An 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. Cuddle Up: Kids Dream BIG in Bedding This Cool 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 Consider this a wake-up call to bedding makers: Very few of the queen-size sheets we tested performed well enough for us to recommend, and two of those were expensive enough that we suggest using coupons or waiting until they go on sale before buying. As for the others, our tests and reporting revealed a litany of problems: • Some fitted sheets easily ripped or came apart at the seams in our strength tests, and some could tear from just a heavy cat's claws. • Other sets had fitted sheets that popped off the corners of mattresses they claimed to fit or flat sheets that fell short on the sides of the bed.
• Some wrinkle-free sheets didn't live up to their name. • One company's sets had mismatched colors. • Environmental claims were sometimes dubious. The Federal Trade Commission has told retailers to stop labeling and advertising rayon textiles as eco-friendly bamboo. Once the plant fiber is processed, it's rayon, not bamboo. Plus the processing uses toxic chemicals that emit hazardous air pollutants during manufacturing. Three sheet sets we tested claim to be bamboo but should be labeled as rayon or a rayon/cotton blend. The sheets in our tests were made of 100 percent cotton, rayon, or a rayon blend with claimed thread counts ranging from 200 to 1,000. Thread count is the number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch. Our latest tests again confirmed that higher thread count doesn't guarantee better sheets. In fact the top-scoring percale sheets, which had a claimed thread count of only 280, were strong, shrank very little, and easily fit mattresses up to 17 inches high, even after we washed and dried them five times.
Sheets are hardly a new or complicated product. So we think companies should be able to make sheets that fit well, don't shrink, are strong, and don't cost hundreds of dollars. But for now you'll need to shop carefully. Usually long-fiber cottons, such as pima, Supima, and Egyptian, are stronger and less likely to pill. Combed cotton has short fibers and debris removed, resulting in a smoother fabric. Usually cotton/polyester blends don't wrinkle as much as 100 percent cotton sheets, but they aren't as soft or as porous, so you may feel warmer while sleeping. Choose Crisp or Soft Feeling new sheets in the store won't help you figure out how the sheets will feel once they're washed. That's because sheets are usually treated with fabric enhancers and softeners to improve hand feel. To help you choose, our trained sensory panelists judged the sheets' softness and crispness after five washings. Weave also affects how the sheets feel. Percale is closely woven and feels crisper, while sateen has a softer feel and a glossier look.
Twill weaves create a heavier fabric that can feel soft or crisp. Get the Right Fit Measure your mattress' height, including mattress pads. Remember that padding settles, so measure in at least two spots away from the corners. Buy sheets that are a couple of inches deeper to allow for normal shrinkage. Before using sheets, wash them to remove finishes or excess dye. If the sheets shrink or fade, or if you don't like how they feel once they're washed, you'll need the receipt to return them. Ditto if the sheets are mislabeled or if sets are missing pieces.Trying to settle on a set of sheets? Understanding some basics about the fabrics they're made of will help you compare labels wisely and make a smart choice. "Cotton is by far the most-loved fabric for sheets," says Jim Symmes, vice president at Revman International, which manufactures sheets for prominent brands such as Tommy Bahama and Laura Ashley. "It's soft, durable, and breathes well. But improvements in the manufacturing process and finishing techniques mean that other fabrics like polyester can be a viable alternative to cotton."
What you're looking for is what the industry dubs a nice "hand"-soft and luxe to the touch. Some fabrics may fit your needs better than others. Here's a guide to choosing the sheet that's right for you: Sheets made of microfiber-fabric composed of extremely fine fibers of polyester-are affordable and soft, and they resist pilling more than traditional polyester fabric does. However, polyester is less breathable than cotton and is probably not the best choice for those with sensitive skin. The choice of crisp white sheets and rich blue bedding creates a distinctive look with a global influence. Cotton jersey sheets are also reasonably priced and very breathable because they're knit rather than woven. Jersey is basically T-shirt fabric, so jersey sheets may appeal to you if you like sleeping in a soft old shirt. Microfiber and jersey don't have the cool crispness of woven cotton, so if you like to flip your pillows to the cool side all night long, you're better off looking at an inexpensive cotton percale instead.
The highest-quality, softest sheets use cotton with extra-long fibers (called long-staple fibers) that can be spun into fine, strong yarns. Certified long-staple cottons include Egyptian, pima, and Supima®. That doesn't mean that other types of cotton don't make nice sheets, Symmes says. A fabric that is finished nicely with a high thread count can be made of a non-certified cotton and still be very comfortable. Thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch. Generally, the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet, and the more likely it will wear well-or even soften-over time. Good sheets range anywhere from 200 to 800, although you'll occasionally see numbers over 1,000. Astronomical thread counts don't necessarily mean the sheet is better-there are even tricks to inflating the thread count (such as using multiple yarns twisted together) that don't actually improve the hand of the fabric and may even detract from its quality. Don't assume a low thread count means low-quality sheets.
"There are 200-count cotton sheets out there that are finished very nicely and actually feel like they have a higher thread count," Symmes says. "Fewer chemicals and more mechanical finishings are used these days, giving a nice hand and performance." If you're watching pennies, try a 200-count combed cotton set from a well-known brand; name brands are likely to have high certification standards for their finishing processes. Symmes says that his ideal sheet is a combed cotton sheet in the 300 to 400 thread count range. Usually, the fabric weave and the manufacturing processes used won't be a big factor in your decision; often they don't even appear on the packaging. But there are a few terms you should know: Sateen is cotton cloth made with a satin weave, a weave that produces a very soft, lustrous feel but can be somewhat less durable than a tighter weave. Percale is the crisp, durable plain weave fabric typically used for sheets; it has a thread count of at least 180.