What makes linen and flannel different from cotton?

This week, we get nerdy about sheets—why you might be unhappy with your current set, how to pick ones you’ll actually love, and the marketing scams to avoid. 

Jackie Reeve, Wirecutter’s in-house sheets expert, enlightens us on everything you need to know to invest in a great set you’ll be happy with for years.

This episode covers:

• Percale vs sateen: Percale and sateen are terms that describe how sheets are woven, and the weave determines the feel of the fabric. Percale tends to be lighter and crisp (think nice hotel bedding), while sateen is woven to be drapier with a smooth, soft feel that hugs the body.
• Quality over thread count: Don’t let high thread counts fool you. While thread count describes the number of threads that fit into a square inch of fabric, retailers use hyper-inflated numbers as a marketing ploy. Instead, seek out high-quality cotton. Look for terms like “100% cotton,” “long-staple cotton,” and “extra-long staple cotton” on packaging. Good quality percale generally has 250 to 300 thread count, while sateen ranges between 400 and 600 (higher numbers are likely a gimmick).
• Judge sheets only after washing them: New sheets are treated with conditioners and finishes that make them feel soft out of the package. To get to the real feel of the fabric, you need to wash them a few times.
• Certifications and return policies: Certifications like Oeko-Tex guarantee that the fabric has been tested for certain harmful substances. Since you need to wash sheets to determine their true true feel, a good return policy allows you to return them if you don’t end up liking the texture.

Products we recommend:

• The best percale sheets: 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheets
• The best sateen sheets: JCPenney's Wrinkle Guard’s 400 Thread Count Sateen Sheets
• The best linen sheets: Cultiver Linen Sheet Set
• The best flannel sheets: L.L.Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set
• Jackie loves: Swoveralls 

Additional reading:

• The Best Sheets
• The Best Cotton Sheets
• Best Linen Sheets
• Best Flannel Sheets
• What Is the Best Thread Count for Sheets?

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast