To test how well a set of sheets will serve you, we assess fit, softness, and wrinkling. We also test for strength and shrinkage, because we believe that good sheets should last.

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Fit is important because if a fitted sheet (no matter how soft) shrinks so much that you can’t get it over your mattress, all other attributes are moot. All but four of the sheets in our ratings could fit a 10-inch queen-size mattress depth after routine washing, but only one was well suited for an 18-inch mattress.

In our shrinkage tests, we wash fitted sheets according to the manufacturer’s directions more than 20 times. After each wash, our testers put the sheet on mattresses of different depths to see whether the corners and sides still fit and tuck underneath. 

We also compare sheets after each wash cycle with a set of references to determine how much they wrinkle. Wrinkled sheets don’t look as neat and crisp on a bed, and you may even feel wrinkles when you lie down.

Our engineers assess the strength of the fibers with a machine that clamps both ends of the sheet sample and pulls it with increasing force until it tears. In our tests, none were weak enough to be a concern under normal usage. 

To measure softness, a panel of sensory testers compares each sheet with a standard of fabric swatches covering a range of softness levels. 

How do you know whether a cotton sheet is a good-quality sheet? While consumers often hear a lot about thread count, many factors can affect the feel and longevity of cotton sheets, including the weave and type of cotton fiber. Consider the following.

Cotton-rich vs. 100 percent cotton: Sheets touted as “cotton-rich” are less than 100 percent cotton. The claim indicates that the sheet is at least 50 percent cotton, while the remainder consists of some other fiber. Choose 100 percent cotton designs for a more breathable sheet, which will keep your skin warm while allowing heat from your core to dissipate into the air. This is important especially if you sleep hot. (For more advice on how the right bedding can help improve sleep, see our article on how to get a great night’s sleep.)

Thread count: This is the number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch. The products we test have claimed thread counts ranging from 152 to 680. Thread counts exceeding 400 are most likely produced by using finer/silkier yarns such as pima or Egyptian cotton. But we find that thread count isn’t necessarily an indication of quality. One of the best sheets in our tests, the L.L.Bean Pima Cotton Percale, has a claimed thread count of only 280, yet our tests find that these sheets are soft and strong. They also shrink very little and will still fit mattresses up to 14 inches high after a simulated year’s worth of washing. 

Percale vs. sateen: These terms refer to the weave of the cotton threads. Percale sheets use a “one-over, one-under” gridded weave. The result is a crisp feel and a matte finish. In sateen sheets, the horizontal threads skip over a few vertical ones before they loop under and over again. What you get is a drapier, smoother, somewhat glossier sheet that some might equate with a more luxurious feel. But the best sheet for you depends on personal preference. 

Types of cotton fiber: Cotton fibers—or staples—come in different classes. These include short staple, long staple, and extra-long staple. Sheets made with short-staple cotton (commonly Upland cotton) are simply labeled as cotton. Those woven from long-staple or extra-long-staple cotton often call that out: Pima and Egyptian cottons are popular forms of extra-long-staple cotton; Supima is a brand trademark for a pima cotton grown in America. Typically, long-fiber cottons are softer, stronger, and less likely to pill. However, unscrupulous manufacturers might mix different types of cotton, so just because a product is labeled as such doesn’t mean it will perform as expected. 

Before you shop, measure your mattress’s height, including your mattress topper if you’re using one. While you should buy sheets that have a deeper pocket than the thickness of your mattress, doing so doesn’t always mean they’ll continue to fit after you wash and dry them numerous times. We’ve seen shrinkage of up to 6 percent in the cotton sheets in our tests, and one of our synthetic fiber sheets saw so much shrinkage that it failed our test. In almost half the samples, there is so much shrinkage that the sheet no longer fits the mattress. Only three cotton sets in our ratings live up to the claim of “deep pocket” sheets; none fit mattresses that are 18 inches tall. So keep your receipt. You should wash your sheets before sleeping on them to remove finishes or excess dye. If the fitted sheet shrinks so much that it’s difficult to put on your mattress, or if you don’t like how the sheets feel once they’ve been washed, return them. 

Contrary to popular belief, the growing practices for organic and non-organic cotton are quite similar, at least from a sustainability standpoint. “The big differences come down to where the seeds come from, and which chemicals are used to grow and protect the crops,” says Kavita Mathur, an associate professor at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles in Raleigh. “When they are produced responsibly, both organic and conventional cotton can be grown with lower environmental impacts.”

She also says you can’t typically tell whether a sheet is made from conventionally grown cotton or organically grown cotton. “They’re indistinguishable,” she says. And “all cotton, regardless of production methods, is biodegradable, microplastic-free, and carbon-capturing.”

When a textile product carries Oeko-Tex certification, it means that every aspect of it—not just the cotton but also its threads, buttons, and any other components—has been tested for toxic chemicals (such as formaldehyde and harmful dyes) and deemed safe for human health. 

As for bamboo sheets, they’re not as green as you might think. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission has ordered retailers to stop labeling and advertising rayon textiles as “bamboo.” Once the plant fiber has been processed, it’s rayon. You may also see this labeled as bamboo viscose, but it’s the same fiber. In addition, the processing uses toxic chemicals that emit hazardous air pollutants during manufacturing. (For more information on what eco-labels mean, see our article on mattress and bedding certifications.)

A good night’s sleep starts with great sheets, and choosing the right bedding fabric is a crucial first step. Since starting Piglet in Bed in , we’ve poured a lot of love and care into finding the best fabric for bedding, and for us, natural materials have always been non-negotiable.

Our opening collection comprised 100% linen bedding designs and since then we’ve grown to incorporate our relaxed look cotton bedding and soft and breathable linen blend bedding. Choosing the right bedding largely comes down to personal preference, so with that in mind we’ve put together a handy bedding fabric guide to help your find your perfect pick.

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Importance of Choosing the Right Fabric

When choosing between bedding fabric types, you’ll want to consider the feel and weight of the material, as well as the cost and any care recommendations. All our sheets feel soft against the skin, but different fabrics and weaves will give different finishes.

Decide whether you prefer your bedding to feel smooth, silky, crisp, cool or cozy, and whether you want a lightweight or heavier fabric. The price of bedding may also be a determining factor, and with our choice of three fabrics, there’s something for every budget.

Types of Bedding

Our collections are made up of three bedding fabric types: 100% linen, 100% cotton and our linen cotton blend. Here, we’ll talk you through the differences between these three fabrics to help you choose your perfect bedding.

100% Linen Bedding

Few fabrics exude the same level of understated elegance as linen. It’s luxurious yet low-maintenance, lightweight yet durable, and only gets softer with age. Made from the long fibers of the flax plant, linen fabric for bedding is breathable and naturally thermoregulating, keeping you at just the right temperature, no matter the season.

Linen is one of the most durable natural fabrics there is, and the fibers are three times stronger than cotton. Flax is grown almost exclusively in Europe and is notoriously laborious to harvest. As a result, linen is a high-quality fiber that is much rarer than other textiles, and this is reflected by its higher price.

Our linen bedding is woven from 100% European flax. We recommend to machine wash our linen bedding on a warm cycle and embrace the fabric’s natural crumpled texture for fuss-free bed making!

Read More: A Complete Guide to Washing Your Linen Bedding

Linen Blend Bedding

Woven from a mix of 55% European linen and 45% long staple cotton, our linen blend bedding combines the effortless look of linen with the softness of cotton. As with our linen bedding, our blended fabric is naturally breathable and thermoregulating, but the addition of cotton gives it a smoother finish.

Cozy yet lightweight, our linen blend bedding is the perfect year-round essential and will withstand being thrown in a warm cycle wash again and again. Our linen blend sheets are also less likely to crease compared to our 100% linen and 100% cotton bedding, so we encourage you to put your iron away!

Made in Portugal with the same high-quality linen and BCI-certified cotton (more on that below) from our other collections, our linen blend bedding offers luxurious sheets at the best possible value.

Cotton Bedding

Our no-fuss 100% cotton bedding is a classic choice for hotel-worthy sheets at home. Made from long cotton fibers woven into a percale weave, it has a crisp, cool feel and is perfect for warmer nights and hot sleepers. Super soft and naturally breathable, our cotton bedding has a lightweight yet durable 200 thread count weave with a matte finish.

All our cotton is sourced in partnership with the Better Cotton Initiative, the world’s leading sustainability initiative for cotton. We recommend machine washing on a warm cycle and you can iron for a smooth look or embrace the wrinkles! Our cotton bedding has many similar qualities to our linen and linen blend collections, but is that little bit easier on the wallet.

You’ll also find our cotton bedding with a puckered seersucker finish for extra texture, as well as a cozy brushed cotton for the winter months.

Read More: All About Cotton Fabric for Bedding

Difference Between Linen and Cotton Bedding

There are a few key differences between cotton and linen bedding. Cotton usually feels smooth to the touch with a cool and crisp finish, whereas linen has a cozier, rustic feel to it. Both fabrics are naturally breathable but cotton doesn’t have the same weight that linen does, and while linen gets softer with wear, cotton feels ultra-soft right out of the box.

Read More: The Battle of the Naturals: Linen vs Cotton Bedding

Whether you prefer the luxury of linen, the softness of cotton, or the best of both worlds with our linen blend, understanding the characteristics of each bedding fabric will help you find your perfect match.

Are you interested in learning more about Bedding fabric manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!