Best Material for Bed Sheets: Your Expert Guide to Sheet Shopping (2025)

Updated: December 20, 2024

With so many types of bed sheets available—from cotton and linen to bamboo and flannel—it can be hard to know which is the right material for you. Each fabric type has unique properties and advantages. This means the best material for your bed sheets will depend on your specific preferences and sleep needs.

In this article, we’ll examine the pros and cons of various bedding materials to help you discover your ideal bedding match. Learn more about different materials, weaves, and thread counts to find the perfect sheets for you and elevate your sleep experience.

 

Types of Bed Sheets

 

Cotton

Cotton bedding is a widely popular option made from a variety of cotton plant fibres. More affordable options, like short-staple Upland cotton, are known for finished products with a crisp feel and matte appearance. Long-staple cotton varieties, like Pima or Egyptian cotton, produce smooth, lustrous, and more luxurious bedding options that tend to be priced higher.

Growing cotton requires large amounts of land and water, making it less sustainable than some other materials. However, organic cotton is becoming more accessible as a green alternative.

While cotton is known for being breathable and easy to care for, it also has its drawbacks. For example, high heat can cause shrinkage, and some weaves tend to wrinkle easily.

READ MORE: How often should you wash your sheets?

The weave of your cotton sheets plays a large role in how you want the sheets to feel against your body.

• Percale–weave cotton sheets use a one-thread-over, one-thread-under pattern that creates a breathable and crisp-feeling bed sheet.
• Sateen–weave cotton sheets use a one-thread-under, three-to-four-threads-over pattern that feels silky and has a subtle sheen.
• Other weaves include twill, which is durable and resembles denim, and jersey, which is stretchy and similar to a comfortable T-shirt.

You might like cotton sheets if you’re looking for a versatile set of sheets that’s comfortable, breathable, and easy to care for.

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Bamboo

Bamboo bedding is crafted from bamboo plant fibres, which are processed to make materials such as rayon, modal, and lyocell. These fibres are woven into sheets known for their smooth feel and cooling effects. Bamboo’s natural properties also make bamboo products excellent at wicking moisture, keeping you dry and comfortable while you sleep.

Bamboo fabrics are praised for their comfort and known for sustainability, despite some chemical use in production. That’s because bamboo plants tend to grow quickly, and they need less water and fertilizer than cotton. Similarly to lyocell, bamboo fibre production uses a near closed-loop process. This means there’s little to no runoff during manufacturing.

READ MORE: Bamboo vs cotton sheets

While bamboo bedding is often fairly durable, it may require some extra care when laundering. It’s also worth noting that bamboo sheets with higher thread counts and sateen weaves tend to be less breathable, leading to potential heat-trapping.

You might like bamboo sheets if you’re looking for a smooth, cooling set of sheets with antibacterial properties.

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Linen

Linen is a material made from the cellulose fibres in flax plants. The long fibres in flax make for a durable fabric that feels slightly coarse at first but softens with each wash.

Flax plants are among the most sustainable crops. Much like bamboo, they require minimal space and water. Flax is naturally pest-resistant and resilient, so it uses little to no pesticides or fertilizers. Additionally, most parts of the plant can be used, resulting in minimal waste after harvesting.

Known as a popular warm-weather material, linen has excellent temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking properties. It’s a highly breathable material because its thick fibres aren’t woven together tightly, giving it a unique structure. Linen feels crisp yet soft and doesn’t tend to pill.

READ MORE: Linen vs cotton sheets

While linen is effective at keeping you warm in the winter, cold sleepers might prefer something thicker and warmer, such as flannel or microfiber. Linen is also not ideal if you’re seeking a smooth, wrinkle-free look. One of linen’s trademarks is its relaxed, low-maintenance appearance.

Despite the carefree look, laundering linen can be more complex and time-consuming compared to standard cotton or polyester sheets. High-quality linen also tends to be more expensive than these options.

You might like linen sheets if you’re looking for a temperature-regulating set of sheets with a focus on sustainability and crisp comfort that will get softer with each wash.

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Flannel

Flannel is a material that’s brushed before it’s woven, creating thicker fibres and giving them a fuzzier texture. Flannel is typically made from cotton fibre or a cotton blend.

Because brushed fibres become softer and thicker, flannel is a warm and heavy material, ideal for sleepers who run cold or are looking for a set of sheets for cooler months.

Although flannel is fairly durable and easy to care for, an all-cotton composition could be at risk of shrinking in the dryer. Some flannel sheets are also prone to lint and pilling.

You might like flannel sheets if you’re looking for a soft and fuzzy set of sheets to keep you warm in cooler seasons or climates.

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Lyocell

Lyocell is a plant-based, semi-synthetic fibre typically made from eucalyptus, birch, or bamboo. It’s also sold under the brand name Tencel.

Lyocell is usually produced through a sustainable, closed-loop process that minimizes or eliminates pollution and runoff during manufacturing. Wood is crushed and dissolved in a non-toxic solution, turned into a pulp, and spun into fibre. These long fibres give lyocell its smooth feel.

READ MORE: Lyocell vs cotton sheets

Lyocell is cool to the touch, absorbent, and moisture-wicking for a cooler, airier sleep. While they require extra care, you don’t need to wash them as often due to their antibacterial properties. It’s even possible to damage lyocell sheets by overwashing them.

You might like lyocell sheets if you’re looking for a sustainable, smooth and sleek set of sheets that require a bit of extra care.

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Polyester

Polyester is a popular synthetic textile made from petroleum-derived plastic. It’s often blended with other materials like cotton and used in clothing garments.

As a bedding option, polyester sheets are often low-maintenance, wrinkle-free, affordable, and durable. They are not, however, known to be breathable or moisture-wicking, so may not be ideal for warm sleepers. This may also mean you’ll have to wash them more frequently.

Polyester is also not considered to be eco-friendly, as it’s made from a non-renewable resource and isn’t biodegradable. Some manufacturers are helping this issue by producing bedding and garments made with recycled polyester.

You might like polyester sheets if you’re looking for an affordable, easy-to-care-for set of sheets, and breathability isn’t a top concern for you.

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Microfiber

Microfiber sheets are often made from a polyester or polyester blend base and undergo a brushing process to achieve a softer feel, similar to flannel.

The term “microfiber” refers to the extremely fine fibres spun from polyester, which have a diameter smaller than most materials, even silk. This ultra-fine fabric results in a durable, soft, and lightweight material that is low maintenance and wrinkle-resistant.

Because of their fine fibres and dense weave, microfiber sheets are less breathable than cotton and can hold static charges, which may attract dust and pet hair. Microfiber sheets retain heat well, making them ideal for colder weather, but they may not be as comfortable in warmer climates.

READ MORE: Microfiber vs cotton sheets

You might like microfiber sheets if you’re looking for a warm yet lightweight set of sheets at an affordable price.

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Silk

Silk is a highly renowned bedding material and is often seen as the height of luxury. Made from the inner cocoon layer of silkworms, silk is known for its smooth feel and lustrous appearance.

Although silk is made from a renewable resource, it isn’t considered a vegan product. There are also questions surrounding its sustainability. Silkworms feed off mulberry trees, which need large amounts of land, water, and fertilizer to grow.

Many silk bedding fans enjoy its anti-frizz and hypoallergenic properties. It’s also considered to be gentle on the hair and a good choice for sleepers with sensitive skin. 100% silk bedding is often costly and requires more delicate care. Laundered properly, silk bedding should last for a few years.

You might like silk sheets if you’re looking for cool, smooth sheets and you don’t mind a higher price tag or specific laundering requirements.

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What does thread count mean?

Thread count measures fabric density, by counting the number of threads woven over one another in one square inch, including both warp (lengthwise) and weft (widthwise) threads.

For instance, 200 warp and 200 weft threads would result in a thread count of 400. The best thread count for sheets depends on the type of fabric used, and what you want to get out of your bedding.

READ MORE: What is a good thread count for sheets?

 

Is a higher thread count better?

A high thread count (e.g., 600+) doesn’t guarantee better quality and can sometimes reduce breathability. While some sheets with thread counts above 800 can be soft and durable, others use multi-ply yarns. This makes the fabric coarser and heavier, and it can hinder airflow.

The ideal thread count for sheets will depend on the type of fabric, its quality, its weave, and what properties you are searching for in a set of sheets.

Cotton, polyester, and bamboo sheets are more commonly defined by thread count, while linen is typically measured in grams per square metre (GSM). Silk is measured in momme or denier.

Look for thread counts in the following ranges.

 

Best Thread Counts

• Regular/Short-Staple Cotton: 200–400
• Egyptian Cotton: 300–400
• Bamboo: 250–350
• Tencel: 250–400
• Linen: 80–140

 

Best Gram per Square Metre

• Linen: 150–170
• Flannel: 170+
• Microfiber: 90–120
• Jersey: 150–160

 

Best Momme & Denier

• Momme (mm) measures the weight in pounds of silk that is 100 yards long by 45 inches wide. Depending on how light or heavyweight you’d like your silk sheets to be, explore options in the 18–30 mm range.
• Although less common, silk may also be measured in denier, which describes the thickness and weight of individual fibers or threads. It indicates the mass in grams per 9,000 metres of yarn. One silk fibre should be approximately one denier.

 

What are the best bed sheets for hot sleepers?

Bamboo sheets or lyocell sheets are the coolest to the touch and offer moisture-wicking for a cool and dry sleep. Linen sheets are also a strong contender for hot sleepers since they’re lightweight and highly breathable.

 

What are the best bed sheets for cold sleepers?

Cotton is great at regulating temperature. While breathable, it also keeps you warm if you tend to sleep cold, especially if it has a higher thread count. Cotton sheets with high thread counts and sateen weaves are particularly effective at retaining warmth compared to percale weaves.

Flannel, also often made from cotton, is brushed to be exceptionally warm and cozy. This makes flannel sheets another great choice for staying extra warm in the colder months.

 

Which bed sheets should I buy?

Choosing your ideal bed sheets depends on your specific sleep needs and preferences, such as temperature regulation, fabric feel, durability, mattress size, and any sensitivities to certain materials.

Here are some of our top picks for bed sheets:

• Douglas Egyptian Cotton Sheets take the classic feel and durability of cotton to the next level. Made with Egyptian 400-thread count cotton for a smooth look and feel, these cotton sheets are also sturdy and long-lasting.
• Octave Bamboo Sheets are great if you need help to sleep cool at night. These 300-thread count sheets are extra silky and cool to the touch, going the extra mile to stop you from overheating in bed.
• Logan & Cove Linen Sheets are made with 100% European Flax® Linen. They’re manufactured at 160 GSM for the perfect balance of softness, crispness, and breathability. These sheets are stonewashed, which means they’ll feel great right away, and soften up even more over time.

Want to learn more? Read our ranked list of the best bed sheets in Canada.