How to Choose the Right Bed Sheets for Your Comfort Level

Posted on June 12, 2024

When you go to bed at night, you want the feeling that your bed is enveloping you in coziness and comfort; choosing the right bed sheets is a big part of that. You want sheets that aren’t too heavy or hot, that don’t itch or irritate your skin, that are comfortable throughout the night, and that are long-lasting. But where do you start? Sheets these days come in a variety of materials, and it can get confusing. Do you need bamboo or cotton? Jersey-knit or silk sheets? Why does thread count matter? Here we’ll explain all you need to know about materials in bed sheets so you can make the appropriate choice.

Firstly, let’s review materials. While the most popular fabric for sheets is cotton, you can find sheets in all kinds of other materials, too, like flannel, silk, bamboo and linen. There are benefits to each kind of material.

Cotton: 100% cotton is soft and sheets made from long-staple cotton fibers can be spun into fine, strong yarns. Cotton is the most popular material for sheet sets. It's breathable and easy to wash making it a good option for warm sleepers. You'll find cotton sheet sets at a variety of price points, thread counts and in many different colors and patterns.

Linen: Linen sheets can be comfortable with a lower thread count, between 80 and 140, and their breathable fibers make them suitable for year-round use. If you want a natural fabric you should consider linen bed sheets. It’s made from fibers of the flax plant, is lightweight, and is known for being durable, antimicrobial and moisture-wicking. Linen sheets get softer over time.

Flannel: Flannel sheets will keep you warm in the winter with their soft, brushed surface that traps body heat. Flannel sheets are ideal for those who run cold at night and/or live in colder climates. Flannel is generally made from cotton and is known for durability. Flannel bed sheets, hence, last for years.

Bamboo: Bamboo can be a sustainable material option and is a great cotton sheet alternative. Bamboo sheets are also more budget-friendly than cotton and are known for being pest-resistant, strong and versatile.

Silk: For an ultra-luxe feel, you may want to spring for silk sheets. In testing, our editors found that some satin sheets were slippery, so you'll want to take that into consideration when choosing a set. Silk sheets are known for being anti-friction making them great for anyone who's worried about hair breakage, hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating.

Other materials include microfiber, jersey knit, and microfleece.

Thread count

Thread count refers to the number of threads in one square inch of fabric. While a higher thread sometimes means softer sheets, it's not the only measure of quality. For example, some manufacturers may inflate the thread count by using double- or triple-ply threads, which doesn't necessarily improve the quality. Good sheets range anywhere from 200 to 800, although you'll occasionally see numbers over 1,000. Combed cotton sheets in the 300- to 400-thread count range are the most popular.

Weave

Weave refers to the texture of the bed sheet and influences the wrinkle-resistance of your bedding. There are three types of weave styles to consider when learning how to choose sheets: combed cotton, percale and sateen. 

Combed Cotton

The creation of combed cotton fabric for bed sheets involves running a fine-toothed brush over the thread before spinning the fabric. This removes the shorter fibers and makes the remaining fibers straighter, resulting in sheets that are very strong and soft.

Percale

Percale bed sheets have tightly woven threads. They’re very durable and have a crisp, cool feel. Percale is known to last for a long time due to the pill resistance of the close percale weave.

Sateen

Sateen in this context refers to the weave, not the material. Sateen weave sheets can be made from many different types of yarn.

Don’t discount the ply count! The ply count refers to the number of threads woven together to create a single thread in the fabric. A higher ply count generally indicates a stronger, more durable, and higher-quality sheet set.

Remember that the best sheets for your bed can also depend on seasonal needs. If you live in a climate with four distinct seasons – or a distinct winter and summer at least - you may prefer to have multiple sets. Lightweight sheets can help you stay cool in the summer, while more insulating sheets keep you warmer in the winter.