If it’s time for a bedding refresh, there’s a strong case for linen. Summers are getting hotter, but breathable linen can keep you cool and dry. Holding in heat during the winter, too, it’s also antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for allergy sufferers.
I’ve snuggled up with lots of linen covers in a bid to find the best. I’m interested in quality, which comes down to the weight of the linen – heavier linen is better quality, and more durable, as well as where the linen comes from. French flax linen is considered the best, thanks to its durability and how it softens with each wash.
Linen generally needs much less water to grow than cotton, making it a better choice environmentally. It naturally crumpled aesthetic adds texture and warmth to your room, and I’m a fan of its relaxed look, which works really well when layered it bringing a boho aesthetic to your bedroom.
Though linen is one of the most expensive materials when it comes to bedding, I’ve found quality sets and separates from high street shops, independent and high-end dedicated bedding brands, from Piglet in Bed to old faithful, M&S. These are my top recommendations.
How I tested
I put these bedding sets on my bed and slept on each for several nights. Even if bedding didn't come as a set, I tested the sheets and matching pillowcases for the full aesthetic. As it was the height of summer and the middle of this year’s heatwaves, I tested these sheets both with and without a duvet to see how well they cooled. I assessed them with the following criteria:
- Quality: This generally comes down to the percentage of linen (is it a blend or is it 100 per cent linen?), the weight of it (the more heavyweight, the better the quality), how resistant it is to wear and tear, and where it was made.
- Feel: You may assume linen is quite rough, but linen sheets are soft, and they get even softer with time. I noted how soft the linen felt against my skin whilst sleeping on it.
- Design: Style is equally important as comfort, so I acknowledged the look of each set, noting distinctive detailing, linen finish and range of colourways.
- Care: I washed the sets to see whether they kept their colour and shape. Happily, they did. Linen is supposed to get softer over time, but I didn't notice this after washing them once, and actually found them to be quite soft before they were washed.
- Value for money: As always, I factored price into my review. All prices are for king-size bedding.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Every product we recommend has been tested in everyday settings, in the same way you will be using it. The bedding in this review was tested by Emma Henderson, a writer and editor with a sharp eye for quality and sustainability. Emma has remarkable experience with product reviews, as she not only worked for our IndyBest section for nearly a decade, but was also our editor. As well as the linen itself, the ethos of a brand is important to Emma. Whether it’s noting unnecessary plastic in a product or championing B-corp brands, she has done the legwork to bring you her honest reviews.
The best linen bedding for 2025 is:
- Best overall – Truly white 100 per cent linen ladder stitch duvet cover: £180, Truly.co.uk
- Best budget option – M&S pure linen bedset: £105, Marksandspencer.com
- Best luxury linen bedding – Rise & Fall relaxed and refined linen duvet: £217, Riseandfall.co
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Truly white 100 per cent linen ladder stitch duvet cover
Best: Linen bedding set overall
Set or separates: Separates
100 per cent linen: Yes
Sizes: Double, king, superking
Cover fastening: Buttons
Why we love it
- Super soft, thick linen
- Good quality
- Great fit with our duvet
Take note
- I’d prefer an alternative to plastic buttons
Linen bedding is often mischaracterised as being slightly rough, but Truly – which was co-created by Dragon’s Den’s Peter Jones – puts to bed those misconceptions. Its 100 per cent linen is super soft, thick, and the best quality I’ve tested. It feels much more luxurious than others in this review – I’d go as far as to say it felt more like high thread count Egyptian cotton than linen.
I love the ladder effect around the edging, on both the pillow cases and duvet cover, which gives a really elegant look. Its simple design is timeless, and should fit into the style of any room. I love the housewife style of the pillowcases, which are sold separately, with wide borders that only add to the luxurious look and feel of this set.
Buy now £180.00, Truly.co.uk
M&S pure linen bedding set
Best: Budget linen bedding set
Set or separates: Set
100 per cent linen: Yes
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king
Cover fastening: Buttons
Why we love it
- Affordable price
- Great duvet cover fit
Take note
- Slightly thinner sheets
I loved this pure linen bed set. It comes with a duvet cover and two pillowcases made from 100 per cent linen. The twin stitch detail around the edges of both the pillowcases and duvet cover makes it look much more upmarket than it is, and feels very good quality.
It's not the heaviest weight linen I’ve tested, but it’s far from see-through, and I still think it's a really good set at this price. It comes in 13 colours, from clay to lilac and caramel to khaki. Thanks to the price, it's a great entry-level set for those who aren't sure about making the move from cotton.
Buy now £105.00, Marksandspencer.com
Secret Linen Store cobalt cora stripe 100 per cent linen bed linen
Best: Runner up linen bedding
Set or separates: Separates
100 per cent linen: Yes
Sizes: Double, king and super king
Cover fastening: Buttons
Why we love it
- Super soft
Take note
- Sheets are a little larger for a kingsize duvet
It was a very close call between Truly and Secret Linen Company when it came to softness. This brand was founded by sisters Molly and Harriet and is a 'Buy Women Built' brand, an initiative that recognises women-founded brands, and a B Corp company, too.
Just as the name suggests, Secret Linen store has a huge amount of linen bedding options, but I love the chunky stripe of this summery design, as most brands go for delicate pinstripes.
Finely woven and soft to the touch, this set kept me really cool even on the hottest of nights. The fastenings are pearly buttons, made from recycled plastic, which are made in Portugal. However, it was kept from the top spot by the fit. The duvet cover was on the larger side, so it may not fit non-standard duvets.
Buy now £169.15, Secretlinenstore.com
Soak & Sleep white ruffled French linen duvet cover
Best: Ruffled linen bedding
Set or separates: Separates
100 per cent linen: Yes
Sizes: Double, king, super king
Cover fastening: Fabric ties, buttons
Why we love it
- Affordable quality linen
- Ruffle design
- Excellently fitting duvet cover
As one of the most affordable options on the list, I was instantly drawn to the fun and flouncy romance of this ruffled linen set.
I love how the ruffled wide edge easily adds something to my bedroom's interior design aesthetic without having to introduce any big colours or patterns.
These sheets are made from 100 per cent Norman flax, washed several times to give it enduring softness. It’s soft and lightweight, making it a great set for the summer. During testing, I found it prevented me from overheating.
Buy now £108.33, Soakandsleep.com
Piglet in Bed 100 per cent linen bedding bundle
Best: White linen sheets
Set or separates: Set
100 per cent linen: Yes
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king, emperor
Cover fastening: Button
Why we love it
- Wooden buttons
- 17 colourway choices
- Widest range of sizes
- Good duvet cover fit
I’ve loved this brand from the very beginning. Piglet in Bed played a big role in kickstarting linen bedding’s popularity. Its first range was just three colours, but it’s since expanded to a whopping 17 colours and patterns, including a lovely honey colour and a sandstone red Pembroke stripe. I went for classic white, and Piglet in Bed's simple, no-fuss set has quickly become my go-to white set, overtaking my usual high-thread-count cotton set.
Woven from 100 per cent European flat, I found this set to be lovely and lightweight, but it still feels high-quality. Most importantly, it stood up to the test of keeping us cool when the mercury rose above 30C.
The brand also does a linen blend version, which starts from £169 for a double, making it a slightly more affordable way of testing the water before investing in 100 per cent linen.
Buy now £156.75, Pigletinbed.com
Bed Threads build your own bundle
Best: Build your own linen bedding bundle
Set or separates: DIY bundles and separates
100 per cent linen: Yes
Sizes: Double, king and super king
Cover fastening: Buttons, internal ties
Why we love it
- Save 20 per cent on bundles
- 23 colours available
- Well-fitting duvet cover
While buying a complete bedding set can sometimes be constraining, and purchasing separates quickly adds up, Bed Threads gives plenty of options. If you’re clever with your choices, your mix and match can reduce the standard price of its bed set by 20 per cent.
I chose an oatmeal and white stripe 100 per cent French flax linen duvet, and couldn't resist the linen scalloped pillowcases, too. Even though they don't necessarily match, I love them and think it shows the heart of the brand, which is all about colour and creativity.
The linen has been pre-washed and feels wonderfully soft, and I’ve already got my eyes on the other colourways too.
Buy now £190.00, Bedthreads.co.uk
Rise & Fall relaxed and refined linen duvet
Best: Luxury linen bedding
Set or separates: Both available
100 per cent linen: Yes
Sizes: Double, king, super king
Cover fastening: Buttons
Why we love it
- Buying bundle set saves 15 per cent
Take note
- Duvet cover is a little big for the duvet
Rise & Fall uses trustworthy manufacturers with 75 years’ experience in luxury bedding. They use the same skilled producers who make more expensive sheets, such as those used at The Four Seasons hotels.
Like the Secret Linen Company, it's a B Corp company, and the sheets are produced in part with the help of renewable energy. These sheets are made from 100 per cent European flax, with a 90 thread count linen. Compared to others, they feel incredibly soft. I tested the natural colour hue, which is undyed and non-bleached, and it really impressed me with how comfy I was in bed. With its nice medium weight, I love the quality of it, too. It comes in five colours: classic, white and olive, and the limited edition colours of celery and bruised peach.
Buy now £217.00, Riseandfall.co
Tekla linen duvet cover
Best: Pastel linen bedding
Set or separates: Separates
100 per cent linen: Yes
Sizes: Single, double, king
Cover fastening: Buttons
Why we love it
- Well designed duvet cover
- Duvet cover fits well
Take note
- It's the most expensive on the list
- The sizes are in cm measurements
Copenhagen-based brand Tekla has a cool Danish feel across its homeware offering, which is obvious right down to the packaging, as each pillow case and the duvet cover came in their own little magnet-closure box.
The brand began in bedding, and it knows what it's doing with its linen range. Coming in six pastel hues, which I noted are different to those from other brands, I tested the cover in dawn purple, which has a light stonewash finish that further adds to its relaxed look. I also liked the branded label on the pillow cases, which adds a cool style touch.
It's made from 100 per cent French flax and is produced in Portugal, which is known for its quality manufacturers. It's also the only duvet cover I found that has a little opening in the two top corners with little ties to fasten onto the duvet – though my duvet doesn't have that fastening, so I couldn't test them out. The drawback is obvious: £450 is a lot to spend on a good night’s sleep.
Buy now £450.00, Teklafabrics.com
What is the best linen bedding set?
There's linen and then there's linen, and when it comes to super soft, quality, heavyweight linen, Truly's white ladder linen set ticks all my boxes. That said, I really have a soft spot for Soak & Sleep's white ruffled French linen set, as well as the Secret Linen Store's summery cobalt blue set.
For more bedroom recommendations, read our review of the best mattresses
