There is nothing like sinking into bed after a long day or, let’s be real, taking advantage of the WFH life by spending all day working from bed. If your bed is your happy place and you’re looking for an upgrade, I've got two words for you: linen sheets.
If you’re someone who gets hot when they sleep, linen sheets are literally a lifesaver. They’re super breathable, so you’ll never wake up sweaty again. And unlike sheets made with other materials, linen is exceptionally durable. So it won’t start pilling or fading like other sheets might, and you’ll get to enjoy your sheets for years to come. Plus, linen has less of an impact on the environment than cotton does.
Of course, if you’ve started perusing linen sheets, you’ll know that they’re not cheap. Like, they cost *a lot* more than the cotton sheets you’ve been buying. So why are they so expensive? It all has to do with the soil. “Flax, which linen is woven from, requires a very particular soil to flourish in and is less abundant than cotton, which makes it a lot more expensive to make," says Vicki Fulop, Co-Founder of Brooklinen.
Plus, like I said, sheets and duvet covers made from linen tend to last a loooong time. And they just feel more luxurious and can provide a better sleeping experience. I pretty much think you won’t regret it if you decide to buy them, but many of the below companies have generous return windows if you decide they’re just not for you. And if that’s you, then you might wanna check out something like flannel sheets or silk sheets for a different sleeping experience.
Without further ado, these are the best linen sheets you can buy now.
Best Overall Linen Sheets: Linoto
linoto Linen Fitted Sheet
linoto Linen Pillowcases and Shams
Linoto Linen Duvet Cover
linoto Quilted Linen Coverlet
Linoto has been around since 2007, and after reading glowing reviews of their ~heirloom-quality~ sheets, I knew I had to try them. First, anyone can appreciate the company's story and background. They were founded in New York's Garment District and are now run out of upstate New York by the same six original employees. It's still a small enough operation that if you call customer service, you can talk to Jason, the founder, who is willing to answer any and all questions. Bonus: All the brand's sheets are made in the U.S.
Pros
- So. Many. Colors!
- Customization options for pillow slip closures and mattress depth
- Thoughtful details (like matching the color of the buttons to the sheets)
- Don't produce a lot of lint and feel durable
Cons
- They’re just a *bit* stiffer than a lot of the other brands I tried
Specs
- Material: Flax linen
- Sizing: Twin, Twin XL, Full/Double, Queen, King, Cal King, European Queen, European King, Olympic Queen
- Care: Machine-wash, air-dry
- Certifications: None listed
Pricing
- If you were to buy all the items I tested (fitted sheet, two pillowcases, and a duvet cover), it'd cost you $448. Pretty expensive, though you do get what you pay for.
Best Organic Linen Sheets: Avocado Mattress
Avocado Organic Linen Sheets
Avocado Mattress is allll about sustainability, so you can rest easy (get it??) knowing that the materials you're sleeping on are good for you and easy on the planet. These linen sheets are 100% GOTS organic certified, which basically means they meet specific standards to ensure they're *really* made from organic materials and meet certain requirements around processing and manufacturing. Plus, the company is carbon negative, meaning it offsets more carbon emissions than it generates. As for the sheets themselves, they're super breathable. So even if you're a hot sleeper (or share a bed with someone who is), you'll stay cool.
Pros
- The duvet covers come in five different colors
- Duvet covers have corner ties so your comforter stays put
- Reviews say the linen sheets stay cool
- You can test them out for 100 nights and return them for free if they're not your thing
Cons
- Reviews mention that the duvet cover gets lint-y when you wash it
- The sheets themselves only come in two neutral colors
Specs
- Material: 100% GOTS-certified organic linen
- Sizing: Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Care: Machine-wash, tumble-dry low
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Pricing
- A set of sheets (which includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases) costs $330 for a full set, $347 for a queen set, and $381 for a king or California king set. If you want a duvet set (which comes with a duvet cover and two shams), it'll cost you $305 for a full/queen set and $339 for a king/California king set.
Best Hypoallergenic Linen Sheets: Saatva
Saatva's linen sheets just feel luxurious. And they definitely are, but that's not the whole story. They're also made with hypoallergenic and antimicrobial materials (shout-out to that Belgian flax linen) that are super breathable—perfect for those warm, summer nights and cold, winter ones.
Pros
- Pre-washed so they're extra-soft (and they get softer with each wash)
- Offer twin and twin XL bedding, which isn't the case for every brand
- Free shipping and a 1-year warranty
Cons
- Only available in three colors
- On the website, linen items are sold in bundles rather than individually. So if you end up needing just a replacement pillowcase or fitted sheet (hey, things happen), you might have to contact customer service and place a special order
Specs
- Material: Belgian flax linen
- Sizing: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Care: Machine-wash, tumble-dry low
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Pricing
- $345 gets you a full-size set, which includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. For a queen-size set, you'll pay $375 and a king or California king bundle costs $415. If you live in a dorm or small space, you can still get some luxe linen sheets for a twin bed ($245) or twin XL ($197). You can add an extra pair of pillowcases to any of them for $85. For the duvet cover set (which includes one duvet cover and two pillow shams), you'd pay $295 for a twin/twin XL set, $395 for a full/queen set, and $445 for a king/California king set.
Best New Linen Bedding Brand: Sijo
Sijo used to be called Olive Wren and started out as a Kickstarter project in 2018. They’ve since rebranded as Sijo and are focused on sleepytime home things like bedding, candles, pajamas, tea, and bath and body stuff.
The brand makes French linen sheets and Bamboo-Lycell, plus they donate a percentage of all sales to the Joyful Heart Foundation to help sexual assault and domestic violence survivors.
Pros
- The duvet has corner snap buttons, and the closure is hidden
- Oh, and their sheets are super soft
Cons
- It has combination full/queen sizes for most items if you're picky about wanting the exact sizing
Specs
- Material: French flax linen
- Sizing: Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Care: Machine-wash cold/delicate, tumble-dry low
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Pricing
- $296 gets you a “bundle” aka a fitted sheet, two pillowcases, and a duvet cover. If you want a flat sheet (you can pick the option when customizing at checkout), it'll be $368. The non-flat sheet option is legit cheap AF, and there's free U.S. shipping!
Softest Linen Sheets: Brooklinen
I tested these first, and they set the bar pretty high. I'd seen Brooklinen's ads all over the subway for months, and after finally breaking down and becoming a person who Actively Cares About Their Bedding, I knew I had to try them out.
Pros
- These sheets were by far the softest and airiest
- Plus, the sheets are washed and dyed in small batches so each turns out unique
Cons
- There aren't a ton of colors and patterns, but if you're into neutrals, you might be totally fine with this!
- LINT.
Specs
- Material: European flax linen
- Sizing: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Care: Machine-wash cold, tumble-dry low
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Pricing
- The "Hardcore Sheet Set" comes with one flat sheet, a fitted option, four pillowcases, and a duvet cover for $345. Shipping is free if you sign up for their e-mails; otherwise, expect to pay $7 to $10.
Best Household Staple: West Elm
Everyone knows West Elm as the aspirational home décor store you age into after IKEA particleboard hell. Its stuff is pricey enough to seem fancy, and the brand adds inventory so frequently that it's hard not to find yourself browsing the site every few weeks.
Pros
- Though the knitting was tighter than the others, this made the sheets feel smoother
- There are so many pretty shades and color schemes available! And they get updated frequently
Cons
- Def not as breathable as the other brands. They felt the most cotton-like of all the sheets I tried
- No pillow flaps to hide the side of your pillow. This is important to me!
Specs
- Material: European flax linen
- Sizing: One size (87"l x 34"w)
- Care: Machine-wash cold, tumble-dry low
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Fair Trade
Pricing
- A full sheet set (two pillowcases, a flat sheet, and a fitted sheet) is $219. The full-size duvet cover is $249 for a total of $468, not including shipping (which is normally 10 percent of your purchase subtotal). You usually can poke around and find coupons or sales here and there for West Elm, but in a worst-case scenario, expect to pay at least $514.80 for this set.
Best Status Linen Sheets: Parachute
I wanted to try Parachute's bedding after reading other rave reviews online. It's also very startup-y, like Brooklinen, but the aesthetic is a tad more elevated. Where Brooklinen has models jumping all over the bed, Parachute is more aligned with the "coffee and the newspaper in bed" ethos.
Pros
- So crisp. SO smooth. Wow. They still feel freshly laundered after a couple of days
- The sheets get softer over time the more you sleep in them
- Seasonal colors make a rotation if you want a color that's a lil more bold
Cons
- The full-size duvet cover seemed very large? Even with all corners tied and attached, I found my blanket bunching up at the bottom
Specs
- Material: European flax linen
- Sizing: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Care: Machine-wash, tumble-dry low
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Pricing
- A full set (without a top sheet) is $169. Add in the duvet cover at $250, and the total comes to $419. If you wanted a top sheet, the total clocks in at $529. There's free U.S. shipping and a 60-day trial, but trust me, you won't want to return these.
Best Smaller Specialty Brand: Magic Linen
Magic Linen offers everything from bedsheets to clothing to baby blankets made from linen, so I figured the brand must really know its stuff. The company creates all of its products in its in-house production facility in Lithuania where everything is handcrafted with materials that are absent of harsh chemicals and substances. It even offers environmentally-friendly packaging with every purchase! If you're looking for a brand that not only cares about the comfort of your sleep but also the safety of planet Earth, you should def look into Magic Linen ASAP.
Pros
- Had the most color, pattern, and size options of all these brands
- Offers specific sizing for deep vs. standard mattresses
- Has a dedicated full-size duvet cover instead of a combo full/queen. More brands need to do this!
Cons
- The sheets felt heavier than I'd like for easy, breezy bedding, although they might be great for the winter?
Specs
- Material: European flax linen
- Sizing: Twin, Twin XL, Full/Double, Queen, Queen (Deep Pocket) King, King (Deep Pocket), Cal King, Cal King (Deep Pocket)
- Care: Machine-wash warm, tumble-dry low
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Pricing
- For the fitted sheet (size "deep") at $120, two standard pillows ($25 each), and a duvet cover ($153), the total cost is $323. Full-size top sheets are also available for $99. Magic Linen ships from outside the US, so delivery isn't free like it is with some of the other brands, but even with the fastest and most expensive shipping option at $29, the total would be $352—still significantly less expensive than many other options.
The Verdict
If you can afford it, I can't recommend Linoto enough. Everything just fits right. Sijo was also a surprising steal with really nice color options and a price point that's hard to beat. If it's a status set you're after, go with Brooklinen for airier sheets and Parachute for crisper bedding.
Otherwise, I'd recommend Magic Linen. It offers the most sizes and colors and is the best priced. The pieces are made-to-order, taking anywhere from 3-14 days to create and ship, but if you're willing to wait a bit and save some money, it's a great option. West Elm is a little pricier, but if you're after coordination and want your West Elm pillows to match your bedding scheme, that brand is for you. And if you're all about sustainability when you're shopping, then Avocado is probably the best pick for you. The Saatva sheets are perfect if you want to add a luxe feel to an otherwise un-luxe dorm room, but they're also a great pick if your bed is a little bigger.
You definitely get what you pay for when it comes to linen—after this experiment, I don't think I'll be going back to regs cotton sheets anytime soon.
Megan Uy is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
