The Strategist’s Bedding Expert’s Favorite Cotton Percale Sheets
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I’ve always preferred cotton percale sheets over every other type of bedding. Even after years of testing all different types of sheet fabrication — sateen, flannel,jersey,linen,bamboo, you name it — I still come back to percale. It’s lightweight, crisp, and feels most like cotton in its purest form, thanks to its plain weave. (The other standard cotton sheet issateen, which has a denser weave and feels silky smooth — some might even say “greasy” — and warmer. In the summer, especially, it’s all I want to sleep in. And experts agree thatpercale is one of the most breathable and cooling beddingout there for hot sleepers.
Over the years, I’ve rounded upall the best sheets by categoryand, given the season, I thought it was high time to compile all of my favorite percale sheets into its own big shoppable list. Below, the nine best percale sheets, according to yours truly.
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Long-staple cotton, 270 thread count, made in India
Brooklinen is perhaps an obvious choice, but I love its percale sheets. They’re extremely lightweight and soft, and I particularly love the way the percale duvet cover feels on a lofty down comforter. It’s just so breezy that it feels like nothing, allowing the comforter to stand on its own while remaining protected. The sheets are equally crisp. They come in over 25 colors and patterns. Plus you can always find them on sale.
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Long-staple organic cotton, 270 thread count, made in India
Quince’s percale sheets are also excellent, especially for a set that’s just under $100. They have similar specs as the Brooklinen — made of long-staple cotton, 270 thread count, both made in India — but the Quince is made of organic cotton, though to be honest I can’t tell the difference between organic cotton and regular cotton. Quince’s percale is similarly lightweight and breathable as Brooklinen’s. I might even say they’re slightly softer, but that might be because I’ve had them longer and are therefore more lived in. They come in fewer colors than Brooklinen’s, and stock seems to go in and out, but these are really solid sheets for under $100.
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Long-staple Oeko-Tex cotton, 350 thread count
Getting into high-end bedding, we have Matouk’s sheets, which are all made in the U.S. The Sierra line is on the lower end of the brand’s price spectrum. Matouk sells sheets by the piece, and the queen fitted sheet is priced at $150, which is nearly the price of a full set from Brooklinen. The sheets feel crisper and perhaps a little more substantial than Brooklinen’s and Quince’s percale sets, which has to do with thehigher thread count. They feel like a crisp white button-down shirt in the best way.
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Egyptian long-staple cotton, 500 thread count
Matouk’s Luca line is a step up from the Sierra. The sheets are made with Egyptian long-staple cotton with a higher thread count of 500, making them some of the nicest, crispest, most lightweight sheets I have ever tested. Side by side with the Sierra, they just feel finer. A word onEgyptian cotton: Egyptian cotton is a species of cotton that can be grown in Egypt and elsewhere. Its defining characteristic is its extra-long-staple fibers — basically twice the length of regular cotton fibers — making it one of the softest, most durable (and fanciest) cottons in the world.
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Long-staple Egyptian cotton, made in Portugal
Parachute makes a lower-priced Egyptian cotton percale set that’s about the same price of a single fitted sheet from the Luca line. When I compare Parachute’s percale to Luca’s, the Parachute is slightly thicker and has a more lived-in feel. Still, it’s a very good option for anyone looking for Egyptian cotton percale sheets without the luxury price tag.
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Long-staple Egyptian cotton, made in Italy
If we’re talking high-end hotel-style sheets, Frette’s would top the list in terms of name recognition. A queen set costs $700, which is out of reach for most people. But these sheets are made in Italy of Egyptian long-staple cotton and feel extremely crisp and cool.
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Long-staple organic cotton, made in India
The reason some people prefer percale is why others don’t. Percale can sometimes feel too crisp and cool and therefore a little rough, depending on the level of softness you’re looking for in sheets. I like Boll & Branch’s percale because the cotton is thicker and softer than the options above. They almost have awashedquality to them, though the product description doesn’t indicate that they’ve been through an extra washing process. This set is great for those who want a cozier feel from their percale.
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GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, Made in Portugal
Morrow’s percaleis even softer, thanks to its prewashed, matte material. Again, it’s on the thicker side compared to some of the percale at the top of the list but more lived in due to its extra wash process, making them a pleasure to sleep on.
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GOTS Certified organic cotton, grown and woven in India
Finally, for a percale that’s extremely airy, crisp, and lived in, Coyuchi’s crinkled percale set is one of the best. The sheets are made with organic cotton and finished with a plant-based softener that gives them its softness. They also have a subtle, crinkled texture that gives them a linen-y feel without the scratchiness.
More sheets we like
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