The 5 Best Cotton Sheets, According To Our Testing

The Bottom Line

Our favorite cotton sheets are the L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set. They have a crisp, cool feel that drapes gently, so there’s room for air movement underneath. Plus, they’re made from American-grown Pima cotton that grows softer with each wash. 

For an upgraded pick, we like the Serena & Lily Border Frame Sateen Sheet Set, which has the signature silky smooth feel of sateen yet didn’t make us feel smothered in the Southern heat.

And for a more budget-friendly choice, the Better Homes & Gardens HygroCotton Sheets are breathable yet insulating for year-round use, and come at a fraction of the price of others on our list.

Our Testing Process

To date, 175 testers have spent over 29,292 hours testing 290 sets of cotton sheets both in the lab and in our homes. In our most recent tests, we brought the sheets home and had our Southern-based staff test them for at least six months. 

Before washing the sheets, we assessed the feel and texture of the material and checked for any imperfections like loose threads, poor stitching, or other flaws. We repeated this inspection after washing. Over the testing period, we evaluated each set based on quality, texture, durability, and breathability.

Tips for Choosing the Right Cotton Sheets

Cotton Fibers

What matters more than thread count? The quality of the cotton. Look for cotton sheets with long- or extra-long-staple fibers. By definition, long-staple cotton has fibers that measure around 1.25 inches in length, while extra-long-staple (ELS) cotton fibers measure about 2 inches. Longer fibers make for softer, more durable fabric. Our best overall cotton sheets, the L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheets, are made of long-staple pima cotton that’s grown in the U.S.

Weave 

Cotton sheets most commonly come in one of two weaves: percale and sateen.

By definition, percale sheets use a one-thread-over, one-thread-under pattern, while sateen has three or four yarns going over one. "Percale sheets are woven one-up, one-over to give the fabric more crisp, cool breathable fabric, as opposed to sateen woven cotton sheets," says Marissa Murphy of Pioneer Linens in Palm Beach, Florida.

Percale is best for hot sleepers who want a crisp, breathable sheet with a texture similar to that of a dress shirt. Sateen sheets tend to pack more fibers into the fabric, resulting in a heavier sheet with a lustrous finish. Sateen sheets are best for anyone who sleeps cool or likes a smoother feel to their sheets.

Thread Count 

Thread count is not an indication of quality—a higher thread count simply means that there are more threads packed into the fabric.

"Buying sheets based solely on thread count is a bit old-fashioned, but it still holds some weight when it comes to purchasing sheets," says Murphy. "The higher the thread count, the smoother the fabric, but the heavier the sheet, as thread count is based on the amount of cotton woven into the fabric."

Most people will find that a thread count between 200 and 500 strikes the right balance of softness and breathability. 

More Cotton Sheets to Consider

Piper & Wright Eyelet Embroidered Cotton Sheet Set: These elegant sheets come with a 5-inch embroidered hem (with eyelet details) that’s finished with a satin ribbon trim. They have a silky smooth finish that feels comfortable against the skin. They fell short of our list because they’re prone to wrinkles and have excess fabric that made for a more loose fit on our mattress. 

Opalhouse x Jungalow Printed Cotton Percale Sheet Set: This is a great cotton percale set for the budget-conscious shopper that wants to add a little color to their bedroom. The sheets are extremely lightweight and have a crisp finish that only grew softer over time. We did find that the color faded a bit after six months, and we wish they were available in solid colors, too.

Questions and Answers

Is 100% cotton better for bed sheets?

Bedding is always going to be a matter of personal preference, but cotton tends to be favored among Southerners because it’s naturally soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking—all of which make for a better night’s sleep in a warm climate.

Plus, they get softer with each wash, so while cotton sheets can be more expensive than some of their synthetic counterparts, they’re a worthy investment. 

How do you soften cotton sheets?

Always start by washing new sheets. New bedding often comes coated with a strong starch to make it stay crisp in the store, and products with labels like “wrinkle-free” or “no-iron” may also be treated with chemicals like formaldehyde. Thus, you want to wash them to reduce your risk of irritation. But chemical finishes aside, washing cotton sheets will help them to grow even softer. 

Murphy recommends avoiding fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and bleaching agents. "Over time the sheets naturally soften as the cotton linens are used," she says. "Fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and bleaching agents are all harmful to the cotton linens and add a coating to the cotton fibers, giving the linens a more stiff feeling. Be sure to always add an extra rinse to linens to make sure all the laundry detergent is out of the linens.

Why Trust Southern Living

Melanie Fincher is an editor for Southern Living who specializes in product reviews and shopping content. She’s been writing about sheets for three years now, evaluating them based on her own personal testing and that of our Southern-based staff. Melanie sleeps on L.L.Bean’s 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheets nightly, and loves their crisp, breathable feel that makes summers in Alabama more bearable. She also consulted Marissa Murphy of Pioneer Linens in Palm Beach, Florida.