24-04-2025
L.L.Bean's crisp percale cotton sheet set is our favorite of all time
I've tested numerous sheet sets for our guide to the best sheets. In my opinion, the softest, most comfortable, and most durable sheets are easily Pima Cotton Percale Sheets.
Trendy, direct-to-consumer brands often rely on glitzy photos of beautifully made beds to attract attention. stands out by quietly mastering the fundamentals: simple design and high-quality materials. Read on for more about why I think these sheets are the best option for most people.
Design and materials
Pima cotton is an extra-long-staple cotton. The yarns are smoother, stronger, and more resistant to abrasion than long-staple and short-staple cotton, according to Karen Leonas, a professor of textile sciences at the Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University. This is why sheets feel so good, despite the low thread count. When it comes to cotton sheets, material matters the most.
"When finding sheets that will last and provide comfort and a relaxing night's sleep, take a look at the material first and thread count second," Ave Bradley, senior vice president of design and creative director at Kimpton Hotels, told us. That's why the sheets are still so soft and comfortable: they have a low thread count, but they're made from long-lasting, high-quality cotton.
Weave is also important. The pima cotton in the sheets are a percale weave. This refers to a specific type of weave in which one cotton thread is woven over another into a tight grid pattern. The result is an airy, breathable fabric with a matte, crisp feel. Percale differs from sateen, another popular kind of cotton weave in which three or four threads are woven over one thread into a looser grid pattern. Sateen is silkier and shinier, and it has more of a tendency to snag.
The sheets aren't particularly exciting in terms of color options (there are nine, including white, yellow, light blue, and gray) or design flourishes (they feature a simple hemstitched detail). For about $10-$20 more, you can get the sheet set in simple floral, checked, or windowpane patterns. They're unassuming but versatile.
Some thoughtful features are less apparent from looks alone. The inside of the fitted sheet has labels for the long and short sides, so it's fast and easy to change your sheets. And it has a generous depth of 15 inches, accommodating most mattresses.
Quick tip: Thread count doesn't matter as much as you think. Thread count is the number of yarns per inch, horizontally and vertically, but some brands manipulate the definition of a yarn to create an artificially high thread count. After a certain number — around 500-thread count — the difference in feel and durability isn't noticeable.
Comfort and durability
I could immediately tell the difference in just my first few nights of sleeping in the sheets, and they continued to feel super soft through many more nights of sleep and many more washes. After nine months, they hadn't torn, developed holes, or pilled.
In addition to being soft, they feel cool — resulting in a pleasant silky smooth effect — and don't trap heat. Unlike sateen-weave sheets, which have a luxurious silky feel but tend to trap heat, the percale sheets are breathable and airy. They're perfect for people who sleep hot or for warm summer nights. I could sleep in them year-round since I love to stay cool at night.
Kinsley Searles, home and sleep fellow, also tried percale sheets. "I'm a hot sleeper and I absolutely love these sheets," she said. "The percale weave feels crisp and soothing against my skin. They're noticeably cool when I crawl in bed at night and don't overheat throughout the night. Rather than waking up with the sweaty blankets thrown off of me, I'm always happily snuggled into my bedding in the morning."
Care
The Percale Sheet Set can be machine-washed and dried, but the tags do not go into specifics. Laundry experts recommend washing cotton on the hottest setting it can tolerate and drying on low. heat. This is a major perk since other types of sheets, like bamboo sheets or linen sheets, require more intensive care. We didn't notice any tearing, pilling, or shrinking after washing and drying these sheets, so they're sure to last for many laundry days to come.
Value
Given the quality materials and premium feel, we think the $169 price tag for a queen set is well worth it. These sheets will last you years, so they're worth the investment.
While there's no warranty or trial period for sheets, they do have a one-year return window. If you're not happy with your sheets, you have 365-days to return them. You'll also have to pay a $6.50 return fee to cover shipping costs.
Cons to consider
While it's difficult to find flaws in our favorite sheets, we do wish there was a larger color and pattern selection available. The neutral color range is versatile, but we'd love to see some brighter colors or patterns as well.
Searles also noted that the flat sheet was prone to wrinkling, even when removed immediately from the dryer. This isn't uncommon for cotton bedding, however.
These sheets also aren't OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. The product description says that the sheets are tested for harmful chemicals, but they aren't certified by any official organizations.
What are your alternatives?
For a smoother, softer cotton than percale, sheets with a sateen weave are a perfect option. Our favorite budget sateen pick is the Threshold Performance Sheet Set. These silky sheets fit the bed like a glove. We also love the Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set which is similarly priced to the Percale Sheet Set. For another percale option, Searles suggested the Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set, which nailed the crisp, smooth construction she expects from percale.
If you're looking to try cooling fabrics besides cotton, the Quince Bamboo Sheet Set is our top pick in our best bamboo sheets guide. Like percale cotton, bamboo sheets are known for their cooling properties, but have a slicker hand.
For more options, read our best sheets guide.
The bottom line
Comfort and quality should be a couple of your top priorities when you shop for sheets, and nails both with its Pima Cotton Percale Sheets. They're the softest I've tried in my years as a product reviewer, and I love that they're fairly priced for all their benefits.
