As the weather cools down, it may be time to swap out your bedding. If you’re looking to give your bed a cozy upgrade, there’s nothing as warm, comfy, or festive as flannel sheets.
We’ve tested 224 sheets, including cotton sheets, bamboo sets, and breathable linen bedding. Needless to say, we can be tough critics when it comes to sheets. Of the 30 flannel sets we slept on, we found four that were softer, warmer, and higher quality than the competition.
What We Learned
Flannel sheets sometimes get a bad reputation for being too warm, causing sleepers to overheat. During our testing, we discovered that flannel sheets can be breathable and even lightweight. We believe everyone would benefit from indulging in flannel sheets this winter, and our favorites include some sheets that will even give hot sleepers a good night’s sleep.
These are the best flannel sheets, from breathable sets to the ones we’d reach for on the coldest nights.
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Super soft and warm
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High-quality fabric, with no loose threads
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Can be monogrammed, and pieces can be purchased separately
If you’re looking for the warmest flannel sheets, you’ve come to the right place: These Lands’ End sheets will keep you comfortable on even the coldest winter nights, especially when paired with a high-quality comforter. The fabric is soft and comfortable, and the medium-weight material is hefty enough to keep away the midnight shivers.
They’re well made, and after six months of testing, we were still impressed with the quality. We also appreciated that the fitted sheet has all-around elastic, so it’s extra secure on the bed. If you’d like to add a preppy touch, you can even get these sheets monogrammed for an additional fee.
Testers Say
Our tester, who loves flannel sheets, calls this “dreamy” set one of the best she’s ever tried. While testing these sheets, our tester was pregnant and frequently overheating. Impressively, she never woke up hot, sweaty, or uncomfortable.
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Color Options: 10 | Pocket Depth: 14 inches
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Fabric gets softer with every wash
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No pilling or loose threads
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Cheaper than others we’ve tried
These True North sheets offer a truly cozy night’s sleep at a great price. Over six months of testing, these soft sheets only got softer, and they kept us super warm on cold nights. At this price, the quality of these sheets is impressive: We didn’t notice any loose threads or pilling initially, though after multiple washes we did find a few loose strings.
After the first wash, we noticed some shrinking, which gave the sheets a snug fit on the bed, though they still fit nicely. The fabric slightly faded over time, too, but we appreciated that it never produced static. We loved how cozy these budget sheets were, but heads up: If you’re a really hot sleeper, they might be too warm for you.
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Color Options: 31 | Pocket Depth: 14 inches
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Soft and warm but breathable enough that we didn’t overheat
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Edges are fully lined with elastic for easy bed-making
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Plaid pattern didn’t fade much after multiple washes
These sheets are well-constructed, buttery smooth, and warm enough to keep us cozy without making us overheat. We were glad to find minimal loose threads on these sheets after washing, though we did notice slight pilling over time.
During our six months of testing this plaid set, the pattern faded slightly, though we remained impressed with the quality. The inside of the sheet is white, which we don’t love, though it is relatively common for flannel sheets. One design feature we did appreciate was that the fitted sheet has elastic all around the edges, which made making the bed super easy.
Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king | Color Options: 10 | Pocket Depth: 15 inches
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PHOTO: People / Grant Webster
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PHOTO: People / Grant Webster
Experts Say
“The first thing you should look for if you are into flannel sheets is color and pattern. There are so many choices, but the visual aesthetics come first, and then you can consider softness, quality, and price to make your choice.” —Melony Huber, global fashion, textile, and interior designer and co-founder of La Peony
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This L.L.Bean sheet set will challenge everything you thought you knew about flannel sheets. They’re the most breathable sheets we tried, so we never overheated despite staying warm all night. The fabric was soft and plush, but not super heavy.
After six months of testing, we were still impressed with the quality of these sheets. At first, we noticed a lot of shrinkage and slight pilling while washing. Over time, though, these sheets proved to be in it for the long haul, and they were still in great shape after months of use.
Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Color Options: 9 | Pocket Depth: 15 inches
Other Flannel Sheets We Tried
- Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Flannel Sheets: These sheets might be a splurge, but the soft, plush fabric justifies their price. They feature a tight weave, making them a super warm option, though hot sleepers would probably overheat. If you’re a cold sleeper, though, you’d love the warm, velvety feel of this set.
- Boll and Branch Flannel Sheet Set: These luxurious sheets are almost flawless. The texture of each piece was super soft, even on the underside of the flat sheet. The pocket depth on the fitted sheet is an impressive 18 inches, meaning these sheets would work on thick mattresses and even air mattresses. Over time, though, pilling became an issue.
- The Vermont Country Store Cotton Flannel Sheets: These soft, thick sheets kept us warm but never made us overheat. The fabric is super breathable, and we were initially impressed with the quality of construction. However, over time we noticed pilling on the most-used portions of the sheets and pillowcases, and shrinking meant making the bed became more difficult.
People / Grant Webster
What to Know About Flannel Sheets
Material
Flannel is a fabric that can be made from cotton, wool, polyester, or other synthetic fibers. Cotton makes for softer flannel, which is why most of the products on our best flannel sheets list are made from cotton. During our testing, we discovered that no matter the material, most flannel sheets tend to pill over time. However, higher-quality cotton flannel sheets are more resistant to pilling. We found that the Lands’ End Comfy Super Soft Cotton Flannel Sheet Set was very resistant to pilling.
Thread Count
You’ll notice that no thread count is listed for these sheets. That’s because the quality of flannel sheets is measured in terms of GSM (grams per square meter), not thread count. The Sleep Foundation recommends looking for flannel sheets in the 170+ GSM range for durability and heaviness, though if you want something more lightweight, choose a lower GSM. Some manufacturers don’t list the GSM on the website, but you can always reach out for that information.
Pocket Depth
The pocket depth, which is listed in inches, refers to the length of a fitted sheet’s corner seam. For a sheet to fit well on your mattress, the pocket depth should be larger than the depth of the mattress. If you’re at the store and you’ve forgotten to measure your mattress, just know that the deeper the pocket, the better the sheets will stay on your bed without popping off in the middle of the night. Don’t go too deep, though, or else you might find yourself having to tuck extra fabric under the mattress.
Care
Since flannel sheets are made from cotton, they’re easy to care for. All of the sheets on our list are machine-washable. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for specific recommendations on water and dryer temperature. Flannel sheets tend to shed a lot of lint, so wash them separately from other laundry, and be sure to clean your dryer’s lint filter after drying.
Price Range
Price is always a factor when it comes to bedding. But for flannel sheets that you will only be using for part of the year, it’s even more important. While you don’t want to waste money on a set of sheets that will fall apart after just a couple of washes, you might not want to spend hundreds of dollars on a seasonal item. Still, just like a pair of silk or satin sheets, with proper laundering, a well-made set of flannel sheets could last for many winters, so you might want to invest in a premium set like the Lands’ End Comfy Super Soft Cotton Flannel Sheet Set or the L.L.Bean Comfort Flannel Sheet Set.
People / Grant Webster
Behind the Scenes
Our PEOPLE Tested team tried out 30 flannel sheet sets, ranging in design, price, and GSM from popular brands like Eddie Bauer, L.L.Bean, The Company Store, and more.
- Quality: Upon removing sheets from their packaging, we inspected them for loose or uneven construction and flaws, like snags, pilling, or inconsistencies in the color or patterns.
- Texture: We examined the texture, noting whether it was soft and plush or rough and scratchy to the touch. We also took into account whether napping was on one or both sides of the sheet.
- Warmth: For each set of sheets, we made up a queen-size bed in our lab. Using an infrared thermometer, we took the surface temperature from underneath the top sheet.
- Breathability: Next, we crawled under the sheets for five minutes to evaluate the sheet set based on comfort and warmth, weight and weave, and airflow and breathability, as well as whether any static electricity was generated by friction with the flannel. Then, we took another surface temperature reading to see how much or little heat was generated by the warm flannel sheets.
- Durability: We washed and dried the sheets per the manufacturer’s guidelines. We remade the bed, looking for evidence of shrinkage and other wear or damage, such as loose seams or threads, color fading, or tears. We also noted whether the texture of the sheets changed and if there was any pilling to determine whether these sheets would remain durable over time.
People / Grant Webster
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Barbara Bellesi Zito is a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE who covers lifestyle, real estate, and home improvement content. To curate this article on the best flannel sheets, she consulted our testers, who provided their insights and honest thoughts on which sets were warm and cozy without being too hot. PEOPLE shopping writer Genevieve Cepeda most recently updated this article. After reevaluating PEOPLE’s top picks, she further narrowed down our favorites to recommend the absolute best flannel sheets of 2024.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
