9 Best Hotel Sheets of 2023, Tested by Experts

May 24, 2024

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Bring those five-star amenities to your own bed.

Nothing quite says luxury like the sleek, pristine bedsheets at world-class hotels. Those are the sheets you'll find yourself dreaming of as you crawl into bed at home. But why not take the plunge and treat yourself to a set of hotel linens? After all, you spend a third of your life in bed. The reasoning is simple. Hotel sheets are typically well-made and will last longer, but there's a downside: Some cost an arm and a leg. To ensure you're not throwing your money, we've tested hundreds of sheets to find those with a balance of comfort and durability.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab regularly evaluates all kinds of bedsheets including standard cotton sheets (like percale and sateen), airy linen sheets, smooth silk sheets and cozy flannel sheets to find the very best sheets for every type of preference. Our expert scientists and engineers have evaluated over 250 sheet sets in recent years, assessing the tensile strength, dimensional stability, wrinkle resistance, tendency to pill and more in Lab tests to find sheets that'll truly stand time and use. We also work with hundreds of consumer testers who rate the softness of each sheet and try them out in their homes for feedback on real-world performance.

After our picks, keep reading to learn more about how we test sheets in the Textiles Lab and what to consider when shopping for new bedding. If you're looking to upgrade even more of your bedding, check out our guides to the best pillows, the best mattresses and the best duvet covers.

Hotel sheets are known for their pristine, crease-free appearance, and this cotton sateen set stood out for its polished and refined look, even after multiple test launderings. It's got a wrinkle-resistant finish that helped the fabric look smoother than other sheets we tested and it's certified by OEKO-TEX, so you don't have to worry about unsafe levels of chemicals like formaldehyde. Made with combed cotton for added softness, these sheets come in white with decorative piping available in several colors. While they aren't the strongest sheets we've tested, this set still performed well in our evaluations, with high durability scores and minimal shrinkage. Plus, if you're on the fence, the brand says they're used in luxury hotels all over the country.

Finding your classic hotel-quality linens can add up, but popular retailer Quince continues to surprise us with affordable offerings that don't skimp on quality and perform just as well in our tests. These sheets received high scores across the board from consumer testers who described them as "high quality, smooth and crisp." One tester even highlighted the simple yet elegant design, comparing it to "being in an upscale hotel at home." The sheets also earned respectable scores in the Lab with no signs of wear in our pilling tests and fair scores for shrinkage and fabric strength. Just take note that the fabric wrinkled more than most sheets we tested.

Out of the numerous sheet sets from hotel brands we tested, Marriott's signature sheets reigned supreme. Made of a cotton blend, the fabric stood out for its minimal shrinkage, great fabric strength and overall durability. On top of that, it wrinkled less than similar offerings from other hotels and received high scores from consumer testers for softness. These sheets use a percale weave for a lightweight, breathable feel, so keep that in mind if you prefer thicker sheets or smooth sateen. Plus, if you're a Rewards member, you can even use your points to pay for a set on the official Marriott Store site.

For your textbook cotton percale hotel sheets, look no further than this pick from Crane & Canopy. These sheets light, airy and perfectly crisp for a simple yet elevated look and feel. Made of long-staple cotton, the durable fabric impressed our experts, showing no visible pilling after 1,000 rubs on our abrasion tester. They earned top scores for strength but shrunk a bit more than similar sets we tested. Our testers raved about the feel of the fabric, describing it as "crisp, cool and luxurious," and several highlighted that the generous 16-inch depth on the fitted sheets stayed in place all night long. We also appreciate that the brand allows you to purchase the fitted sheet, pillowcases and flat sheet separately, so you can swap your pillowcases out for silk pillowcases or opt to skip the top sheet.

Smooth and substantial, this sateen set is one of the softest sheets we've ever tested. The fabric is made with Supima cotton, a premium cotton fiber grown in the U.S. that has a thicker feel for added comfort. When consumer testers felt these sheets in a blind comparison, several told us they wanted to purchase them for themselves. One even described the texture as "buttery soft and very luxurious without being slippery." In our Lab tests, the fabric proved strong with minimal shrinkage, although we observed more creases and pilling compared with other sheets. The standard fitted sheet in the set has a depth of 14 inches, but it also comes in a generous 18-inch depth for certain mattress sizes.

Although they come with a hefty price tag, Frette's offerings are used worldwide in upscale hotels for good reason: They have a sleek look that exudes luxury with a high quality feel. When we tested them in our Lab, they earned respectable scores in nearly every category, with high strength, excellent tear resistance and minimal shrinkage after multiple washes, along with high praise from consumer testers. Just be aware: They wrinkled more than most of our other picks, so if you're after that picture perfect hotel room look, you'll need to iron them.

Organic sheets often come at a premium, but this set is certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and is also one of our more affordable picks, with a price point under $200. It earned fair scores in Lab tests with respectable strength and shrinkage scores, but it pilled more than similar fabrics we tested. Consumer testers, however, loved these sheets with several calling them "soft and cozy. " One tester raved about the generously oversized top sheet, and a GH editor who tested this set even commented that they "feel like they’re worth double or triple the price."

A truly luxurious hotel bed should have a tall mattress, complete with a cushioning pillowtop for maximum comfort, but not all of our top-tested picks can accommodate the extra height. These sheets from the Macy's Hotel Collection stood out for their quality materials which were some of the most durable we've ever tested. And they come in both a standard 16-inch depth (for up to 18-inch mattresses) and an extra deep pocket version for mattresses up to 25 inches. It's certainly a splurge, but one of our testers summed it up best, calling it a "decadent experience" to sleep on them.

Egyptian cotton is prized as one of the most sought-after types of cotton for its extra-long staple fibers. This material offers a softer and more luxurious feel than fabrics made with shorter fibers, which can stick out and break off when twisted into yarns. But take note: Cotton origin, especially for Egyptian cotton, is notoriously difficult to prove with tons of mislabeling in the bedding industry. Pure Parima's sheets are DNA-tested, so you can rest assured that the Egyptian cotton labeling is as accurate as possible. Testers called this set "comfortable, beautiful and generously sized" and highlighted the large, oversized top sheet and the elastic bands on the corners of the fitted sheet that hold it in place well. Just note that despite their material, these sheets didn't stand out in our Lab tests, with merely average and fair scores across the board.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab regularly tests sheets each year using a combination of industry standards, specialized equipment and first-hand feedback from real consumer testers. To find the best hotel sheets, our analysts evaluated over 250 sets and combed through 10,000 data points to assess overall performance and durability. Here are a few factors we consider when choosing the best hotel sheets:

✔️ Softness testing: Our tester panel rates each fabric in a blind comparison of softness and overall feel. We first wash the sheets to remove any remaining finishes from production and note top performers.

✔️ At-home consumer testing: Promising sheets are tested in the homes of users to gauge real-world performance. Our testers provide both quantitative scores and qualitative feedback on aspects like overall comfort, temperature regulation, appearance, fit and ease of use.

✔️ Fabric strength: Our tensile strength testing machine (called an Instron) reports the force needed to pull apart swatches of fabric.

✔️ Pilling resistance: Our abrasion testing machine (called a Martindale, pictured below) rubs fabric samples together to mimic tossing and turning as well as general wear and tear. After every 100 cycles, our analysts score any signs of pilling according to textile industry standards. We perform 1,000 cycles in total.

✔️ Tear resistance: Based on scores in other categories, some sheets are selected to gauge the force required to tear the fabric in each direction using our Elmendorf Tear Tester.

✔️ Shrinkage: Each fitted sheet is laundered several times and evaluated for changes in dimensions and appearance.

✔️ Wrinkle resistance: After laundering, each sheet is taken immediately from the dryer to a room with specialized lighting. Our analysts then visually assess the sheet for creases based on industry standards.

✔️ Other factors: Any claims, from cooling features to organic labeling, are vetted for accuracy.

Hotel beds have an elegant, pristine look — everything is perfect, from the loft of the comforters to the crease-free bed sheets — that's often difficult to fully replicate at home, but if you're determined, here's one key thing hotels do that set their linens apart.

While it's certainly time-consuming, ironing your sheets will help remove wrinkles for a nice, freshly pressed finish. Many hotels, including five-star luxury resorts, have their sheets ironed soon after laundering. This gives the fabric a distinct, almost luxurious feel that's difficult to replicate.

If you're on the fence about the extra effort, some dryers have a steam option that can also help de-wrinkle your sheets for a cleaner appearance.

✔️ Material: Most hotel sheets are made of either 100% cotton or a cotton polyester blend. Blends are often less expensive and more durable with more wrinkle resistance compared to a 100% cotton sheet. While many popular hotel brands we tested used blends, we found that consumer testers preferred the feel of 100% cotton, even in blind comparisons, for its comfortable feel. When shopping for 100% cotton hotel sheets, long staple fibers and combed cotton are key for a more luxurious experience.

✔️ Construction: Percale and sateen are the most popular fabric constructions for hotel sheets. Here's more information about the two.

✔️ Thread count: This refers to how many threads there are per square inch in both directions of the fabric. While you may have heard that the higher the thread count, the higher the quality, this isn't always true. Thread count doesn't matter as much as you think as manufacturers can use thinner threads and twist them together (into plies) just to reach a higher number thread count. A higher thread count does signify that the fabric is thicker and more tightly woven, resulting in a smoother, more durable material at the expense of breathability. In our evaluations, we've found that sheets in the 300 to 500 range provide a good balance of softness and durability, but you'll often find hotel sheets outside this range.

✔️Certifications: In addition to GOTS for organic cotton, there are other certifications you can look for to avoid high levels of unwanted substances in your sheets. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and Made in Green certifications both ensure that there are no unsafe levels of chemicals, and OEKO-TEX Made in Green ensures that the manufacturing process is environmentally friendly.

✔️ Price: Hotel sheets often come at a premium compared to your typical bed sheets due to the higher quality materials. If you're looking to save, simple white cotton sheets or white cotton sheets with decorative piping can create an elevated look but may not feel as deluxe.

✔️ Wrinkle resistance: A wrinkle-free look is expected of hotel sheets, but it's ultimately a matter of personal preference. Cotton sateen sheets typically wrinkle less than percale, and they sometimes include a wrinkle-resistant finish. Polyester sheets (or a blend of cotton and polyester) wrinkle less than cotton, while cotton percale sheets tend to crease easily. Still, it's your choice if you prefer a crinkled set for a more casual look.

Grace Wu is a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and has evaluated more than 40 sheet sets in the past year using specialized laboratory equipment and feedback from hundreds of consumer testers. She's written several stories on various types of sheets, including organic sheets, cotton sheets and percale sheets, and grew up in the hospitality industry of New York City. Prior to joining GH, Grace earned a Masters of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.

Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.

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