When it comes to bedding, I only want the softest material touching my skin, so as soon as the nighttime temperature drops below 60 degrees, out come the flannel sheets. Just like a cozy flannel shirt, flannel sheets are made from a woven fabric (usually cotton or wool) that’s brushed to make the surface slightly fuzzy—the technical term for this texture is “napped”—and incredibly soft. They’re extremely warm and cozy, making them ideal for fall and winter in New England, where I live. My old set of flannel sheets have seen better days, so I wanted to test out some of today’s most popular options to find the perfect replacement.
After months of research—aka sleeping—my new favorite cold-weather bedding is the L.L. Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set. I had heard great things about these sheets before and they didn’t disappoint, delivering the perfect combination of warmth and softness, all for a really reasonable price. However, if you want the softest and most delightfully welcoming sheets on your bed, I wouldn’t hesitate to splurge on the Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel Sheets, which are made with organic cotton and have a slightly heavier weight that’s ideal for winter. They were my favorite in terms of pure softness, but they are significantly more expensive than the L.L. Bean sheets. I also found several other amazing sets of flannel sheets that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to a friend.
- Best All-Around Flannel Sheets: L.L. Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set
- Best Budget-Friendly Flannel Sheets: Stone & Beam Rustic Flannel Bed Sheet Set
- Best Splurge-Worthy Flannel Sheets: Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel Sheets
- Best Deep Pocket Flannel Sheets: Boll & Branch Flannel Sheet Set
- Best Lightweight Flannel Sheets: Brooklinen Brushed Flannel Sheets
Best All-Around Flannel Sheets
Cult-Favorite Flannel Sheets That Live Up To The Hype
- 100% brushed cotton
- Twin, full, queen, king and California king sizes sizes
- 15-inch pocket depth
I’ve been testing bedding for several years now and I’ve heard people rave about these flannel sheets from L.L. Bean. In fact, I’d go so far as to say they’re the gold standard for flannel bedding. This was my first time testing them out for myself and I have to say, they definitely live up to the hype.
The brushed cotton flannel, which comes in several solid colors, is woven in Portugal and it was cozy and warm as I climbed into bed each night. The material was soft and welcoming against my skin and of all the flannel sheets I tested, these were in the middle of the pack in terms of weight—not too heavy and not too light—which I actually really liked. They’re not so heavy that you’re instantly sweating on warmer nights, which will allow you to use them for longer each year.
After washing, these sheets were every bit as soft as when they went into the washing machine and I didn’t see any signs of pilling, a common problem with flannel. They fit my mattress perfectly and my only real complaint is that the pillow cases don’t have an envelope closure. It’s a small feature that likely won’t bother most people, but something I look for in my sheets, as it keeps the case from slipping off my overstuffed pillow during the night.
While these sheets weren’t necessarily the most luxurious, they came out on top thanks to their reliable performance and unbeatable price. They’re less than half the price of other high-end flannel sheets, yet they’re every bit as soft, warm and welcoming on cold nights.
Best Budget-Friendly Flannel Sheets
Rustic Plaid Flannel Sheets For Every Bed In Your Home
- 100% cotton
- Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king and California king sizes
You can spend as much or as little as you want when buying flannel sheets and if you’re hoping to save some money, I’d recommend these affordable linens from Amazon’s in-house decor brand, Stone & Beam. They come in several fun plaid patterns, including everyone's fall favorite buffalo plaid, and just like more expensive options, they’re made in Portugal from 100% cotton.
When sleeping on these sheets, I found that they weren’t quite as soft as other options and the soft, fuzzy texture wasn’t as pronounced, but the fabric still felt nice against my skin. The flannel is on the light to medium side of the spectrum and it had a drapey quality that actually reminded me of jersey fabric—not necessarily a bad thing, just different. Still, they were plenty warm, even on a chilly night and I’d happily use them again.
The one thing I didn’t like about these sheets is that they had an unpleasant smell right out of the package. Thankfully, the odor went away after laundering and the sheets do meet STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX criteria, which means they’re free from harmful substances.
Best Splurge-Worthy Flannel Sheets
Unbelievably Soft Flannel Sheets Made From Organic Cotton
- 100% organic cotton
- Twin, full, queen, king and California king sizes
- 15-inch pocket depth
True to their name, these flannel sheets give you the distinct impression that you’re sleeping on a cloud and it’s wonderful. I’d happily sleep on them every night during the colder months and they’re warm enough that I could probably turn down my thermostat a few degrees and still be comfortable. I only hesitated to rank them in the top spot due to the fact that they’re quite pricey, especially for a set of linens you can’t necessarily use year-round.
Still, these sheets are made from luxurious organic cotton and they were the softest out of all the sheets I tested—the kind of soft that you just want to rub against your face. The fabric is slightly heavier than your average flannel, which kept me toasty warm all night long and true to the brand’s claim, it didn’t pill at all in the washing machine. Plus, I love the selection of serene spa-like colors that these flannel sheets come in and there are even two subtle striped patterns if you want to spruce things up a bit.
Best Deep Pocket Flannel Sheets
Soft And Cozy Flannel Sheets That Fit Thick Mattresses
- 100% organic cotton
- Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king and split king sizes
- 18-inch pocket depth
The most common pocket depth on the flannel sheets I tested was 15 inches, and if you have a thick mattress, many of the fitted sheets might not fit your bed properly. For that, I’d recommend the Boll & Branch Flannel Sheet Set, which had the most spacious fitted sheet of the bunch. This set can easily accommodate mattresses up to 18 inches and there was plenty of extra room in the fitted sheet while it was on my standard-size mattress.
In addition to being quite spacious, this sheet set is soft, luxurious and warm. The fabric is made in Portugal from 100% organic cotton and it had a very similar weight and feel to the Coyuchi set. (However, it’s even more expensive.) The sheets were warm and cozy on chilly nights, and the set includes pillowcases with envelope closures, so you know it gets an A+ in my book.
Best Lightweight Flannel Sheets
Lightweight Flannel Sheets You Can Use Year-Round
- 100% long-staple cotton
- Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king and California king sizes
We were lucky enough to get a set of Brooklinen’s new flannel sheets to test before they launched and as a diehard fan of the brand, I had high expectations for them. Right off the bat, these sheets stood out from the rest due to their light weight. They’re not nearly as substantial as other sets and they don’t keep you as warm, which isn’t ideal for cold weather use. However, it might be beneficial if you sleep warm or if you simply want to use flannel sheets year-round.
Still, these sheets are super soft and washed well. Plus, the pillowcases have envelope closures to keep your pillow in place all night long. The napped surface of these sheets isn’t quite as fuzzy as other options, which might be a good or bad thing depending on your preference and they didn’t show any signs of pilling after washing.
More Flannel Sheets Worth Considering
Heavy Flannel Sheets That Feel Like Velvet
- 100% cotton
- Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king sizes
- 14-inch pocket depth
As you might expect from a product called “Velvet Flannel,” these sheets have a distinctly velvety feel. Personally, the texture wasn’t my favorite—the flannel doesn’t have the super-soft feel that I like resting my face against—but the linens were still enjoyable to sleep in. They have a heavier weight that’s warm and welcoming on cold nights and while the regular size only has a 14-inch pocket on the fitted sheet, The Company Store also has a deep pocket sheet, which will fit mattresses up to 18 inches thick.
After washing, these sheets had a few small pills here and there, but nothing too bad. They’re also another option where each piece is sold individually and if you’re going to buy a full set, it ends up being over $200. The high price, coupled with my ambivalence toward the texture, prevents these sheets from being one of my top-ranked products.
Extra-Heavy English Flannel Sheets For Frigid Nights
- 100% cotton
- Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king and California king sizes
- 12- or 15-inch pocket depth
These flannel sheets are heavy with a capital H, making them ideal for the worst months of winter in New England. The brand says the 100% cotton fabric is made to resemble “English flannel,” which traditionally has a tighter weave that results in a warmer and more substantial fabric and this description is right on the money. The material wraps you up in a cozy hug during the night and at one point it actually became too warm for me.
While these sheets feel nice, they have a slightly different texture than the other flannel. The napped surface isn’t quite as fluffy and they did have the slightest amount of pilling after coming out of the wash. Additionally, these sheets aren’t sold as a set—you pick and choose the pieces you want individually, which is nice if, for instance, you don’t use a top sheet or want king-size pillowcases.
Reversible Sheets With A Jersey-Like Feel
- 100% cotton
- Full, queen, and king sizes
- 16-inch pocket depth
I was definitely intrigued by this flannel sheet set from Riley, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen a set of reversible sheets before. However, the linens fell short in a couple of key areas. They are quite soft, but the cotton fabric reminded me more of jersey than true flannel. I also didn’t really like the appearance of the two-tone fabric, but that’s obviously a personal preference.
The biggest deal breaker for me was that the sheets shrank substantially after washing. When they came out of the dryer, I had to wrestle the fitted sheet onto my mattress and it took two people to get it on. I also spotted a few signs of pilling around the edges when they came out of the laundry. These flannel sheets aren’t necessarily bad, I just don’t think they’re the best option for the price.
Flannel Sheet Review Methodology
I’ve tested sheets several times in my career, so I’m fairly familiar with today’s top brands and their products. I wanted to find the best of the best flannel sheets, so I selected options from what I consider to be high-quality brands. From there, I eliminated any products made from polyester or a blend of fibers, narrowing my contenders down to eight top-rated products at a range of price points.
When each set of sheets arrived, I unpacked them and checked out the fabric, looking at the napped surface, construction and texture. From there, I washed each set according to the care instructions and when they came out of the dryer, I looked for any signs of pilling and compared their post-wash texture and softness to the initial feel. Next came the fun part: sleeping on them! I made my bed up with each set of sheets and used them for at least two nights, checking how well they fit on the bed and how enjoyable they were to use. When I took them off, I checked again for pilling and any other signs of wear.
My judging criteria included:
- Softness: How did the sheets feel both before and after washing? During the night?
- Warmth: Did the sheets provide an appropriate level of warmth during the night?
- Maintenance: How easy was it to wash the sheets and did they shrink, pill, etc.?
- Value: Given all the above criteria, is this sheet set worth the money?
