Best white bed sheets 2025 – luxury linens, cooling cottons, and breathable bamboo

White bed sheets are a classic for a reason. They make a bright, light blank canvas to complement any color palette. Like all the best bedding, the best white bed sheets are thermoregulating and moisture-wicking to keep you just the right side of cool and dry, all year round.

So, you've chosen a color: now, it's time to consider materials. Each of the bed sheet types has pros and cons to suit different sorts of sleepers. Hot sleepers might like something breathable and absorbent, such as linen, while eco-conscious shoppers could consider bamboo or eucalyptus sheets. In fact, there are so many types of white bed sheets that it's easy to feel overwhelmed.

That's where I come in. As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I lead a team of expert testers to sample the world's best bed sheets. I've combed through our back catalog of reviews to bring you six sets of the best white bed sheets to suit every bedroom and every budget. For the sake of a fair fight, I've scored each sheet set against the same criteria: look and feel; cooling; and durability.

Best white bed sheets – 6 stylish and practical sets, tried and tested

You're bound to find a set of white bed sheets when you shop at the best places to buy bedding. Whether you're shopping for a spare set of sheets for your guest room or a brand-new bedspread for your master suite, I've got you covered.

How we test bed sheets

As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I lead a team of seasoned product testers across the country to rank and review sheet sets. We sleep with sheet sets for at least 30 nights, making sure to launder the sheets at least once before we publish our initial review. This should give an accurate indication of future performance.

We assess each sheet set against the same criteria: look and feel; cooling; and durability. As we assess look and feel, we consider the pros and cons of different bed sheet types: cotton percale feels cool and crisp, for example, while cotton sateen feels silky and smooth. There's a material to suit every sort of sleeper and every style of bedroom, but the worst bed sheet material is polyester. It's prone to pilling and made from synthetic fibers, which makes for poor breathability and a stiff, starchy feel.

To assess cooling, we test sheet sets through heatwaves and cold snaps. We switch off our HVAC systems to sleep, making note of any times we wake up in a sweat. To assess durability, we strip our beds to wash and dry the sheets according to the instructions on their care tag. Then, we make our beds again and carry on sleeping on the sheets. We consider how the look and feel of the sheets changes over time: whether there are any scratchy spots or discolored patches.

We like to compare our results against verified customer reviews to pick out common pros and cons. We also consider practical points, from the details of delivery to the variety of colors, prints, and patterns. Finally, we bring it all back to the price of the sheet set to help you determine value for money.

How to choose white bed sheets

Look and feel

If you can't visit a store or showroom to try and feel bedding for yourself, then you need to understand how different materials look and feel on the bed. Here's everything you need to know about the major bed sheet types.

There are two ways in which cotton can be woven: cotton percale feels crisp and cool, while cotton sateen feels silky and smooth. Linen feels tough and textured. I'd encourage you to embrace the wrinkles as part of linen's natural charm. Bamboo is naturally thermoregulating and moisture-wicking, so it's a good option for hot sleepers. It tends to feel soft and silky against your skin. Wool is another great thermoregulator, but woolen sheets tend to have more of a bobbled texture.

Finishing touches

You might buy a set of white bed sheets, only to discover a subtle print or pattern on the sheeting. I've sampled sheet sets with detailed lace edgework, intricate piping, and floral appliques. Borders and details are an easy way to add depth and dimension to your white bed sheets.

There are practical considerations to keep in mind, too. You might want to shop for fitted sheets with deep pockets to fit a thicker mattress or pillowcases with envelope closures to stop your pillow from falling out.

Ease of care

White sheets are the worst for showing spills and stains. If you want to keep your bed looking and feeling clean, then you need to find a white sheet set that's easy to launder.

You're looking for sheets that are machine-washable and dryer-safe for quick and convenient cleaning (though, if you have outdoor space, you might prefer to line dry). Some sheets are safe to iron or dry clean, while others aren't. Failing to check the instructions on the care tag is one of the biggest bedding laundry mistakes you can make.

FAQs

Why do hotels use white bed sheets?

If you're anything like me, then you've wondered: 'which bedding do luxury hotels use?', and why are the sheets always white? The short answer is that it makes it easy for the housekeeping team to spot spills and stains, so they can make sure the bed is clean for each guest that comes to stay.

Also, white is a neutral color to complement any bedroom aesthetic. I think there's something luxurious about clean, crisp white sheets, and there are plenty of practical benefits. White sheets can be washed together with white towels and robes and so on, saving time, energy, and money for the hotel workers.

How can I keep white bed sheets clean?

The worst thing about white bed sheets is that they show dust and dirt, leading to eventual discoloration.

To combat this, it's worth learning how to wash bed sheets for optimal cleanliness and comfort. Quick and easy changes to your cleaning routine could make all the difference: I suggest you skip the fabric softener and steer clear of harsh biological detergents which irritate your skin and degrade the fibers inside your sheets.

If your white sheets are looking a little yellow, you could throw a quarter-cup of baking soda into the drum of your washing machine and pour half a cup of vinegar into the compartment where you usually put fabric softener. These natural, eco-friendly ingredients should brighten your white sheets. If you can, try drying your sheets outside in the sun. UV rays have a natural bleaching effect, and they're also known to bust bacteria.

Perhaps you already own a white sheet set, but it's started to look a little more yellow. Before you spend hundreds of dollars on new sheets, it's worth learning how to remove discoloration from your bedding to get your white sheets nice and bright again.