The Best Sheets for Making an Amazing Bed Best and Most Comfortable Bed Sheets Reviews 2017An exceptional set of bed sheets could be the missing link to getting your best sleep ever. We picked the 15 best sheets, spanning a range of materials and price points, so you can find your perfect fit. The Best Mattress Protectors to Safeguard Your Bedding Investment The Best Mattresses to Ensure More Satisfying Shut-Eye 10 Crisp White Duvet Covers For Sweet Slumbering Cuddle Up: Kids Dream BIG in Bedding This Cool 50 Beautiful Bedroom Decor Ideas to Create a Serene Sleep Space 20 Bed Pillows to Get the Best Sleep Possible 13 Dorm Bedding Picks to Cozy Up Your On-Campus Home 2017 Beauty Tips and Products 11 Silk Pillowcases for Every Sleeping Beauty 13 Upholstered Headboards for Easy Bedroom Elegance 9 Quality Quilts That Make for Lovely Layering Stephen Cardino, the home fashion director at Macy’s and a 25-year veteran of the bedding industry, weighs in on what you need to know.
Is Thread Count That Important?Thread count is often used as the barometer of a sheet’s smoothness and durability. However, this measurement—which should refer to the number of threads woven into a square inch of fabric—isn’t always reliable. High thread count is a factor, but the type of cotton can be more significant. RELATED: How to Fold a Fitted Sheet What’s The Best-Quality Cotton? Top-of-the-line is 100 percent Egyptian cotton. Second best is 100 percent pima cotton, also known by the trademarked name Supima. If a label says simply, “100 percent cotton,” assume that it’s American upland cotton, a rougher, less expensive variety. Egyptian cotton’s long fibers produce sheets that are thin and sumptuous yet extremely strong and long-lasting. (The shorter fibers of upland cotton, by contrast, can poke out of the weave, leading to a coarser, weaker fabric.) Pima cotton is also soft and less likely to pill than upland cotton. You can find a good queen set made of pima for less than $200.
If you want the best, you’ll invest about $500 in an Egyptian-cotton set in percale or sateen—both clean, classic weaves. (See this round-up of luxury sheets for our favorite picks.)Comfortable bed sheets are key to a good night's sleep, but sheets that feel heavenly to one person can be uncomfortable for another. Many choices in quality sheets are available for a reasonable price, but shoppers should still do their homework to ensure they buy the best bed sheets for their taste and lifestyle. With the exception of silk or satin sheets, which are typically poorly reviewed, virtually all bed sheets are made of cotton or cotton blends, although a few are made of polyester, rayon or other blends. Cotton remains popular because it's a natural fabric that "breathes," providing natural air flow and wicking properties, while also providing warmth. In other words, you won't get too hot in summer or cold in winter. Both percale and sateen sheets are made from cotton that is derived from different, but closely related, species with varying fiber lengths.
The difference in softness, durability and texture comes when those different fiber lengths are woven and/or brushed in different ways. Terms like "Egyptian cotton" are used mainly as a selling point. "Bamboo sheets" is another popular but misleading buzz word. Bamboo fabrics are actually rayon or rayon blends. Many of the claimed environmental and organic benefits of bamboo sheets have been overstated to the point that the Federal Trade Commission has directed retailers to stop labeling and advertising rayon textiles as bamboo and stop misleading customers about the fabric's supposed antimicrobial and eco-friendly qualities. Yes, bamboo sheets are very soft, but don't be misled -- they're just rayon. Finally, a word about thread count. A high thread count has long been seen as the gold standard in the "best" bed sheets. The thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads in one square inch of fabric, and higher thread counts supposedly means the fabric is softer.
But experts say anything over about 300 thread count isn't necessarily softer or stronger, and may only be more expensive. The best way to buy any sheet is to put your fingers on it -- if it feels pleasant to you, that's probably the right one. Keep in mind that if you're heading off to college, you'll probably need an extra-long twin set to fit your mattress. Throughout this report, we've noted which of our picks are available in this size and others – some, for instance, may skip twin sizes all together, or won't be available in California king. (Anyone shopping for a college dorm should also check out our report on mini fridges, another dorm-room staple.) Once you've identified the best sheets for you, don't stop there: Our reports on the best mattresses, mattress toppers and pillows can help make sure your bed is as comfortable as it can be. Percale refers to a common type of weave used in cotton or cotton-blend sheets. Woven like a basket with one thread over and one thread under, percale sheets are very breathable and often lighter in weight than other sheets.
Many users describe them as "crisp," but percale may not feel soft or warm enough for some. Manmade microfiber is composed of finely woven fibers manufactured from wood pulp, or polyester and nylon blends. Microfiber sheets are quite thin, but, in spite of their seemingly fragile construction, are actually quite strong. Fans of microfiber sheets say they are soft and comfortable out of the package. They also tend to be very inexpensive. Downsides here include static cling and a tendency to attract lint. Some users also say microfiber sheets aren't as breathable as cotton sheets. Woven with four threads over one thread, sateen sheets are slightly thicker than percale sheets and have a unique luster, or sheen. They're known for a soft, smooth feel, but some users find them too warm or "slippery," and they can be less durable than percale sheets. Today's flannel sheets are usually made of cotton, although some may also use wool or synthetic fibers. The weave has a raised surface, or "nap," that makes the sheets soft and fuzzy.