You know that feeling when you plop onto a hotel bed after a heinously long flight and immediately think, “I wish my sheets at home were this soft (and crisp) (and cold)”? Unfortunately, hotel-quality linens have historically been known to cost an arm and a leg…that is, until companies like Brooklinen hit the scene and decided that everyone deserves a luxurious—and luxuriously affordable—slumber. Founded in 2014 by Rich and Vicki Fulop, Brooklinen has a simple mission statement: comfort driven by premium materials and accessible prices. In the past 10 years, the Brooklyn-based company has blown up to become one of the internet’s favorite sheet suppliers. You’ve probably spotted one of their “free with purchase” totes out in the wild (always worn by a ridiculously good-looking individual listening to music through wired headphones, it seems)—or else been on the receiving end of their playful, Gen Z–approved Instagram presence.
When a bedding company attains this massive a cult following, we’re tempted to ask, Is it merited? After all, there are certain elements that need to be present in bed linens for them to be termed “premium”—including high but not too high thread count (according to Good Housekeeping, the Goldilocks sweet spot is 300 to 500), an emphasis on natural materials, and long-lasting durability.
Earlier this year, we tested 17 buttery soft sheet sets from brands like ELLE DECOR A-List designer Nate Berkus’s Nate Home, Coyuchi, Anthropologie, and Sferra to make your job of buying the dreamiest set of sheets a little easier. Now we’ve zeroed in a bit: testing four bestselling sheet sets from Brooklinen specifically to see if they’re worth the hype.
Whether you’re someone whose biggest priority when it comes to bedding is for it to have been made in an environmentally responsible way or someone who just wants your bed to be a silky paradise you can’t wait to come home to, there’s something here for everyone. After all, when the outside world is a pure sheetshow, a properly outfitted bed can serve as the best kind of refuge. Happy snoozing!
Note: All prices listed are for queen-size sheets in the most affordable color, unless otherwise specified. All options on this list are sold in sets that come with a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and two pillowcases.
Pros
Cool feel (perfect for summer days!)- Lightweight weave
Cons
- European flax fabric does not get softer after wash
- Sandpapery texture against skin
For this price, we wanted this sheet set to check all the boxes. Made of 100 percent European flax fabric (which is cooler than cotton, fun fact) and stonewashed in small batches, the Washed Linen Core sheet set did, indeed, seem to have it all—but we had to dock points in the softness category. Most of the other popular Brooklinen sheets are made of cotton, so this might explain the discrepancy: The European flax felt rough against skin (fidgety sleepers beware!) but stayed true to its word as far as its cooling capabilities went.
This sheet set was less wrinkly straight out of its packaging than the other three we tested, but a wash—cold, on gentle cycle, followed by a tumble dry on low—didn’t improve its softness. You win some, you lose some. PS: We were kind of obsessed with the set’s Khaki Chambray color, which gave the bedroom a very “calm, cool, and collected” feel.
A Brooklinen reviewer says: “I loved my linen sheets, the texture is perfect for someone who doesn’t like that buttery soft hotel sheet feeling.”
Thread Count: N/A | Material: 100% European flax | Colors: White, Cream, Cloud Grey, Charcoal Chambray and White Stripe, Indigo, and Khaki Chambray.
Pros
- Way more sheen than Washed Linen Core set
- Silky soft feel after the first wash
Cons
- Wrinkly
- Fitted sheet has a tendency to slip from mattress
Sateen is, per Good Housekeeping, the way to go when it comes to a satin weave that evokes soft butter as you tuck yourself in its folds. Though we did feel like royalty in these long-staple cotton sheets, they were still a bit more rigid than what was expected from a “one-yarn-under and three-yarn over weave” that’s supposed to expose more thread surface for greater softness. After the first wash (similar to Doc Marten boots that need to be broken in), things were looking up in that category.
We were never too hot sleeping under the Luxe Sateen Core fitted sheet (this one’s for you, apartment dwellers with wonky air-conditioning units!), and making the bed was also an easy process due to how smoothly the sheets slid on top of each other. Another bonus: This sheet set’s 480-thread count puts it right in that aforementioned Goldilocks territory.
Brooklinen promises that this product is ideal for most sleepers—from those who bury themselves under a gazillion blankets to those who consistently wake up in a sweat. However, if you’re not quite pleased with the purchase, Brooklinen products can be refunded within a year (with a slight return-fee deduction). Major props to the company for this policy, which is quite rare in the industry devoted to making sure you catch good z’s.
Word of caution: When we tested this set, the fitted sheet had a tendency to wrest itself free of the mattress in a corner or two. That might be a unique experience though, as many customers report being happy with the sheet’s fit.
A Brooklinen reviewer says: “These sheets are simply as good as it gets. The fitted bottom sheet stay [sic] tight and doesn’t come loose. The top sheet stays put and doesn’t slide off the bed.”
Thread Count: 480 | Material: 100% long-staple cotton | Colors: Solid White, Cream, Pebble, Fresh Moss, Slate, Window Pane, Graphite, Abyss, Blue Tide.
Pros
- Tight, pleasing-on-the-eyes fit over mattress
- Comes with an adorable bag for carrying
Cons
- Not the softest texture out there
- Limited color choices
We got this particular sheet set in the Vanilla color, but let us assure you: There’s nothing “vanilla” about it. Made of 100 percent long-staple organic cotton, using less waste, these sheets will ensure your sleep is boosted by the peace of mind that comes from knowing they're actually good for you and the planet. According to an incredibly helpful matrix graphic created by Brooklinen, the brand’s organic offerings find themselves in the crisp/cool quadrant. Indeed, we felt chill—literally and metaphorically speaking—in the company of Organic Cotton Core.
Another point we appreciated was how smoothly the fitted sheet wrapped around the mattress, with the same kind of hermetic seal that luxe hotel beds typically flaunt. Sheet corners that puff out and hang from the sides of your bed are, after all, not a good look. While we’re on aesthetics, this particular Brooklinen sheet set was the only one to come in a cutesy matching bag—perfect for worry-free hauling to the laundry room. What’s more, every Brooklinen pillowcase boasts envelope closures. Your pillows are in for a figure-hugging treat!
In case you’re not seeing a trend here, let us be clear: We’re of the opinion that sheets should feel soft on the skin. This sheet set walked the middle path between Washed Linen Core’s coarser feel and Luxe Sateen Core’s post-wash silkiness. In other words, it still had a bit of tactility to it. That’s to be expected, though, given that the Organic Cotton Core sheet set has a percale weave.
A Brooklinen reviewer says: “I really have nothing bad to say about these sheets. Normally, I prefer a bit more of a flannel texture, but these were so smooth and wash great. Definitely a keeper.”
Thread Count: 270 | Material: 100% long-staple organic cotton | Colors: Solid White, Vanilla, Blue Marina, Moss.
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Pros
- Buttery and breathable material
- Cooling effect (every hot sleeper’s dream!)
- Easy to fold
Cons
- Wrinkly when taken out of packaging
- Matte finish might not be everyone’s cup of tea
Don’t tell the other sheet sets, but this one turned out to be our favorite. With its truly buttery feel (even more so than the Luxe Sateen Core, dare we say!) and pronounced cooling effect that doesn’t require flipping the pillow, the Classic Percale Core sheet set is that rare instance of when lower price—it’s the most affordable out of the four bestselling Brooklinen sheet sets—is equivalent to higher quality, or at least more comfort.
We tried these sheets in the fresh moss color, and boy did they make the whole bed pop! If you’re looking to elevate your bedroom to jewel box levels, look no further than this purchase (bold wallpaper and vintage furniture could also help achieve that look, btw).
On a purely functional level, this Brooklinen sheet set was probably the easiest one to refold when time came to swap it for another. It also proved to be so breathable and so lightweight. Truly—what can’t these sheets do? Washing them softened out the inevitable creases a bit and made the pillowcases an even more inviting place to rest our heads. If you’re not convinced to go the percale versus sateen route quite yet, maybe Brooklinen’s saying that the former fabric is what initially “put [them] on the map” will do the trick.
A Brooklinen reviewer says: “I love how the sheets have stayed crisp through multiple washings. They’re cool at night, which is just what I was looking for. And the envelope closure on the pillows stays closed…which has been a problem for me with other brands’ sheets.”
Thread Count: 270 | Material: 100% long-staple cotton | Colors: Solid White, Cream, Pebble, Fresh Moss, Slate, Window Pane, Graphite and Steel Oxford Stripe, Abyss, Tandem Stripe in Moss.
Stacia Datskovska
Assistant Digital Editor
Stacia Datskovska, Assistant Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, covers design, decor, and architecture—with an eye towards trends and culture at large. She has previously written for USA Today, the Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Apartment Therapy, and more.
