7 Best Sheets of 2024, Lab-Tested and Reviewed

Another purchasing point to keep in mind: Claims about pocket size can’t always be trusted. “More than 30 percent of our tested models claimed to fit up to an 18-inch mattress, but their actual pocket-depth measurements were short even before washing,” says Li Wang, who oversees CR’s testing of sheets. None of the sheets in our latest batch of six could actually fit an 18-inch mattress.

Our testing also found that cotton sheets might not fit your mattress after a year’s worth of laundering, even if they could initially fit the queen-size mattress depth claimed on their package. And though all but one of the synthetic sheets in our ratings did well in our shrinkage test, synthetic fabrics have their fit issues as well. Nearly half scored at or below average in our fit test—and that’s before the first wash.

With that in mind, it’s best to buy a set sized to fit a mattress that’s 2 to 3 inches deeper than the mattress on your bed—that helps account for future shrinkage. When you find a sheet set you love, consider buying three sets per bed. That allows you to have one set to sleep on, one in the laundry at any given time, and a clean backup set in the linen closet, just in case of an accident.

That might seem excessive, but remember, you don’t have to spend a lot to get a good-quality set of sheets. CR’s recommended sets range from $22 all the way up to $400 and more. For more shopping advice, learn the five things to know before buying sheets and check our sheets buying guide.