I Tested a Dozen Flannel Sheet Sets to Find Ones That Don’t Pill (and Stay Super Soft)

I love flannel sheets. They remind me of sick days while being a kid, cozy weekends spent up at my in-laws place in Vermont, and the total warmth and coziness of being in bed during the shortest, coldest days of the year. But picking the right flannel sheets can be challenging. Flannel is notoriously pilly, some sheet sets are uber-soft right out of the box but stiffen up at first wash, and, of course, flannel is offered at such a variety of price ranges it’s hard to know whether you should splurge or save.

That’s why I took it upon myself to find the best flannel sheets — testing items from L.L. Bean to Coyuchi to Boll & Branch. Here’s what I found. 

The best flannel sheets are warm, soft out of the box, and don’t pill beyond the first few washes. All flannel sheds lint or pills a little bit, but the best sheet sets do that during the first one or two wash cycles but should be noticeably softer after. While flannel should be soft out of the box, the most important thing is if it continues to get soft through repeated use/washing. I like flannel brands that come in a variety of patterns and colors for maximum ’90s nostalgia. The sheets get a bonus point if they don’t break the bank (so, under $200 a set) and manage to be organic or easily fit my thick mattress, as well. 

First, I needed to test each flannel sheet set’s softness right out of the box. My goal was to sleep on each flannel sheet set for at least one week and one wash, in order to determine how the flannels held up to the washing machine and dryer and how they pilled (or didn’t pill) over time. I noted how many of these sheet sets pilled over my skin or hair throughout the testing period. 

I paid attention to the quality of sleep I got in each flannel sheet set (I tested these through the throes of a few-week long illness, so they really got put through the paces of being warm enough to carry me through a fever). I noted if I woke up sweaty or cold multiple times in each set. 

Here are my picks, ranging from the best overall, the best organic, the most pill-proof, the best for hot sleepers, and the best for cold climates. 

Overall, the L.L. Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set ended up being the best flannel sheet set that I tested over my two-month testing period. The set won this award for a number of reasons: the sheets were soft out of the box, with minimal pilling beyond the first wash (and none after that). The sheets became even softer after the laundry. They were extremely cozy to sleep in and felt substantial without being too heavy or making me break a sweat overnight. Tucking into bed every night was exciting and ultra-cozy. They come in nine lovely colorways, and I tested the set in “Bay Blue,” a gorgeous baby blue meets cornflower that is one of my favorite colors. 

The sheet set is also one of the more affordable sets I tested, at just $150 for a queen-sized set that includes a fitted sheet (which fits over my very deep mattress), a flat sheet, and two pillowcases. The sheet sets kept their color after multiple washes and felt ultra, ultra cozy without breaking the bank. An overall winner.

If budget is of no concern to you, and if you want a truly organic, brushed flannel sheet set made from 100% GOTS certified cotton, the Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel Sheet set might be the perfect pick. This sheet set was luxuriously smooth out of the box, has not pilled once despite repeated wash cycles, and comes in nine gorgeous colors, including four patterned colorways. The heavier weight fabric is more ideal for cold sleepers — I was glad that I tested these sheets further into October, because they would have been far too warm to test during the warmer fall evenings. So if you want a truly lightweight flannel, this might not be for you. Still, these cozy and luxe sheets felt like a special treat to get into every night and I got some incredible sleep on them, averaging almost nine hours a night on the weekends, which is a real treat for me. 

The sheet set features small little details that went a long way in making the sheets feel luxe, like thick elastic banded fitted sheets and heavy-weight labeling, rather than flimsy ones, that are design-forward rather than just being utilitarian. Even the solid colors have a heathered feel to them, making them feel like they’re patterned while still being minimalistic. These are expensive, however, so expect to shell out about $300 for a queen-sized sheet set that features a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and two pillowcases.

The Garnet Hill Signature Solid Flannel was hands down the softest sheet set I tested out of the box. However, the sheets did change a bit in texture after the first few washes — first rougher, then softer again. While the feel of them changed in my hands, notably, they did not pill even a little bit after multiple washes, unlike other sheet sets I tested that I expected to be more durable. This sheet set fit my very deep mattress quite easily. I had restful, wonderful sleep on these, though I will say that the rougher texture after the first wash made them slightly less comfortable than they were right out of the box.

This sheet set comes in 10 solid, beautiful colors from neutrals like Oatmeal to Chili Red. I like that you can buy separate flannel pieces — like just pillowcases or a fitted sheet — or you can buy a sheet set that includes all of the above. At $219 for a queen-sized sheet set, Garnet Hill’s 100% OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified sheet set is substantially weighted for colder sleepers and is also made of recycled yarns and cuttings, making it a greener option than other sheet sets. 

If you want all of the feel of flannel sheets without all of the night sweats, the Brooklinen Brushed Flannel Core Set is, without a doubt, the flannel sheet set for you. These ultra light-weight flannel sheet sets almost feel like linen, they’re so breathable — and yet they’re made of 100% cotton flannel. This flannel sheet set costs about as much as the L.L. Bean set, but if you’re concerned that the L.L. Bean set might be too heavyweight, this would be the perfect middle-ground of ultra-breathable feel without sacrificing that flannel coziness. I found that these are a good year-round flannel sheet option if you want 100% cotton flannel sheets in even the summer months; they’re really that lightweight. I comfortably and restfully slept in these when the weather was much warmer in September and when the heat finally kicked on in my apartment very comfortably. 

The 100% OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified sheet set comes in just three colors, though they are all quite beautiful: speckled midnight, speckled moss, and speckled oat. The fabric is textured in a way unlike any other set I tested — the “speckles” are nubbly and cozy and the sheet set is smooth and soft. This fit my deep mattress with no issue. Right now, AT readers can get 25% off this sheet set with the code AT25. 

The Boll & Branch Flannel Sheet Set carried me through one of my worst fevers I’ve had in recent memory. My apartment at the time was extremely cold (the heat hadn’t been turned on yet) and this sheet set, in combination with my duvet cover, kept me nice and toasty as I battled the full-body fever shivers. But enough about me: This high-price point sheet set ($400 for a queen-sized set) comes in six solid colorways, four patterned colorways, and three embellished colorways, which are solid sheet sets with a gorgeous threaded trim. Like the Coyuchi set, these are 100% organic GOTS-certified and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified cotton sheets with luxury finishes. 

They fit deep pocket mattresses, have a 5-inch hemline on the flat sheet that make the set feel ultra substantial, and are wonderful for cold sleepers like myself. If you want a substantial heavy-weight flannel sheet set that spares no detail, this is the set for you.

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