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If you’re shopping for new bedding you know that there are a ton of options out there. Even with suggestions from experts (check out our best sheets of 2023 article for some of those), it can be totally overwhelming choosing the right sheets for your needs.
Luckily, Mattress Clarity is here to help. Below, I’ve broken down the eleven most popular sheet fabrics to help you narrow down your search for the best bed sheets for your needs. There’s a fabric out there for everyone, whether you’re on the hunt for high-quality cooling sheets or cozy wintertime bedding. Once you’ve chosen the fabric you prefer, take a peek at all our sheet reviews to find a great pair for you!
Material
Pros
Cons
Upland Cotton
Affordable, cooling, and soft
Wrinkle-prone, likely to pill
Egyptian Cotton
Luxurious, durable, and cooling
Expensive, often blended with other fabrics
Pima Cotton (Supima)
Soft, durable, and grown in the USA
Expensive, often blended with other fabrics
Flannel
Warm, affordable, and durable
Too warm for summertime, not moisture-wicking
Jersey
Wrinkle-resistant, affordable, and warm
Not cooling, less durable than cotton
Microfiber
Affordable, wrinkle and stain-resistant
Attracts lint and hair, less breathable than cotton
Linen
Super cooling, extremely durable, and gets softer over time
Expensive, wrinkle-prone
Silk
Cooling, luxurious, and great for sleepers with sensitive skin
Delicate, expensive
Bamboo
Soft, durable, and cooling
More expensive than cotton, not 100% natural
Polyester
Affordable, durable, and stain-resistant
Less breathable than cotton, may irritate sensitive skin
Tencel
Durable, cooling, and absorbent
More expensive than cotton, can’t be dried on high heat
Cotton sheets are some of the most popular and widely-available on the market. There are several different types of cotton fibers, including Upland, Egyptian, and Supima. Pure cotton sheets are all made of natural fibers and hypoallergenic, which makes a cotton sheet set a great choice for sleepers with sensitive skin. But all three types of cotton have some differences, so I’ll break each down below.
And if you want to learn even more about cotton, take a look at some of our articles about cotton weaves. Our percale vs. sateen sheets article is a great place to start learning about different types of weave.
Upland cotton is the most common type of cotton. In fact, over 90% of the cotton we use in the United States is Upland. So Upland sheets will feel similar to your favorite t-shirt. Upland cotton is typically grown in the United States and features medium to short-staple fibers.
Pros
Cons
Egyptian cotton sheets are made from long-staple cotton grown in (you guessed it) Egypt. Most people find them softer and more durable than other cotton bed sheets. Like Pima cotton sheets, Egyptian cotton sheets are considered luxury bedding, and could be a great choice if you’re looking to splurge.
Pros
Cons
Parachute Percale sheets review
If you’re looking for middle ground between Egyptian and Upland cotton, Pima cotton is for you. It is still considered a luxury fabric, but has a slightly lower price tag than Egyptian cotton. Pima cotton is also grown in the southwestern United States, so it’s a great option if you prefer to shop American-made products.
Pros
Cons
GhostBed sheets review
. This is our favorite Pima cotton bed sheet set, so you can be confident you’re getting your money’s worth.Flannel is actually another type of cotton! But where cotton sheets are smooth and cooling, flannel sheets are warm and cozy. The fabric feels heavy and dense rather than lightweight, which makes it ideal for colder climates.
Pros
down comforter
.Cons
Jersey is a soft and stretchy fabric that is medium to light-weight. It can be made of wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers. Jersey is a knit, rather than woven fabric, which means it will feel very soft and broken-in.
Pros
Cons
Microfiber is made of wood pulp, nylon, or polyester polymers. It has a tight weave and feels lightweight and smooth. High-quality microfiber sheets will feel similar to cotton sheets, but may be less expensive than a cotton set.
Pros
Cons
Linen sheets are known for being ultra-cooling and absorbent. If you’re looking for a breezy, beachy feel these are the sheets for you. Linen is made from the flax plant, which has thicker fibers than cotton, making it super durable.
Pros
duvet covers
.Cons
Silk is made from silkworms and feels smooth, cooling, and luxurious. It is also an especially popular fabric in pillowcases, because its smooth texture protects curly or textured hair overnight. Men with facial hair can also benefit from a silk pillowcase.
Pros
Cons
Bamboo fabric is made by turning the bamboo plant into wood pulp and turning the pulp into bamboo rayon. Bamboo sheets are hypoallergenic, cooling, and super soft. Some sleepers describe the feel as a blend of cotton and silk.
Pros
Cons
Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is found in a lot of athletic clothing. Many bed sheets are made of polyester/cotton blends to make the polyester fabric feel softer or more breathable.
Pros
Cons
Tencel is made of cellulose and eucalyptus wood pulp. It is a natural fabric that many mattress brands use because of its great cooling properties. It’s a great pick for folks who like the feel of cotton, but want something just a bit more cooling.
Pros
Casper Hyperlite sheets review
to learn about our favorite set of cooling Tencel sheets.Cons
The best thread count for sheets depends greatly on the material used. Take a look at the chart below for the full breakdown.
Sheet MaterialIdeal Thread CountCotton200 – 400Egyptian Cotton400 – 700Bamboo300Linen80 – 130Percale200 – 300Sateen300 – 600Many people think that, when it comes to thread count, more is better. But that’s not always the case. Thread count simply refers to the number of vertical and horizontal threads woven into a square inch of fabric. Sometimes, sheet manufacturers count the ply of the sheets rather than the thread count, which artificially inflates the number. When multiple strands of fabric are plied together, they create one strong thread. If you see advertisements that boast thread counts of 1,000 or more, it’s very possible the number refers to the ply.
There are so many options in bedsheet materials out there, but looking through the pros and cons of each material will help you come to the decision that’s right for your personal needs. Once you’ve settled on the right material for your needs, check out our guide on how to buy sheets.
What is the best bed sheet material for hot sleepers?
I recommend silk, linen, bamboo and Tencel fabrics for particularly hot sleepers. Many hot sleepers do well on cotton sheets too.
What is the softest bed sheet material?
Bamboo and Egyptian cotton are some of the softest bed sheet materials available.
Does the quality of sheets matter?
The quality of the fiber used to make your bed sheets is important, even more so than the thread count. If you have a low-quality fabric with a high thread count, it will feel scratchier than a high-quality fiber with a low thread count.
What is the most durable and long-lasting material?
Linen, cotton and silk are some of the most durable bed sheets on the market. If you are looking for sheets that stand the test of time, it’s worth investing in high-quality fabric with a medium to high thread count.
What is the softest bed sheet material?
Cotton, especially Egyptian cotton, is one of the softest materials for bed sheets. Bamboo, flannel and silk are also very soft.
What is the best bed sheet according to the season?
In spring and summer, it’s best to keep your sheets breathable and cool, so fabrics like bamboo, cotton and linen work well. During fall and winter, warm fabrics like flannel and microfiber are great.
What is the best bed sheet material for dog hair?
Linen sheets are ultra-durable and don’t attract pet hair, so they’re a great option if you often have pets on your bed. Alternatively, silk does not attract pet hair either. But, silk is a more delicate fabric so you should stick to linen if you let your pets on the bed.
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