The Ultimate Guide to Bed Sheets – 2021’s Top Rated
A comprehensive guide on what to look for when purchasing bed sheets based on 50+ brands.
Out of all the products we buy and consume regularly, bed sheets are often at the bottom of our priority list. For a long time, I relied on well-established brands to get my bed sheets, without really considering the fabric, quality, durability, or breathability. But I realized that more often than not, I wasn’t quite satisfied with the softness, the fabric would pill quickly, the stitching would fall apart, and my sheets would end up in the trash within a year.
I realized that I spend a lot of time in bed, and I need to upgrade to better quality products in my household. So I geeked out for months, researched and tested 50+ bed sheet brands, with different fabrics and budgets. And I made a list of my top favorites!
To determine what bed sheets are the best, I looked at the fabric, colors & sizes, weave, stitching, elastic (on the fitted sheet), ease of care, cost and customer service.
A lot of companies use marketing to make you believe their sheets are amazing! But marketing can often be deceptive. Don’t fall for it! I know I have.
Whilst doing my research, I finally came across The Bed Sheet Club. This company really surprised me. I had never heard of them before; but once I tried them, I realized why customers loved their sheets so much!
FYI, I made an amazing discovery! They also sell their sheets on a discount website, Overstock Sheets, and 3 sheet sets are sold for ONLY $119 (including free shipping), how awesome is that!
Fun Fact: Did you know that while you toss and turn, you’re not in deep, restful sleep? Research finds that getting deep, restful sleep has many health benefits.
So after upgrading everything BUT my sheets and realizing that I was still tossing and turning, I decided to go on a journey to find THE best sheets out there. And of course, I wanted to share my amazing findings with all of you! So you can also benefit from better sleep!
Benefits of extra, restful sleep:
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Prevents Weight Gain
Controls energy levels
Balances appetite hormones
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Improves Mood
Soars your energy levels
Boosts your “happy” hormones
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Increases Productivity
Improves Memory
Enhances Concentration
Accelerates Processing Speed
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Promotes Cardiovascular Health
Aids Cardiovascular Function
Helps Maintain Normal Blood Flow
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Boosts immune system
Enables immune proteins and cells to rest
Helps fight off illness & infection
What To Look For In The Perfect Bedding.
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Softness / Comfort
The first thing I look at is comfort, which to me means softness and breathability. How do the sheets feel on my skin? I love sheets that are soft to the touch, on the lighter side but sturdy at the same time.
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Durability
I define durability as: fabric, cut, and stitching. And for the fitted sheet, the elastic is often overlooked and very important! Let’s dive into the specifics.
- The fabric is composed of 5 key elements. The weave, the thread count, the flexibility, the softness, the brushing, and the weight.
- Cutting of the fabric is never perfect as it’s flexible. I look at 2 key elements. The dimensions, and straightness.
- Sewing and Stitching are often overlooked; however they are the key to the longevity of the product. I looked at 3 key elements. The technique, straightness, and cleanliness.
- The elastic is a key component of the fitted sheet and yet I found most companies put very little effort into it even at a high price range. I looked at 4 key elements. The Material, Width, Stretchiness, and inside vs outside.
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Hypoallergenic
Bed sheets accumulate millions of dust mites and bacteria. And those little suckers are the ones that irritate your skin, and aggravate your allergies. I have very sensitive skin myself, which is why having hypoallergenic bed sheets is so important to me! And the great news is, there is an easy fix: microfiber sheets! They are hypoallergenic, because they are made of materials that are naturally resistant to dust mites and discourage the growth of allergens. Say goodbye to endless itching and scratching.
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Colors & Sizes
Chances are, once you fall in love with your bed sheets, you want to buy all of them from the same brand! Sheets for your bedroom, your kids, and your guest room! A wide range of colors and sizes is important!
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Reviews
I always check legitimate reviews before buying anything. To me, it’s the best indicator of what you can expect from a brand and product.
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Customer Service
To test customer service, I contacted various companies, asked questions and reviewed their answers. Such as, I received a defective product, wrong color, want to return, want to change color. And I looked at how easy they were to contact, if they were friendly, if they were fast to respond, and if they solved my issues/concerns.
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Value for Money
I want the best at the best price! Doesn’t everyone ;)
What To Avoid when buying Bed Sheets
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Pilling
What is pilling? Why does it happen? In order to make a fabric soft, companies use a process called: brushing. If done well, you get a great result; a soft product that lasts for years!
The problem is - to save money - many companies use low quality, ultra-thin fabrics. They over brush them to create a plushy like material - which creates a softer and thicker feel. When you first feel them, you’re amazed by the softness! But over a short period of time, the fabric starts pilling - because it was damaged during the over brushing process.
When your sheets start pilling, they feel itchy making you want to scratch non stop. At that point, there’s nothing you can do but throw your sheets away.
Warning: If you are unsure of the quality of your sheets, DO NOT wash them with other clothing, otherwise your other clothing will start to pill as well!
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Poor Fabric Quality
The fabric rips easily
The stitching isn’t tight enough so it loosens quickly
The elastic on the fitted sheet doesn’t adjust to your mattress properly, or it keeps coming off!
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Bad Customer Service
When companies make it hard for you to return a product, it can be hell! We all want awesome customer service that will make our experience that much better!
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Material9.7/10
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Softness9.8/10
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Durability9.6/10
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Value9.9/10
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Customer Satisfaction9.6/10
pros
- Luxurious softness
- 1800 Thread Count
- 16” deep pockets
- Extreme Durability
- Best value for money
- Hypoallergenic
- Easy to maintain - great for people with pets
- Wrinkle free - no need to iron
- Two day free shipping available
- Designed in America
cons
- Often out of stock due to HIGH demand
The Bottom Line
The Bed Sheet Club offers a product unmatched in quality for the price. Unlike other companies I reviewed in the same price range, these sheets are TOP NOTCH, the quality is so much better, it’s almost unfair to compare them. With over 4,800 reviews at 4.9/5, it’s clear to me why they are everyone’s favorites.
The fabric is beyond soft, lightweight yet durable, with a thread count of 1800 using a 10 ply method. The fabric isn’t overbrushed, which prevents pilling over time. The embroidery is gorgeous. The sheets are hypoallergenic, no itching or scratching! And a big plus, is that not only do they dry extremely fast, they also come out of the dryer, completely wrinkle free! I can’t tell you how much time it saves me, being a mother of 4 kids.
*** Since I discovered this company, I ONLY USE THESE SHEETS AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE!
Get my top pick
#2. 1500 Series Bed Sheets
by Cosy House Collection
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Material8.7/10
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Softness9.1/10
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Durability8.9/10
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Value9.0/10
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Customer Satisfaction8.9/10
pros
- Soft fabric
- 1500 Thread Count
- 30 day return policy
- 2 year warranty (extra $6.95)
cons
- Thin Fabric
- Overbrushed
- Less Size Choices
- Less Color Choices
The Bottom Line
Cosy House is cheaper than its competitors; which is great if you’re on a tight budget. Their sheet sets range from $31.5 for a Twin to $35 for a King. The issue is that their pricing is so low because their fabric is very thin and over brushed. The sewing is nice but not nearly as good as my top pick. The embroidery is pretty; however unlike The Bed Sheet Club only has 2 lines instead of 3.
Overall, Cosy house offers a great product for the money. They are cheap and if you don’t mind replacing your sheets every year, these will do just fine! If you want a longer lasting product, go for The Bed Sheet Club. They’re a bit more expensive, but they’ll last much longer!
Get my top pick
#3. Soft Sheets
by Peach Skin
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Material9.2/10
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Softness8.1/10
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Durability9.1/10
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Value8/10
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Customer Satisfaction8.5/10
pros
- Soft fabric
- 1500 Thread Count
- 16” deep pockets
- 30 day return policy
cons
- More expensive
- Wrinkles easily
- Sheets pill quickly
- Only 1700 reviews
The Bottom Line
I liked the fabric, it felt soft to the touch but immediately you see the quality isn’t on par with my top pick. The stitching is more frail and not as tight together, the sheets started to feel not as durable after just a few washes.
The packaging was nice, shipping was fast, I got the sheets in 5 days. Overall, for the money I would say my expectations were NOT met.
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Last: 1800 Sheets
by 1800 Bed Sheets
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Material7.3/10
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Softness7.4/10
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Durability6.2/10
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Value6.8/10
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Customer Satisfaction5.3/10
pros
- Soft fabric
cons
- Same price, poor quality
- Ultra thin fabric
- Fabric rips easily
- Sheets pill quickly
- Mailing coupon instead of instant discount
- Poor customer service
The Bottom Line
The 1800 sheets from 1800 bed sheets is soft but has pilling issues.
Caution: We found they are copying their competitors and do a poor job at it especially for odd sizes like Split Top King meant for adjustable beds. The fabric is thinner, tends to pill.
Their website is definitely subpar and looks very old.
The packaging is standard and some reviewers have complained about loose threads, pilling after a short period of time.
They offer a buy 2 get 1 free every day of the year however this isn't something you can redeem instantly, you'll get a coupon in the mail which is old school. In addition their customer service uses a gmail account instead of an official domain support.
Get my top pick