Many shoppers will upgrade to a king-size mattress to sleep like royalty, but this often means buying a new set of sheets. And, you’ll want your new sheets to match the luxurious experience of sleeping on a king bed. If you’re struggling to find the best king-size sheets for your needs, let us do some of the heavy lifting.
Our team of expert testers has tested dozens of different sheet sets from cotton to bamboo, crisp to silky, and cheap to expensive. I’ve gathered the cream of the crop and sorted them into a hand-picked list for your perusal. You can rest assured that any one of these sets should provide a sleep experience worthy of the crown.
Clarity’s Clear Winner
After testing dozens of sheets, we decided that the best king-size sheets are the Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets because of their soft, comfortable feel, deep-pocket fit, and organic materials—all at a fairly reasonable price for luxury bedding. These sheets scored 4s and above in all of our testing categories and became a quick favorite of my colleague who tested them at their home.
The Best King-Size Sheets
- Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets – Editor’s Pick
- Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Bamboo Sheets – Best Affordable King-Size Sheets
- Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets Set – Best Luxury King Size Sheets
- Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set – Best Cooling King-Size Sheets
- Silk & Snow Egyptian Cotton Sheets – Best Cotton King-Size Sheets
- Boll & Branch Flannel Sheet Set – Best Flannel King-Size Sheets
How We Tested and Selected the Sheets
How sheets feel is a subjective measure, and every sleeper has their own unique preferences. However, when it comes to king mattresses, you want the sheets to enhance the experience, so we opted for ones with a comfortable, luxurious feel. This could be silky bamboo or crisp cotton, whether you prefer a more matte percale weave or a smoother sateen.
Our testers rate every sheet set’s feel out of 5, based not only on their experience with the sheets but also on whether they’d appeal to a wide audience. For this list, we only included sheets that earned at least a 4/5 in this category, with a number earning perfect scores for truly soft and blissful sleep.
King mattresses are the largest standard bed size, so finding sheets that properly fit is essential. Aside from seeing whether sheets are true to the advertised size, we also look at how tightly they fit the mattress. Many sheets are described as “deep-pocket,” which means they fit beds up to 18” thick, so we make sure to try them on super-tall mattresses.
The finer details also matter, like how snug the corners feel, so they don’t come flying off. For king mattresses, the fit of the top sheet matters too—you’ll want it to drape over the edges without your bed peeking out. All of these factors are included in the final fit score. For these king-size sheets, we aimed to include mattresses that we rated at least a 4/5 for overall fit.
Since king beds are among the most expensive mattress sizes, it follows that king sheets also come in at a higher price. Rather than choosing the cheapest set, you want to be sure that your choice has the best overall value. These sheets should not only come at a reasonable price, but also feel well-made, high-quality, and comfortable.
To ensure you get the best bang for your buck, we also rate the value of every sheet set out of 5. We take a look at the suggested retail price and weigh it against our experience, with the value score reflecting if it’s worth it, in all senses of the word. For the list below, I aimed to prioritize sheets that scored at least a 4/5 in this area, as well as various price points for shoppers of all budgets.
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches selected the best king-size sheets by looking for top performers in the categories above: feel, fit, and value.
But our full process involves testing several aspects of a sheet set’s performance, including cooling, durability, and more. We evaluate and score these factors using specialized technology as well as firsthand accounts of how a sheet set feels to testers with different body types.
Once we have all those scores, we calculate the overall score using a weighted formula. This overall score is a good indicator of a sheet set’s general quality, and is always a number out of 5.
As we decide which sheets to feature on any roundup, we only include those with an overall score of 3.5 out of 5 or higher. Even if a sheet set does certain things well, we won’t point you towards it if it falls below this baseline.
- 500+ mattresses and 100+ sleep accessories tested in person
- 30+ data points collected for each bed
- Certified Sleep Science Coaches on staff
- Expert input from our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta (MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM) and our Chief Medical Product Tester Dr. Hannah Habeeb (DPT)
- 43,000+ readers who bought a new bed based on our recommendations
Learn more about Mattress Clarity.
Read about our testing experience with each of the sheets on our list below.
Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets – Editor’s Pick
Saatva Organic Sateen Sheet Set
Made from 100% organic cotton with a 300-thread count, these sheets offer a soft, breathable sleep experience.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.5 / 5
Saatva is a renowned and popular luxury mattress brand, and a favorite of ours to recommend at Mattress Clarity. Since the brand makes such high-quality beds, we weren’t surprised when Saatva’s Organic Sateen Sheets knocked it out of the park.
Made of 100-percent organic long-staple cotton, these sheets have a “crisp yet soft feel,” per expert tester Sosha Lewis. These sheets earned an impressive overall score of 4.5/5, with no category dropping beneath a 4/5. They’re versatile, well-rounded, luxurious-feeling, and the perfect addition to any king-size mattress.
Sosha usually opts for percale sheets, so sateen was a bit out of her comfort zone. Moreover, she initially didn’t quite enjoy their initial feel. “Out of the box, these sheets were pretty stiff, especially for sateen,” she said. “But after several washes, they became totally different sheets. The overall feel is super-soft but still crisp, what I look for in a set of sheets.”
Even after going through the laundry machine multiple times, Sosha found that the sheets held up well. “The material feels durable, and there’s no pilling or tearing,” she explained. “These sheets are also pretty thick, so I’m certain they’ll last me a long time.”
Sosha also “loved” how the sheets fit on her 14” Nolah Evolution mattress. “These sheets haven’t slipped or slid off, even with my very restless husband sleeping with them,” she said. Saatva notes that these sheets can fit mattresses up to 16” thick. If your bed is taller than that, you might prefer the Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets, which say they can fit beds up to 20” thick.
These sheets are made from cotton, which offers not just a soft feel but also some breathability. “While I wouldn’t call these sheets cool to the touch, I felt they stayed temperature neutral throughout the night,” Sosha explained. She thought that these sheets would work well for sleepers who sleep hot, cold, or in between without incident.
If you’re interested in trying out the Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets, you can purchase them on the brand’s site for about $295 for a king-size set. Sosha thought this was a bit pricey, especially since she had to work to get them to the feel she wanted, but ultimately praised them as “high quality and luxuriously comfortable.” If they’re in your budget, definitely spring for them.
Shoppers also get a nice 45-night sleep trial and a 1-year warranty with these sheets, and we’ve had only great experiences with Saatva’s customer service. For more information, check out our full Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets review.
Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Bamboo Sheets – Best Affordable King-Size Sheets
Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Rayon Sheets
These rayon sheets include a blend of cotton and bamboo for soft, breathable, and cooling comfort.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.2 / 5
Maybe you’ve put most of your budget toward a new king-size bed and are looking for a more reasonably priced set of sheets to complement it. For a set that feels high-quality and high-end that won’t break the bank, I recommend Brooklyn Bedding’s Deep Pocket Bamboo Sheets.
These sheets feature a blend of bamboo rayon and cotton fibers for cool, breathable, and soft sleep. My colleague Kenny Timper also gave these sheets perfect ratings for their durability and snug fit. As the name suggests, these deep-pocket sheets can fit beds up to 17” thick.
Brooklyn Bedding claims the blend of bamboo and cotton fibers lends this set extra softness and durability, both of which Kenny found in abundance. “These sheets are some of the thickest I’ve tested, but it’s not too thick that it feels heavy or overbearing,” he said. “They definitely feel durable and high-quality.”
Kenny also thought the sheets were “very soft” to lie under. He noted that while you won’t get the buttery smooth, ultra-luxurious feel of some silk sheets, they still felt comfortable. “I think most sleepers would be happy to sleep on these every day and elevate their sleep environment,” he added.
These sheets also fit onto Kenny’s 14.5” Titan Plus Elite without a hitch. “I didn’t have to wrestle them on, and there was still plenty of room,” he said. “The corners of the fitted sheet felt tight, and there’s no shifting, so restless sleepers should be set.”
Where Kenny did encounter some issues was with the sheets’ cooling capability. “I’m a hot sleeper, and I could feel myself getting a bit warm, whether I lay on top of them or underneath them,” he explained. “They’re nice and thick, but I think this is trapping more heat than I’d like, so I’d probably recommend these for cooler seasons or climates.” If you want a nice set of breathable and cooling sheets, check out the Brooklinen Luxe Core Set, which Kenny had a much better experience with.
Kenny called these Brooklyn Bedding sheets a “solid deal” for the quality and experience he received. Before discounts, they’ll run you about $179 for a king-size set, but frequent sales and discounts have them listed for a little under $135. Moreover, the brand offers a 30-day return window and a 1-year warranty with your purchase.
Find out more in our dedicated review for the Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Bamboo Sheets.
Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets Set – Best Luxury King Size Sheets
Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets
These bamboo viscose sheets are known for their softness and temperature-regulating properties, ideal for hot sleepers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.8 / 5
King mattresses are already pretty luxurious, so why not match the experience with some luxury sheets? Cozy Earth’s Bamboo Sheets Set should do the trick. Described as “the softest, most luxurious sheets I’ve ever tried” by my colleague Sosha Lewis, these 100-percent bamboo viscose sheets have a silky, cool feel.
Sosha awarded these sheets a number of 5/5 ratings, including the feel, fit, and overall experience she had with them. They quickly became one of her “favorites of all time,” and luxury shoppers will likely make the same judgment after trying them for themselves.
From the first moment Sosha cozied up with these sheets, it was a love story for the ages. “These are probably the best sheets I’ve ever slept on, and they continue to be,” she said. This soft feel also didn’t affect the set’s durability, as Sosha noted they held up after multiple washes with no pilling, fraying, or fading.
Bamboo has a silkier feel compared to cotton or microfiber sheets, and it’s also cooler, as Sosha found out. “These sheets offer a distinct cooling effect that my spouse and I both love,” she said. “My husband is quite possibly the world’s hottest sleeper, but he claimed these sheets kept him cool throughout the night.”
Sosha’s husband also put the sheets’ fit to the test with his rowdy tossing and turning. “Most of the time, our sheets look like they were in the ring with him for a couple of rounds,” she explained. “But these have stayed securely on the mattress every night.” For reference, Sosha has a 14” Nolah Evolution mattress at home, and Cozy Earth says these sheets should snugly fit beds up to 20” tall.
The only complaint Sosha had about these sheets was that they wrinkled easily, though she noted this could be a matter of personal preference. “When I pointed it out to my husband, he said he hadn’t noticed,” she said. Still, she didn’t knock off any points, and it couldn’t outweigh her enjoyment of the sheets.
As a luxury set, these Cozy Earth sheets are on the pricier side, coming in at $328 for a king-size set. Sosha thought that they were “worth every penny,” but agreed that they weren’t the best for budget shoppers. These folks might like the Brooklyn Bedding Deep Pocket Bamboo set instead.
If you’re curious about trying these sheets for yourself, Cozy Earth offers a 100-day trial. You’ll have to pay for return shipping, but we think it’s a fair trade-off for such a large window. We’re also impressed by the exceptionally long warranty—10 years—that even covers pilling. It’s a bit of extra insurance that comes with the high price point.
For more, check out our full Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets review.
Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set – Best Cooling King-Size Sheets
Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet Set
These 480-thread count sheets made from long-staple cotton offer a buttery-soft feel and excellent breathability.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.4 / 5
Waking up sweaty from overheating on your king-size mattress? A cooling set of sheets could be the answer to your prayers. The Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet Set is one of the brand’s best sellers, and one of the best for hot sleepers. It has a lightweight and breathable feel that keeps air flowing throughout the night.
But they don’t feel like thin, cheap sheets. As “Luxe” would suggest, these sheets have a super-soft, durable feel. My colleague Kenny Timper gave them a 5/5 for durability, as well as additional perfect scores for fit and his overall experience. For cooling, the sheets earned an impressive 4.5/5 score.
These sheets don’t have any cooling features “baked in,” as Kenny put it. They’re made from 100-percent long-staple cotton, a more durable and breathable fiber than other cotton blends. “They don’t need any extra cooling features, though,” Kenny said. “They’re breathable and even a little cool-to-the-touch, which is impressive for cotton.”
The sateen finish gives the sheets their smooth, luxurious feel and provides a matte sleep surface. Kenny appreciated how they remained soft and lightweight without feeling flimsy or cheap. “I doubt these will wear out fast or tear quickly,” he said. “They’re going into my regular rotation for the long haul.”
Kenny tried these sheets out on his 14.5” Titan Plus Elite at home and had no complaints about how they fit. “There’s plenty of wiggle room for an even bigger mattress,” he added. Brooklinen says that these sheets can fit beds up to 16”, with 12” to 16” being the ideal range. So if you have a thinner mattress, you might prefer the Silk & Snow Egyptian Cotton Sheets Set.
Before promotions or sales, a king-size set of the Brooklinen Luxe Core sheets will run you almost $250. Kenny called this a “little pricey,” but noted that “the quality and durability is there to back it up.” He thought that hot sleepers wanting to treat themselves to something premium-feeling should go for it.
You also get 365 days to try out the sheets for yourself, but note that a $9.95 return fee will be deducted from your refund if you initiate one. You can also return them in-store for free. If you decide to keep them, they’re backed by Brooklinen’s 1-year warranty.
Find out more in our full Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set review.
Silk & Snow Egyptian Cotton Sheets – Best Cotton King-Size Sheets
Silk & Snow Egyptian Cotton Bed Sheets
Choose Silk & Snow’s Egyptian Cotton Bed Sheets for a reasonably priced, breathable sheet set with a high-quality satin feel.
Mattress Clarity Score
4 / 5
Many folks opt for cotton sheets because of their relative affordability despite their natural origin and high quality. Long-staple Egyptian cotton is some of the best for durable and smooth-feeling sheets. This is what the Silk & Snow Egyptian Cotton Sheets are made of.
I tested out these sheets firsthand, and while they weren’t a hit for me, the friend I so lovingly bestowed them upon raves about their luxurious feel—the reason for their 4.5/5 experience score. These sheets also earned 4s in multiple categories, including feel, durability, temperature regulation, and value, pointing to a well-rounded sleep experience.
The Silk & Snow Egyptian Cotton Sheets have a lightweight, airy feel. Out of the box, I thought they were surprisingly thin; I was surprised when I could easily see my hand through them. But I wouldn’t call this the measure of their quality. They still had an enviable sturdiness to them, and when I tried to rip them with all my might, they held fast.
I’ll admit that I prefer bamboo to cotton most of the time, and the sateen finish of these sheets was more matte than the super-silky feel I’m used to. After trying this set out for a few nights and deciding they weren’t for me, I offered it to my friend. He raved about how luxurious and soft these sheets were, so I think it’s a matter of personal preference. If you love a cotton sateen sheet, I’m certain these will deliver.
Egyptian cotton is prized for its breathability, and I’d agree that this is the overall feel for these sheets in terms of temperature regulation. In my super-cold room, they felt comfortably cozy, as if they were holding on to just the right amount of heat. My friend used these sheets when his A/C went out for weeks in the spring—the ultimate test of keeping cool—and he surprisingly had no complaints. I imagine that most hot sleepers will experience these sheets as temperature-neutral.
My main qualm with these sheets comes down to the fit. The fitted sheet for this set only has elastic around the corners, which I’ve never seen before. I believe that this is to better help them fit a thick mattress, but it ended up billowing out around the perimeter of my 14.5” Saatva Classic, and I had to repeatedly tuck it under the entire mattress. I think for a thinner mattress, it might work better, but I much preferred how the Boll & Branch Flannel Sheets fit my bed.
Silk & Snow tends to offer more affordably priced but still high-quality products, which I’d say the Egyptian Cotton Sheets embody. A king-size set will run you $175 before sales, which is pretty reasonable for pure Egyptian Cotton. Shoppers also receive a 100-night sleep trial and a 1-year warranty with their purchase.
Boll & Branch Flannel Sheet Set – Best Flannel King-Size Sheets
Boll & Branch Flannel Sheets
The Boll & Branch flannel sheets are luxurious and offer an extremely soft feel.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.4 / 5
Flannel sheets are the best for cozying up on a cold day. As a Midwesterner, they’ve quickly become my favorite for the winter. The Boll & Branch Flannel Sheet Set is a proud member of my bedding rotation, and I think that king-size mattress owners will love these sheets just as much as I do.
These flannel sheets have a super-soft feel, for which I gave them a perfect score, and are great for keeping warm without overheating. The best part is that they get softer with every wash, and even after using them for over a year, I wouldn’t change my 5-star experience rating.
As I write this, I’m snuggled up in these sheets now, enjoying their super-soft feel. While I usually opt for a bamboo sheet for a silkier feel, the organic cotton of this set is perfect for a Midwest winter. They almost feel fuzzy from their softness, and they somehow remind me of tissues with lotion between them, though a super heavy-duty version you can wrap yourself in.
Per the care instructions, I popped these into the laundry before I first tried them—though they felt ultra-soft even fresh from the box. I can confirm that they have gotten even softer with each wash.
And with each wash, these Boll & Branch sheets have also retained their sturdiness. These sheets are pretty thick and clearly well-made. They offer a small amount of stretch, but when I tug hard on them, I can tell they’re not going to rip easily. I also haven’t noticed any pilling, even though they’ve been in repeated use for the past few months.
These sheets also fit great over my gargantuan 14.5” Saatva Classic. I also have my bed up against the wall and on a platform frame, and everything is snug and proportionate. The flat sheet has an oversized fit and drapes nicely over my low-profile bed setup.. I even had a bit of wiggle room, so if your bed is taller than mine, these are a good deep-pocket option.
As I’ve mentioned, these sheets have a cozy feel. When I first received them, it was the summer, and I gave them the old college try right out of the box. Needless to say, don’t use them in a heat wave. I’m a hot sleeper, and while I think they aren’t the heaviest, densest thing in the world, I think they are more insulating than breathable. If you want something cooler, I recommend the Brooklinen Luxe Core Set.
Boll & Branch is a high-end brand, and these sheets’ price reflects that. . The king-size set will run you $400 before sales or coupons. But given the 100-percent organic cotton material and the overall softness, quality, and durability of these sheets, I wouldn’t call it highway robbery. They’re a great fit for luxury shoppers who have the means to invest in sheets that will last.
Latest Updates: In February 2026, we updated this roundup to reflect recent re-testing. We kept a lot of the same contenders, like Saatva’s Organic Sateen Sheets and Brooklinen’s Luxe Core Set, but we added some new winners, like the Silk & Snow Egyptian Cotton Sheets. To decide on our final list, we went more in-depth about what makes a good king-size sheet and prioritized these factors for our lineup.
Other Sheets Considered
Didn’t find the right match above? Here are some other sheets that should do the trick for a king-size mattress.
- Tuft & Needle Classic Percale Sheets – If you prefer crisp, cotton sheets, the Tuft & Needle Percale sheets could be a great option. The percale weave makes them feel like a freshly pressed shirt, and the cotton gives them a breathable feel. This sheet has sturdy elastic and deep pockets, so it should stay in place on any king-size bed. They don’t exactly have a super-soft and silky feel, though, which some sleepers might prefer.
- Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheets – The Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed sheets are made with long-staple cotton, which is particularly durable. The sateen weave gives them an incredibly soft, satin-like feel. The pockets are also 17” deep, which means they can fit most mattresses very comfortably, and you shouldn’t worry about the corners popping up if you toss and turn. But while these sheets are durable and luxurious, they may not fit within everyone’s budget.
- LUXOME Luxury Sheets – This set lives up to its name with its silky-smooth feel, thanks to its sateen weave and 100-percent bamboo construction. These sheets also have a cool, breathable feel and are pretty affordable for a high-end price. However, unlike most of the options on this list, there’s no sleep trial, and the brand is a bit choosy about returns.
What Makes a Great King-Size Sheets Set
The best king-size sheets will look, feel, and fit great on your mattress. They should only elevate your sleep experience, not cheapen it. Below, I’ll dive deeper into what I prioritized—and what you should prioritize—in choosing the right sheets for your bed.
Feel
While it’s a metric that we try to rate and measure, the feel of a sheet set is pretty subjective at its core. You may have an idea of the perfect sheet you love or have opinions formed on certain materials and weaves, or you might like to go with the flow.
Either way, our testers take the time to gauge and describe these sheets in a way so you can get a feel for them without touching them. We try to make our ratings as unbiased as possible. For example, though I didn’t enjoy the feel of the Silk & Snow Egyptian Cotton sheets, some of my friends told me they thought they felt soft and luxurious. Thus, I rated them highly.
But if you’re doing some sleuthing on your own, you might wonder what decides the feel of a sheet. The materials used in the construction of your sheets are the first factor. On this list, you see mostly cotton and bamboo, both of which yield soft, comfortable sheets, though bamboo is described as silkier. I dive deeper into some of the most common materials in a dedicated section down below.
Sometimes, what’s more important for determining feel is the weave. This refers to how the fibers are woven together, with each iteration yielding vastly different results, even with the same fabric. If you’re looking for buttery-soft bedding or more of a matte feel, it might not be a choice between bamboo or cotton, but rather between cotton sateen or cotton percale. Here are some of the most common weaves I see for sheets:
- Percale sheets have a breathable, lightweight feel that most describe as “crisp.”
- Sateen sounds like “satin,” but the feel is more silky smooth.
- Twill weaves are heavier, lending fabrics a more durable feel.
- Flannel sheets are cozy, just like the clothing of the same name.
Fit
A king-size bed measures 76” by 80”, making for quite a lot of surface area for you to curl up on. You’ll want this entire stretch of mattress to be covered, and snugly so. That’s where the fit of your sheets comes in.
You want your sheets to fit snugly around the perimeter of your mattress. This means no bunching, tearing, or flowing excess. The best fitted sheets will have elastic all around, not just at the corners. Some even come with added corner straps to better secure them to your mattress. This ensures everything stays in place when you’re making your bed or rolling around in it during the night. The flat sheet that goes on top, however, will need to be oversized so it can drape over your bed or be tucked in for a good night’s sleep.
Pocket depth is another important aspect of fit. It refers to what kinds of mattresses it can accommodate. Standard beds are between 8 and 12 inches tall, which most sheets can easily go over. But for beds that are thicker than this, you’ll want deep-pocket sheets. As the name implies, these sheets are designed to accommodate these larger mattresses. But on the flipside, if you have a thinner mattress, you may want to steer clear of these sheets. You’ll likely have a lot of excess puckering or billowing, which can turn making the bed into a hassle.
Value
King-size sheets use the most material out of any bed size, so they will cost the most as a result. (Most companies will price a California king and king at the same price. Split king sheets are the only sets that will likely cost even more, as many include two fitted sheets.)
When you’re shopping for new king-size sheets on a budget, you’re probably tempted to sort by lowest price on Amazon and go from there. However, it’s important to ensure that you’re purchasing high-quality sheets, not ones made by cutting corners to cut costs.
We give every sheet a rating out of 5 for overall value. After looking at the retail price, we consider the quality of the materials, the construction, how the sheets performed, and the manufacturer’s policies. If we felt our experience either met or exceeded expectations based on the price, it would earn a high rating.
In the absence of any reviews, you can always look for sheets that offer generous return policies. Many of the same online brands that offer sleep trials for mattresses will do so for their luxury bedding. This allows you to get a feel for the sheets yourself rather than rely on other’s testimony or possibly biased reviews from the brand’s site.
We always see generous company policies as a sign of confidence in the product, too. If a set of sheets comes with a particularly generous warranty, it follows that the manufacturer believes the product will last long enough to be worth insuring. This can also up the overall value.
And when it comes time to purchase, I always recommend you plan strategically. Many companies will discount sheets in addition to mattresses, so be sure to check out the holiday discounts throughout the year.
What Else Is Important When Buying Sheets?
Aside from the three areas above, we evaluate a multitude of other factors to determine what makes the best bed sheets. Here are some other considerations you may want to take into account before purchasing a new set of sheets.
Materials
There are many different types of materials used for sheets. Cotton and bamboo were prominently featured throughout this list, but there are also microfiber or polyester, linens, and silks, to name just a few. Not all materials will feel or perform the same, either.
Microfiber sheets have an affordable price point, and they’re often some of the most wrinkle-free and easy-to-care-for sheets. But microfiber is often a synthetic, man-made fabric (like polyester), which might not appeal to the eco-conscious shopper.
A good alternative that won’t break the bank is cotton sheets. There are three different types of cotton: Supima, standard, and Egyptian cotton, and these can all be made with different thread counts because of how the cotton fibers can be processed. Standard cotton is going to be the cheapest, while Supima cotton is the most regulated and consistent. Egyptian cotton is often touted as the best of the three in terms of breathability. Organic cotton sheets are a great green option, too.
Bamboo–either viscose or rayon–sheets feel soft, smooth, and silky, especially when compared to a cotton set that’s made with the percale weave. I like bamboo sheets if you’re looking for extra cooling, as this textile is known for its thermal properties, and I’ve noticed it feels the coolest to the touch.
Linen sheets are another common sheet type and have an almost scratchier feel, but in a good way, since they’re made from spun flax fibers. They make for a durable sheet that’s great for warmer climates. It’s also hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly.
Silk sheets are synonymous with luxury. The best are made from 100-percent mulberry silk, known for its sleek feel and moisture-wicking properties, and will have a high momme count (basically, the silk version of thread count).
Thread Count
Some shoppers agonize over what the best thread count is for a new sheet set, often tossing out so-called cheap sheets because of a low thread count. The reality is that it’s not so simple. The ideal thread count for a set of sheets depends both on the material and the weave.
For example, a 400-thread-count sheet is generally on the higher end for quality cotton sheets, but it would be on the lower end for Egyptian cotton sheets. Good-quality linen sheets can have a thread count as low as 80, which may sound minuscule to shoppers used to seeing numbers in the thousands. If you want to learn more about this nuanced scale, check out our thread count guide.
Cooling Capability
Sleeping hot is a common complaint amongst sleepers, myself included. “Keeping a cool and comfortable sleep environment is paramount for quality sleep,” says our chief medical advisor, Dr. Raj Dasgupta. “Aside from a cooling mattress, you can choose breathable bedding to address overheating.” Cooling sheets, specifically, are great at keeping things cool throughout the night, so we evaluate every set we test for its ability to regulate temperature.
Some sheets are designed and marketed as cooling, while others are cozier. After a few nights of sleeping on these sheets, we have a good idea of how they’ll feel—many of our testers are hot sleepers themselves and can offer firsthand experience. All of these sheets receive a rating out of 5 for temperature regulation, with 4/5 offering good airflow, while 4.5 or 5/5 providing more active cooling.
Here’s what we’ve learned over the years: Bamboo and silk are some of the best sheets for a cooler-to-the-touch feel, with bamboo being the more affordable option. Cotton is great for breathability, but it likely won’t provide active cooling. Thicker-feeling weaves like flannel or twill will also run hotter than percale or sateen. You can also check out our recommendations for the best cooling sheets.
FAQs
Who makes the best king-size sheets?
In our opinion, we think Saatva makes some of the best king-size sheets, particularly the Organic Sateen set. These sheets are made from premium organic cotton and get softer with every wash. They quickly became a favorite of my colleague, who loved their silky, cool feel.
What is the best thread count for king-size sheets?
It’s a myth that a high thread count is always better. Thread count varies depending on the material and weave of your sheets. I recommend doing some research on what’s a good range for your preferred style and going from there. Remember that quality is better than quantity. If sheets look and feel durable and are made with vetted materials despite a so-called low thread count, don’t toss them out as a consideration.
Who makes the highest-quality bed sheets?
We featured many brands that make high-quality bed sheets on this list. Take a look at Saatva, Cozy Earth, and Boll & Branch for some high-end options. Silk & Snow, Brooklyn Bedding, and Brooklinen are great for those who want a great deal on luxurious-feeling bedding.
Can California king-size sheets fit on a king-size bed?
The only pieces of a king-size set of sheets that you can use on a California king bed are the pillowcases and the top sheet. The measurements for a California king are 72” by 84”, while a king measures 76” by 80”. The fitted sheet from a king-size set won’t fit a California king-size mattress. The good news is that most companies price a king and a California king-size set of sheets the same. Or, some companies will sell individual fitted sheets.
References
- Solorio-Ferrales, K., Villa-Angulo, C., Villa-Angulo, R., & Villa-Angulo, J. R. (2017). Comparison of regenerated bamboo and cotton performance in warm environment. Journal of Applied Research and Technology. JART, 15(3), 205–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jart.2017.02.002
- Das, B., Padaki, N. V., Jaganathan, K., & Ashoka, H. M. (2021). Comparative Studies on Thermal Comfort Properties of Eri Silk, Mulberry Silk, Wool and Linen Fibres. Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India): Series E, 102(1), 145–154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40034-021-00208-2
