If you’re looking to sleep more comfortably, free from synthetic materials that trap heat, organic bedding can promote a healthier, drier night’s rest. The best organic sheets are made with high-grade materials that excel at moisture wicking, and come backed by rigorous third-party certifications. Our top pick, the Avocado Organic Cotton Sheet Set, is made entirely from organic cotton with a buttery sateen finish, and has earned an impressive number of certifications that attest to the brand’s commitment to sustainability.
We compared material, thread counts and weave to determine our selections for the best organic sheets.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer
“It’s generally agreed that organic sheets are better for your skin, hair and sleep health since they were made without harsh chemicals,” says Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and chief product officer of Steamery, adding that the lack of harsh chemicals allows natural fibers to retain their softness and durability. Below, find our top picks for the best organic sheets, all editor-approved and GOTS-certified.
You have a short mattress around 13 inches or smaller
There are few brands cleaner than Avocado, and its Organic Cotton Sheet Set is a testament to the brand’s commitment to sustainability. The sheets are made in India or Pakistan using GOTS-certified cotton, and they’re Made Safe certified, meaning they’ve been screened for harmful substances like fiberglass and flame retardants. Besides being healthier for your body, the sheets are also better for the environment—Avocado has earned The Climate Label and is a Certified B Corporation.
Available in four neutral colors and seven sizes, the sheets have a sateen-finish that’s soft, satiny and helpful in reducing wrinkles. You can choose from a single-ply 400-thread count or two-ply 600-thread count, with the former offering a crisp, cool feel and the latter more thick and luxurious. If you’re unsure which thread count to choose, the brand offers a lengthy 100-night trial to test them out, but hot sleepers may prefer a percale sheet with a lighter weave. Keep in mind its pocket depth is 20 inches, which is most accommodating for tall mattresses or those topped with bedding accessories.
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Organic materials tend to be more expensive, but this Pact sheet set lets you doze on GOTS- and Fair Trade-certified linens for a reasonable price. The sheets are made in a Fair Trade factory with responsible management and livable wages, and the brand provides stats on the product’s carbon offset with how much water was conserved. Customers found the lightweight percale fabric to adequately keep them cool and note the fabric softened up after a few nights. The sheets are also double sanforized, meaning they’ve been treated for a softer feel and reduced shrinkage, although the brand does recommend washing the sheets before use to achieve the best fit. Putting the fitted sheet on your mattress is easy thanks to an elasticized band and “top/bottom” labels, but the sheets 15-inch pocket might be too small for some mattresses—especially beds with a mattress topper.
The flax linen used for Sijo’s LuxeWeave sheets are sourced in small batches from Normandy, a region renowned for its luxurious linen. The GOTS and Oeko-Tek certified set is also free of dyes and bleaches, making the bedding especially accommodating for those with sensitive skin. While linen has a reputation for being scratchy, the Sijo sheets are stone-washed, so they’re already soft upon first use and continue to get softer with time, which many customer reviews attest to. Tailor your set to go with or without a flat sheet, depending on your sleep habits and preferences. In addition to the sheets being pre-shrunk, its pockets are 16 inches deep and are best suitable for mattresses 13 inches tall and shorter.
Organic sheets are made from natural fibers, like this percale bedding from Coyuchi, making them feel more airy and breathable. Its GOTS-certified cotton construction is tightly woven to promote breathability, and the crisp fabric is reminiscent of a fresh, button-down shirt. Customers agree that the sheets do an exceptional job of keeping them cool, but they also note that they feel more substantial than expected, providing ample warmth when needed. The sheets are available in 21 colors, from muted taupe to classic white, and the brand finishes the sheets with a 7-inch extended cuff for an elevated look. Several customers mention that the sheets are fairly wrinkled when removed from the dryer, and it’s recommended to remove them immediately to minimize creasing.
For sheets that feel like butter, Naturpedic’s Organic Cotton Sateen Sheet Set is silky-smooth to the touch, and only grows softer with each wash. Made from GOTS-certified long-staple cotton, the fabric is woven using a four-over-one technique that results in a gentle draping effect and sheen. The single-ply, 400-thread count creates a denser fabric, enhancing the sateen’s silkiness while still remaining breathable. Though, a percale weave is the more superior choice when it comes to cooling.
Like the Avocado Organic Cotton Sheet Set, Naturepedic’s sheets are Made Safe and UL/Greenguard certified, meaning they’ve been tested to meet strict standards for low chemical emissions for safer, healthier rest. Pocket depth on the fitted sheet is 15 inches, making it most optimal for an average-sized mattress that’s 13 inches tall or shorter.
How We Chose The Best Organic Sheets
Each sheet set highlighted in our best organic sheets roundup was chosen based on its certifications, materials, weave and customer satisfaction, with the helpful guidance of textile experts.
Our list only recommends GOTS-certified sheets to ensure they’re genuinely organic, verified by a third party organization.
We researched popular organic sheets from reputable retailers that our editors have tested products from prior, and sifted through customer reviews to gather knowledge on how the sheets perform.
We consulted Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and chief product officer at Steamery, and used his expertise to help inform our picks.
What To Consider When Shopping For The Best Organic Sheets
GOTS Certification
In order for a sheet to truly be considered organic, it must be GOTS-certified, which indicates a textile’s natural fibers were grown and processed without pesticides, GMOS and synthetic fertilizers. “The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is a notable certification for organic fabrics as they require a textile to contain a minimum of 70% certified organic fibers to be labeled ‘made with organic’ and a minimum of 95% to be labeled ‘organic,’” says Lewenhaupt. It also speaks to sustainability standards maintained by a brand through the entire supply chain.
It’s common to see sheets with an Oeko-Tex certification labelled as organic, but this certification only means the finished fabric is free of harmful substances, and it doesn’t guarantee it’s organic since that is determined by how the fabric is processed.
Materials
Cotton makes for great organic bedding, largely because of its innate softness, durability and breathability. Other common natural fibers include linen, like the Sijo LuxeWeave Linen Sheet Set, which is made from natural French flax linen that’s not only cooling, but also stone-washed for immediate softness. Other materials that can be certified organic include hemp, wool and silk, but the best material for you largely depends on personal preference.
Weave Type
A sheet’s weave type refers to how the fabric was constructed which can affect its feel, breathability and weight. There are multiple types of weaves, but the most common are percale and sateen. If you want a crisp, classic cotton feel, percale sheets have a plain but tight weave that creates a cool sensation. Sateen’s denser weave lends the fabric a silky, lustrous finish that’s soft to the touch.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted mattress and sleep team report on a variety of products to help our readers achieve better rest, from mattresses to bedding accessories.
The author of this story is Lee Cutlip, an editorial assistant at Forbes Vetted. She’s covered several topics for the mattress and sleep vertical, including the best blackout curtains and the best wool blankets.
McKenzie Dillon, the mattress and sleep editor at Forbes Vetted, has spent the last six years testing and writing about sleep and wellness products. Dillon has tested dozens of different sheet sets, with linen being on of her go-to favorites.
For this article we spoke to textile expert Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and chief product officer of Steamery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are 100% Cotton Sheets Non-Toxic?
“Sheets made with 100% cotton are not guaranteed to be organic or non-toxic, as that’s determined by the way a textile was made,” says Lewenhaupt, who advises that you consider sheets with GOTS or Oeko-Tex certifications to ensure they’re free of harmful substances.
Is 100% Cotton Or Egyptian Cotton Better?
Egyptian cotton’s long, dense fibers can make it smoother and more durable than traditional cotton, which some might prefer, but Lewenhaupt notes that high-quality, 100% cotton can be just as breathable and comfortable.
What Are The Best Organic Sheets?
Based on our research, we found the Avocado Organic Cotton Sheet Set to be the best organic sheets. The sheets are made from 100% organic cotton that is GOTS-certified, come available in two thread counts and are backed by a 100-night trial period.
