The Best Flannel Sheets Are the Bedding Equivalent of Your Favorite Sweater
As temps dip, ticking stripes and cozy colors will keep you warm.
Updated Jan 3, 2024 1:49 PM
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Nothing says “cozy” quite like a set of flannel sheets. For Elizabeth and Lindsay Fair of Salem, Massachusetts–based interior design firm Dwell October, the style evokes a particular sense of feeling snug on cold nights. “Our mom put flannel sheets on our beds every winter growing up, so [they] have such a nostalgic, comforting association for us,” the sisters say. A great transitional fabric, flannel is heavier than virtually every other popular bedding material, so it is sure to keep you warm as fall and winter approach. For Boston interior designer Annsley McAleer, flannel sheets also do more than just function well in cold weather; they can play up a ski-house vibe. She pairs them with vintage quilts and hand-knit blankets.
If you’re on the hunt for a set of the best flannel sheets to turn your bedroom into a comfy retreat, look no further. Here are our favorites, in a variety of colors and price points. Trust us—even the chilliest nights are no match for these.
Our Favorites
- Best overall: Boll & Branch Flannel Sheet Set
- Best budget: Mellanni Flannel Sheet Set
- Best organic: Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Flannel Sheets
- Best Supima cotton: L.L.Bean Premium Supima Flannel Sheets
- Best speckled: Brooklinen Brushed Flannel Core Sheet Set
- Best stripes: Garnet Hill Cozy Ticking Flannel Bedding
- Best gingham: Serena & Lily Belvedere Flannel Sheet Set
- Best blend: Piglet in Bed Flannel Tencel Sheets
Best Overall: Boll & Branch Flannel Sheet Set
Boll & Branch has been in business for a decade, working with family-owned farms and factories to produce its bedding and bath. The brand uses GOTS-certified organic cotton, and its products are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, and that extends to its Portgual-made flannel sheets. Supersoft in hand, these sheets expertly balance coziness and breathability, a rarity among the flannel set. The brushing process, as well as a step of triple shearing, reduces visible pilling, and the weight is light enough to please even warm sleepers. Pillowcases come with a stylish envelope closure; topstitched fitted sheets are designed with deep pockets; and there are three neutrals and a number of patterns to choose from to suit your style.
Best Budget: Mellanni Flannel Sheet Set
More than 10,000 people have reviewed this well-priced set, with 65% of buyers rating it a 5-star purchase. The sheets are available in eight colors—ranging from pale pink to inky navy blue—and two patterns, including a classic plaid and a holiday-ready snowflake print. We also love that they come in the rarer Twin XL size, making them a great option for anyone outfitting a dorm room. They’re made from 100% cotton, and more than one reviewer crowned these the best sheets ever.
Best Organic: Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Flannel Sheets
These sheets, which come in four neutral shades, deliver on every front. In addition to weighing in at 6 ounces, so they’ll keep you extra-toasty, they’re Made Safe certified. What does that mean for you? You’ll drift off to sleep knowing the sheets you’re tucked into are free of carcinogens, heavy metals, and toxic solvents. It also means the cotton they’re made from—grown in Turkey and woven in Portugal—is free of dangerous pesticides. The brushed finish helps keep pilling to a minimum, which will make you reach for them year after year.
Best Supima Cotton: L.L.Bean Premium Supima Flannel Sheets
L.L.Bean is headquartered in Maine, a state that takes winter seriously. Is it any wonder, then, that the company would be a go-to option for high-quality flannel sheets? These are made from Supima cotton, which is both stronger and softer than regular cotton and less likely to pill. Shoppers can’t get enough of these sheets, with 94% of buyers saying they’d recommend them. The six hues take their inspiration from wintry beach scenes, with shades like Sandbar (a goes-with-everything neutral) and Bluegrass (the perfect muted aqua).
Best Speckled: Brooklinen Brushed Flannel Core Sheet Set
These speckled sweeties from Brooklinen—available in moss, midnight, and black and white—look straight out of a cool Berkshires hotel (perhaps one blanketed in snow). The extremely soft material is brushed to make it extra snuggly without being too weighty, and the 100% cotton flannel is made in Portgual. The delicate pattern would work well with solids or other prints, and review after review say they hold up to cold weather without things getting too steamy.
Best Stripes: Garnet Hill Cozy Ticking Flannel Bedding
In 1973, the founders of Garnet Hill traveled to Europe and fell in love with a set of English flannel sheets. Unable to find flannels of comparable quality at home in the U.S., they set out to make their own, and decades later Garnet Hill is a go-to for flannel sheets. Manufactured in a family-operated German mill, these sheets come in all kinds of colors, including chic pastels and earth tones. But we’re partial to the ticking stripe pattern, which comes in colors like sage and amber. “I think colors such as moss green, ochre, brown, and even gray-blue make for an unusual but unmistakably wintry palette,” says McAleer. Made in Portugal, they’re brushed multiple times for guaranteed softness, and with a lighter weight of 5.8 ounces, they would work in fall and spring just as well as winter. They’re 100% cotton, and we also love that you can get a matching duvet for a cohesive look.
Best Gingham: Serena & Lily Belvedere Flannel Sheet Set
Leave it to Serena & Lily to take a timeless pattern like gingham and make chic flannel bedding with it. Made from the same material as editor-favorite pajamas, Serena & Lily’s Belvedere set is as prim as the material can get. Made with 100% brushed cotton, these sheets, like a lot of the best flannels, are made in Portugal and are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, one of the most widely recognized certifications to make sure linens are free of substances that can be irritating to skin and harmful to health. If you like a more classic French blue, there’s a gingham in that, too, or you can go for straight white.
Best Blend: Piglet in Bed Flannel Tencel Sheets
Tencel—a brand of sustainable fabric made from wood pulp—is combined with cotton flannel in Piglet in Bed’s sheets. The soft yet breathable bundle it offers includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and pillowcases, plus a duvet cover. We love that the cover features corozo button fastenings and very handy inside corner ties to keep your duvet from slipping around. In addition to great features and colors, these sets are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified.
Our Shopping Checklist
Material
In 16th-century Wales, where it’s believed to have originated, flannel was made from wool. Now you can find flannel made from cotton and synthetic fibers as well. Most flannel today gets its texture from a process called brushing, in which a metal brush rubs the fabric to raise fibers from the surface.
Weave
Unlike cotton sheets, where quality is often associated with a high-thread count, flannel sheets are measured according to weight per ounce. Look for a set with a per-weight heft of about 5 ounces for maximum warmth and durability.
Care
Flannel sheets can often pill, which is why it’s important to follow the laundering instructions carefully—most manufacturers recommend washing in lukewarm water and then line drying. If you’re placing them in a dryer, set it on very low heat.
Ask Domino
What’s the best way to prevent pilling?
The first time you wash flannel, add a little bit of white vinegar—a half cup to be precise. This will help the fibers from pilling and keep the colors vibrant. If your flannel sheets are only in use a few months of the year, make sure to shake them out and refold during the spring and summer, which will help loosen any clingy dust or fibers contributing to pilling.
How long should quality sheets last?
A perk of good flannel sheets is that they’ll get softer (and warmer!) the more they’re washed, though you might see more vibrant colors start to fade. Most experts suggest replacing them after around three years, though that depends on how often you’re using them—a quality set of flannel sheets cared for properly can last four or five years.