How to Buy Sheets – A Complete Bed Sheet Buying Guide

Below we’ll discuss what to look for when seeking out the best sheets your money can buy. Great bedding doesn’t shouldn’t have to break the bank, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t be sleeping comfortably every night.

What to Look for When Buying Sheets

Knowing the difference between an ultra-soft cotton blend and a sateen weave could be the knowledge that takes your bed to the next level. Here’s what to look for.

Sheet Fabric

Sheets come in various fabrics and constructions. From fiber content and satin weave to percale sheets and Egyptian cotton, who knew sheets could be so diverse?
Weaving styles include percale, sateen, and twill. Standard fabric styles include organic cotton sheets, Egyptian cotton sheets, long-staple cotton sheets, linen sheets, microfiber sheets, cotton-polyester blends, Pima cotton, and cotton blends.

Read on to find out what these mean in terms of comfort.

Read More: Highest-Rated Cotton Sheets

Get to Know the Terms

Percale, sateen, and twill are all terms that indicate a fabric’s weave. Sateen often has a soft, silkier feel, while percale is tightly woven and typically feels crisper. Twill is a style that creates a heavier sensation yet should feel smooth and crisp.

Thread Count

A higher thread count doesn’t necessarily promise a set of sheets will be ultra-soft.
The thread count tells you how many yarns are in a square inch of fabric, but a larger number of vertical threads doesn’t always equate to luxury.
Many sheets can be high quality yet employ a lower thread count. Alternatively, bed sheets can feel itchy and uncomfortable but have a high thread count — the most crucial factor will be the fabric and the weave.

Type of Fit

• Flat Sheets – Flat sheets were originally designed to be used under your blankets, providing a fresh and crisp layer of fabric between the blanket and your body. Some people may just use a fitted sheet when it’s hot out but they still need some sort of cover over them. When you’re not in bed, the flat sheet typically rests on top of the fitted sheet.
• Fitted Sheets – Fitted sheets stretch across your mattress for a snug fit, and you usually bring the corners of them over the mattress’s corners to achieve this. While it’s important to select the appropriate size for both your flat and fitted sheet, this is especially pertinent for fitted ones. If the sheet is too small or it shrinks after washing, you might not be able to fit it over your bed. This also goes for the pockets in each corner. If you have a thicker mattress, consider getting fitted sheets with deep pockets to accommodate this.

Mattress Size

Learning how to buy sheets for your mattress can help you create a luxurious sleep haven that you enjoy crawling into each night. When searching for your sheets, keep in mind the size of your bed needs to correspond to the size of the sheets you use.

The Softness of the Sheets

• Long-Staple Cotton: smoother, stronger yarn than regular cotton.
  
• Supima, Pima, and Egyptian Cotton: handpicked cotton, delicate fiber yields a softer product.
  
• Percale: Closely woven and crisp feel.
  

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• Sateen: Softer, more luxurious feel and glossier look compared to cotton.
  

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• Linen: Famous for its excellent temperature maintenance and soft, drapey “hug”.
  

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Hot vs. Cold Sleeper

If you’re a warm sleeper, you’ll want the best bed sheets to keep you cool, and if you’re a cold sleeper, you’ll need the opposite. Thread counts won’t help you in this department, but what the products are made of and their manufacturing techniques will count.

Warm sleepers often appreciate moisture-wicking sheets to keep cool throughout the night, so breathable products like cotton and linen should work great. If you sleep cold, flannel sheets are an excellent option to keep you cozy.

Looking to explore further? Check out our guide for the best cooling sheets.

Certifications

Certifications can help you find the best bed sheets for your needs. Here are a few you may want to keep an eye out for.

• OEKO-TEX: Certification for environmentally friendly and socially responsible production.
• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard: Certification that at least 95 percent of materials used in a product are certified organic.
• Eco-INSTITUT: Certifies that a product is free of pollutants and hazardous chemicals.
• Wrinkle-Resistant: Be wary of this claim; wrinkle-free often means formaldehyde exposure, a known carcinogen.

Cleaning and Care

Washing your bed sheets regularly is essential to keeping them in good condition. Whether sleeping on flannel sheets, linen, or cotton percale, good bed sheets should become softer with every wash.

Low-thread-count and high-thread-count sheets both need to be looked after with care. Before washing, read the label and proceed accordingly. Also, dry them as instructed. Most sheets can be thrown into a dryer; however, line drying can help a particular fabric maintain its integrity.

Your Bedroom Style 

Trends change frequently, but choosing neutral color sheets can provide an excellent foundation for a beautiful and serene bedroom, and great-looking bed sets are hard to beat when it comes to style. Additionally, a soft, luxurious set like linen can add an inviting texture to your aesthetic.

Price

Quality sets can turn a mediocre mattress into a heavenly escape, and the wrong ones can leave your body itching for relief. The price of bed sheets can vary dramatically, and what material your sheets are made of can significantly influence the price tag.

Quality linen sheet sets are often over $300. You can find cheaper versions for under $200, though we won’t make any promises when it comes to durability.

Return Policy

Keep an eye out for the return policy when purchasing, just in case you hop into your bedsheets and realize they’re not what was promised. Occasionally, a fitted sheet won’t grip nicely, resulting in annoying excess material; alternatively, the bedsheets could be of lower quality than advertised, in which case a liberal return policy could come in handy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best luxury materials for sheets?

In most cases, luxury sheets are made with a sateen weave and extra-long staple cotton. The thread count should be between 420 and 600 for the smoothest texture. Other materials, such as Egyptian cotton, can be a good option as well, as long as you’re choosing long-staple fibers since this is what gives the softest feel.

How often should I buy new sheets?

Most sheets need to be replaced after two to three years or after about 100 washes. However, the exact longevity depends on the material and how often you use the same set of sheets. Luxury cotton sheets can last a little longer, but only for a year or so. Linen bedding can last three to five years or longer, depending on how frequently you use it.

How can you tell the quality of bed sheets?

Quality sheets are made from premium materials and have a higher thread count. The higher the thread count, the higher the quality, as this type of sheet will likely wear evenly and become even softer over time. In most cases, a good thread count is between 200 to 800.

Should I buy fitted or flat sheets?

The choice between fitted and flat sheets is entirely up to you. The difference is in the design, so, for example, flat sheets can also be used as covers, whereas that’s not the case for fitted sheets. In most cases, sheets are sold as a set with both a fitted sheet and a flat sheet.