Credit:
Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau
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Credit:
Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau
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When it comes to cotton bed sheets, there are two types of people: those who want the soft, buttery feel of sateen sheets, and those who prefer crisp, cooling percale sheets. (To be fair, linen sheets also have their own fair club, but that’s a different ball game altogether!) Percale sheets are often a superior choice for summertime or anyone who sleeps warm, as they tend to be more breathable, but they can also have a fairly rough texture if they’re made from low-quality materials, which is why it can be somewhat of a gamble to buy them online.
After several weeks of testing, our favorite set is the Saatva Percale Sheet Set (available at Saatva) , which features extremely soft, smooth, and breathable cotton fabric. Plus, these sheets have a deep pocket that will fit virtually any mattress and come in a wide range of sizes, making them accessible to everyone. But if you're looking to splurge, it doesn't get better than the Williams-Sonoma Percale Hemstitch Sheet Set (available at Williams-Sonoma), which are the most expensive set on the list, but tested the highest.
Our top pick for tighter budgets is The Company Store Company Cotton Percale Sheet Set (available at The Company Store). They’re smooth, airy, and easier on the wallet.
Saatva percale sheets are the best of the best.
Williams-Sonoma sheets are expensive but worth the splurge.
The Company Store has the best affordable sheets on the market.
Boll & Branch makes the best organic percale sheets you can buy.
Crane & Canopy makes the best Egyptian cotton sheets.
Comfortable feel
Fun patterns and colors
Unpleasant odor
Shrunk substantially
Neat stitching
Organic materials
Not as soft as other options
Loose fitted sheet
Neat stitching
Organic, sustainable materials
Not very soft
We conducted a number of tests for this review, including how the percale sheets fared in the washer and dryer.
I’m Camryn Rabideau, a freelance contributor here at Reviewed. I’ve been testing sheets and other bedding for several years now, and I’ve personally slept on more close to four dozen different sheet sets, including everything from sateen and percale to flannel and linen. (An added bonus is that I’m now an expert at folding fitted sheets!)
In addition to my vast experience in product testing, I’ve studied textiles, fashion merchandising, and design. I took several courses on textile science, learning how to evaluate and differentiate fabrics. Fun fact: One of the easiest ways to figure out what fiber a fabric is made of is by setting it on fire! (Please don’t try this at home.)
After unpackaging each set of sheets, I put the fitted sheet directly onto my bed to see how it fit and if it was deep enough for my mattress, which is around 16 inches in thickness. I also weighed and measured the dimensions of each flat sheet so we could calculate its weight per square yard—this allows us to compare the fabric thickness of different sets. Once these two tests were complete, I washed and dried the linens according to their care guidelines, then put them back onto my bed. At this point, I made note of whether the fitted sheet shrunk at all in the wash—generally speaking, the sheets that were washed in warm water tended to shrink more, as cotton is susceptible to shrinkage in the heat.
Next came the fun part: Sleeping! I tested each set of sheets by sleeping on them for a few nights at home. I evaluated how soft and comfortable each felt, noting things like if they made noise when I shifted in bed and if they slept warm or cool. I also took my partner’s thoughts into account for each set, as he tends to have different preferences for bedding.
I also examined the construction of the sheets, as I’ve often found that the corners of inexpensive sheets are prone to ripping at the seams. I looked at the neatness of the stitching, noting loose, fraying thread or uneven seams, and I made note of whether the sheets had reinforced edges in the fitted sheet or any type of decorative details.
Beyond how they feel, there are quite a few factors that differentiate bed linens. Fiber, construction method, and thread count all affect how sheets feel, perform, and wear over time, so we evaluate them when testing and recommending bedding.
Percale and sateen are actually made from the exact same yarns, but the weave of the fabrics makes them feel noticeably different.
In weaving, the yarns that run vertically are called “warp” yarns, and the horizontal ones are called “weft” yarns. Percale relies on a simple over-one, under-one weaving pattern. Basically, the weft yarns go over one warp yarn and under the next one, until a piece of fabric reaches the desired size.
The result is a tight weave, similar to a high-quality men’s dress shirt. This is what gives percale its crisp feel and matte finish.
Compared to sateen sheets, percale is quite durable and less prone to snags. It’s also more breathable than other fabrics thanks to its thin yarns and light weight. It’s a great choice for summer nights and hot sleepers. However, it’s quite prone to wrinkling, so take your percale sheets out of the dryer immediately if crumpled bedding is a pet peeve of yours.
Technically, many fabrics could be woven into percale, but the vast majority of percale sheets are made from cotton.
Natural cotton fiber is known for its softness and breathability, and there are many different varieties available. Types of cotton include Pima, Egyptian, and American Upland, each of which has a different staple length.
Staple length refers to how long a piece of fiber is when it’s harvested. Longer-staple cotton makes more durable fabrics that are less prone to pilling, which happens when fibers break and wind into little balls on the textile’s surface.
Egyptian and Pima cotton are extra-long staple fibers, so they’re great for sheets and less likely to pill over time. (Sometimes “Egyptian cotton” is used to refer to any cotton grown in Egypt, so also look for wording that indicates the staple length.) To lessen the chances of pilling, choose your staple length wisely. You’ll want fabric made from “long” or “extra long” staple cotton, to ensure softness and durability.
We’d recommend passing on percale sheets made from another fiber or a blend of fibers, such as cotton-polyester. Percale and cotton go hand-in-hand, and you’ll likely lose the signature breathability and lightness if another fiber is introduced into the mix.
One common consideration is thread count, which refers to the number of warp and weft threads in one square inch of fabric. Most people assume that higher thread counts automatically equal higher quality, but the truth isn’t that straightforward. Depending on the country of manufacture, thread count can be calculated differently.
A piece of yarn is typically made of several smaller threads twisted together, and this is called its “ply.” For instance, a three-ply yarn is made up of three smaller threads. In the United States, the ply is not counted toward the total thread count, but in other countries, it can be.
So, a sheet made from two-ply yarn might have a thread count of 250 when manufactured in the U.S.. But when made overseas, the same fabric might be labeled as 500 thread count. Some brands do this purposely to make their product seem more appealing.
Because of that, thread count isn’t a surefire way to gauge the quality of sheets. As long as the thread count isn’t ultra-low, say less than 200, you probably don’t need to sweat it. In fact, in our extensive testing, many of the best sheets have a thread count of 250 or 300, so we really don’t recommend worrying too much about it as you shop.
Camryn Rabideau is a full-time freelance writer and product tester with eight years of experience. She's been lucky enough to test hundreds of products firsthand, and her specialties include bedding and pet products, which often require help from her two dogs, three cats, and flock of rambunctious chickens.
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