How to Buy Bed Sheets

Tips for buying bed sheets

1. First, you need to figure out which size bed needs new sheets. You can buy twin, full (or double), queen, king and California king sized bed sheets. Usually, it is sufficient to know the size of your bed, but some people actually measure the length and width of their bed to ensure they purchase bed sheets that fit correctly.
2. The bottom sheet is called the fitted sheet. You can buy three kinds of fitted bed sheets. One kind has an elastic edge all the way around for easy fitting over the sides and corners of the mattress. These are the most expensive types of fitted sheets. A second type has elastic along the sides, and the third has elastic only at the corners. The type with elastic at the corners is least expensive, but often the most difficult to fit over a mattress.
3. If you buy a set of pre-packaged bed sheets, make sure there are enough pillow cases inside the package to meet your needs. Many pre-packaged sets, especially for twin beds, come with only one pillow case. If you have two pillows, you will need to buy another case separately.
4. Cotton is the primary fabric of choice used in bed sheets. Cotton breathes easily and feels soft against the skin. There are, however, different types of cotton to consider. Egyptian cotton is especially soft and has been used in high-end sheets for decades. Pima cotton is grown in the U.S. South, and is both soft and durable. You can, of course, also buy cotton/polyester blend sheets, particularly if you are concerned about shrinkage or wrinkling. Blends are also likely to be less expensive than 100% cotton bed sheets.
5. You will also want to consider the thread count of the bed sheets you are purchasing. The thread count number indicates the number of threads per square inch on the sheets. The higher the thread count, the softer the bed sheets will feel.

Caution

Sheets often go on sale, especially at department stores. Make sure you are getting the best deal possible by asking salespeople when the sheets you are interested in will go on sale. If the sale is soon, you may want to wait until that time before you buy.

Where to buy bed sheets

These online retailers offer big selections of bed sheets for mattresses of every size—

The Company Store sells cotton, flannel, knit and luxury bed sheets. Find an array of solids and patterns.

Horchow has a good selection of basic and luxury bed sheets. Photographs demonstrate how they look on beds.

Designer Linens Outlet has a big inventory of quality bed sheets at good prices. Browse by size and price.