We updated this article in February 2023 to ensure all sheet sets tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock and showed accurate pricing.

The sheets you put on your bed impact how well you sleep. The fabric should be soft and luxurious to help you feel comfortable and they should remain durable so they'll last for years. Not to mention, they should be able to keep you at an optimal temperature, whether you're a cold or hot sleeper.

The fiber scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab test dozens of sheet sets each year to help you pick out the best options that match your personal preferences. Using both lab equipment and our panel of consumer testers, we wash, dry, pull, rub, measure and actually sleep on bed sheets of all kinds — from cotton sheets and linen sheets to cooling sheets, flannel sheets, jersey sheets, soft sheets, hotel sheets, silk sheets, microfiber sheets, organic sheets and everything in between. Over the past few years, we've tested well over 250 sheet sets and collected over 10,000 data points to find the best sheets for every type of sleeper.

Our top picks:

As you shop, keep an eye out for sales tied to Sleep Week, which occurs March 12th through 18th. Bedding brands use this opportunity to offer deals on their sheets.

You can learn more about how we rigorously test sheets, how to shop for your perfect set, and more at the end of this guide. Read on to learn more about the best sheets to buy for your bed, with prices listed for Queen size.

Softest Sheets | Best Cooling Sheets | Best Cotton Sheets | Best Microfiber Sheets | Best Percale Sheets | Best Linen Sheets | Best Organic Sheets | Best Silk Sheets | Best Flannel Sheets | Best Sheets on Amazon

Brooklinen

brooklinen.com

$160.65

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This popular set is an excellent performer in our tests and has an easy-shopping platform with free shipping both ways, making it our top pick. The smooth cotton fabric comes in a variety of neutral colors and prints, with limited edition options added regularly. Brooklinen has a variety of sheet offerings in their assortment (including a cotton percale), but this one's the most popular and by far our favorite because of its durability and feedback from users.

As an added bonus, making your bed is much easier thanks to clever tabs labeled "long side" and "short side" on the fitted sheet. Plus, the brand offers a lenient any-reason return policy for an entire year so there's little risk in trying it out.

TESTING NOTES: The fabric was 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-frill construction and gave it comments like "soft" and "smooth" when rating the feel. Just note that the fitted sheet isn't as deep as others and may not fit as well on taller mattresses.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: These Luxury Brooklinen Sheets Are Actually Worth the Hype

Mellanni

amazon.com

$34.97

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After seeing this best-selling Amazon sheet set available at such a low cost, we couldn't wait to test them ourselves — and it did not disappoint. The set stands out for its soft, buttery feel and has 330,000 reviews from real users. On top of that, it comes in variations to fit a wide range of bed sizes — with options for split or taller mattresses — plus over 40 colors and prints to match any bedroom decor.

Besides the silky feel, the polyester also helps keep it durable and easy to care for. Just keep in mind that the synthetic material might not be as substantial or breathable as natural cotton, and those who prefer a crisp sheet might find the fabric too soft. Still, if you're looking to save and want the best bang for your buck, this one's value can't be beat.

TESTING NOTES: Our panel loved the comfy feel and gave it feedback like "extremely soft," "smooth and luxurious" and "silky and lightweight" in a feel test. Some noted that it felt thinner than other sheets in a blind comparison, but that can be expected for microfiber. In lab tests, the sheets were generously sized on our sample bed, hardly shrunk in the wash and stood up to pilling.

The Company Store

thecompanystore.com

$269.00

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This luxury set is among the softest cotton fabrication you can find. Some ultra-soft sheets like polyester and rayon feel noticeably thinner, but this sateen fabric is thicker and made with Supima cotton, a premium fiber grown in the U.S. It also comes in more than 15 colors to match any bedroom.

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 high. You can even request a free swatch from the company if you want to see and feel the fabric before you buy it.

TESTING NOTES: The fabric earned a higher softness rating than other cotton sheets in a side-by-side comparison test. In fact, several testers told us they wanted to buy these sheets after feeling them. One described it as "buttery soft and very luxurious without being slippery." 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" name.

L.L.Bean

llbean.com

$169.00

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Percale sheets are ideal for anyone that prefers a light and crisp feel instead of silky smooth, but they sometimes get a bad rap for feeling rough. This luxe set stands out for outperforming other percale fabrics, both in our Lab and with consumer tests.

It's made of premium Pima cotton, which has longer fibers for more softness, and it uses a simple weave that offers good breathability. It's also more affordable than other premium cotton sets on the market. Besides its range of solid colors, the set is also available in prints for a slightly higher cost.

TESTING NOTES: Our experts were impressed by the set's durability after the fabric held up to strenuous strength, shrinkage and pilling evaluations. And while some percale sheets wrinkle easily, these were noticeably less creased than others. One tester described it as feeling "like quality hotel sheets. It also feels a bit cool to the touch, which I like. I would love these sheets in my home."

West Elm

westelm.com

$175.00

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Lyocell is a type of rayon that's super trendy in bedding because it feels substantially softer and smoother than cotton, and Tencel is a form of lyocell that's known for its sustainable production practices. West Elm's set is made entirely of Tencel and outperformed more than 14 other rayon sheets in our evaluations.

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. The sets come in nine colors and you can add on an extra pillowcase pair to match.

TESTING NOTES: Despite being lightweight, the fabric proved to be strong and pill-resistant when we tested it with our Lab equipment. It had slight shrinkage, but was on par to similar fabrics. During sleep testing, users loved how it was cooling and soft without feeling too slippery.

Amazon Basics

amazon.com

$23.29

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If you're looking to spend as little as possible, you can find popular sheets on Amazon that'll help you save. In fact, this set from Amazon's own brand is a total steal for around $20. Similar to the Mellanni set, the polyester microfiber has an incredibly smooth feel, which the brand describes as a "peach-like finish." The synthetic fiber also has built-in shrink- and wrinkle-resistant properties.

On top of that, it comes in 44 colors and has over 350,000 reviews with an average 4.6-star rating. It's the perfect set for anyone on a budget, a spare bedroom or a temporary living space, like dorms and starter apartments.

TESTING NOTES: Despite its low cost, this was another top performer in our tests thanks to its durable material, meaning you can expect it to hold up to long-term use. And while some testers thought these sheets felt thin and flimsy compared to others, most raved about the smoothness, with one calling it "soft and lightweight."

Slumber Cloud

slumbercloud.com

$234.00

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If you sleep hot or sweat, this cooling sheet set can help keep you cool and dry all night. The fabric is a blend of moisture-wicking Tencel lyocell and viscose with Outlast technology, which stores and releases your body heat. Besides its cooling features, it's also incredibly soft and smooth against skin.

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. Just note that unlike other sets with a range of colors, this one only comes in blue or white.

TESTING NOTES: At-home reviewers unanimously said they stayed at a comfortable body temperature throughout the night while sleeping on this set. The fabric also had high softness and overall comfort ratings from our panel of at-home testers, who told us they wanted to continue using it on their beds. The fabric also held up to our pilling tests with no signs of wear, though it did shrink somewhat in the wash.

Riley

rileyhome.com

$245.00

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Riley's splurge-worthy set uses an indulgent sateen weave, long-staple cotton (ideal for smooth and durable fabrics) and a combing technique so there are no short fibers to poke you. The result is a sturdy yet soft fabric that impressed our testers and analysts alike.

Besides its quality material, this set was also loved for its convenience features, like its side envelope-closure pillowcases, "top" and "bottom" tabs on the fitted sheet and generous sizing that fits even tall mattresses. Just note that while the set is made of organic cotton, we weren't able to verify that the entire production process follows organic standards without having proper certification.

TESTING NOTES: Testers especially loved how they were comfortable yet still lightweight. One even highlighted how they felt "more breathable than most sateen sheets." And while cotton sheets tend to wrinkle easily, these resisted creases better than other sets in our Lab's evaluations. Beyond that, they held up to washing with minimal shrinkage and didn't pill during our durability tests.

Delilah Home

delilahhome.com

$189.99

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Good news: 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 GOTS certified and costs less than $200.

The GOTS certification is especially important because it means the entire manufacturing process is organic, not just the way the cotton is grown. This set doesn't come in a wide of variety colors like some other sets, but is available in neutral hues to go with almost any bedroom palette.

TESTING NOTES: The fabric outperformed other organic sheets in our series of tests. Though the sheets did have some shrinkage and creases after washing, the sateen fabric proved to be both soft and strong in Lab and consumer evaluations. The fabric is not as thick or hefty as some other sateen sheets we've reviewed, and one tester noted "I love the lightweight feel and overall smoothness."

Coyuchi

coyuchi.com

$208.00

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This sheet set stands out for being GOTS-certified organic as well as crisp and breathable thanks to its airy percale weave instead of sateen. It's ideal for people who like a relaxed bed as opposed to a super smooth fabric; the brand uses a special process to achieve its unique crinkled look.

Besides its GOTS certification, it's also Fair Trade Certified, which focuses on ethics throughout the supply chain. So even though this one's a bit pricier than others, the brand works to improve the wages and working conditions at the farms and factories where it's produced.

TESTING NOTES: At-home users raved about its relax look and feel. One user even described it as "soft, luxurious and yet crisp and cool." The fabric also held up to 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 with their casual aesthetic.

We put bed sheets through the wringer both in our Textiles Lab and with consumers to see how comfortable they'll feel and how well they'll hold up over time. Here's what we consider when we test sheets in our labs:

• Softness: Dozens of consumer testers feel and rate each fabric in a blind comparison, which occurs after laundering to remove any leftover finishes from production. Top performers are also sleep-tested at home by experts and testers.
• Fabric strength: As part of our durability evaluations, our specialized machine (called an Instron, pictured here) pulls swatches of fabric until they break, letting us know how sturdy each material is.
• Pilling resistance: We use our abrasion machine to rub swatches together, which mimics tossing and turning as well as regular wear and tear. We then visibly score signs of pilling against textile industry standards.
• Washability: Each sheet is repeatedly washed according to its care label and gets scored multiple times on both shrinkage and appearance after laundering.
• Wrinkle resistance: Immediately after the sheet dries, each one is taken to our specialized lighting room and visually measured for wrinkles and creases following industry standards.
• Other factors: We also check measurements to see how well the sheets fit onto a mattress and consider any specifications, from cooling features to organic claims.

Some bedding brands get carried away with their marketing claims, which can mislead to shoppers buying sheets for the wrong reasons. Here are some common areas with suspicious claims, and what you need to know about them to avoid getting duped:

✔️ Thread count: With all of the new fabrications over the years, thread count is much less important these days, especially if the sheets are not 100% cotton. Though we often see top performing cotton sheets in the 300-500 thread count range, it's easy to inflate the number so it's better to look at the fiber content and construction to determine whether a set is right for you.

✔️ Bamboo, eucalyptus and other tree fibers: You may notice these so-called "plant" sheets when you shop, and other review sites may even promote their sustainability claims. However, our scientists advise that these are sheets falsely labeled — and are actually rayon.

While bamboo sheets may sound natural and luxurious, they undergo an intensive chemical process that removes all trace of the original plant. Lyocell often follows a more sustainable manufacturing process than other types of rayon, but there's still no trace of eucalyptus or other plant fibers after the chemical processing. This doesn't mean the sheets are low quality; just be wary of any plant-content claims if that's what is swaying your decision.

✔️ Eco-friendly and health-related claims: Brands sometimes promote their sheets as being better for you and the environment. Our experts share that you should be dubious unless they're certified organic from a trusted source, like GOTS. Most sheets these days are certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, which lets you know that a finished fabric has been tested to ensure there are no unsafe levels of known harmful chemicals.

While it's certainly a good certification to check whether a textile product is deemed safe, just be wary of any claims a brand makes that are attributed to this standard. It does not mean a fabric is organic or "free of" chemicals because it does allow for low levels, and it doesn't support claims related to the manufacturing process since toxic chemicals could've been used but washed out.