Bedding Buying Guide

Second only to mattresses and pillows, bedding is one of the most important factors determining the comfort of your sleep space. Even if you have the best possible mattress for you, the quality and material of your sheets, comforter, duvet or blanket can make or break your sleep space. With a variety of materials, weaves and more, finding the right bedding can be a complicated and daunting process. Fortunately, we’ve constructed this comprehensive guide in order to inform you about everything there is to know about bedding.

This guide will explore the materials, weaves, our top picks and everything else there is to know about the following:

• Sheets and Pillowcases
• Comforters and Duvet Inserts
• Duvet Covers
• Blankets

You may be surprised about everything that goes into picking the right bedding. In this section, we’ll cover the following in detail about pillowcases and sheets:

• Materials – What kinds of materials are best for coolness, breathability, and cleaning? We weigh out all the pros and cons, from flannel to cotton, polyester, silk, and linen.
• Weave – We’ll explore common weaves like percale, sateen, and flannel. Each type of weave can affect the strength and appearance of a sheet.
• Thread Count and Weight – The ideal thread count and weight for your sheets largely depend on the material and weave, which we’ll go over below.
• Size – If you’ve encountered the problem where your fitted sheet isn’t so fitted, we’ll walk you through standard sizing and how to pick the one that’s actually right for you.
• Sheet & Pillowcase Rating Criteria – Not all sheets and pillowcases are created equally. This section goes through detailed rating criteria.
• Best Sheet Sets – Find out our results.

Good materials are truly important for a quality set of sheets. How you select your material can depend on a variety of factors, including the type of mattress you sleep on, whether you run hot or cold, and how you prefer to wash sheets. Let’s dive in.

Just as important as the materials used on your sheets and pillowcases is the weave. When a textile producer puts together different materials, they have to decide on the style of weave. That means interlacing two yarns together, which forms a cloth or fabric. The method of interweaving these materials may determine their shape and strength. Some materials are also better with certain weaves. For example, silk is often put together with a satin weave. Below, we’ll go over the main types of weaves.

Percale

Also known as a plain weave, this is tightly woven and follows a strict one-over, one-under ratio. The material is soft and has a matte appearance. This criss-cross weave has the benefit of making percale weaves consistently strong, preventing wear and tear. That said, this weave may result in more wrinkly sheets with a louder rustling sound.

Sateen

Features a higher ratio of warp-over-weft — in some cases, four over to one under — which creates a looser weave than percale. This weave is often more smooth and wrinkle-resistant. Sateen has a higher shine than percale, as well. On the downside, sateen weaves may be more susceptible to pilling and less durable.

Twill

Twill weaves have a diagonal pattern, unlike percale and sateen, which have straight weaves. Weft yarns are passed over and under the warp yarns one or two at a time, and then dropped to create a step between the rows that gives it a diagonal appearance. Twill weaves are better for bulkier and more durable materials. Higher counts make them more water and air resistant.

Flannel

A flannel weave is often made with heavy fabric that is soft and warm. Flannel weaves are tight and measured in GSM (grams per square meter). While flannel as far back as the 1950s was always made with heavy materials like wool, now flannel woven sheets can be made with materials like cotton or a synthetic blend. They’re great for wicking moisture away from the body but not ideal for fine materials.

Jersey

Many customers love jersey weaves on sheets and pillows because they feel like a soft, comfy t-shirt. Jersey weaves are sometimes referred to as a single or plain knit, and have flat vertical lines on the front. While they’re nice and stretchy, there is one major downside: flat jersey knits may run easily if a piece of yarn is broken.

Best Thread Count for Each Sheet Type

• Egyptian Cotton: 300-400 count
• Supima Cotton: 200-400 count
• Percale: 250-300 count
• Sateen: 300-600 count
• Bamboo: 300 or higher count
• Linen: 100-200 count

Weight as a Quality Indicator

While thread count is important, it’s not the most relevant quality indicator for all types of weaves and materials. The materials and weaves listed below show the ideal weight instead of thread count. Keep an eye out for this if you’re shopping for sheets or pillowcases that contain the following.

• Silk: 14-19-pound weight
• Jersey: 10+ ounces per yard
• Flannel: 5+ ounces or 170+ GSM (grams per square meter)
• Microfiber: 90-120 GSM (grams per square meter)

Everyone has encountered a fitted sheet that doesn’t actually fit well. Luckily, there are ways to prevent this from happening in the future. Make sure you’re familiar with the thickness of your mattress and the pocket depth of the sheets you want to buy. Pocket depth refers to the thickest mattress size that a bottom sheet will properly fit over. For example, a fitted sheet with a pocket depth of ‘up to 16 inches’ will be too small for mattresses that are thicker than 16 inches.

Our testers have developed a comprehensive rating criteria for sheets that we use in all of our sheet reviews. All of the sheets we feature below have been evaluated with this criteria, from comfort and feel to durability and ease of cleaning.

Looking for brand new sheets and pillowcases? Our favorite picks come at a variety of materials, weaves, and price points.

Now that we’ve gone over different bed sheets and pillowcases, let’s take a look at comforters and duvet inserts. Outer shell materials and fills make a big difference here, and we’ll look at the ideal sets for each.

A comforter, by definition, is a single-piece bedding cover that is filled with down, feathers, wool, or down alternative synthetic fibers. All four sides of the comforter are stitched or quilted to prevent the fill from escaping. A duvet, on the other hand, consists of two components: the duvet insert and the duvet cover. The duvet insert, like a comforter, is filled with down or synthetic fibers. The duvet cover is similar to a pillow case, and features an opening on one side for the insert.

However, one thing to note is that comforters can double as duvet inserts when placed inside a duvet cover. The table below lists general similarities and differences between comforters and duvets.

Just like with sheets, quality materials can make or break your experience with the product. Below, we’ll go over the pros and cons of specific outer shell and fill materials in comforters.

The shell material of a comforter is the outer part that you come into contact with. Most comforters have an outer shell that’s not meant to be covered, unlike a duvet insert.

Cotton

Cotton is a very commonly found in outer shells. The most common types of cotton in production are Egyptian, Pima, and upland. Long staple cotton is seen as desirable for its quality and durability.

Silk

Silk is a fairly uncommon outer shell covering, but you may find it in premium products. This is likely due its difficulty to wash and how easily sun and water can damage the material.

Wool

Wool can be a great outer shell for comforters or duvets for people who want to feel extra warm. This material also resists moisture and wrinkling.

Cotton-Polyester Blend

This blend is very commonly found in duvet covers. The pros of both materials — combined with the price point — make it a beneficial blend. You’ll pay less and still get fairly comparable quality and easy care.

Fill material is what’s inside your comforter or duvet. The fill often determines how warm and soft your comforter or duvet feels. While goose and duck down are popular options, many comforters are also filled with down alternative, cotton, or wool.

Goose Down

The term ‘down’ refers to the softer plumage that grow underneath the longer, coarser exterior feathers of geese. Most down is collected from the stomach of these birds. Down tends to be fluffier and more lightweight than outer feathers. Goose down in particular has a higher lift, trapping and distributing more warmth than duck down. It’s also usually the more pricey of the two.

Duck Down

Duck down is similar to goose down, with some key differences. Duck down comes from smaller birds, meaning that it has a less high “fill power” (which you can read more about below). On the upside, you can usually get duck down at a lower cost than goose down.

Down Alternative

Down alternative refers to polyester puffballs that mimic the softness and fluffiness of natural down. This is a great option for people who are concerned about animal cruelty or want a more environmentally-friendly option. Down alternative also comes at a lower price point and ideal for people with allergies or asthma.

Cotton
Cotton is a common filling for comforters. On the positive side, it can make for a lightweight duvet or comforter. It’s also less expensive than down. On the downside, it may not be as warm as you’d like for the winter months.

Wool

Wool comforters are made of the fleece of sheep (and other mammals). This material is exceptionally warm and can keep you toasty during cool nights.

Silk

Silk, woven from the extremely strong fibers of silk worms, is a luxurious and smooth material. While it can be found on occasion as a fill, it’s not very common.

When comparing different types of down/feather fill, it’s important to consider fill power. This term refers to how light and fluffy the material feels, as well as the overall quality of the fill. The higher the fill power, the better the quality. Fill power generally ranges from 400 to 800.

Fill power is also associated with fill weight. Generally speaking, the lighter the fill, the higher the fill power, and vice versa. You should consider fill power when deciding how warm you want to be at night. A low fill power will generally keep you cooler, though it also depends on the materials in the fill.

Just as with bed sheets and pillowcases, thread count and weave matter with comforter shells. If you want to learn more about the impact of these two elements, you can check out our section on thread count and our section on weave in this article.

Tuck’s testers have developed a comprehensive rating criteria that takes several categories into account. The table below goes over items such as shell and fill material quality, durability, breathability, and cleaning to help you pick the best comforter or duvet out there. All this criteria factors into our comforter and duvet insert reviews in the next section.

Once you’ve picked out a duvet or comforter you love, you might want to protect it. Having a duvet cover makes washing easier, and prevents you from having to clean the actual duvet nearly as often. Below, we’ll walk you through common duvet cover materials and weaves, along with our favorite picks.

• Cotton – The softness makes this one of the most popular duvet covers. This material is long lasting but may have moisture retention issues. Look for long-staple cotton like Egyptian cotton.
• Linen – Linen fibers are naturally coarse, but they’re highly breathable and hold up well over time. This fabric has a tendency to feel heavy, is more coarse, and wrinkles easily. Still a good fit for most seasons.
• Bamboo Rayon – Made from bamboo fibers. This material is durable, smooth, and breathable. Some companies blend it with other materials like polyester and cotton to add an even smoother feel.
• Polyester – A synthetic material that is sleek and stretchy, though arguably not as breathable as cotton and other natural materials. If you’ve ever gotten a microfiber cover, these are often made of polyester.
• Blends – Blending materials can make for a less expensive end product, but it can also provide the best of both worlds. Cotton-linen blends costs less than pure linen and are more comfortable, which is why they’re a popular combination.
• Organic Materials – Organic bedding may be important to you if you want to do better by the environment. Natural materials like cotton and linen are a good place to start, and you can also look for natural certifications.

• Percale – Also known as a plain weave, percale is made when vertical yarn is wrapped around another horizontal yarn. This weave isn’t as smooth as sateen, but it results in a cool and crisp cotton feel.
• Sateen – Sateen produces a sleek look and smooth surface, where the vertical to horizontal yarns aren’t one-to-one.
• Twill – A twill weave gives a slightly rougher feel to cotton. This weave uses a diagonal pattern, and some manufacturers treat or wash twill-woven fabric to make it softer without altering the texture.
• Satin – A luxurious and soft weave that isn’t very durable. A satin weave is usually made out of silk.
• Jersey – Jersey is knitted instead of woven, with that cozy feel of a t-shirt you’ve worn time and again. Jersey knits work well for all seasons, though the texture is prone to pilling and may be on the thin side.

A blanket refers to the insulating layer between the top sheet and the comforter. Some sleepers prefer to tuck their blankets into the sides of their mattress for extra warmth, while others let the blanket rest freely on the top sheet. Either way, blankets are sized slightly longer and wider than mattresses to provide some overlap on the sides. Below, we’ll explore different blanket types including material and weave.

• Standard Blanket – It’s hard to define what a truly “standard” blank is, but we define it as one that fits most standard bed sizes — Twin, Double, Queen, and King.
• Throw – A throw blanket is better to have around your house than on a bed. Throw blankets are usually about 70×50 inches and lighter than a standard blanket. Many people like to drape their throws over a couch or chair.
• Afghan – Afghan blankets have large holes in their stitching because they’re usually crocheted (or at least have a crocheted look). These won’t provide much heat, but they’re a nice addition for your home decor.
• Heated Blanket – Heated blankets go the extra step with an internal electric mechanism. When you plug in the blanket, this provides built-in heat.
• Weighted Blanket – Weighted blankets have become increasingly popular over the years and can range from 5 to 30 pounds. This pressure can help with mental wellbeing, calmness, and sleep. The process of using a weighted blanket for stress relief is known as grounding.

Common fabrics used to make blankets include:

Cotton: Cotton is a popular choice for cooler, lightweight blankets. Due to its relative durability, cotton is also machine washable. However, these blankets are not usually suitable for year-round temperature neutrality; depending on the construction, they may be too cool or too warm for certain times of the year.

Wool: Natural wool extracted from sheep is dense and highly durable. The material also wicks away moisture and offers exceptional temperature neutrality; it will keep sleepers warm during the colder months, and is also breathable enough for warm weather. Two notable downsides: many people are allergic to natural wool, and wool blankets can be somewhat pricey.

Cashmere: Cashmere comes from goats, not sheep, but shares many of the same properties as wool. However, cashmere blankets are usually much more expensive than wool blankets.

Polyester: Polyester blankets are considered a low-price alternative to all-cotton blankets, as they provide the same softness and are just as durable. However, polyester is not as breathable as cotton, and the material is a known conductor of static electricity.

Fleece: Fleece is a synthetic version of wool. It is usually cheaper than wool without sacrificing warmth or density, and may be a good alternative for sleepers with wool allergies. Unlike wool, however, fleece may be too warm for certain times of the year.

Acrylic: Acrylic is a synthetic alternative to wool or cashmere that is warm and hypoallergenic. It is also lighter than these other materials, and acrylic blankets tend to be cheaper. However, acrylic — like polyester — has static potential and is also susceptible to pilling, a form of wear and tear that causes balls of fabric to form on the surface.

Weaving styles used for blankets include the following:

• Flat: A flat weave may be tight or loose, depending on the process, but the result is an even, somewhat coarse surface with little to no pilling. Flat-woven yarns tend to be heavier and more durable, and are often used to produce carpets and rugs as well.
• Thermal: A thermal weave is looser, creating a more breathable blanket that usually has a waffle or honeycomb texture. Thermal weaving is typically used for cotton blankets, and is also used to produce warmer-than-average shirts, pants, and undergarments.
• Sateen: The sateen weaving process for blankets is similar to the process for sheets, whereby the over-to-under ratio for warp and weft is greater than 1:1. This looser weaving technique produces cooler blankets.
• Jacquard: The term ‘jacquard’ refers to a specialized loom used in the weaving process that creates patterns in the fabric without printing or embroidery. These patterns range from simple to highly sophisticated. Jacquard weaving is also used in certain garments, such as blouses and dress shirts.
• Percale: Although this process is more commonly used with sheets, percale blankets are also tightly woven and exceptionally soft (much like percale sheets).

Unlike weaving, which involves yarns being twisted together to create a fabric, knitting involves a continuous thread featuring a series of proportional loops. There are no warp or weft threads in knitting; rather, new loops are pulled through existing loops to create an interloping structure. Knitted yarns have better circulation than woven fabrics due to the openings between the loops, and knit blankets tend to be drapier.

At the end of the day, only one thing about bedding matters: that you’re comfortable and can sleep well. After running through this guide, we hope you’ll have these key takeaways:

• Materials and weave matter. Keep this guide bookmarked to remember which kinds of materials and weaves best fit your lifestyle and needs.
• Pocket depth will make your sheets fit better. You won’t have to go through the same frustrations if you measure your mattress and buy the correct sizing.
• There are many ways to go right. Cotton, wool, silk, linen — they all have their own benefits and drawbacks. The most important thing is finding something you like.

Still trying to find the right products to help you sleep soundly? We have a few suggestions.

• Best Mattresses
• Best Pillows
• Best Bed Frames
• Best Duvet Covers
• Best Comforters
• Best Bed Sheets