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The Best Linen Sheets
The Citizenry Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set
Best Breathable Linen
Pottery Barn Belgian Flax Linen Sheet Set
Best Splurge
Cultiver Linen Sheet Set
Best Heavyweight Linen
Rough Linen Orkney Sheet Set
I fell in love with linen bedding years ago, after buying a butter yellow linen duvet from Ikea. The yellow was just a phase, but sleeping on linen only got better and better over time. Linen has a rougher texture and a lived-in look, which can turn some folks off from sleeping on it. But the fabric is breathable and dries fast, so you’ll stay cooler as you sleep and avoid sweaty sheets. That’s why linen apparel is popular in the summer, but it’s still a great choice in the cooler months if you’re a hot sleeper.
Linen is also strong and durable, softening up (slowly) after each wash without becoming thinner or weaker, but it does start out rougher than other materials. It does tend to be more expensive since flax is more time-consuming to harvest and process into sheets, but high-quality linen should last you for years to come, making it an investment in both staying cool (which is very important for sleep quality) but also in gorgeous bedding you can enjoy for years. The structure of linen always lends a nice-styled look to even the messiest of beds, too. I love sleeping on linen so long as it isn’t too scratchy, which is one of the many things I looked for while testing and searching for the best linen sheets.
These are the best linen sheets I’ve slept on out of all the linen I’ve tried. My overall favorite is The Citizenry’s Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set ($299), which are a perfect middle ground of soft and breathable. Cultiver’s Linen Sheets ($480) are easily the softest I’ve tried, and a great splurge if you’re looking for fantastic linen that will last you years to come, and gorgeous colors to brighten your bedroom. Looking for linen bed sheets because you need to stay cool? Pottery Barn’s Belgian Flax Linen ($299) is the most breathable, keeping sweaty nights at bay on even the hottest summer nights.
All prices are based on queen size. Read our Best Sheets and Best Bamboo Sheets guides if you want something a little softer, and our guide to the Best Cooling Sheets if you’re looking for more cooling options. Don’t miss our other bedding buying guides, including the Best Pillows, Best Mattresses, Best Mattress Toppers, and whether you need a duvet.
Updated May 2025: We’ve added Tuft & Needle’s Linen-Cotton Sheet Set and Buffy’s Belgian Linen Sheet Set to this guide, plus a new FAQ section.
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Photograph: The Citizenry
The Citizenry
Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set
The Citizenry’s linen sheets are my Goldilocks linen. They’re lightweight and breathable but still have a nice drape and are some of the softest sheets I’ve slept on in testing (though still not as soft as other kinds of sheets). These have it all: a great combination of softness and breathability and lots of gorgeous color options, and the company even sells parts of the set separately if you need to replace the pillowcases or a fitted sheet.
They’re cool enough for warm nights, but not so cool that I wouldn’t use them year-round. Linen is graded by weight, rather than thread count, and these sheets are in the medium range of weight with 160 grams per square meter (GSM). It’s just barely in the medium range, which is usually 150 to 300 GSM. These sheets are also Oeko-Tex certified, meaning they have been tested for harmful substances and deemed harmless. The Citizenry’s sheets are made with French flax (more on that above in Understanding Linen Sourcing) and processed in Portugal. Fun fact: The mill employed to make these has been manufacturing linens since 1921!
Sourcing French flax, produced in Portugal Includes Fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases Size options Full to California king Mattress depth Deep pockets (15″) Trial period 30 day returns -
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Best Breathable Linen
Pottery Barn
Belgian Flax Linen Sheet Set
Pottery Barn’s linen sheets are super airy and lightweight, more so than any other linen I tested. The top sheet felt like it was floating over me as I slept, even though I had a comforter sitting on top of it. While a touch stiff, these sheets have that linen texture without feeling scratchy on my skin. They are comfortable, and I slept fantastic with these and a comforter in the spring weather. Pottery Barn’s linen sheets are also cooling without having that icy touch other kinds of cooling sheets (like bamboo or treated nylon) tend to have. If you sleep warm, get these. They also come in tons of fun colors to choose from, and you can purchase the fitted sheet ($140) and pillowcases ($65) separately if a piece of your set gets damaged, or you don’t want an entire set.
Like The Citizenry’s linen, these Pottery Barn sheets also have a weight of 160 GSM, but the design is more breathable than The Citizenry’s. Pottery Barn’s linen sheets source flax from Belgium—thus the Belgian Flax name—but the sheets are processed outside Europe. Still, the sheets have been tested to meet the Oeko-Tex standard like the majority of our picks, and the company claims it is also made in a Fair Trade Certified factory, ensuring proper working conditions for laborers.
Sourcing Belgian flax, produced outside of Europe Includes Fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases Size options Full to California king Mattress depth Deep pockets (16″) Trial period 30 day returns
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Best Splurge
If you told me Cultiver’s sheets weren’t linen, I would almost believe you. My husband certainly would—I asked him what he thought of the new sheets after changing them from one of his favorite soft sateen sets, and he replied, “You changed the sheets?” He had no idea we were sleeping on linen.
Cultiver’s linen has a softness from the beginning, which you usually don’t find in linen. They’re the softest linen I’ve ever tried. It also felt silky and a little cooling to the touch, which isn’t typical of linen until it’s been through several washes. It’s slightly heavier than my other favorites, coming in at a weight of 165 GSM. Cultiver’s linen has several colors you can peruse and everything is sold separately if you want to try one item, like a fitted sheet ($190) or need to replace your pillowcases ($90).
The only downside is the price; such soft linen doesn’t come cheap. Cultiver sources the flax for its linen in Europe, and has manufacturing partners in Portugal and China.
Sourcing European flax, produced in Portugal and China Includes Fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases Size options Queen and king Mattress depth Standard depth Trial period 30 day returns -
Best Heavyweight Linen
Rough Linen
Orkney Sheet Set
Rough Linen’s Orkney Linen sheets are the best linen sheets I’ve tried. They’re by far the heaviest, about twice as heavy as others I’ve tested—coming in at about 260 gsm—and much rougher, and made from 100 percent European linen. Which is to say, these are not a great choice for your first linen sheet set—they are linen for confirmed linen lovers. I personally love the extra weight and don’t mind the roughness, which does fade over time as you wash them. Despite their weight, these sheets dry very quickly (while you should air-dry linen, I used a dryer for my testing)—a result of the wider weave and courser thread perhaps. Whatever the case, although they do wrinkle in the dryer, they definitely stand up to normal use.
I particularly like the richness of the color in these sheets, which are darker and more intensely green than anything I’ve tried (Rough Linen sent the “Forest” color for testing). There are options for a deep fitted sheet if you have a thick mattress, but if you have a full-size bed, you’ll find you have to order a queen size. The Orkney sheets aren’t cheap, but they’re luxurious in a way that’s difficult to explain, perhaps a bit like I imagine it would feel to live in a medieval castle. —Scott Gilbertson
Sourcing French and Belgian flax, produced in the US and Lithuania Includes Fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases Size options Twin to Cal king (no full option) Mattress depth Standard depth Trial period 30 day returns
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Best Affordable Linen
Quince
European Linen Sheet Set
Quince’s linen sheets are pretty soft in regards to linen, and have a much lower price point than other linen we’ve tested. But these sheets run a little warmer, even though the weight is only 150 GSM, which could be due to a tighter weave that doesn’t allow for as much airflow as our other picks. If you’re not a hot sleeper, or live in cooler temperatures, this set is a safe bet and well priced. You can return them for free within a year, too, which is nice, and choose to purchase your set with or without a top sheet.
Quince used to have a bamboo-linen blend sheet set that blended the best features of linen and bamboo sheets together. It’s not for sale any longer, but if it reappears, I recommend buying it. Quince’s sheets source flax from Europe, but produce their sheets in China and India. They’re also Oeko-Tex certified, and Quince offers up to a year of returns.
Sourcing European flax, produced in China and India Includes Fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases Size options Twin and twin XL to Cal king Mattress depth Deep pockets (16″) Trial period 1 year free returns -
An Organic Option
Avocado
Organic Linen Sheets
If you have an organic mattress, you might as well get organic bedding to complement it, since the sheets are what will directly touch your skin. It can also be a nice way to go organic when you can’t afford an entire mattress.
Avocado makes our favorite organic mattress, and it makes linen sheets too. Even with the relatively low 130 GSM rating, WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson still found these sheets to have a nice weight to them, and this set will likely last you many years. Plus, there’s a matching duvet cover ($499).
Avocado’s linen sheets are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard, generally abbreviated as GOTS. Avocado sources its linen from France and produces these sheets in India. These sheets also have a nice 100-night trial period, plus a one-year warranty.
Sourcing French flax, produced in India Includes Fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases Size options Full to California king Mattress depth Deep pockets (16″) Trial period 100 nights
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A Softer Blend
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Photograph: Tuft and Needle
Tuft & Needle
Linen-Cotton Blend Sheets
Nervous about committing to linen? A linen blend captures the structure and breathability of linen, while adding some additional fabric to soften the texture. Tuft & Needle’s Linen-Cotton Blend Sheets use Belgian linen and US-grown cotton to create a softer take on a linen bedsheet. It’s been a nice in-between to sleep on, and my linen-hater husband even finds it soft enough to sleep on without complaint.
I also like that this set includes four pillowcases instead of just two. I always have four pillows on my bed, and usually just use shams from my bedspread or duvet cover of choice, but it’s really nice to have the option for them all to match (or to have extras!) These sheets also have a 100-night sleep trial.
Sourcing Belgian flax, US-grown cotton Includes Fitted sheet, flat sheet, and four pillowcases Size options Twin to king Mattress depth Deep pockets (16″) Trial period 100 nights -
Honorable Mentions
Not all sheets are created equal. The linens below are good but not as great as our picks above.
Brooklinen Washed Linen Core Set for $269: These sheets feel a little itchy at the start compared to our other picks, and felt a little warm to sleep on too. They’re still good linen sheets, though, and often have new colors available. (Seasonal colorways do sell out fast, though.) I’m currently retesting this set, as Brooklinen has launched a new version of these sheets for 2025.
Buffy Belgian Linen Sheet Set for $223: These sheets feel rough if you touch them with just your hand or sit on the sheets, but lying down entirely on these, they felt much more comfortable. These are solid, breathable linen sheets with flax sourced from Belgium. Both my husband and I had insane dreams the week we slept on these sheets, so if you’re looking for more fun dreams, give these affordable linen sheets a whirl.
Ikea Dytag Duvet Cover for $129: My favorite linen duvet cover and pillowcase set from Ikea has been replaced with a few different cheaper lines, including the Bergpalm ($30), Angslilja ($30), and Strandlummer ($60). My Dytag lasted me a few years, though cheaper linen sets might not last as long as that set did.
Thuma Flax Linen Sheet Set for $315: These linen sheets were solid all-around linen, keeping me nice and cool. (So cool that they’re a pick in our cooling sheets guide.) They also had a good weight and structure to them. They’re not quite as soft as our picks above, but were still a little softer than other options like Brooklinen.
Naturepedic Linen Sheet Set for $549: This set has a nice weight to it while still being cool to sleep on, but it wasn’t as soft as our other picks. It has a ton of options to buy individual linen pieces, comes in great colors, and is GOTS certified organic.
FAQ
What’s So Great About Linen?
Linen is a woven fabric made from flax plants. It’s a highly breathable material that doesn’t trap heat, so it keeps you cool during warmer nights. It’s great for people who sleep hot. It’s rougher at first than a simple cotton sheet set, but it should soften up the more it’s washed. Linen is often more expensive than other sheets, but it’s generally more durable than percale or other cotton weaves, so a good sheet set should last a long time.
It’s not for everyone, but if you love linen apparel, you’ll probably love linen sheets. If you’re unsure, start with a single piece (like a duvet or flat sheet) and see what you think. Most of the options we recommend come in a linen set, but you can also buy many of these pieces separately, allowing you to try a linen pillowcase or fitted sheet before wading into a full-on linen bed.
You’ll often see terms like “Belgian flax” and “European linen” used to describe various linens. Some of these are in the name, some aren’t—Pottery Barn’s sheets are named Belgian flax, while The Citizenry’s sheets mention that they’re French flax but sustainably made in Portugal. So what does it all mean? Which is best?
Europe has a long history of growing flax and making linen. It’s a preferred source, particularly Belgium and France, which is why some sheets will call out those countries specifically. But according to World Linen, there isn’t a huge difference among European countries—it’s mostly a marketing tactic. You’ll likely be just as happy with any European source of linen, and there is a European Linen certification sheets can receive to confirm that’s where they’re sourced from.
Having Europe in the name doesn’t necessarily mean it was made there, though. After the flax is grown, it needs to be processed, spun, and woven into sheets, which may or may not happen in Europe. Some companies use the term “Belgian flax” or “European flax” to signify that the flax is from that area, but it wasn’t processed there. Some companies make sheets in other European countries, like The Citizenry’s Portugal-made sheets, while other makers might do production outside of Europe, like Quince, which processes its sheets in China and India.
Does Linen Use Thread Count?
You won’t usually see thread counts listed for linen sheets, or even if you do, there’s another term you’ll find along side it: GSM, or a phrase like “woven to 160 GSM.” This describes the weight of the fabric. (“GSM” stands for grams per square meter.) It’s similar to silk, which is also described in weight rather than thread count to give you a more accurate idea of how heavy the sheets will be. The rule of thumb with linen is that under 150 GSM is light, between 150 and 300 is medium, and anything over 300 is heavy.
Weight is also something that shouldn’t change about linen: It’ll get softer over time, but it won’t get lighter. If you have a preference for a certain weight of sheets, you can see whether these details are included to find out exactly what you’re buying.
How Do You Wash Linen Sheets?
If you want your linen to last for years, you have to take care of it. Our preferred way is to wash with cold water and mild detergent. Line-drying is recommended for getting the longest life. Be sure to check the tag, since some makers might have specific washing instructions. You should wash any sheets you buy before you sleep on them, and washing linen will start to soften them up—remember, it takes a while for softening to happen!
I actually break one of these rules. Since I don’t have space for a drying line, I tumble dry all of my linen, and I’ve done so for years with fine results. But if you use a dryer, expect to clean up a lot of lint. With every set I’ve tried, the lint tray gets super full, and some sheets like Quince’s filled the lint trap so much that it started to overflow.
How Do We Test Linen Sheets?
We test sheets by—you guessed it—sleeping on them. We test all bed sheets for a minimum of two nights, often ending up closer to seven nights or more for our top picks. We look for breathability and airflow, the weight of the sheets, and we research where each maker sources their linen from and where it’s produced (which can impact both the quality and the price point). We’ve tested a little over a dozen different linen sheets so far for this guide.
While the best way to care for linen is to line dry it, we wash and dry linen sheets in regular machines to see how it holds up (and if it overflows the lint tray!) and wash it a couple of times before including it in a guide.
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