Best Linen Sheets – 2022 Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Buying Guide – How to Choose the Best Linen Sheets

Since you spend one-third of your life sleeping, it’s worth the investing in your bedding. Linen is an excellent luxury choice for sound sleep year-round because of the many benefits it offers.

This guide explains what linen is, how it’s made, and its benefits. We’ll explain what to look for when buying linen sheets for your bed and how to care for them to ensure the best performance and longevity.

What Is Linen and How Is it Made?

To comprehend the distinctive look, feel, and durability associated with linen bed sheets, it helps to understand the unique way the product is manufactured. Linen comes from the flax plant. Inside the flax plant are cellulose fibers and the very best linen comes from hand-harvested flax as it retains the longest fibers for a stronger material. Flax is harvested, dried, and threshed to remove the seeds.

The threshed stalks are then wetted and put through a process called retting before being dried and cured. Scutching is next; this process removes woody bits from the flax fiber. Then there’s heckling which splits and polishes the fibers and finally, it’s ready for spinning into a fine, thin yarn.

From there, the yarn is ready to be woven into sheets on a loom in a horizontal and vertical weave. High thread count is not a sign of good quality of linen sheets. Instead, a better gauge is fabric weight plus the harvesting, handling, and manufacturing of the yarn and fabric.

Is Linen Right for You?

Linen has a distinctly different feel than other sheets, even those made from natural fibers. It is not a traditional soft feel. Instead, there’s a crisp substantial feel that’s more like clothing. They don’t generally come out of the package ultra-soft like some cotton and synthetics. Instead, they require a break-in period and soften on subsequent washings. If you want ultimate softness from the first night, you may not have the patience for linen.

With proper care, however, you can get years of comfortable sleep with a softer sensation every time you launder your linens. And linen comes with the benefit of being breathable and naturally moisture wicking during the hotter months, while remaining exceptionally insulating when the weather turns cool. If you have trouble with temperature regulation, linen sheets may be an attractive solution.

What to Look for in Linen Sheets

Softness

If linen sheets are very soft out of the package, they are not the best quality. Some brands coat their linen with a chemical wash to make it feel softer initially. But after washing, they roughen. Instead, look for sheets without chemical processing and expect them to soften over time.

Thread Count

Linen thread counts shouldn’t be high. The fibers are thicker and cannot be woven into a tight weave. The ideal count is 80-120, but most linen sheet makers don’t advertise based on count and may mention weight instead with the ideal being between 175-190 GSM (grams per square meter).

Price

Linen sheets are pricier than other materials because of the labor-intensive process. However, these sheets can last a decade or more with proper care, making them an investment in quality.

Fit (Size and Pocket Depth)

Shrinkage is a concern with linen sheets, even with those advertised as pre-washed. Check pocket depth carefully and buy a little larger than you need as you can expect 5%+ shrinkage. Some premium linen brands sell only queen and king-sized sheets.

Color/Pattern

Linen sheets don’t come in the wide array of colors like you can get in cotton or synthetics. Some brands may sell just a few color options and rarely offer patterned designs. Also, be aware that many linen sheets are garment-dyed in small batches, so color can vary.

Weight

Unlike cotton, thread count is virtually meaningless when it comes to linen sheets. Instead, linen bedding is advertised by grams per square meter. A quality linen sheet will have a medium weight (or around 6.50 ounces or 185 grams per square meter) that cradles without trapping your body.

Caring for Your Linen Sheets

While linen sheets are highly durable and can last for a decade or more, proper care is required to get the best possible lifespan. Here are the basics for how to care for your linen sheets and protect your investment.

•  Read the manufacturer’s care instructions. Depending on the weave, dye, and stitching, they may recommend a specific wash temperature and dryer setting.

• Don’t bleach or use added chemicals. Bleaching linen sheets can weaken the fibers. Also avoid any laundry additives (color brighteners, etc.) that might damage the fabric.

• Don’t wash in a crowded load. Linen loves water and cleans best when it can soak it up, so don’t launder your sheets in a washer crowded with other items. Only wash with like colors.

• Don’t hot iron your sheets. Linen sheets will wrinkle. It’s a fact. You can use the wrinkle release dryer setting or dry on a line to combat wrinkles. You can also warm iron, but never hot iron. It can damage the fibers.

• Treat stains ASAP. While linen repels dirt naturally, stains will set quickly because the fabric rapidly absorbs liquids. If you stain or spill, strip the sheets off the bed immediately. Blot the stain then soak if needed.