A good night’s sleep generally calls for a cozy mattress, a comfortable set of pillows and a soft set of cotton sheets. While there are countless cotton sheets available their quality tends to vary greatly. In fact, the best cotton sheets are constructed carefully and with specialized patterns, which determine how soft or how cool the fabric is, according to Preeti Arya, assistant professor of textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “The feel of the cotton sheet varies based on the yarn quality, thread count and the weave type,” she says. “[The] finer the yarns, smoother the sheet.”
To find the best cotton sheets to shop this year we spoke with textile experts and interior designers for their guidance and product recommendations.
SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best cotton sheets | What’s the difference between percale and sateen cotton sheets? | The best cotton sheets to shop | How to shop for cotton sheets
Best for hot sleepers$134.25$179.00
How we picked the best cotton sheets in 2025
There are a few distinct details to consider when looking for a quality set of cotton sheets that’s right for you, including whether or not you’re a hot sleeper. Our experts recommended keeping the following factors in mind when looking for sheets.
- Weave type: Weave type is how the sheets are woven together using a particular type of pattern. This determines how the sheets will feel and how durable the sheets are over time, according to Arya. The weave type of cotton sheets is usually indicated in the product’s description. Common weave types for cotton sheets are sateen, percale, satin and jersey, which is technically a knitted fabric (rather than woven), often made from cotton.
- Thread count: Thread count is sometimes referred to as “fabric count,” according to Ayra. The thread count of sheets is how many threads of yarn are woven into a square inch of the fabric. The higher the thread count of your sheets, the higher the overall quality is. However, that means the fabric may be thicker and insulate more heat, according to Deborah Young, assistant chair of textile science at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. “Thread count does make it smoother. It makes it shrink less, [and] it makes it wrinkle less,” she says. “But it’s also warmer.” A higher thread count may imply better fabric quality, but it doesn’t automatically mean it’s the best type of sheet for you personally. Sheets with a super low thread count will often feel gritty on the skin. Depending on whether or not you’re a hot sleeper, a good starting point is at least 200 to 300. However, if you’re a moderate or cold sleeper, Young recommends at least 600.
- Sleeping style: You should take into account whether or not you are a hot sleeper, according to Young. Higher thread count sheets may be soft to the touch, but they might not be the most breathable option. Conversely, many breathable sheets aren’t always the softest. It is possible to find cotton sheets that have a good balance between softness and breathability, but if you’re not a hot sleeper, then this is less of a factor to worry about.
Related
What’s the difference between percale and sateen cotton sheets?
Percale and sateen refer to types of patterns in which cotton is commonly woven to make bedding. They both have different characteristics, like softness, crispness and breathability — they’re not different varieties of cotton, such as pima, Egyptian or Turkish cotton. Percale sheets are known for being particularly crisp in texture and cooling, while sateen sheets are considered soft to the touch and provide more heat retention.
The best cotton sheets to shop in 2025
All of the products below are direct recommendations from our experts, products that NBC Select staff members have tested and written about or products that have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon.
The best overall cotton sheets: Luxury Organic Sateen Bedding Bundle
- Extremely soft
- Minimal wrinkling
- Nothing to note at this time
I’ve had these sheets for years and they truly are the softest and highest quality sheets I’ve ever owned. As a hot sleeper, I was a bit worried that they’d be too warm since they’re sateen, but in the winter, when I sleep with a duvet, I don’t find them too warm at all. In warmer months, I sleep with a lighter blanket but keep the fitted sheet and pillowcases on and I stay cool throughout the night. They are made with a sateen weave pattern, which means they’re incredibly smooth and buttery in texture, have a slight sheen and hold up well after many washes. I’ve also washed my sheets with various types of detergents and whitening agents and the sheets never shrink or fade. They’re made from 100% organic, long-staple cotton and have a 300 thread count. They also don’t wrinkle very much, which I love especially after making my bed in the morning.
Best cotton sheets for hot sleepers: Brooklinen Classic Cotton Percale Core Sheet Set
- Crisp feel
- Extremely breathable
- Low pilling
- Not as soft as sateen
These sheets have a 270 thread count and are made of a percale rather than sateen, so they’re ideal for very hot sleepers looking for a sweat-wicking sheet set. The brand sent NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez a sample of these sheets to test, and she loves how breathable and crisp they are. “As someone who is constantly cold but gets super hot while I’m sleeping I was concerned I wouldn’t find a balance but these sheets actually did just that,” she says. “My boyfriend, who is an extremely hot sleeper, came over one night and we both thought it was very cooling.” They also hold up after many washes without pilling, according to the brand, so you don’t have to worry about them losing their durability over time.
Best budget cotton sheets: Ikea Dvala Sheet Set
- Affordable
- Cooling
- Bleach not reccommended
These sheets from Ikea are a favorite of NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown, who says they are a great option for anyone looking for a comfortable set of cotton sheets on a tight budget. “They feel soft and are surprisingly cooling, especially during the summer,” she says. “If you spill anything on these, try to wash or soak the stain as soon as possible — otherwise, it won’t completely fade.” They have a 152 thread count and minimal shrinkage (4%), according to the brand. The set is available in six colors, including white, off-white and light gray.
Best percale cotton sheets: Parachute Percale Sheet Set
- Crisp texture
- Lightweight
- Better for hot sleepers
If you’re an extremely hot sleeper and also prefer sheets with a more crisp texture, these percale sheets are a great option. The brand sent NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin a sample of this sheet set to test, and she appreciated how versatile the sheets are. “[The] material was a good middle ground between cotton and linen — a bit stiffer than cotton but a smoother texture compared to linen.” They’re made from 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton with a medium density, according to the brand, which helps them hold up after multiple washes. Plus, you can choose pillowcases with either a side opening or a back envelope style.
Best print cotton sheets: Threshold Printed Performance Cotton Sheets
- Many patterns
- Wrinkle resistant
- Shrink resistant
- For moderate to cool sleepers
These sateen sheets come highly recommended by Malin, who loves that they come in a variety of colors and patterns, which makes them easy to match with decor in any room. “These sheets are my ride or die,” she says. “I bought my first pair in college and have continued rebuying them ever since. I love that they’re reliable every single time I buy them — never shrink, never fade, always soft.” They have a 400 thread count, are resistant to pilling, wrinkling, shrinking and are safe to wash with bleach, according to the brand.
Best sateen cotton sheets: Crane & Canopy Percale Cotton Sheet Set
- Soft
- For moderate to cool sleepers
These sheets come recommended by NBC Select editorial operations manager Shari Uyehara, who tested them for the NBC Select Bed & Bath Awards. They have a 300 thread count, are machine washable in cold water and made from long-staple cotton, according to the brand.
Best hotel-like cotton sheets: Better Homes & Gardens Sateen Sheet Set
- Many colors
- Crisp texture
- Better for hot sleepers
These sheets are recommended by Malin, who loves that they’re soft and similar to sheets you’d find in a hotel room. “I’m a big fan of sheets that feel like the crisp, cool ones often on hotel beds, which is exactly what these are,” she says. “They’re smooth and comfortable, and get softer after the first few washes. The sheets look neat on my bed, and despite being a hot sleeper, these don’t make me overheat.”
Most durable cotton sheets: Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheet Set
- Extremely soft
- Subtle sheen
- For moderate to cool sleepers
These sheets come recommended by Alvarez, who loves how durable the sheets feel. “These sheets aren’t super thin and after washing I could tell they would last a long time without wear or tear,” she says. She also enjoyed that the sheets weren’t altered after multiple washes. “After washing and drying the sheets, it came out looking perfectly fine — color didn’t fade, texture didn’t change and size didn’t change.”
Related
How to shop for the best cotton sheets
You should consider many factors when shopping for a durable set of cotton sheets, such as your sleeping style, what type of climate you live in and how soft (or not so soft) you prefer your bedding to be.
Prioritize individual needs before thread count
While it’s tempting to assume that a higher thread count means that a sheet set will be a great option for you, what’s more important is your sleeping style and preferences. “ Some people like soft and smooth and others like crisp and cool,” says Pamela O’Brien, principal designer at Pamela Hope Designs. O’Brien also recommends considering sheets you’ve slept in at hotels as a way of “testing” them out before buying them for yourself. “Many chains from business to luxury brands sell their linen packages because they know how to make a great bed,” she says. “ That is a sure-fire way to know if the sheets are right for you.”
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Preeti Arya is an assistant professor of textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
- Deborah Young is the assistant chair of textile science at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Young is also the author of textile design books Swatch Reference Guide for Fashion Fabrics and Swatch Reference Guide for Interior Fabrics.
- Pamela O’Brien is an interior designer and the principal designer at Pamela Hope Designs.
Why trust NBC Select?
Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor at NBC Select, where he covers cooking, cleaning, wellness and bedding. Fernandez also writes many of NBC Select’s gift guides. He spoke with textile experts and interior designers for this story.
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