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The Best Flannel Sheets
Lands’ End Comfy Super Soft Cotton Flannel Sheet Set
Best Splurge Flannel Sheets
Boll & Branch Cozy Flannel Sheet Set
Best Heavy Flannel
Lands’ End Luxe Supima Cotton Heathered Flannel Sheet Set
Best Velvet Flannel Sheets
Legends Luxury Luxe Velvet Flannel Sheets
My favorite pastime on cold nights is tucking in early, relaxing, and warming up finally in the cozy sheets on my bed. Those cozy bed sheets are, of course, flannel sheets: the warmest version of cotton sheets and perfect for chilly nights, whether you’re in the midst of a mild winter or live somewhere perpetually cold (or perhaps you are perpetually cold, no matter the season). You might think of ski lodges, tacky prints, and maybe even hot, itchy sheets when you think of flannel, but flannel comes in gorgeous colors and extra-soft threads these days.
After months of research and testing, I can say these are the best flannel sheets to buy, whether you’re looking for something extra soft or something on a budget. You can even find our favorite brushed cotton sheets, too, which I describe as flannel light. My favorite flannel sheets by far are Lands’ End Comfy Super Soft Flannel Sheet Set ($135)—yes, that’s the whole name, and I can’t fault it after finding I agree that it is super soft and comfy. Boll & Branch also makes a fantastically soft, not-too-hot organic flannel sheet set ($299) if you’re willing to upgrade. All prices shown are for queen-size sets.
If you’re looking for more bedding, don’t miss our guides to the Best Pillows, Best Down Comforters, Best Mattress Toppers, and Best Mattresses. We’ve also got more guides to sheets, including the Best Bamboo Sheets, Best Linen Sheets, and the Best Sheets overall.
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Understanding Flannel and Brushed Cotton
Flannel sheets are a type of cotton sheet, though you’ll occasionally see some blends. Flannel takes the cotton fibers and brushes them out to create that fluffy, cozy texture. Flannel sheets have brushed cotton on both sides of the sheet, and those brushed fibers not only make the sheet nice and soft, but they also capture more heat and keep you warmer all night long.
There’s also brushed cotton sheets, which sounds like it’s the same thing, but it’s not. Sheets called brushed cotton are only brushed on one side, so they’re not as thick or as warm as true flannel sheets. It’s a good choice if you’re a hot sleeper who’s looking for something soft without getting too hot at night, as there are fewer brushed fibers to capture heat than in true flannel.
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Photograph: Nena Farrell
Lands’ End Comfy Super Soft Cotton Flannel Sheet Set
These flannel sheets by Lands’ End aren’t just well priced, but are incredibly soft and cozy without being too hot to sleep on. I was impressed by how much airflow these flannel sheets got, keeping me cozy without making me sweaty—a difficult task already as a hot sleeper, let alone one testing in San Diego’s attempt of a winter. Still, the temperature was similar to what you’d get if you kept your heat on during the night, so I’d recommend these sheets for anyone whose home isn’t getting super chilly but still wants some nice, cozy sheets to slip into.
I can’t stress enough how soft these sheets are. They’re one of the cheapest sets I tried, but easily the softest after the Boll & Branch set below. The name Comfy Super Soft turns out to be an incredibly accurate name, even if a little overdone. I also really like that Lands’ End gives you the option to purchase the pieces of this sheet set individually, so you can easily replace an item if something happens to it, or skip out on pillowcases if you know you’re going to use, say, a silk pillowcase for your hair while wrapping up your body in cozy flannel.
Includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases. Can purchase pieces individually.
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Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Splurge Flannel Sheets
Boll & Branch Cozy Flannel Sheet Set
When I set up this Boll & Branch set, I didn’t think I had room to be impressed anymore. I’d slept on several sets of flannel already, and didn’t think anything could top the Lands’ End set above. But this flannel sheet set is the only one I tried that’s even softer (at least without changing the texture entirely; more on that below!)
It’s more than twice the price, so I’d hope it’s extra soft. It does have less airflow than the Lands’ End Comfy set, so while the sheets don’t feel heavier, they did keep me a little warmer at night. It’s a great combination of super soft flannel, and staying warm without feeling too warm, which is a tricky combination to nail.
These sheets are also made with 100 percent organic cotton, so if you’re looking for organic sheets to pair with your organic mattress, this is the set I recommend. It’s a splurge, but you’re getting everything you could want out of a set of sheets with this pair.
Includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases.
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Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Heavy Flannel
Lands’ End Luxe Supima Cotton Heathered Flannel Sheet Set
If you aren’t familiar with Supima cotton, it’s a long-staple cotton grown in the United States that promises softer fabrics, better strength, and less pilling thanks to its longer fiber. You’re likely more familiar with Egyptian cotton, which is a more popular long-staple cotton. Long-staple means that the fiber is longer, and longer fiber makes the cotton stronger and less likely to pill since you have fewer cotton ends. It makes it softer, too, since you’ll touch more of the silky cotton fiber rather than fiber ends.
It’s thanks to that Supima cotton that I found the Lands’ End Luxe Supima Cotton Heathered Flannel Sheets so soft. They’re heavier than our top pick, both in the weight of the flannel and in the overall feel of the sheets on a bed, so they’re a good choice if you need something extra warm. Long-staple cotton does tend to have less airflow, too, so it’s no surprise these are some of the warmest sheets I slept on. Still, I loved the super-soft feel, making this heavy flannel feel delightfully cozy instead of scratchy or suffocating, and especially loved these sheets during the coldest nights of the year.
Includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases.
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Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Velvet Flannel Sheets
Legends Luxury Luxe Velvet Flannel Sheets
Flannel already has some texture to it, thanks to the brushed-out cotton fibers you’ll find on both sides of the sheet. If you’re looking for a more velvetlike softness, though, several companies make a velvet flannel that promises to last longer and pill less, all while retaining warmth and a cozy texture that will feel like velvet instead of fluffy cotton. My favorite set comes from the Company Store. The Company Store has made a few different lines of velvet flannel, and the Legends Luxury Luxe set has a fantastic soft feel to it that will keep you cozy.
The velvet feel, in my opinion, doesn’t make a huge difference, since it’s still made from cotton (while true velvet is made from silk). But side by side you can feel there’s a different texture, and it feels a little denser than your classic fluffy flannel. It feels warmer, too, due to that denser design that can retain more heat. I still prefer more classic flannel, but if you’re looking for something soft and dense, this is the set I’d recommend.
The only downside? You have to purchase the parts of these sheets individually. It’s annoying. For that reason alone, I’m probably more likely to buy the Lands’ End heathered set above if I wanted a super soft, extra warm flannel sheet set with some extra texture to it, but to each their own.
The Fitted sheet, flat sheet, and pillowcases are all sold separately.
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Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Brushed Cotton (and for Hot Sleepers) Sheets
Riley Home Brushed Cotton Sheet Set
While all flannel has brushed cotton, brushed cotton sheets aren’t necessarily true flannel. Flannel sheets require the cotton to be brushed out on both sides of the sheet, while brushed cotton sheets will only have one side brushed out. Brushed cotton sheets tend to be much lighter than true flannel, since you have half as many brushed-out fibers. It’s a good option for hot sleepers, though my favorite for my fellow hot sleepers is the L.L. Bean sheets below.
Some brushed flannel feels like it’s just soft percale, but I found myself loving the flannelly softness of Riley Home’s sheets while being much lighter than true flannel. They still retain a solid amount of heat even with only one side brushed out, but these are a super soft, super lightweight sheet for anyone who wants to be cozy but not too cozy. You can also choose to exclude a top sheet, which is a good choice if you already have a duvet cover you like.
Includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases. Can choose to exclude flat sheet.
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Photograph: Nena Farrell
Runner-Up for Hot Sleepers
L.L. Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set
These L.L.Bean sheets are some of the most popular flannel sheets out there. While they’re good sheets, I never feel like I get the full flannel experience from them. These sheets have always felt somewhere between a flannel and a soft jersey sheet to me, rather than a true fluffy flannel (but not as light as brushed cotton sheets, either).
It’s a much more breathable sheet, however, and I think that lightweight, breathable design is what makes it so popular. Plenty of people are hot sleepers (myself included!), and this sheet set promises the softness of flannel without keeping you as hot as true flannel would. If you’re a hot sleeper who’s just looking for soft sheets and don’t need as much help staying warm at night, these are a nice option. They’re well-priced, too.
Includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases.
Honorable Mentions
- Article Brushed Cotton Sheets for $129: These brushed cotton sheets were a little scratchy compared to other options.
- Bedgear Flannel Performance Sheet Set for $200: This set really feels like a jersey sheet, and is super cooling thanks to Bedgear’s Hyper-Wool fabric. It feels super cooling, and more like a soft cooling sheet than a flannel sheet, which might be ideal if you’re a hot sleeper.
- Brooklinen Flannel Core Sheet Set for $229: These were fine flannel sheets, though they were on the thin side compared to my top picks and not as soft. I like the prints Brooklinen offers, but these sheets and its various prints are also almost entirely sold out right now.
- Brooklinen Heathered Cashmere Core Sheet Set for $350: These cashmere sheets aren’t true flannel since they’re a mix of cotton and cashmere, though they’re still mostly cotton, like flannel sheets would be. While they’re certainly cozy and warm, I preferred Lands’ End’s heathered sheets by far.
- Coyuchi Flannel Sheets for $278: These organic sheets are fantastic and soft, but the Boll & Branch is a little softer. These are a little cheaper, though.
- Garnet Hill Scallop Flannel for $159: This flannel sheet set is adorable with its scalloped finish on the flat sheet and pillowcases. It’s well-priced, too, and very warm and cozy. I liked the lighter feel of Lands’ End a little better, but these are another great option.
- Garnet Hill Supima Flannel for $178: These flannel sheets are made with Supima cotton, making them nice and soft, but you’ll have to purchase the fitted and flat sheet separately.
- The Company Store Company Cotton Flannel Sheet Set for $184: This is the Company Store’s cheaper flannel option, using its Company Cotton line rather than the softer Legends Luxury line I recommend above. These are fine flannel sheets, and while they’re nice and fluffy, they weren’t nearly as soft as the cheaper Lands’ End set or any others we recommend. I also found them a little too warm, but that could be up your alley.
Sheets I’d Skip on Cold Nights
- Quince Brushed Flannel for $100: These felt like soft percale and were too cold to sleep on during chilly nights. They’d be great for a soft option for hot sleepers, but they didn’t feel like a cold-weather sheet in the slightest.
How I Test Flannel Sheets
I spent months sleeping on exclusively flannel and brushed cotton sheet sets to see how warm each set kept me. I live in San Diego, so while it doesn’t get nearly as cold at night as other locations, I don’t run my heater, so I was dependent on warm sheets to keep me cozy. I also used a lightweight comforter from Cozy Earth and a quilt from Casaluna in all of my tests to keep my temperature consistent. Each set of sheets is slept on for at least four nights and are washed around three times during my testing to see how they hold up in the wash.
