The Best Percale Sheets, According To Our Testing

Louis Hunt

September 11, 2024

With so many bedding options available to us, we find it interesting that an “oldy but goody” like percale sheets still top the list for many. For the rest of us who are late to the percale party, Dr. Chelsea Perry tells Southern Living that “Percale sheets are a type of bedding made with a specific weave that creates a crisp, smooth texture.” She explains that percale sheets typically have a matte finish and are known for their durability and lightweight feel.

Beyond their crisp texture and durability that may impress our great-grandmothers, Perry says, “Percale sheets are cooling, making them a good option for hot sleepers or warmer climates.”

She explains, “The tight weave allows for good air circulation, which helps keep you cool throughout the night.” If you still need some convincing, Perry says that percale sheets also tend to have a hotel-quality feel and stand up well to frequent washing, usually looking no worse for wear no matter how many times they’re stripped from the bed and hauled off to your front-loader.

So, now that percale sheets have made it onto your shortlist, months of testing revealed that these are the best of the best.

Nordstrom

What’s Great About It

Doesn’t trap heat
Durable
Stout elastic band
Deep, even color

What Could Be Better

Expensive
Wrinkles in the wash

After months of testing, Sijo Home’s CrispCool Cotton Sheet Set takes the top spot on our list as the best percale sheet overall. Fresh out of the package, the sheets were everything we expected for percale—crisp and stiff but still breezy.

These sheets felt cooling and breathable. After five minutes, we noted a light warmth where we lay, but overheating should never be an issue. Overall, they’re percale, so while they’re not mind-blowingly soft, they’re cooling and breathable.

One stand-out feature was the stout elastic band on the fitted sheet. We tested the sheet on a 10-inch mattress, and not only did it fit the mattress well, but it remained secure throughout the testing process.

Out of the package, the color was nice, even, and deep, and it remained so after repeated laundering. Moreover, there was only minimal shrinkage to report. We’ll add here that the hand feel of the sheets didn’t change much with laundering—the texture of the unwashed sheet is only slightly softer. The only notable difference out of the wash was substantial wrinkling.

These sheets also performed quite well on the stain and abrasion tests. Following the stain test, we couldn’t find any evidence of stain residues and noted only a light discoloration from the abrasion test and minor piling of the fibers.

Two months into testing, these sheets continued to perform as expected. They didn’t trap heat and kept us cool while sleeping. Those with dogs may also be interested to know that even with all their bed-making, the sheets look no worse for wear after two months.

We also washed these sheets weekly, and there’s only minimal shrinkage to note. These sheets consistently exited the wash with a rough texture, but once dried, they recaptured their crisp, appealing texture. We never had any difficulty getting the sheets back on the bed post-washing, even with a 2.3-inch topper on the mattress. Moreover, the color remained vibrant even with weekly laundering.

Material: Organic cotton | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Thread Count: 400

Southern Living / Dera Burreson

Amazon

Those looking for an all-season bedding option at an affordable price will find it here with Laura Ashley’s Cotton Percale Bedding Set—you’ll also need to be a fan of extra-crisp sheets. The first thing we noticed out of the package was that these sheets were quite crisp—as expected for percale. They’re not scratchy and uncomfortable, but they have some thickness and heft to them, more like old-school cotton sheets that your grandmother might have used in her day.

These sheets are pretty insulating. And while they’re thick, they weren’t so thick that we felt hot or sweaty. On the contrary, they felt quite breathable. It’s also worth noting that they retained their crisp feel even after a week of sleeping on them.

One particularly notable aspect of these sheets is the construction of the fitted sheet. The mattress we tested these sheets on was thicker than most, and these sheets fit beautifully over them. They covered the mattress well and stayed put throughout the night.

During testing, these sheets were laundered twice in cold water and dried on high heat. The sheets maintained their crisp texture, and we didn’t notice any changes in hand feel after washing them.

These sheets look like they’ll be durable and have some longevity in your linen closet, making them a pretty good value. But let the record show these sheets lost some points because they’re only available in patterns, and only two pillowcases are in the package.

Material: 100% cotton | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king | Thread Count: 200

Southern Living / Ivy Odom

The Company Store

Anyone looking to up their bedding decor game will find an elegant option with this Embroidered Cotton Percale Sheet Set from The Company Store.

First impressions matter, and these sheets didn’t disappoint—the elegant embroidery really made a splash. Beyond their good looks, these sheets felt super soft, well-made, and on par with hotel-quality sheets. During the testing period, the sheets managed temperature quite well, allowing us to sleep cool and comfortably.

Also notable—the fitted sheets fit perfectly over our test mattress, which is quite deep, and it stayed put throughout the night with a standard amount of tossing and turning.

Other than being a bit wrinkly from laundering, we didn’t notice any signs of wear and tear, and the texture and feel of the sheets seemed slightly softer after washing. From what we can tell, these sheets will likely hold up well over time. These sheets are a bit pricey, but when we consider their softness, comfort, and potential durability, we think the price reflects the value and its features.

Material: 100% Egyptian cotton | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king | Thread Count: 300

Southern Living / Jonathan Castleberry

L.L.Bean

Finished with an elegant crochet pintuck trim, the Sunwashed Pintuck Sheet Collection by L.L. Bean hits our list as the sheets with the best detailing, but they may also win the title of the most unique sheet set we’ve ever tested.

Digging into the details, we found that this set was breathable with a noticeably crisp texture. At no point during the testing did we wake up feeling hot or sweaty. These sheets were also tested on a deep mattress with active sleepers; the fitted sheet fit snugly around the corners and stayed put for the duration of testing.

We washed these sheets twice during testing, once before using them and once two weeks later. After sleeping on these sheets and washing them, we didn’t find any early evidence of wear and tear. However, we imagine that the crochet detail may begin to fray, pucker, and otherwise show its age with time. We’ll add here that lesser-quality crochet details might pucker with the first wash, but the detailing on these sheets retained their integrity and stayed flat.

Overall, these sheets have a high-quality feel; nothing about them was flimsy or cheap. That said, they are on the pricey side, so ultimately, they may be more of an investment piece for most folks.

Material: 100% cotton percale | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king | Thread Count: 220

Southern Living / Kimberly Holland

The Bottom Line

Our overall best percale sheet set is the Sijo Home’s CrispCool Cotton Sheet Set. These sheets scored highly across all categories, including breathability, durability, and value. These sheets were everything we expected from percale—they’re crisp, breathable, and, from what we can tell, quite durable. Moreover, these sheets are well-made. They stood up beautifully to weekly washing, looking no worse for wear after two months of testing, and there was only minimal shrinkage to report.

For percale at a price point that doesn’t pull too hard on the purse strings, Laura Ashley’s Cotton Percale Bedding Set offers fun prints to tszuj your sleep space while checking the boxes for a soft hand and good temperature regulation.

Our Testing Process

To date we’ve tested 290 sheets, including dozens of percale options. We examined the sheets right out of their packaging, assessing the feel, texture, and manufacturing quality. We also washed the sheets per the manufacturer’s instructions at least once.

After laundering, we inspected the sheets again, noting imperfections like loose threads, pilling, snags, color fading, or stains. For the remainder of the testing period, we tossed, turned, and slept on the sheets, assessing their overall quality, texture, breathability, and durability. We are still in the process of long-term testing several of the sheets on our list and will update this piece with fresh insights as we have them.

Southern Living / Kimberly Holland

Tips for Choosing the Right Percale Sheets

Knowing you want percale sheets is one thing; knowing how to make heads or tails of the finer points of percale sheets is another. Here’s what you need to know.

Type of Cotton

When shopping for percale sheets, you’ll quickly find they’re made from different types of cotton. According to Perry, “The type of cotton affects how soft, strong, and long-lasting the sheets are, with higher-quality cotton offering better performance.” In terms of checklist items, it looks like long-staple cotton, like Egyptian Cotton or Pima Cotton, is your best bet; as Perry notes, those fabrics typically “result in a smoother and more durable fabric.”

Breathability

Breathability refers to a fabric’s ability to absorb moisture as you sweat and subsequently allow for evaporation; these two processes work together to keep you cool while you sleep. So, for those who sleep hot year-round, those in warmer climates, or anyone who’d rather not wake up in a sweaty mess night after night, percale sheets are shortlist worthy as breathability is an inherent quality imparted from its cotton construction.

Pocket Depth

While mattress depth doesn’t directly contribute to your overall sleep quality, mattress manufacturers have taken a “bigger is better” approach in recent years, leaving us with mattresses measuring anywhere from 10 to 18 inches in height. And when you’re shopping for sheets, the pocket depth is no small matter.

The long and short of it is that you want a fitted sheet that completely covers the corners of your mattress. Anything less and you might find yourself tangled up in your sheets come 2 am, or at the very least, your bed will look like it’s wearing a shirt that’s two sizes too small—not a good look.

Certifications

When shopping for any type of bedding, sheets included, you’ll invariably run into all sorts of textile certifications, which can further confuse the issue. And while overlooking these certifications may free up some of your bandwidth, Perry tells us, “Certifications like OEKO-TEX or GOTS are worth looking for.” As to what they mean, she says, “These certifications indicate that the sheets are made with safe, non-toxic materials and, in the case of GOTS, that the cotton is organic and sustainably produced.”

Global Organic Textile Standard Certified (GOTS): A GOTS certification means that the finished textile product is made with organic fibers and materials and certified to be entirely organic. Beyond the ecological element of using sustainable materials and environmentally friendly practices, a GOTS certification also has a social element that requires manufacturers to engage in fair labor practices and offer safe working conditions for employees throughout the supply chain. Our overall best percale sheet set, Sijo Home’s CrispCool Cotton Sheet Set, is GOTS-certified.

OEKO-TEX Standard 100: This certification indicates that the textiles used in your bedding have been tested for the presence of (and determined to be free from) 100 harmful substances. Our pick for the best embroidered percale sheets, The Company Store Embroidered Cotton Percale Sheet Set, is OEKO-TEX®Standard 100 certified.

Fair Trade Certified: This certification means that the product was made by manufacturers who promote sustainable livelihoods and safe working conditions for farmers and workers in their supply chain.

Questions and Answers

What is the best thread count for percale?

Dr. Perry says, “The best thread count for percale sheets usually falls between 200 and 400. This range ensures a balance between softness and durability without compromising breathability.” All of the sheet sets on our list fall within this range.

Do hotels use percale sheets?

Percale sheets are a popular choice for many hotels as they elegantly deliver the cool, crisp feel the hotel guests have come to expect.

Why Trust Southern Living

This article was written by Sharon Brandwein, Certified Sleep Science Coach and freelance commerce writer. Over the last five years, Sharon has written sleep content, product reviews, and roundups for a variety of online publishers. To curate this list of the best percale sheets, we’ve 290 sheet sets to date, including dozens of percale options, evaluating each on quality, texture, breathability, and durability. Sharon also spent hours researching what to consider when shopping for percale sheets, including materials, thread count, and certifications. For expert insight, she spoke to Dr. Chelsea Perry, the owner of Sleep Solutions and a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.