The best linen sheets we tested:
Best linen sheets: Parachute Linen Sheet Set
Runner-up for best linen sheets: The Citizenry Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set
Softest linen sheets: Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheets
Most affordable linen sheets: Simple & Opulence 100% Washed Linen Sheet Set
Best luxury linen sheets: Cultiver Linen Sheet Set
Softer and more durable than cotton, nothing feels as luxurious as a well-worn set of linen sheets. Plus, with their open weave and excellent moisture-wicking properties, linen sheets are great cooling sheets to sleep in during the warmer months of the year, and for regulating warmth along with additional layers in the winter.
To find the best linen sheets we tried out 19 popular sets, sleeping on them, washing them repeatedly, and checking carefully for fit and manufacturing quality. All of the sheet sets we brought in were well-made, but we found five sets that, regardless of your budget and tastes, stood out for their softness, fabric weight and simplicity of ordering.
Among the most luxe feeling we tested, the Parachute Linen Sheet Set has a pleasant weight in hand and a unique texture. These linen sheets come in a broad range of colors and sizes, and each different piece of the bedding set is available individually for replacements or to mix and match with other fabrics.
Light and gauzy but durable, The Citizenry Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set is a master class in stylish rest. Woven in a mill in Portugal from French flax, these linen sheets have deep pockets and an amply sized top sheet to fit beds of any depth.
The Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheets are soft and light, wicking heat away effectively for people who sleep warm but still regulating heat nicely in cooler climates. Simultaneously high-end and already perfectly worn in, these linen sheets were delightful from the first touch.
The sheets in the Simple & Opulence 100% Washed Linen Sheet Set held their own in comfort and design, with a soft feel out of the box. These linen sheets have a lovely satin-stitched piping along the edge of the top sheet. The set has the weight and hand of much more expensive sheets but come at nearly half the cost.
Offering the best of all worlds, the Cultiver Linen Sheet Set feels elegant straight out of the box. The sheets' fit on the bed is impeccable and they only got softer with repeated washings. Available in more colors than any other linen sheets we tested, these sheets are sure to satisfy nearly any taste or style.
Best linen sheets: Parachute Linen Sheet Set
$229 for queen at Parachute
We loved the Parachute Linen Sheet Set for its luxurious hand and weighty feel in hand that most other linen sheets we tested didn’t possess. They feel great right out of the dryer, and making the bed with these sheets was effortless. And for those who don’t want to commit to a full set from the start, they are also available piecewise.
We’ve struggled with tight-fitting cotton sheets before, wondering why bed-making must be laborious. These Parachute linen sheets were roomy but not baggy. They fit our bed comfortably and felt lovingly worn-in from the start. The sheets were soft and firm, cool and luxurious; it felt like we were sleeping on a cloud. Our only gripe with this sheet set was the tight fit of the pillowcases, barely closing around our standard pillows.
After laundering, the Parachute sheets softened and wrinkled — a lot. Although all the linen sheets we tested wrinkled after washing (it’s part of linen’s texture), these wrinkled more extensively than most. This didn’t cause problems on our bed, and it’s a pleasant texture if you don’t mind a more natural, messier look. And you can always iron them on a low setting if the wrinkles bother you. That said, the texture is part of the sheets’ luxurious, upscale feel. They also have OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, meaning they have been independently confirmed to contain no “harmful substances” and are “harmless for human health.”
We also appreciate Parachute’s a la carte shopping options. For those who use only a duvet cover, you can purchase just a fitted sheet and pillowcases; a top sheet is a separate add-on. Fitted sheets and pillowcases are available separately too. Parachute sheets come in ample size and color options for a diversity of bed sizes and styles. This level of variety, plus an elegant and plush sleep offering, elevated the Parachute brand to our top spot.
Runner-up for best linen sheets: The Citizenry Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set
$299 for queen at The Citizenry
The Citizenry Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set smelled great upon arrival and felt equally great right out of the attractive packaging, though their feel was not as luxurious as Parachute’s. With gauzy construction, they’re lovely to slip into, and they softened substantially on first wash. We like that they come in a range of color and size options, too.
The Citizentry’s sheets are gorgeous. We appreciated the delicately perforated hem on the top sheet and the pillow, making the bed presentation feel like more of an occasion. These are light and gauzy (noticeably more so than Parachute), ideal for summer weather. After the first washing, these sheets softened significantly. They were surprisingly cozy and snuggly. These sheets are roomy widthwise, and may seem a bit baggy on slimmer mattresses. They would be a good choice for deeper mattresses.
The Citizenry’s linen sheets don’t offer the breadth of choices that others do. They come in 12 colors, including neutrals and subtle stripes, but they are available in just four sizes.
Softest linen sheets: Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheets
$299 $254 for queen at Brooklinen
The Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Sheets were the softest linen sheets we tested, with much less of a rough fiber feel than anything else we tested. The Brooklinen set arrived already feeling worn in. They were easy to wash, exhibited minimal shrinkage after the first washing, and come in a broad array of size and color choices.
First and foremost, these sheets are the softest we tested. Crafted from French and Belgian linen, they are comfortable and enveloping. They felt like they had been washed and re-washed dozens of times, already achieving the sought-after worn-in texture that typically takes years to achieve. Along with the Citizenry, these sheets were the softest to the touch, even among linen sheets, which can have a reputation for roughness. The fabric is light and gauzy, making them perfect for hot sleepers or warm summer nights. The Brooklinen sheets are also Oeko-Tex certified.
We like the handful of thoughtful features added to this set that makes them easy to get on and off when making a bed. The fitted sheets are labeled “Short” or “Long” on each side, so you don’t waste time figuring out which end goes where, and the pillowcases have envelope closures that tidily punctuate your pillow so it’s not exposed beyond the case.
These sheets don’t offer as much purchasing flexibility as many of the other brands we tried as Brooklinen only offers the flat sheet and pillowcases for individual purchase. But conveniently, they are available in 6 sizes and 12 colors.
On the downside, the gauzy feel comes at the expense of material weight — the Brooklinen sheets feel thin, and we were able to see our pillows and mattress through the white set that Brooklinen sent for testing. Though they didn’t exhibit any troubling signs of wear and tear, the thin material raised some questions about long term durability, so we’ll keep an eye on them over time. Also, the Brooklinen sheets may be better suited to deeper mattresses, as they were relatively oversized on our slim mattress, and exhibited a lot of bunching after repeated nights of sleep.
Most affordable linen sheets: Simple & Opulence 100% Washed Linen Sheet Set
$146 From $139 for queen at Amazon
The Simple & Opulence 100% Washed Linen Sheet Set costs half as much as many of the sheet sets we tested, without compromising on feel or quality. For less than $150, this is a satisfying set of linens. The flat sheet is adorned with a satin-stitched hem along the top, for a refined touch. These sheets are a bit thicker than others we tried, but felt equally elegant, and were able to hold their own against higher-end options.
Out of the box, the Simple & Opulence sheets were cool and soft. They felt pleasant against the skin and every time we got out of bed, they left us wanting to get back in. They also fit the bed more snugly than most of the other sets, which was helpful during bed-making, and yielded a tidier-looking final product than others we tested. The Simple & Opulence sheets were slightly less luxurious than other sets we tested and a bit heavier, the high quality at a low cost makes them more than worth the weight.
Our only gripe about this sheet set was that they were a bit less soft than competitors, though even after a single wash, they softened up substantially, and we think they should break in nicely over time. The fitted sheet was snug on our mattress, and the top sheet was amply sized for tucking in crisp hospital corners.
The Simple & Opulence sheets come in four size options (twin, full, queen and king) and fifteen colors. They are available in individual fitted and flat sheets, though pillowcase sets are not available separately.
Best luxury linen sheets: Cultiver Linen Sheet Set
$410 for queen at Cultiver
The Cultiver Linen Sheet Set was hands-down the best luxury linen sheet set we tested, with the most luxurious, substantial feel and a light weight in hand. These sheets felt soft straight out of the box and only softened more with wear. They come in the widest variety of colors of any sheet set we tested, and all of Cultiver’s bedding is sold piecewise or in sets.
The linen fabric Cultiver uses doesn’t have any of the scratchiness we felt with heavier linen sheet sets, and was forgiving on our skin. These sheets are also breathable, insulating when it’s especially cold, but also wicking heat effectively on warmer nights.
Each item in Cultiver’s set was perfectly constructed and sized. The fitted sheet is snug on our bed, without any excess fabric bunching in the middle of the mattress, or around the sides. And the pillowcases have an envelope enclosure on the back with ample overlap to fully cover pillows.
The Cultiver sheets are also the most versatile we tested. They come in seventeen color choices––more than any other set we considered. Cultiver makes it easy to mix and match bedding pieces to suit any preferences, too. They offer duvet sets, sheet sets, and a mixed fitted sheet and duvet set at a slight discount from the total cost of buying each piece individually.
Why choose linen sheets?
It’s no surprise that linen sheets make up a lot of our list of the best luxury sheets. Cool to sleep in and with a substantial, luxurious feel, linen also has a rougher surface texture with more visible and tactile variation than cotton. Plus it wears well, getting softer with repeated washing and drying.
Made from flax, linen is a versatile material that makes some of the best sheets available. Since flax has coarser and longer fiber filaments than cotton, linen fabric can be woven more loosely and with a lower thread count than cotton while maintaining similar strength, which contributes to better breathability. Like cotton, linen is highly absorbent, but linen fabrics wick better than their cotton counterparts, making them good choices for warmer weather, or for layering with other fabrics for effective temperature regulation and control. Linen is also considered more durable than cotton, due to its stronger fibers, so a good linen sheet set is a worthwhile investment.
Unlike cotton sheets, which are typically soft to the touch from the beginning, linen can take several washings to break in (because its fibers are stiffer and less elastic than cotton’s), though linen still softens considerably over time. It also tends to wrinkle with washing and drying, so if you prefer an absolutely smooth look it might not be the best choice. Since linen’s fibers are stronger than cotton, it tends to last longer, so you’ll want to make sure you like the look and feel since you’ll likely have your bedding for a long time.
How we tested
We considered 19 sets of linen sheets by using two primary criteria: quality and variety. We observantly unboxed each set and made notes upon initial inspection. Then we laundered them, made up our queen bed multiple times with each set, and then sleep-tested our top contenders. We noted how they felt to touch, as well as when tossing and turning, sleeping and waking up. We also noted how they felt after laundering and reusing.
Quality and feel
- How they feel out of the box: Are they soft or rough? Thick or thin? Luxurious or flimsy? We evaluated the unboxing of each set of sheets on very tactile terms, asking the following questions: How do they feel in your hands? Is this a product you’d want to put on your bed and against your skin?
- Comfort level: How do they feel to sleep on? We made notes on each set of sheets as to whether they were soft, stiff, cool, light, heavy or durable, and ultimately how they affected a night of sleep.
- How they feel after washing: We evaluated if the sheets softened a great deal after washing and drying as well as the wrinkle factor. We also measured each flat sheet before and after laundering, noting how much they shrank out of the box.
- Pill factor after sleeping or washing: We assessed if each set felt durable after multiple washing and drying cycles, and if the sheets began to pill or degrade. We also noted whether any sets were especially linty after a dryer cycle or on our bed. (Note: None of these high-quality brands deteriorated at all during our testing process.)
- Fit on bed: We made at least one bed with each set of sheets, assessing how well they fit a bed, noting if they were tight or loose, or gapping or sagging.
Options
- Number of sizes: We evaluated how many different size options there were for each sheet brand. They all included at least a full, queen and king option. We evaluated those that offered twin, California king or other specialized sizes a bit higher.
- Colors: We noted how many colors each sheet set was available in. Some were available in only three or four colors while others were available in upwards of 20.
- Availability of individual replacements: We assessed whether you can buy individual sheets and pillowcases for each set, for those who need replacements, want to mix and match colors or styles, or simply do not want or need a top sheet.
Other linen sheets we tested
Saphyr Soft Washed Pure Linen Sheet Set
$299 for queen at Saphyr Home
The Saphyr Soft Washed Pure Linen Sheet Set is subtle and sophisticated. It has a decorative frayed hem on the top sheet and the pillowcase that differentiates these from any other set we tested. The sheets are available in four sizes (full, queen, king and California king) and five colors (Fresh White, Calming Cream, Blissful Blue, Peaceful Pink and Simply Natural) and sold individually. Saphyr came in a close second to the Citizenry sheets, our runner-up pick, but did not snag the top spot due to its slightly higher price.
Lands’ End Garment Washed Belgian Flax Linen Sheets
$270 for queen at Land’s End
We didn’t find the Lands’ End Garment Washed Belgian Flax Linen Sheets as luxurious as some of the more boutique bedding brands. Out of the box, these linens felt soft, thick and already worn in a bit, like they’d been washed a few times already. They were comfortable to sleep in, though less melty-feeling than the ones we ended up liking more, and they did get even softer after a few washings.
Rough Linen Smooth Linen
$433 $377 for queen at Rough Linen
The Rough Linen Smooth Linen sheets were stiff out of the box, but they were actually comfortable to sleep on. After one washing, though, the Rough Linen sheets softened significantly. These definitely felt like sheets you could sleep in, wash, dry and sleep in again for many years to come, like a favorite shirt. The brand’s relatively smaller variety of color options and its higher starting price were the primary reasons we didn’t rank these sheets among our absolute faves.
West Elm European Flax Linen Sheet Set
$269 for queen at West Elm
The West Elm European Flax Linen Sheet Set was rough and stiff, not unlike the Rough Linen sheets. The West Elm sheets fit our bed smoothly and tidily, unlike many of the other sets, which gapped around the sides. However, the texture of these sheets sometimes felt rigid. During our first sleep on these and a subsequent one after one laundering cycle, West Elm’s pillowcases felt almost scratchy against our face. West Elm also doesn’t sell these sheets individually but you can buy extra pillowcases.
Snowe Linen Sheet Set
$355 for queen at Snowe Home
The Snowe Linen Sheet Set was both soft and cool, helping to deliver a good night’s sleep. During our first night of sleep on the Snowe, we noticed the material felt a little scratchy on our legs, and after one washing and drying cycle, somehow the sheets felt a little stiffer. The Snowe sheets come in five colors (white, stone, ivory, olive green and terracotta), which is far fewer colors than its competitors. The company does not offer separate replacement sheets (though it does separately sell a pillowcase set).
Quince European Linen Sheet Set
$170 for queen at Quince
The Quince European Linen Sheet Set seems well-made and is among the most affordable linen sheets we tested. But they were scratchier than their competitors, and certainly less soft than our recommended budget linen sheets from Simple & Opulence. They’re also somewhat less flexible than other options, being sold exclusively in sets. They come in three striped colors and 18 solid colors, including white, ivory, light grey, mist and sage.
The Company Store Legends Hotel Relaxed Linen Solid Flat Bed Sheets
$124 for queen at The Company Store
The Company Store Legends Hotel Relaxed Linen Solid Flat Bed Sheets almost didn’t resemble linen at all. These sheets felt like cardboard, even after laundering, and didn’t wrinkle or soften at all in the dryer. We also noticed that after washing these sheets, they had a bit of a lingering industrial smell when we put them on our bed. They come in six sizes (twin, twin xl, full, queen, king and California king) and seven colors.
Garnet Hill Solid Relaxed Linen Bedding
$119 for queen at Garnet Hill
We liked the Garnet Hill Solid Relaxed Linen Bedding sheets a lot. They are well-constructed, come in a broad array of colors, and are sold individually. That said, they were a bit rough after laundering, and compared to other sets we tested, they weren’t quite as luxurious to sleep in. These should soften quite nicely with time and wear, but we recommend softer options if that’s your main preference.
Magic Linen Sheet Set
$322 for queen at Magic Linen
The Magic Linen Sheet Set was among the thickest and heaviest we tested. The set released a ton of lint in the dryer (we had to clean the lint trap twice) and required multiple cycles to dry fully. These sheets are hefty — but not in a good way — and weren’t particularly soft. They offer a lot of flexibility in colors and sizing (including options for mattresses with deeper pockets), but we didn’t feel that was enough to put them in our winners’ circle.
Buffy Hemp Linen Sheet Set
$279 $195 for queen at Buffy
The Buffy brand is known to offer sheets so comfy, you can sleep in them, well, in the buff. The Buffy Hemp Linen Sheet Set is no exception. Its fibers feel slightly more slick than other models we tested, giving them a cooling feeling. The fitted sheet features a label at each end that indicates whether it’s the head or foot, which is a welcome deviation from fitted sheets that provide overly confusing “North West”-style directions. Similarly, the flat sheet features a decorative hem at the top to give you an idea of where it should go. While a few threads came loose after two weeks of sleep-testing, this didn’t impact its overall feel or comfort, but may be a suggestion of its delicate fabric.
Kassatex Linen-Bamboo Sheet Set
$170 for queen at Kassatex
If you’re interested in the cooling sensation associated with linen sheets but aren’t a huge fan of their overly stiff feel, then you’ll love the buttery Kassatex Linen-Bamboo Sheet Set. These sheets are infused with buttery soft and cooling bamboo. Unfortunately, the fitted sheet doesn’t offer any advice on orientation, and the pillow shams don’t come with any pouches to secure the pillows in place, leading to several nights of our cheeks against a bare pillow.
Avocado Organic Linen Sheets
$499 $449 at Avocado
If you’re looking to venture into linen sheet territory but are worried about an overly sandpaper-like feel, then you’ll fawn over these butter-soft Avocado sheets. Not only were we immediately struck by how smooth the Avocado Organic Linen Sheets were right out of the box, but they maintained a super-soft consistency throughout several weeks of sleep-testing. Deep pockets made them a breeze to apply over the mattress, but you could easily find a comparable set for a fraction of the price.
Piglet in Bed Linen Sheet Set
$406 for queen at Piglet in Bed
For a solid set of linen sheets, the Piglet in Bed Linen Sheet Set makes a great bet. Its linen fibers feel shorter and thus less scratchy than other brands we tested, making for an overall pleasant night’s sleep. Making your bed might pose a challenge, however. While the flat sheet features a decorative linear band to help you determine the right side up, you’re on your own with the fitted sheet. While this is somewhat standard, the pillowcases fold over nicely to prevent any cold pillow appearances in the middle of the night.
Silk & Snow Flax Linen Sheet Set
$180 $162 at Silk & Snow
Making your bed with the Silk & Snow Flax Linen Sheet Set is a dream thanks to its deep pockets and the included labels that help you orient the fitted sheet on your mattress, which we don’t often see in a fitted sheet. The sheets are scratchy at first, but after weeks of sleeping on them, they began to smooth and soften with wear. After a wash, they seemed to tighten up and feel more stiff, leading us to believe these need to be worn in like a new pair of shoes after each wash. Note that the standard bundle only comes with a set of pillowcases and a fitted sheet, so you’ll have to add a flat sheet to cart separately for an added $100, which is quite steep.