The best bed sheets and duvet covers to buy now (original) (raw)

Best bedding and best Egyptian cotton

Scooms Egyptian Cotton Bedding

Score: 96/100

With a thread count of 600, this Egyptian cotton sateen bedding is one of the most luxurious sets on our list. So unsurprisingly, it was a huge hit both in the lab and with our testers at home.

Everything fitted perfectly, washed well, and felt gorgeously soft against the skin, leaving our testers “cool and rested” come morning. Some noted that you may want to iron it for a crisper look, but if that’s the only flaw, you won’t find us complaining. Ultimately, these sheets wouldn’t be out of place in a five star hotel.

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Joint runner-up and best value percale bedding

Dunelm Dorma Egyptian Cotton 400 Thread Count Percale Bedding

Score: 95/100

This soft and cosy Egyptian cotton bedding is suited to budding interior designers thanks to the array of colours you can choose from. It’s sold individually too, so you could even mix and match if you wanted.

Our testers were impressed with its quality, especially after washing – it kept its shape and was colour fast. Its zip fastening is a nice touch too, meaning your duvet can’t escape.

And it has an OEKO-TEX Made in Green certification, so you can rest assured that it was made in certified factories that meet higher environmental and social standards.

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Joint runner-up and best premium percale bedding

The White Company Savoy Bed Linen Collection

Score: 95/100

Compared to fancy hotel bedding by our panel of testers, this is an undeniably luxe set. It’s made with 400 thread count Egyptian cotton in a percale weave, giving you a crisp yet soft feel.

The sheets exude quality too, washing well and fitting our bedding perfectly. For a crease free (and hotel-worthy) look, you will likely need to iron them. But that’s probably worth the effort, given the fact our testers raved about how they helped them fall asleep, making bedtime something to look forward to.

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Joint runner-up and best for range of colours

John Lewis Soft & Silky 400 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Bedding

Score: 95/100

Dreams are made of Egyptian cotton sheets like these. As with our other top performers, the bedding washed impeccably and is available in a selection of classic muted tones for a calming bedroom aesthetic.

As for what it’s like to slumber with, it earned glowing reviews for how luxurious it felt against our panellists' skin. In fact, one said they “won’t be able to go back to anything else.”

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Best premium Egyptian cotton for range of shades

Hampton & Astley Egyptian Cotton 500 Thread Count Sateen Luxury Bedding

Score: 92/100

With a thread count of 500, this is seriously silky bedding. Testers had no bother making the bed and washing proved stress free – it emerged from the machine with the same high quality as before.

Our panel loved spending their nights wrapped up in the sateen sheets, but if you don’t like yours creased, note that these required a long ironing session to banish wrinkles. That is the case with most Egyptian cotton bedding though (including our other winners). Otherwise, this breathable, premium set is a real treat.

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Best budget bedding

Primark Contrast Piping Double Duvet Cover Set

Score: 91/100

This set looks similar to The White Company bedding that took one of our podium spots, so if you’re after a boutique hotel finish for less, these are sure to please. They’re made with 300 thread count cotton, and our panel was surprised by the overall quality; the duvet cover and pillow cases were soft, looked smart (when ironed) and fitted our bedding well.

During our in-house wash tests, the sheets fared well, but some testers noticed some differences in quality when they cleaned them at home on a 40C cycle, so you’re probably better washing them on a cooler wash.

There’s no sheet included, so our testers tried the Cotton Rich Fitted Sheet.

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Joint best linen bedding

Nectar Cloverlane Washed Linen Duvet Set

Score: 90/100

This bedding arrives pre-washed, which means it’s not as scratchy as some linen can be on first arrival (the fibre is known to soften with time). In fact, testers loved how it felt to touch, finding it cosy yet breathable, so they didn’t overheat at night.

It also shone in our wash tests. The linen retained its shape and colour and wasn’t even too creased (which is nothing short of a miracle with linen, even if the textured finish does look chic!).

The fitted sheet stayed in place nicely (it’s also available separately), and it comes with a fabric bag, which you can use for storage if another bedding set is on rotation.

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Joint best linen bedding

Cultiver Linen Duvet Set

Score: 90/100

This linen set only got more buttery to the touch with each wash. This meant that while some testers loved it straight away, others found it a little rougher at first. But, its luxe finish remained after we put it through the washing machine, with minimal shrinkage or colour-loss, and all its care instructions were clear.

In fact, this dreamy bedroom addition even won over linen sceptics, with one tester declaring it “revelatory”, adding that “it was pleasantly warm to slide into bed and the fabric felt silky and light.”

Making the bed was easy too, making this set a standout pick for bringing linen’s nonchalant (and slightly creased) charm to your bedroom.

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Best chambray bedding

Christy Cool And Crisp Stornoway Chambray Bedding

Score: 90/100

It’s no surprise that the purveyors of some of our favourite towels, also do excellent bed sheets. The classic chambray cotton weave is lightweight, breathable and soft, earning it unanimous approval from our panel. One tester was so enamoured, they even purchased another set!

It fitted all our bedding neatly and performed reliably in our wash tests, softening notably after the first wash. It’s not the highest thread count we tried, but at 200, it’s still reassuringly inviting.

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Best bamboo bedding

Panda 100% Bamboo Bedding

Score: 89/100

Derived entirely from organic bamboo, this bedding was a hit with our panel for its breathability. We received lots of positive feedback about how well it adapted to their body temperature and changing weather, and one tester said that they didn’t experience any hot sweats while using it.

The set was soft to touch, and it fitted our duvets and pillows snugly, although the sheet wasn’t quite suited to deeper mattresses. Stains washed away easily (so you don’t need to worry about any spills from breakfast in bed or your early morning coffee) and the premium set remained pristine after a few goes in the GHI’s washing machines.

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Best organic cotton bedding

Christy Soft And Relaxed Organic Retreat Duvet Set

Score: 89/100

“Probably the best bedding I have ever had the luxury of using,” is what one happy tester said of this silkily smooth set. It creases somewhat in the wash, so you may want to enlist your iron for the full hotel-style experience. But otherwise, our panel and expert testers found this bedding hard to fault.

It also stands out for using GOTS-certified organic cotton, which means it has better sustainability and ethical credentials. So, you can sleep easier knowing your bedding is doing its bit too.

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Scooms Linen Bedding

Score: 88/100

Fitting our pillows and duvets as well as Cinderella’s slipper, this luxe bedding made making the bed less of a chore. Washing it was a breeze too, and Scooms recommends not ironing, so you can enjoy the linen in all its laid-back glory.

At night, testers found it breathable, cosy, and soft against the skin, describing it as “a truly indulgent sleeping experience.”

Scooms also provides a lot of detail about the bedding’s manufacturing process; it’s made entirely of certified French flax in small batches at Portuguese factories and is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which means the bedding has been tested for toxins. Exactly what you want for your beauty sleep.

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Luff Sleep 100% Organic Bamboo Silk Bedding

Score: 88/100

Like the Panda bedding above, this duvet cover and pillowcase set is made with a silky fabric that originates from bamboo. Our sleepy panel said it was cooling against the skin, so they didn’t overheat, and it looked luxurious. In fact, one said that it was “far superior to cotton alternatives”. Ultimately, that is a matter of preference, but if you needed a nudge to try out a different textile, then those words might just tip the balance.

It washed well, although wasn’t the most colour-fast, and you’re advised to wash the bedding in the bag it arrives with, which may feel like a faff. That said, the overall construction was impeccable, with pillows and duvets gliding into place. The fitted sheet (available separately) was secure too.

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Piglet in Bed Linen Bedding

Score: 88/100

These thick linen bedsheets were a delight to curl up in. According to one tester, “the quality is exceptional,” while another declared it their “new favourite bedding set”. The velvety soft fabric was snuggly yet breathable, making it a top pick, whatever the weather.

They were a tad lint-y after the first wash but this dissipated. And while our colour analysis tech detected some colour fading after a few washes, this only added to the linen’s lived-in charm.

The duvet cover and pillows were roomy too, so you don’t have to struggle to squeeze in your pillow or duvet, and the fitted sheets stayed securely in place. All our panellists said they would recommend this bedding to friends and family.

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Soak & Sleep Luxurious French Linen Bedding

Score: 87/100

The name of this bedding isn’t misleading – our panellists thought these bed sheets were “pure luxury”. They generally found them smooth and comfortable, and as you’d expect from linen, they were temperature regulating too.

Plus, they liked the duvet cover design, which has ties to close it rather than buttons. It washed well too, only bobbling slightly, and although it wasn’t the most colour fast, it held its shape impeccably.

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Best waffle bedding

Dusk Portofino Waffle 200 Thread Count Bedding Collection

Score: 86/100

This textured bedding set is perfect for making a minimalist statement in your bedroom. It’s made with 200 thread count cotton in a percale weave, so it’s crisp, breathable and comfortable.

Our testers were also impressed with its “beautiful quality” and how easy it was to make the bed, thanks to the good-sized pillowcases and duvet cover, as well as a secure fitted sheet.

It was quite a heavy set, so it took a while to dry after washing, and our experts detected some loss of colour when analysing the darker shades. But given how inviting this bed set looks (and the fact we use tech that’s more observant than the human eye), we’d pop this on our beds in an instant.

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Emma 100% Cotton Percale Set

Score: 86/100

With its crisp, matte finish, this set from popular mattress brand, Emma was smooth and comfortable on test. It was well made and kept its soft texture after washing. The sheet stayed in place, and panellists didn’t have to wrestle it to pop their duvet into the cover.

Testers were divided over its breathability – it was cooling for some but not others. So keep that in mind if you do run hot. Each side is a different colour, giving you some flexibility when it comes to the overall aesthetic of your bedroom.

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Emma 100% Cotton Sateen Duvet Cover

Score: 85/100

Another set from Emma, but this is a sateen version, so it has a silkier finish. Our panel said it felt luxurious while still proving breathable. One added that it “washes like a dream.”

This was true in our lab tests too – although it creased and there was some colour loss, this stabilised by our final wash (it’s not unusual for new clothes and textiles to lose some dye at first, either).

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Best eucalyptus silk bedding

Ayela Eucalyptus Bedding Set

Score: 83/100

This is similar to the bamboo bedding we tried, but it’s made from eucalyptus pulp instead. It’s touted as a vegan silk alternative, and Aeyla says it's moisture wicking, temperature regulating and hypoallergenic.

On test, our panel found it particularly cooling, making it a stand-out pick for the summer months and for hot sleepers, but less so for winter. It was a tad slippy, but still felt indulgently soft against the skin. Testers noticed some pilling after washing it too, so be sure to follow care instructions closely.

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Ethical Bedding Bed Sheet Bundle

Score: 80/100

This slinky set was another temperature-regulating design that slipped easily on to our panellists' beds. It felt dreamy against testers' skin, with one declaring it, “the most comfortable bedding I have ever slept on.”

It held its colour well (and is available in an array of classic shades) but it did shrink on test. You need to wash it on cold and line dry it – but it’s worth it for a high-end sleep.

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Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows, and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.

Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist, working for Stylist, Sky Sports and more.

Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.

Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.