The 5 Best Flannel Sheets For Staying Warm And Cozy All Winter Long
Cooler weather can have some disadvantages, like having fewer opportunities for picnics, trips to the amusement park, lying out at the beach, and other fun outdoor activities. On the other hand, fall and winter are the seasons for other enjoyable ways to pass the time, like drinking hot chocolate, all things pumpkin, the holidays, and snuggling under warm and cozy bed sheets. Specifically, this is the time of year for flannel sheets.
Once temperatures start to drop to the 60s and 50s, the flannel sheets in many homes start getting pulled out of storage. Although, for some homeowners, these sheet sets stay around year-round. Flannel is among the most popular materials for sheets, known for its warmth and softness. But there are many different types of flannel sheets these days, so if you're thinking of getting some for your home, you may wonder how to decide from all the choices.
To help with this, we've come up with a few "best" picks to get your research started. These flannel sheet sets below not only hold a reputation among consumers for their quality, but they also come in a variety of styles and price points to give you a good idea of what's out there in the world of flannel. What they all have in common, however, is that flannel sheets, with their fuzzy fabric, are warmer than regular sheets and will help you comfortably counter the chill of fall and winter days.
How we selected products
When choosing flannel sheets, considerations include pattern (or no pattern), price, quality, softness, and weight. Some may wonder, though, why buy different sheets for the cooler months at all; why not just bundle up with your blanket and comforter instead? You could, but because of its fuzzy fabric and extra weight, flannel can get you warm without the extra layers. As for weight, flannel sheets typically weigh 4 to 5 ounces (compared to 3 ounces for regular sheets). This said, one of our categories below is "Best Lightweight" for anyone wary of the heaviness of flannel.
Note that we say flannel provides warmth; quality flannel shouldn't make you hot. That's because the material is breathable, though it's also constructed to retain warm air, which is how it stays warm and, in turn, warms you. All our picks below meet this criterion. Finally, when making our picks, we factored in what consumers had to say through their star ratings, as well as actual reviews, and we also took a look at press coverage.
Best Overall: L.L. Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set
Woven in Portugal — exclusively for L.L. Bean — the Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set is made of 100% brushed cotton and took over two years to develop. It comes in eight solid colors, including Bay Blue, Frost Gray, and Silver Sage, so no patterns for our "Best Overall," but the neutral colors make it easy to pair these 5-ounce sheets with any bedding design. L.L. Bean explains that these sheets, unlike typical flannel sheets, have a smooth finish, the result of a special process that removes fibers. More than 4,700 customers have left reviews for these sheets, awarding it an average 4.8-star rating.
Purchase the Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set in solid colors at L.L. Bean starting at $119.
Best Lightweight: Beautyrest Oversized Flannel Set
Being from Beautyrest, it's not surprising that one of the features of this breathable, flannel sheet set is that it's OEKO-TEX certified, an industry label that indicates a product is free of harmful substances or chemicals. Available in six prints, the sheet set, which is made from 100% brushed cotton, includes four pieces and has oversized dimensions to easily fit extra-large mattresses.
Get the Beautyrest Oversized Flannel Sheet Set at Amazon for $52.99 to $67.99.
Best Organic: Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel Sheets
The 100% organic cotton of Coyuchi's Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel Sheet Set is grown in Turkey, woven in Portugal, and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified. These flannel sheets are heavier than average as well, coming in at 6 ounces, which helps the bedding with both wear and pilling. Customers can choose from four complementary colors: Alpine White, Undyed, Pale Gray Heather, and Camel Heather. The sheet set has maintained a 5-star rating from over 400 reviews.
Purchase the Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel Sheet Set from Coyuchi starting at $198.
Best Budget: Sleep Philosophy Flannel Sheet Set
Known for their fun patterns, these flannel sheet sets by True North by Sleep Philosophy are also a bargain, starting at $34.99 for the Twin size, which perhaps makes buying a separate set of sheets for winter a little easier to add to the monthly budget. What's more, the sheets are GOTX certified and have earned a 4.7 durability rating from customers at Amazon. The sheet set comes with three pieces: a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and a sham. Note that Target has some exclusive prints, too, for an even lower starting price of $23.99.
You can find the True North by Sleep Philosophy Flannel Print Sheet Set at Amazon for $34.99 to $54.99.
Best Patterned: Eddie Bauer Flannel Sheet Collection
While it is true you can use flannel sheets year-round, these patterned sets from Eddie Bauer really make you know it's winter. Featuring elk, penguins, bears, pine trees, and tossed snowflakes, the patterns bring the outside inside but without the cold. Of course, you can also get classic plaid, Edgewood Plaid, if you like as well. Made from thrice-brushed 100% cotton, these sheets also feature a raised surface for a fluffy feel.
The Eddie Bauer Flannel Sheet Collection is available at Amazon starting at around $30 (varies by pattern).