The Softest Bed Sheets of 2021 – Sleep Like Royalty

When looking for the softest sheets, the material they are made from will be one of your primary considerations. However, as you will be aware of from many of our other guides, your sleeping style also needs to be taken into account.

In general terms, cotton, fleece, or fabrics made from bamboo will provide you with soft and comfortable sheets. Those woven with a sateen or flannel weave will take the smoothness to another level.

Understanding what type of sleeper you are will allow you to select not only for softness but for a combination of a soft and comfortable sheet. Sheets made from bamboo fabrics or microfiber are light, breathable, and soft. These materials will give you softness in your sheets while keeping you fresh during hotter nights, so they're suitable if you tend to overheat. If, on the other hand, you have a tendency to get chilly when you sleep, a soft sheet from cotton, fleece, or flannel is best.

Speaking of cotton, spare some thought for its thread count. Generally, when referring to quality, a higher thread count is considered best. This, however, is not precisely the case for softness, where a thread count of around six hundred will produce the softest sheets. In fact, many bedding experts believe that thread counts over four hundred only increase the price, not the quality of the sheets.

Really high-count sheets can be overly crisp and thick rather than producing the softness you are after. Selecting a sheet with a thread count of around six hundred will give you the best balance of softness, durability, quality, and price.

We wrote this guide to assist you in your selection of the softest sheets, and we hope that we have included something to suit your sleeping style.

The Softest Bed Sheets​

LINENWALAS Organic Bamboo Sheets Review

How your sheets feel is one of the critical factors in your choice of whether to purchase them or not. The LINENWALAS Organic Bamboo Sheets have certainly got that feeling just right. They have a thread count of 300 and are woven with a sateen weave. These aspects give them a soft touch and a smoothness that allows for a terrific night’s sleep.

One of the strong points of these soft sheets is their ability to regulate temperature, allowing you to maintain comfort and freshness despite the hot weather outside. Another aspect that people have commented favorably on is their quality, in particular their durability. Backing up this quality is LINENWALAS’s ninety-day guarantee of satisfaction.

The set itself comes with the four standard pieces of flat sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. The fitted sheet will fit snugly to any mattress up to 16 inches thick, thanks to the deep pocket and an elasticated edge. The LINENWALAS Organic Bamboo Sheets are available in nine color options, so you should be able to get something that will fit in with your current bedroom decor.

URBANHUT Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set Review

Another product to fall into the luxury bracket is the URBANHUT Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set. These soft sheets have a thread count of 800 and are made with long-staple cotton fibers. At the end of their production, they are treated with enzymes, which eliminates fuzz and keeps them incredibly smooth. This also gives them durability and softness that increases with every wash.

URBANHUT has made these Egyptian cotton sheets with fantastic air circulation and breathability, meaning that you will stay comfortable throughout the night without sweating or overheating. One feature that will give you peace-of-mind while you sleep is OEKO-TEX certification. This means that there are no harmful chemicals or toxins used during their production.

As far as care and washing go, these are straightforward and can be easily machine washed and dried. They are also easy to fit, with the fitted sheet having an all-round elastic that will keep it securely fitted to a mattress up to 16 inches deep. Aesthetically, URBANHUT has given them a beautiful design with plain hems that is sure to make you want to give them a second look.

However, if you like heavy sheets, then the URBANHUT Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set might come across a little lightweight. However, for a stylish, durable, and high-quality bedding, you cannot go far wrong in giving these a try.

Beflax Natural French Linen Sheets Review

We take a trip to continental Europe for our next choice of soft sheets. The Beflax Natural French Linen Sheets have hypoallergenic qualities that are excellent for keeping allergies, dust mites, and moisture at bay. The bespoke French mélange weave also gives these a fantastic feel to them that offers an equal balance of weight and comfort.

Pre-washed with natural enzymes as part of the production process, these sheets are smooth and wonderfully soft. If this is your first time trying out linen bedding, then you are in for a real treat. Linen has a bad reputation for being a scratchy material; however, the enzyme pre-wash guarantees softness and smoothness from the first use, and they will only get softer with each wash. 

The customer reviews say it all. The Beflax Natural French Linen Sheets have been given maximum ratings for cooling breathability, durability, and, of course, softness.

LilySilk Mulberry Silk Sheets Review

LilySilk may be the new kid on the block as far as bedding supplies go. Still, they are already catching people’s eyes with the wonderful selection of beautiful colors in which they provide their LilySilk Mulberry Silk Sheets. However, it’s not just the color palette that is worthy of attention.

The silk comes from the Bombyx Mori silkworms, and it is considered to be among the most beautiful silks you can find. It will take around 2,500 of these worms to make just a single pound of raw silk. This raw material is then crafted into sheets and other silk bedding products by experienced silk artisans.

One of the fabulous qualities of silk is that it can regulate heat exceptionally effectively. This quality allows users to sleep comfortably regardless of outside temperatures. And, since it’s a breathable fabric, the LilySilk Mulberry Silk Sheets are also great at wicking moisture away from your body. Other fabrics, including cotton and polyester, can irritate the skin, leading to rashes. Silk is an excellent choice if you are someone who has a propensity for allergic reactions or sensitive skin.

The fantastic range of exciting colors will remain just that even after numerous washes. As far as washing goes, this can be done in either a machine or by hand, but use cold water only. If you prefer getting your sheets dry-cleaned, this is also an option. It is also best to hang them out to dry, as line drying will preserve their lifespan.

AmazonBasics Lightweight Microfiber Sheet Set Review

It is possible to have soft sheets that will give you the highest amount of comfort without having to resort to using flannel. That was the aim when AmazonBasics developed their brand of microfiber sheets.

Made from 100% polyester microfiber, their softness will adorn you with the feeling like you are sleeping on a silk cloud. This feeling is achieved through the use of extremely thin fibers. AmazonBasics has produced these sheets to OEKO-TEX standard 100. So if you buy these, you will know that they’ve been produced without using harmful chemicals or toxins.

Caring for the AmazonBasics Lightweight Microfiber Sheet Set is quite easy, as it can be washed in a machine with warm water and tumble dried on a low heat setting. Another excellent feature of these microfiber sheets is that they are wrinkle-free. Even if you forget to take them out of the tumble-drier after the cycle is complete, they will still maintain their smoothness. You can also rest-assure that the colors will not run or fade, no matter how many times you wash them.

The sheets also should not pill if you adhere to the manufacturer’s care instructions. Ignoring these instructions, however, will result in them pilling. Another aspect you should be aware of is that it might be possible to see the mattress label through lighter colored sheets. This is because they are so thin and lightweight. You may also notice some lint on your sheets, but this should all come off when you put them through the drier.

The fitted sheet has a fully elasticated edge that is designed to firmly grip a mattress that is up to 16 inches deep. As far as softness goes, the AmazonBasics Lightweight Microfiber Sheet Set will fit the bill very well indeed. Plus, being an Amazon product, it is very competitively priced, which is always an attractive option.

Linenwalas Tencel Bed Sheets Review

Certain blended sheets can give you an incredible softness, and the Linenwalas Tencel Bed Sheets are one such set. With a 300 thread count and high absorbent quality, it is softer than Egyptian cotton or cashmere sheets.

The fitted sheet in this set comes with an elasticated edge to make sure that it fits snugly and securely to your mattress, and won’t come off while you sleep. The Linenwalas Tencel Bed Sheets are also durable; the material comes from Australia and has the durability of other outback products. The sheets are good at wicking moisture away from your body so you will not overheat and get sweaty at night. Their antibacterial qualities will keep mites, bugs, and allergic bacteria away from your bed.

The set includes four pieces: one flat sheet, two pillowcases, and one fitted sheet with an elasticated edge. The pocket on this fitted sheet is suitable for mattresses up to 16 inches deep. Caring for these sheets is straightforward, as you can wash them in cold water either in a machine or by hand. If you do use a tumble-dryer, make sure that you take them out immediately after the drying cycle is complete to avoid possible damage and wrinkles.

Linenwalas supply these soft sheets in an attractive bag that is the same color as the sheets with a satin string is tied around it. This feature is a nice presentational touch and makes this set a great gift idea.

Pure Bedding Satin Sheets Review

The Pure Bedding Satin Sheets offer you ultimate luxury at an affordable price. Produced to a top-quality specification in terms of comfort, Pure Bedding’s polyester microfiber sheet set is among the best you will find.

Quality is not the only thing that is luxurious about these sheets. Their colors are vibrant and beautiful and give the look of luxury too. The colors are made from fade-resistant dyes that are saturated into the durable fabric, and this means the colors will remain rich and vibrant.

These soft sheets are produced from polyester microfiber with a satin weave. This weave gives them a plush texture similar to that of silk. They also have excellent breathability qualities, and this helps repel moisture effectively and regulate temperature to keep you comfortable all night.

The Pure Bedding Satin Sheets are strong and durable, much more so than cotton. They also have wrinkle, stain, and shrink resistant qualities. Thanks to its elasticated edge, the bottom sheet will fit snugly onto a mattress up to 15 inches thick. For washing, cold water should be used, and you can put them into a tumble-dryer in a low heat setting.

Elite Home Microfleece Sheet Set Review

The Elite Home Microfleece Sheet Set is produced from 100% polyester microfiber, and this makes it much softer than flannel. It also has a high level of breathability, and its hypoallergenic qualities it them suitable for children who suffer from allergic reactions or have sensitive skin.

Elite Home has produced one of the most durable sets of sheets that you will be able to find. They are resistant to stains, fading, shrinking, and wrinkling. Washing them as often as you want to is not an issue; they will withstand it. Their incredible durability makes them an ideal choice for a child’s bedroom.

The fitted sheet is fully elasticized, and it will fit a mattress of up to 12 inches in depth. Plus, the Elite Home Microfleece Sheet Set comes in a range of attractive and fun designs and patterns. Your kids will love these sheets, and the ease with which they can be machine washed and dried means you will love them too. 

PeruPima Peruvian Pima Cotton Sheets Review

For soft sheets that also have incredible durability, the PeruPima Peruvian Pima Cotton Sheets are worth serious consideration. The sateen weave with a slight luminous shine and 600-thread count also renders them with a finished look of pure luxury.

Initially, they may feel a little stiff and crisp, but this is normal straight from the packaging. The sheets will soften up quickly and will continue to get softer with every wash you give them. You can use these all-year-round, thanks to their ability to wick moisture from the body and their heat regulating qualities.

Pima cotton is excellent at absorbing color dye, and this means that your beautiful colored sheets will maintain their vibrancy without fading. Neither will they pill, thanks to their extra-long-staple cotton fibers. You do not have to worry about any harmful chemicals or toxins in them, as they are made to OKEO-TEX standards.

This set is available in a range of sizes from Twin to California King and can be purchased in four classic colors. The fitted sheet will accommodate a mattress up to 15 inches deep. Washing the sheets is also simple. You can put them into your washing machine and your tumble-dryer, without the risk of them coming out wrinkled the way some other cotton sheets do.

To top everything off, the manufacturer offers the PeruPima Peruvian Pima Cotton Sheets with a satisfaction guarantee that extends to thirty days. So, if you are not entirely content with your purchase during this period, you can get your money back, which makes it a risk-free purchase.

What Material Makes For the Softest Sheets?

Fabric from Bamboo Sheets

This natural, eco-friendly material produces the absolute softest sheets you can find. Fibers from bamboo plants are transformed into a pulp, which then gets dried and turned into thread. It is this dried bamboo fiber thread that gets woven into the luxury material that provides the ultimate experience in softness. Even if you select fabric-from-bamboo sheets that have a thread count at the lower end of the scale, they will still give you considerably more softness than cotton with a higher thread count.

Bamboo is an ultra-renewable raw material, and it grows back incredibly quickly without the need for replanting. This renewability makes an incredibly friendly material for the environment. The robustness of the bamboo plant is translated into the material, and bamboo sheets will give you a high level of durability as well as ultimate softness and smoothness. 

Another excellent quality of bamboo sheets is the level of breathability. Bamboo sheets will regulate your temperature as you sleep, ensuring that you get a good night's sleep without overheating or sweating. Being as robust as bamboo fibers are, sheets from bamboo can be machine-washed. One of the appealing aspects of washing bamboo sheets is that their softness increases with every wash you give them.

Bamboo fabric is also high in natural hypoallergenic qualities. This feature makes sheets made from this fabric an excellent choice for allergy sufferers or those people with sensitive skin. Another natural quality of this material is its stain resistance.

Given the outstanding features of bamboo fabric, you might expect sheets from this fabric to be budget-busting. However, a set of bamboo fabric sheets will set you back about the same amount as a set made from good quality cotton. 

Jersey Weave Sheets

Jersey sheets have the feel of an old, well-worn tee-shirt, and they provide a moderate amount of softness. Jersey-knit cotton sheets tend to be at the less expensive end of the market, and as such, are commonly used in dormitories or college accommodation. However, you will still find them to be smooth, warm, and soft, even after you've washed them many times.

People refer to these types of sheets as being jersey-woven; however, a jersey is a knit, not a weave. This means that it is produced from a single length of thread, making it incredibly flexible and stretchy. These characteristics mean that they are easy to fit onto a mattress, even if you haven't got your sizing correct. 

Silk Sheets

Sheets made from pure silk might be deliciously soft, but they are not to everyone's liking. The natural fibers of silk give the material softness and sheen exudes luxury.

Some other materials, such as polyester, try to imitate the look and feel of silk. However, the imitation is easy to spot, as it is incredibly slippery. With teal silk sheets, you will not find yourself sliding all over your bed when you try to sleep. You will get the beautiful softness associated with pure silk.

One of the best quality silks available in sheet sets is Mulberry. This silk is so named due to the silkworms that produce it being fed nothing other than leaves from the Mulberry bush. 

As you'd expect from such an extravagant production process, silk sheets can be rather expensive. You can expect to pay anywhere in the region of $100 to $500 for a set, depending on the brand and size.

As a general rule, to wash silk sheets, you need to have them dry-cleaned. So, unless the care instructions explicitly state, otherwise, dry-cleaning is the only washing option. You are going to need to budget for the purchase of your sheets, and you will have to factor in cleaning costs too.

Cotton Sheets

Having knowledge of the type of cotton in your sheets is not critical. However, understanding the types of cotton used in sheet production will help you make an informed choice when it comes to buying some cotton sheets.

There are many different types of cotton, and they are used for a variety of products. Cotton's uses range from denim jeans to cotton buds, and, of course, cotton sheets. 

Even for sheets, there are different kinds of cotton used. The highest quality of cotton you will find is referred to as Egyptian cotton, due to the geographical location of its origin. Egyptian cotton is made of long fibers that give the finished sheet an incredible smoothness and softness. These fibers also make the sheets less prone to pilling. Sheets made from Egyptian cotton also have more breathability than shorter-fiber cotton sheets. 

The weave will make a massive difference with cotton sheets, and for the best ones, take a look at sheet sets with sateen or percale or weaves. These weaves will give you the softest and smoothest sheets that you will find anywhere. If quality is what you are after, and you can't get hold of Egyptian cotton, try some Pima cotton sheets. Sheets made from Pima cotton also benefit from long fibers and the features these provide.

If a set of sheets is marked as being 100% cotton, but they do not state if it is Pima or Egyptian cotton, then it is most likely to be Upland cotton. This type of cotton is durable but has shorter fibers that Egyptian or Pima, and it tends to suffer from pilling. Sheets made from Upland cotton tend to be less smooth and less substantial. 

There is no getting away from it, pure cotton sheets that are ultra-soft are going to hit your pocket. In some cases, using the best cotton sheets may be impractical. For instance, would you really want to fork out for Egyptian cotton sheets for a spare room that might only get used a few times each year? Or what about the kids; do you want them putting your best sheets through the rough-and-tumble of playtime? Of course, you want something that is still soft and smooth, but maybe not the best on the market.

In cases such as the ones just mentioned, cotton-blend sheets come into their own. A blend of cotton and polyester, for instance, will give you the best of both worlds. These sheets can be rewashed time and time, and remain as good as new, offering comfort, softness, and durability. Just a little poly mixed with cotton (say around 10%) will give you a sheet that is soft, smooth and does not wrinkle. If you do go for the blended option, keep the poly mix below 30%, as anything over this will induce overheating.

Linen Sheets

For many years, linen had a reputation for being a rough and scratchy material. However, nowadays, this natural material gets treated with enzymes or air-whipping during production to help soften it up. Today, this established fabric is crisp and smooth. Linen also has tremendous breathability, making them an excellent sheet choice for hotter months.

Of course, all of these qualities come with a price, and you will need to consider your budget when purchasing linen sheets. If you have no restrictions in terms of budget, then you are guaranteed top quality, comfortable sheets.

Flannel Sheets

For cold winter nights, there is not a lot to compete with the warmth and velvet-like softness of flannel sheets. Originally, flannel was produced from worsted yarn or wool. Today, however, cotton, or a blend of polyester and cotton, is the basis for flannel.

The nap on flannel sheets is brushed on both sides, and this makes them incredibly soft. Flannel sheets are so warm that you might find them to be too overbearing in anything but the coldest climates. If you're a cold sleeper, in general, you might just love these sheets all year round.

Microfiber Sheets

Microfiber is a synthetic material that is typically based on polyester or nylon. This material has an extremely fine weave, and when woven, it then gets brushed twice, giving it a finish that is soft, smooth, and warm.

Despite having ultra-thin threads, thinner even than those of silk, microfibers are strong and durable. Microfiber is also lightweight, and it is effective at wicking moisture away from the body. So it has quite a bit of versatility, making it an excellent material for bed sheets.

What Factors Make For Really Soft Sheets?

Softness in sheets is achieved through a variety of factors. This next section considers a few of the more important ones:

Material

Sheets can be produced from many different fabrics and, generally speaking, the better the quality of material, the better the quality of the sheets. Different materials will have qualities that cater to different sleeping styles, and a material that one person finds comfortable might not be so much for others.

Fiber Length

Long fibers tend to provide more durability than short-fiber materials. Even if a short-fiber material has a high thread count, it will still wear out faster.

Ply

The material's ply refers to the number of strands that are combined to make a single thread. Threads can be single-ply, meaning that there is just one strand. They can also have two strands twisted together to make a single thread, and this is known as double-ply. 

So, when considering the sheets' thread count, you should also consider the ply. A sheet with a thread count of 600 could be made up from 600 single-ply threads, or 300 double-ply threads. You might assume that the double-ply threads will be more durable, but this is not always the case. Single-ply is generally lighter, and softer than double-ply as the threads are thinner and more delicate.

Weave

The structure with which the threads are combined to make the material is known as the weave. The two standard weaves as far as sheets go, are the sateen weave and the percale weave.

A sateen weave is made up of mostly vertical yarn, exposing more thread to the sheet's surface. This results in several things. First, it gives the sheets a beautiful smoothness and softness, responsible for their high-end price. However, it also leaves the sheets vulnerable to pilling. When looking at a sateen-woven sheet, you may notice a slight stripe in the material, which is caused by the predominance of vertical threads. Sateen sheets tend to be on the heavier side, making them more suitable for colder months.

A percale-woven sheet will be crisp, fresh, and have a matte finish. Percale sheets will never feel stiff or itchy, and that is because the weave is simple and incredibly tight. The nature of the weave means that percale sheets will get softer the longer your use and wash them. Over time, they will remain strong and will avoid pilling. Sheets made with a percale weave are light, crisp, and fresh, ideal for hot nights or people that overheat easily during sleep.

Production

Generally speaking, the fewer production processes a sheet has to go through, the more softness it is likely to have. Even the coloring process will adversely affect the softness of sheets, so avoiding sheets that have been dyed is a safe choice for soft sheets. Of course, unless you want plain white sheets, matching your bedroom decor with un-dyed sheets could prove difficult.

Thread Count

A sheet's thread count is the number of threads contained within one square inch of the sheet's material. Thread count is a general indication of how durable a sheet is, and also its level of smoothness. 

However, thread count alone is not a guarantee that your sheets will be smooth and soft. There are many different types of cotton, and some are smoother than others. So you might have rougher cotton with a high thread count. This doesn't infer that you will have soft sheets.

How To Choose The Most Comfortable Bed Sheets

There is no magic solution for comfort as far as sheets go, and that is because everyone has their sleeping style. However, with so many different factors to take into consideration, it's easy to get confused about the most comfortable sheets for you. Here is a brief aide-memoire to keep you on track:

• Percale-woven cotton sheets - lightweight and crisp
• Sateen-woven cotton sheets - softness, smoothness, heavy
• Jersey-knit sheets - warmth, ultra-soft
• Bamboo fabric sheets - cool, ultra-soft
• Polyester sheets - crisp, stiff

Frequently Asked Questions

Which sheets are the softest? 

There is not one single sheet to answer this question with. The types of materials that will give you the most fabulous softness are bamboo fabric, cotton, fleece, and microfiber. Flannel weaves are also incredibly smooth and soft.

What type of cotton is the softest?

The right answer here has got to be a straight choice between Egyptian and Pima cotton. Egyptian has longer fibers, so it certainly does produce more softness. But, some people prefer Pima, which has shorter fibers. Apart from these two options, there is Upland cotton, which is generally referred to simply as 100% cotton. This cotton is still incredibly soft and a lot less expensive than Pima or Egyptian.

What is more comfortable; Egyptian cotton or bamboo fabric?

Comfort is a personal thing, so trying to answer this question with one or the other is not practical. Egyptian is the highest quality of cotton and, as such, offers excellent levels of comfort. Bamboo fabric is also in the more upper echelons of comfort, and their durability might tip the scales in their favor if you were to consider other factors. For comfort alone, it's a split decision.  

How soft is a percale sheet?

Percale weave is a standard weave used to make cotton sheets. Percale woven sheets are crisp and fresh, and they become softer the more time you wash them. Unless you specifically purchase wrinkle-free percale sheets (pre-treated in some way), they will wrinkle quite a bit. To be classified as per ale, the sheets need to have a thread count of at least 180.

Conclusion

To regularly get a good night's sleep, a soft set of sheets will help. The softness of a sheet is just one aspect of quality sheets, but to many people, it is the most important. Crisp, stiff, and cold sheets might be useful for a while, but softness will out-do these qualities over time.

In the end, softness is a personal opinion, and your decision to buy a particular type of soft sheets will come down to your circumstances. Hopefully, the information contained within this guide will help you select the softest sheets for you.