All the Best Pillowcases (That We’ve Written About on the Strategist)

The ZimaSilk was our top-rated silk pillowcase for several years — until the Quince pillowcase finally unseated it. With a momme of 22 (the same as our luxury pick from Slip), which is higher than the ZimaSilk’s standard momme of 19, the Quince is the nicest option for the cost and quality level, making it our best-overall pick. Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst says that “despite being less than half the price of the Slip, it’s just as thick and luxurious, and when I woke up, I had near-identical results.”

For just $25 — that’s $20 less than the Quince above — consider our longtime best seller ZimaSilk. Made from 6A mulberry silk (the highest grade available), we were first introduced to it by Strategist beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton, who says it’s a dupe for a pricier Parachute cover. Aside from its affordable price, this cover is made from a thick material that can withstand multiple washes, says Viera-Newton, who credits it with reducing her eczema and minimizing bed head. It also features a sturdy zipper to keep your pillow securely inside and is available in various colors, including white, soft pink, cobalt blue, and two prints.

If you want options, this pillowcase has a momme of 19 on one side and plain white cotton on the other. It comes recommended by Strategist contributor Natalya Lobanova, who describes it as very durable with “a noticeably lustrous sheen on the silk part that doesn’t fade quickly.” After months of regular machine washes, Lobanova says her set is still smooth with no signs of fraying at the seams. And because they’re hypoallergenic, the covers are “more gentle on the skin and can prevent inflammation and skin reactions,” aesthetician Candida Lawson says.

Slip has a loyal following, from Kourtney Kardashian, who sleeps on one of the brand’s pillowcases every night, to dermatologist Dennis Gross. It’s our favorite luxury choice; each cover is made of 6A mulberry silk and has a momme of 22, meaning it’s extra heavy and soft. Hairstylist Larry Sims — who counts Gabrielle Union and Janet Jackson among his clients — recommends this to minimize frizz, breakage, and split ends, while Lawson says she’s a “true believer” that it helps her blowouts last longer. To keep it extra smooth and ensure it holds up, hand-washing is suggested, Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst says. NB: The price listed is for a queen pillow, as Slip doesn’t make a standard size.

Quince makes our best linen pillowcases, which we like for their quality and affordable price. The made-from-European-flax linen bedding is backed by Strategist writer Dominique Pariso, who has slept on both Quince’s and Parachute’s linen but says the former is super-lightweight with a slightly more textured weave. She sleeps hot — “Like, window-open-in-the-middle-of-January hot” — but the material has kept her cool and cozy even when the heat is cranked up to what she considers “a balmy” 72 degrees. Like the set above, these covers are prewashed, made of 100 percent European flax, and are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, meaning they’re free of harmful chemicals.

If you’re new to linen and want something that feels smooth and soft right out of the box, try Sea Me, which is produced in Odesa, Ukraine. Our senior editor Ailbhe Malonehas been testing them for over a month and recommends them to “someone who likes the idea of linen that’s not too textured.” The pillowcases have an envelope closure, but note that Malone ordered a bedding set in European king size for her European-king-size bed, and both the sheets and pillowcases were very oversize. She suggests measuring your pillows and comparing the dimensions with the brand’s listed sizes.

Strategist writer (and our resident home expert) Lauren Ro says linen bedding made with Belgian flax is considered the best raw material for the fabric owing to its durability, temperature-regulating properties, and high absorbency. She says it’s heftier than the Quince above and notes, “I think they’re actually the softest of the linen sets I’ve tested.” If you’re serious about sticking with linen bedding, these premium pillowcases come in a range of 37 colorways, from smoky quartz to turquoise blue.

Quince’s percale bedding quickly became the top choice in our guide to the best bedsheets. They’re also our favorite cooling sheets for sweaty sleepers thanks to their crisp, lightweight, and smooth feel, but Ro thinks they’re just as excellent for everyday use and will work well for most types of sleepers. She describes the fabric as being very airy “thanks to the plain weave of percale that gives it a very crispy handfeel.” Additionally, the pillowcase sets come in six colors, including ivory, sage, and navy.

“High-quality, genuine Egyptian-cotton sheets feel extremely luxurious on the skin and, in my opinion, aid in better sleep,” says interior designer Elizabeth Strianese, who owns Matouk’s Luca Satin Stitch sheet set, which includes these 500-thread-count pillowcases. They have “a very small flange around the pillow sham, so there isn’t this big sloppy thing flapping all over your bed,” Strianese says. These are also OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, and while the fabric comes from Italy, the covers are made in the U.S. Many high-end hotels also use the brand’s long-staple cotton, which refers to the fibers that make the yarn strong and smooth.

As a material, sateen has a silkier (and more substantial) feel than percale, Strategist writer Lauren Ro says, which is one reason to opt for this 480-thread-count pillowcase bundle. Brooklinen’s Luxe Core sheet set, which includes these covers, is recommended by interior designer Molly Schoneveld and Michelin-starred chef Missy Robbins for its softness, crisp appearance, and temperate feel. Schoneveld says the texture is buttery and looks good as new after many washes, while Robbins promises that the cotton is lightweight and cooling. “I want to be super-cozy, but I don’t want to sweat to death — these have that balance,” Robbins says.

Target’s in-house line, Threshold, offers a more affordable set of sateen pillowcases, and the 100 percent cotton material comes recommended by New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff. She has a few sheet sets for her 4-year-old son’s twin bed and says they soften after a few washes, which she can attest to after falling asleep with him. The covers come in various colors and patterns, including light blue, cream, and these blue-dotted ones, all three of which Swerdloff owns, along with their accompanying flat and fitted sheets. According to the brand, the 400-thread-count fabric is wrinkle-, pill-, and shrink-resistant, making it extra easy to care for.

Another sateen option: these pillowcases made from 100 percent Supima cotton, an extra-long staple fiber. We first heard about them fromAnnie Meyers-Shyer, actress and daughter of filmmaker Nancy Meyers,who wrote an ode to the Lands’ End sheets, which her family has used since 2018 after discovering them at a vacation home in the Hamptons.While they’re sateen, Meyers-Shyer says they are “not really shiny, which I think is a great thing. They’re cool and warm all at once. They’re so soft — they’re so luxurious. They wash so well.”

In our review of the best bedsheets, Ro says naturally derived fibers like bamboo, known for being light, crisp, and breathable, is a good option for warmer sleepers. This holds true for Strategist contributor Jolie de Feis, a self-described “very sweaty person and an even sweatier sleeper,” who recommends the bamboo lyocell from Ettitude. “They feel like a cross between cotton and silk, somehow crispy cool and soft at the same time,” she writes. As someone who used to sleep on a towel to avoid changing the sheets multiple times per week, de Feis says she’s impressed every morning when she wakes up sweat free. While this bamboo cover set is pricier than other options on this list, de Feis likes them so much that she’s replaced all her bedding with Ettitude, including her duvet cover.

For those with acne-prone skin, many experts stress the importance of cleaning your pillowcase often to prevent blemishes. Lawson recommends changing the cover at least once a week and washing the actual pillow every three months. That’s a lot of laundry, but this Déjà pillowcase lengthens the time between washes with eight fold-over layers you peel back for a fresh cover each time you sleep. “A clean surface each night won’t expose your skin to dirt, oil, and bacteria buildup, which can make acne worse,” dermatologist Michele Green says. NB: The price listed is for a queen pillow, as Déjà doesn’t make a standard size.