To measure softness, a panel of sensory testers compares each sheet with a standard of fabric swatches covering a range of softness levels. Our engineers assess the strength of the fibers with a machine that clamps both ends of the sheet sample and pulls it with increasing force until it tears. In our tests, none were weak enough to be a concern under normal usage.

We also compare sheets after each wash cycle with a set of references to determine how much they wrinkle. Wrinkled sheets don’t look as neat and crisp on a bed, and you may even feel wrinkles when you lie down. After each wash, our testers put the sheet on 8-, 10-, 14-, and 18-inch-deep mattresses to see whether the corners and sides still fit and tuck underneath. In our shrinkage tests, we wash fitted sheets according to the manufacturer’s directions 25 times-equivalent to about a year’s worth of washing if you launder your linens every two weeks. We also test for strength and shrinkage, because we believe that good sheets should last.įit is important because if a fitted sheet (no matter how soft) shrinks so much that you can’t get it over your mattress, all other attributes are moot. All the sheets in our tests could initially fit the queen-size mattress depth claimed on their packaging. To test how well a set of sheets will serve you, we assess fit, softness, and wrinkling.

Best sheets