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Jersey sheets may conjure memories of college dorm-room living, but they’re a great option if you’re looking for a cozy sleeping experience. I’ve tried a lot of sheets, and ones made of jersey are in a category of their own. The best jersey sheets feel like sleeping in your favorite T-shirt: warm, comfortable, and broken in. They’re not crisp to the touch like percale, and they aren’t shiny like sateen, both of which may feel too formal — even clinical — for some. Instead, because the fabric is knit, jersey sheets are soft, smooth, and stretchy. They’re also low maintenance, never wrinkle, and fit your mattress like a glove, making them great for the busiest among us. As Heather Goerzen, Havenly director of content and design puts it, they “give your bed scene a lived-in and loved-well appeal.” To help you find the best jersey sheets (and perhaps convince you that they are anything but a juvenile choice reserved for undergrads), I tested options at home myself and also spoke with interior designers and jersey-sheet enthusiasts. All prices listed are for queen-size sheets unless noted otherwise.
Update on October 8, 2024: Added note about limited sizes and colors for Coyuchi Organic Jersey Sheet Set; updated prices and checked stock for all other products.
What we’re looking for:
Material
“Jersey is knit — rather than woven like most fabrics — meaning that the threads are continuously looped to provide a soft fabric,” explains David Rubin, a certified sleep science coach and director of product testing at the Sleep Doctor. It’s usually made from cotton, with polyester or spandex added in for extra stretch, but it can also be made from synthetics as well as wool. The tight knit can make the sheets warmer, so if you’re worried about overheating, opt for a 100 percent cotton makeup, which tends to be breathable regardless of the knitting process. Rubin notes that because of how it’s made, “jersey can deteriorate more quickly than other fabrics,” so he recommends spending “a little extra to get more life out of your sheets.”
Breathability
Our experts went back and forth on how breathable jersey sheets can be. Most mentioned that compared to other materials — namely, linen and woven cotton — jersey will feel much warmer. “I’m a ‘hot’ sleeper and they make me sweat,” candidly says interior designer Elizabeth Strianese of her namesake design studio. Malik Logan, principal designer for the Tailored Interiors, adds that they work well for those in colder climates because “they are much more comfortable when it comes to keeping you warm,” almost like flannel, he says. Rubin thinks jersey sheets will benefit sleepers who tend to sleep cool. “Just like a jersey T-shirt, they can also cling to you more, which will make them feel cozier in cool temperatures, but could be uncomfortable in a warm environment,” says Rubin. But Logan thinks that just because they’re warm doesn’t mean they can’t be breathable. I note which ones were mentioned as being particularly breathable to save you the trial and error process.
Size range
Because jersey sheets are a popular option for college students, many sets come in twin XL, meaning they are 4-5 inches longer than a standard twin size. I made sure to note those that offer twin XL, so you won’t fall in love with a set that won’t fit.
Best jersey sheets overall
Material: Oeko-Tex-certified cotton | Breathability: Yes | Size range: Twin/Twin XL to King
After a commenter alerted us to the Company Store’s jersey sheets — “I’ve been getting them for years and really love them” — I had to try a set for myself. The first thing I noticed was just how nice they were. They felt so soft, smooth, and stretchy — but not too stretchy. That last feature was actually the most surprising. The sheets felt substantial and closer to regular cotton sheets than what I remembered jersey sheets were like in college (too thin and loose, pill-y), making them a great choice for someone who’s interested in trying jersey bedding for the first time. They have a nice hand feel and are just thick enough not to feel cheap and flimsy. Once I got into bed, my clothes definitely caught a little more on the sheets compared to sleeping in percale or sateen, but that’s the tradeoff you’ll have to make (and get used to) for having cozier sheets. I got them in canary yellow and was immediately cheered up by their bright hue and that they are available in 11 other colors that you don’t see elsewhere, like turquoise and lavender. The price is also quite attractive, with a queen costing $164. (They’re also a brand favorite, with nearly 500 positive reviews. I haven’t tried them in warmer weather, but reviewers rave about how comfortable they are, even in the summer.)
Best jersey sheets for college students
Material: Cotton | Breathability: Yes | Size range: Twin to King
If you happen to actually be a college student looking for inexpensive jersey sheets, check out these 100 percent cotton sheets from Target brand Threshold. They’re the updated version of Target’s cotton-polyester jersey sheets (now discontinued) that former Strategist writer Chloe Anello said she and “most everyone I knew in college owned.” The affordable set comes in sizes twin to king and in ten colors to match your comforter, and it has a higher rating than the cotton-poly set. Anello said her old sheets “didn’t pill quite as quickly as one would expect” and were “easy to maintain — basically, any bargain detergent and outdated washing machines and dryers in your dorm won’t destroy them,” so I imagine this upgraded version would hold up just as well.
Best organic jersey sheets
Material: Organic cotton | Breathability: Yes | Size range: Twin/Twin XL to King
Coyuchi, which makes some of the Strategist’s favorite linen sheets, bath towels, and robes, also makes a fantastic set of jersey sheets. I first tried them in the summer in Los Angeles, and like the Company Store set, these were soft, smooth, cozy, and comfortable — but perhaps a tad bit stretchier. And they didn’t feel too hot at all (I am an average-temperature sleeper.) They’re made from GOTS- and Made Safe–certified (i.e., nontoxic) organic cotton and come in three neutral colors, so if you’re looking for something organic, I would recommend these. Goerzen is a fan of these herself: “It’s all the coziness and comfort of jersey sheets but with a higher quality construction that makes them more breathable.” Nancy Davilman of ND Interiors, who calls them “incredibly soft,” agrees that they are “very breathable,” allowing you to “keep your temperature very balanced.” You won’t overheat in them, even if you tend to be a sweaty sleeper. They are on the pricier side, but the high-quality material ensures that they will hold up well over time (even through many washes), are resistant to pilling, and are guaranteed to be comfortable right away. Just note that stock is limited at the moment in all colors.
Editor’s note: Some colors and sizes are currently out of stock, but you can get the full size in white and gray.
Best (less expensive) organic jersey sheets
Material: Certified organic cotton | Breathability: Yes | Size range: Twin/Twin XL to King
If you’re looking for organic-cotton jersey sheets for a lower price, consider Pottery Barn Teen’s Favorite Tee Organic Jersey Sheets. They’re what Nancy Charbonneau, the principal designer at Charbonneau Interiors, bought her daughter when she went to college, saying that she chose them for how easy they are to take care of. “The maintenance and upkeep of her bed could be one thing she didn’t have to worry about,” Charbonneau says. They will also make a less-than-comfortable mattress in a dorm room feel much more cozy. The sheets come in 11 neutral colors and stripes, including heathered grays and blues that truly give you that broken-in T-shirt look and feel. Charbonneau also appreciates that the sheets are sustainably made — they’re both GOTS- and Fair Trade– certified — and free from any harmful chemicals.
Some more bedsheets we’ve written about
Our experts
• Chloe Anello, former Strategist writer
• Nancy Charbonneau, principal designer at Charbonneau Interiors
• Nancy Davilman, principal designer of ND Interiors
• Heather Goerzen, Havenly director of content and design
• Malik Logan, principal designer for The Tailored Interiors
• David Rubin, director of product testing at the Sleep Doctor
• Elizabeth Strianese, principal designer at Elizabeth Strianese Interiors
Additional reporting by Chloe Anello.
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