when shopping for percale sheets?

• Sleep preferences. “Keep in mind that percale is naturally matte and crisp,” Elks says, which makes these ideal for hot sleepers or those who live in warm climates. “Someone who tends to sleep cold may benefit less from the crisp, cooling feeling of these sheets and may want to use them primarily during warm weather seasons,” Kaplan adds.

• Fabric. Elks recommends looking for long-staple cotton for durability, while Kaplan chooses to highlight combed cotton, in which all impurities have been removed. “Consumers can also look for certifications such as STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, which ensures your bedding is free of harmful chemicals,” Elks says. If you seek the softest percale possible, Kaplan advises shoppers to look for certified Egyptian and Supima® cotton.
  

• Thread count. “Because of their cooling nature, percale sheets naturally have a lower thread count than some other styles,” Elks explains, so a high thread count does not equate to better sheets in this case. (She also notes that many manufacturers inflate thread counts—be warned!) Kaplan says that percale sheets have a minimum thread count of 180 and says the sweet spot is between 200 and 400.

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