Best affordable bed sheets 2024 − upgrade your bedroom on a budget

The best affordable bed sheets don't look or feel cheap. You're looking for a sheet set that delivers premium performance at a reasonable price. You could try to find a cheap set of sheets in the clearance section of a specialist sleep store, but I think you'll have more luck shopping with a major home retailer. Brands such as Casaluna at Target and RE/FINE at Wayfair offer affordable luxury, while some of the best Amazon bed sheets go for mere pennies.

For clarity, I class anything less than $100 for a Queen-sized set as affordable. That's how much you should spend on sheets to get durable designs in timeless styles. Still, with so much on the market, it can be hard to tell what is and isn't quality.

That's where I come in. As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I've sampled some of the world's best bed sheets. My linen closet is stuffed with sets of luxe eucalyptus and breathable bamboo, as well as cheap and cheerful cotton sheets and the odd microfiber sets. I know all the best places to buy bedding on a budget. So, to save you time and money, I've narrowed your search to six sets of the best affordable bed sheets to suit every type of sleeper and style of bedroom.

Best affordable bed sheets 2024: ranked + reviewed

First, let's talk materials: some bed sheet types are notoriously cheaper than others. Different materials meet different needs, so it's worth considering the pros and cons of each fabric before you're swayed by a low price.

• Microfiber: super-soft and wrinkle-free, microfiber is a low-maintenance, budget-friendly option for anyone too busy to iron their sheets. Microfiber is tightly woven to keep dust mites and dander out of your bed, so it's a good option for allergy resistance. On the other hand, microfiber is prone to pilling and it wears down more quickly than, say, cotton. Also, it's a far less environmentally friendly fabric than natural fibers.
• Cotton percale: crisp and cool, cotton percale is ideal for hot sleepers and anyone who likes the look and feel of a hotel bed. Percale is a loose, lightweight weave (one-thread-under, one-thread-over), so it's cool for the summer, but it doesn't feel quite as luxurious as sateen.
• Cotton sateen: smooth and silky, cotton sateen feels more luxurious than cotton percale. Sateen is a tighter weave (one-thread-under, three-threads-over), which forms thicker, heavier sheets with an attractive sheen. On the other hand, that tight weave is known to trap heat, so sateen is less suitable for hot sleepers.
• Linen: tough and textured, linen is another low-maintenance option, but it's far more environmentally friendly and breathable than microfiber. The best linen sheets are a boon for hot sleepers and anyone who hates making the bed, but their coarser feel might take a little getting used to.
• Bamboo: moisture-wicking and antimicrobial, bamboo busts the bacteria that breed in sticky, sweaty environments, such as beds. It's a great option for anyone who suffers from night sweats or hot flashes, as well as eco-conscious shoppers. If you can't afford pure bamboo, you could shop for bamboo blends, such as bamboo rayon.

How we test bed sheets

As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I lead a team of product testers across America. Together, we represent a wide range of ages, body types, and sleep styles. For the sake of a fair fight, we assess each sheet set against the same criteria: softness; thermoregulation; moisture-wicking; and durability. We sleep under sheets for a minimum of 30 days in our own homes, stripping the bed, washing the sheets, and making the bed again to give an accurate indication of long-term performance. To find out more about how we test at Homes & Gardens, consult our expert guide.

To describe softness, we consider how the material feels against our skin, monitoring whether that feeling changes with weeks of wear and tear and a few cycles in the washing machine. To assess thermoregulation and moisture-wicking, we turn off our HVAC system and sleep under the sheets, noting any time we wake up in a sweat. To assess durability, we clean the sheets according to their care instructions, considering their performance before and after the wash.

We also consider the practical aspects of shopping for sheets, from the range of sizes and width of colorways to the intricacies of the care instructions. We like to compare our results against verified reviews to pick up common pros and cons. Finally, we consider the performance of the sheet set against the price to help you determine value for money.

FAQs

Where can I buy affordable bed sheets?

Some of the best places to buy affordable bedding are local home retailers. For example, Wayfair recently launched RE/FINE, a bath and bedding brand for elevated essentials. At Target, it's Casaluna that makes luxe linens more affordable for every day.

If you're smart about it, you could pick up a set of the best affordable bed sheets from a specialist sleep store. When you shop the bedding sales, you could save upwards of $100 on luxury sheet sets from Brooklinen, Boll & Branch, Piglet in Bed, and more.

How should I choose the best affordable bed sheets?

As H&G's specialist sleep writer, I'm often asked how to choose bed sheets to suit your sleep needs and budget constraints. My first piece of advice is to set an upper and lower limit to your budget. Outside of sales season, the bare minimum I'd spend on a Queen-sized set of sheets is $50. Anything cheaper is most likely made from polyester, which is widely regarded as the worst bed sheet material: it traps heat and pills easily. Plus, it's terrible for the environment.

If you're buying cheap sheets online, make sure to read the customer reviews. Don't be taken in by the first few five-star reviews, but equally, don't be put off by the odd low rating. You want to read a real range of reviews to get an accurate indication of what it might be like to sleep on these sheets.

When you buy a good set of cheap sheets, you're saving hundreds of dollars to buy what matters most: the best mattress for your sleep style. If you're working with a tight budget, then you should narrow the search to the best affordable mattress. I've ranked and reviewed six of the best budget mattresses from Nectar, Emma, DreamCloud, and more.