9 Best Percale Sheets of 2023, Tested by Experts

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Our experts reviewed more than 13,000 data points from Lab and consumer tests to find these crisp, lightweight winners.

Airy, lightweight and the perfect amount of crisp, percale sheets are undeniably one of the most popular types of sheets to sleep on. While sateen sheets (another popular type of cotton sheets) are soft and silky smooth, percale is a more breathable material that's often more durable and feels natural against your skin, making it a popular choice for hot sleepers. That being said, the wrong kind of percale sheet can feel rough and scratchy instead of light and crisp, making the online shopping process daunting.

To help supplement your search for the best percale sheets out there, the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested well over 275 of the best bedsheets in recent years (including nearly 50 percale sets). We've tested everything from cotton sheets and linen sheets to cooling sheets, soft sheets, silk sheets, organic sheets and more.

Wentest each sheet set in our Lab for washability, shrinkage, wrinkle resistance, fabric strength and pilling resistance to help determine which styles are durable enough to last. We then have dozens of real users rate the feel in a blind softness test. Plus, we've worked with hundreds of consumer testers to try out the sheets at home and provide feedback on how they fared in their daily lives.

Read on for more about how we test and tips from our experts on how to shop for percale sheets. Looking for more bedding? Check out our guides on the best pillows and best comforters available.

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Made with premium Pima cotton for extra softness, this percale set from L.L.Bean was the top performer in our thorough evaluations, earning top scores in both Lab and consumer testing. Testers appreciated the breathability and textbook crisp and lightweight qualities offered by the sheet set. They also especially loved the soft and cool-to-the-touch feel, with one comparing the set to "quality hotel sheets."

The cotton material also impressed our Lab analysts with its strength and durability, earning the top score with minimal pilling and shrinkage after extensive Lab testing. And while percale is known for wrinkling, this set had a smoother appearance compared to similar ones we tested. We also love that this set comes in a wide range of bright colors, solid neutrals and eye-catching prints.

This sheet set from Sweave offers the same durability as our top performers at a fraction of the price. In our Lab tests, the cotton fabric barely pilled after our machine rubbed swatches together 1,000 times, and it also earned high scores in fabric strength. Our testers appreciated the double elastic on the fitted sheet, making bed-making simple and easy. One tester especially loved the traditional percale feel, saying, "I like these sheets better than the ones I usually use. They feel like the sheets used on my bed when I was a child — soft, comfortable."

Our experts also appreciate that this set is certified Made in Green by Oeko-Tex, meaning this set doesn't contain any harmful chemicals and is made in a safe, socially responsible and environmentally friendly facility. Just note that these sheets may take a few washes to soften and exhibited some mild shrinkage in our laundering tests.

If you love the textbook lightweight, crisp and airy feel of percale, this set from Brooklinen is for you. It was a favorite among our testers and is a staple for many GH editors and analysts. Percale sheets often take time to soften up, but these sheets immediately impressed our testers with their soft, broken-in feel, straight out of the box while still feeling "nice and crisp."

One tester even said, "They are crisp without feeling rough, and lightweight without feeling cheap or papery." We also love that the brand offers both neutrals and a rolling selection of fun colors and prints. Just note that this popular sheet set didn't perform as well in our Lab durability tests compared to other percale sheets we've tested.

Perfectly replicating the crispness of a nice button-up shirt, Parachute's popular percale set is one to look at. The fabric proved strong in our tests with great pilling resistance, but our analysts noted it wrinkled more than other percale sheets we evaluated. Still, it earned higher softness ratings than dozens of similar styles with testers calling it "crisp" and "cool."

On top of that, you have the option to skip the top sheet to save on the cost if you prefer only using a duvet cover or a comforter on its own. Plus, the brand offers a wide variety of muted colors to complement your bedroom decor.

If you're looking for sheets that can withstand use without any signs of pilling or wear and tear, this percale set from Standard Textile Home checks all the boxes for a basic, long-lasting sheet set. The fabric is made using long-staple cotton fibers for breathability and crispness without feeling too scratchy.

The material also performed well in our intensive Lab durability testing, and testers appreciated how it kept them at a perfect, comfortable body temperature all night long. One tester also commented that while the sheet set was initially on the rougher side, it "softened up more after washing."

Simple yet luxurious, this sheet set from Crane & Canopy is light, airy and perfectly crisp. It's also made with long-staple cotton for better durability that impressed our experts, showing no signs of pilling after 1,000 rubs and earning high scores for fabric strength in Lab tests.

Testers loved the textbook percale feel of these sheets, with one calling the fabric "crisp, cool and luxurious." Some testers also appreciated the deep-pocketed fitted sheet that fits mattresses up to depths of 16 inches, noting that they stayed put through any tossing and turning throughout the night. We also love the clean, bright white color and the ability to personalize these sheets with a monogram.

Run hot at night? This sheet set from Pact was a favorite among testers for its cool and breathable feel. It had one of the highest durability scores in Lab tests, staying pill-free after our abrasion machine rubbed swatches together 1,000 times. It also received top marks for softness and comfort.

Testers noted that these sheets felt noticeably cooler than other percale sheets they've slept on, thanks to their breathable weave, and one even said, "These sheets provided me the most comfortable sleep in years." We also appreciate that this set is Fair Trade Certified and certified organic by GOTS, which means the entire manufacturing process adheres to strict standards. Just note that some testers told us these sheets felt thinner than others they've tried.

One consumer tester summed it up best, calling these sheets "soft, luxurious and yet crisp and cool." Other testers, including hot sleepers, raved about the comfortable feel and said they maintained an optimal sleeping temperature on these relaxed sheets. The fabric also impressed our analysts with minimal shrinkage during Lab durability tests, although the material exhibited some pilling and wrinkling, as can be expected from the crinkled broken-in design.

Plus, these sheets are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), meaning the entire production process follows strict organic guidelines. It's also Fair Trade Certified, which focuses on ethical issues during the manufacturing process like wages and working conditions.

While most percale sheets are known for their crisp, cotton feel, this innovative style from Tuck blends the signature crisp texture of cotton with smooth Tencel lyocell. The result is a soft and substantial yet relaxed bedsheet. If you're unsure whether you prefer percale to sateen or find that you like both equally, these sheets offer an undeniably crowd-pleasing middle ground. In fact, this set earned the highest score in our blind softness tests.

On top of that, they performed well in Lab tests, with minimal wrinkling after washing compared to 100% cotton percale sheets. They also showed very few signs of wear in our pilling tests. Our at-home sleep testers also gave the set perfect scores for comfort, although some noted that the soft feel isn't as breathable for summer nights.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab rigorously tests sheets using specialized equipment in addition to working with real consumer testers for firsthand feedback on user experience. To determine the best percale sheets, we reviewed test results for over 275 different sheets and analyzed more than 13,000 data points. Here's what we evaluate to choose the best percale sheets:

✔️ Washability: We wash each sheet multiple times according to its care label and evaluate the appearance after laundering and assess any shrinkage.

✔️ Wrinkle resistance: Immediately after laundering, we transfer the sheets to a room with specialized lighting to assess any creases or wrinkling using industry standards.

✔️ Dimensional stability: In order to document how much a fitted sheet shrinks or grows after washing, we use industry standards for measuring its dimensional stability. We measure after the initial wash and once again after multiple launderings.

✔️ Softness testing: Our large testing panel feels and rates each fabric for softness and comfort in a blind comparison or through sleep testing in their own homes.

✔️ Consumer testing: Consumer testers try sheets that match their personal preferences over the course of several weeks or months before completing a survey. They rate various criteria like softness, ease of use, temperature regulation, fit and appearance and share thorough feedback on how the sheets compare to others they've used. They also share any likes, dislikes or comments about their experience.

✔️ Pilling resistance: Our abrasion testing machine (called a Martindale Pilling & Abrasion Machine) rubs fabric swatches together exactly 1,000 times to mimic real-life wear and tear. The swatches are then scored for pilling — loose strands or balls of fabric that build up over time — using industry standards.

✔️ Fabric strength: We prepare swatches of fabric and load each in a machine called an Instron that tests tensile strength. It pulls apart each sample to measure the force needed to break it.

✔️ Types of cotton: Percale sheets are traditionally made using 100% cotton, although some may use cotton blends. There are a lot of different terms you may hear about the types of cotton used.

✔️ Cotton manufacturing processes: The cotton in percale sheets may be processed or treated differently to affect the final feel of the cotton and bring out desired features.

✔️ Thread count: While it's not the most important factor you should consider when buying percale sheets, it's important to know what thread count really refers to. Thread count is a measure of the total number of threads in a square inch of fabric. A higher thread count doesn't exactly translate to a better quality sheet but does indicate a thicker, more tightly woven fabric. While this may result in smoother, more durable fabric, a tighter weave lowers breathability and creates a heavier sheet. In our testing, we've found that sheets in the 300 to 500 range have a good balance of softness and durability.

✔️ Certifications: In addition to GOTS for organic cotton, there are other certifications you can look for to avoid high levels of unwanted substances in your sheets. Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and Made in Green certifications both ensure that there are no unsafe levels of chemicals, and Oeko-Tex Made in Green ensures that the manufacturing process is environmentally friendly.

✔️ Care instructions: Most percale sheets are machine washable, but some may call for cold water or delicate cycles. Your sheets will be their cleanest when washed in warm or hot water, so it's best to shop for ones that can withstand these temperatures if you get night sweats or don't wash sheets regularly.

Percale and sateen differ in how the fabric is woven and offer distinct benefits that come from their different fabric structures. Percale is a cotton fabric with a basic weave that feels light and airy. It's best for hot sleepers who want more breathability or those who prefer a crisp feel. Sateen is a cotton fabric with a satin-like weave that feels smooth and silky. It's often thicker than percale, less likely to wrinkle and feels softer, making it ideal for those who want something cozy.

Grace Wu is a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and has evaluated tons of bedding products using specialized laboratory equipment and feedback from hundreds of consumer testers. She's written several stories on various types of sheets, including the best linen sheets and hotel sheets, but percale sheets remain her absolute favorite. Prior to joining GH, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.

Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.

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