The 7 Best Flannel Sheets to Keep You Warm This Winter

2022-11-16 14:48:35 By : Mr. Tommy Wei

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Elevate your bedding with the world’s coziest fabric.

FALL IS here, and winter isn’t far behind. ‘Tis the season for hot toddies, crockpot stews, and Mariah Carey music ev-ery-where you go. If you live in the United States, it’s also about time to dig out the wool socks, heated blankets, and go-to beanies. But, first things first: It’s time to get the flannel sheets out.

Flannel is arguably one of the coziest fabrics to sleep in. After all, a good flannel shirt will keep you infinitely warm and comfy next to a roaring campfire; a flannel hoodie can easily become your go-to pullover in just about any season; and a good set of flannel sheets will keep you cozy enough in bed to make you seriously consider calling out of work on a snowy winter day

We’ll assume you already have a good set of flannel sheets because … who doesn’t? But perhaps it’s time for an upgrade. If you’re ready to elevate your bedding setup in preparation for winter this year, there’s nothing better than flannel. Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. We researched and compared dozens of the top-selling sheet sets on the market to find the very best flannel sheets of 2022.

Read more: Best Bed Sheets

L.L. Bean has had a “lock” on cozy everything from flannel shirts to sleeping bags to bedding for decades. So too with its aptly named Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set. These buttery soft sheets are made from Portuguese flannel—universally praised as some of the best flannel in the world—that’s machine-washable and gets softer with every wash. The 100% brushed cotton construction is both lightweight (just 5 ounces) and warm, but not too warm, making them an ideal choice for year-round use in any season. They’re also extremely durable with a natural resistance to fading, shrinking, and pilling.

They’ve been an L.L. Bean best seller for years with overwhelmingly positive reviews. At around $130 for a queen-sized set, these aren’t the cheapest, nor the most expensive. They’re right in the middle. Given the ultra-soft texture, all-season construction, classic L.L. Bean reliability, and good color selection, these are easily our pick for the overall best flannel sheets of 2022.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 3,300 LLBean.com reviews, 93% recommend the L.L. Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set with at least a 4-star rating.

Sometimes budget sheets feel like budget sheets—thin, scratchy, and leaving you wishing you spent a little more for “the good set.” But, they don’t have to. Bare Home’s Flannel Sheets are the most wallet-friendly in our roundup at less than $50 for a complete queen set, including a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and two pillowcases. They’re also available in nearly 30 patterns and colorways, making it easy to find a style that matches your bedroom decor. We also like that, true to its name, Bare Home uses no harmful chemicals or unnecessary fire retardants in any of its bedding, including these flannel sheets.

Like the best flannel sheets, they are machine-washable, making them an ideal choice for households with pets or kids. However, some reviewers note that they tend to pill faster and more than pricier, premium flannel sheet sets. Still, with nearly 400 mostly positive reviews on Walmart alone (and another 14,000 on Amazon), plus an affordable price tag between $40-60 for any size, it’s hard to complain.

What do buyers say? “Wow! I've been buying flannel sheets for many years, and these are the best I've seen. The soft, thick fabric washed and dried beautifully,” said one Walmart reviewer.

The only thing warmer than flannel sheets in winter is heavyweight flannel sheets in winter. Royal Tradition’s aptly named Heavyweight Flannel Sheet Set features a thick, 170 GSM weight (more about flannel weight below) that’s perfect for cool to cold weather. The lightly brushed natural cotton construction ensures they’re buttery soft too. They’re available in a handful of solid muted colors designed to work with just about any decor.

They are machine-washable, making routine maintenance a breeze. However, some reviewers note excessive pilling and premature wear after just a few washings. But, like the Bare Home option above, this set still checks all the must-have boxes for a great set of flannel sheets for us: Soft, brushed cotton, a decent color selection, nearly 90% 4- and 5-star Amazon ratings, and a fantastic price at less than $80 no matter which size you choose.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 1,000 Amazon reviews, 87% recommend the Royal Tradition Heavyweight Flannel Sheet Set with at least a 4-star rating.

Read more: Best Sheets on Amazon

We’re all trying to pare down unnecessary chemicals in our homes these days. That’s doubly true in the bedroom because, frankly, who wants to spend eight hours a day on potentially toxic, plastic-coated fabric? Coyuchi’s Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel series is made from 100% Turkish-grown organic cotton that’s among the softest we’ve found anywhere. The brushed surface also protects against pilling. It’s all GOTS - Made Safe certified—the highest standard of organic textile certification in the industry—so you know it’s free of any chemicals known to be harmful to humans.

What’s more, the six-ounce heavyweight construction guarantees that, not only are these some of the softest sheets in our roundup, but some of the warmest too. Every set comes with four pieces—including a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and two pillowcases—except for the twin-sized set with just one pillowcase. Of course, you’ll pay a little more for all this luxury. But, if money is no object or you’re looking for the softest flannel sheets you can buy this year, we think it’s worth the premium.

What do buyers say? “These sheets are just perfect! They are so soft and welcoming but also substantial in weight and clearly designed to last. I plan on purchasing a second set for the guest bedroom,” said one Coyuchi.com reviewer.

Read more: Men's Health Sleep Awards

We’ve long been fans of Brooklinen. In fact, we tagged it as the Best Online Bedding Store Overall earlier this year because it creates some seriously awesome bedding that not only looks great, but feels great too. The brand’s Flannel Core Sheet Set is the second priciest option on this list. But, these flannel sheets deliver. They’re 100% cotton flannel and woven in Portugal with an OEKO-TEX certification to ensure that zero harmful chemicals are used in the manufacturing process. Countless reviewers also confirm that they’re incredibly soft and durable enough to stand up to years of washing.

If there are two quibbles about this set, price is first and foremost. Not everyone’s going to be willing to drop more than $200 on a set of sheets. If you’re cracking down on the harmful chemicals in your household, though—especially in a critical place like the bedroom—it might be worth the extra money. Second, although we dig it, the “modern cabin chic” colorways and patterns of this set might not be for everyone.

What do buyers say? Out of all the verified buyer reviews on Brooklinen.com, 95% recommend the Brooklinen Flannel Core Sheet Set with at least a 4-star rating.

Like many of the best flannel sheets, this set from Boll & Branch is artisan-made from 100% organic cotton in Portugal. The result? Buttery soft, coma-inducing bedding that’ll put your current sheets to shame. Every sheet is finished with a light brushing and shearing process to ensure better resistance to pilling. If your mattress is especially tall, these sheets also fit mattresses up to 18” deep (except for the twin, which is 16”). Like many on this list, this set is machine-washable too.

According to BollAndBranch.com reviewers, this set has overwhelmingly positive reviews—currently 4.9 out of 5 stars from more than 1,000 buyers. The biggest downside is the price. Since the pillowcases are an add-on, a queen-sized set will set you back more than $350. We’re also a little underwhelmed with the color selection—there are only three to choose from. But, if you want some of the most velvety soft organic cotton sheets and don’t mind paying a premium for the privilege, these might be just what you’re looking for.

What do buyers say? “I'd totally committed to Boll & Branch towels, but thought I'd give flannel sheets a try. This is the second pair [I’ve] purchased, they are that good,” said one BollAndBranch.com reviewer.

In the world of cabin-inspired home décor, Eddie Bauer gives L.L. Bean a run for its money. Case in point: Its patterned flannel collection of sheets, available in more than two dozen colorways and patterns, many holiday-inspired. Most feel a little more sophisticated than your typical children’s bedding, but playful enough to add a dash of fun to any grownup’s bedroom. The 5.6-ounce midweight construction is just heavy enough to work for fall and most of winter. At around $60, they’re also incredibly well priced—you could even buy two sets and rotate throughout the winter.

On the downside, they’re not as buttery soft as most others in our roundup, though that’s to be expected in a set of budget flannel sheets. Some of the patterns may also be a little too childlike, but that’s a matter of personal preference. With more than 15,000 overwhelmingly positive Amazon reviewers, it’s hard to find too much to quibble over with this flannel set.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 15,000 Amazon reviews, 92% recommend the Eddie Bauer Flannel Collection Sheets with at least a 4-star rating.

Shopping for sheets seems deceptively simple. If they feel good to you, what more do you need to know, right? Softness is certainly part of the picture, but there’s more to consider if you’re looking for a set of flannel sheets to last you for years to come.

This might seem obvious, but double-check that any flannel sheet sets you’re shopping are available in the bed size you need. All of our recommendations are available in every standard U.S. mattress size. But, if you’re looking for a specialty set (e.g. Split King or RV Queen), you may need to dig a little deeper.

Most decent flannel sheets these days are made from cotton. For premium sheets, they may even be fair-trade or organic cotton. There are other fabric options, too, including synthetics, wool, and even microfiber. The latter can be a great option if you’re shopping on a budget.

Thread count is king for most bedding—the higher the better. In the land of flannel, however, it’s all about grams per square meter (or just GSM, if you’re in the know). This number indicates a sheet’s weight, so the higher the number, the warmer the sheet.

In the world of bedding, flannel is among the most durable and forgiving of textiles. All of the sheet sets we recommend this year are machine-washable. Pro tip: Most of these manufacturers recommend washing their sheets on cold and drying on low. This gentler process, of course, takes significantly longer. But, if you don’t mind the wait, it will prolong the life of your flannel sheets and keep them from thinning prematurely.

Flannel isn’t all “hunter plaid” anymore. These days, you can find flannel sheets in a wide range of patterns, styles, and colorways to match any decor.

There are thousands--maybe tens of thousands—of flannel sheet sets available online. We researched dozens of top-selling sets from etailers we trust, including Amazon, Walmart, Brooklinen, and more. We compared all of the most important features, including available sizes, GSM weights, environmental-friendliness, price, and verified buyer reviewers. This list above represents our seven picks for the best flannel sheets to shop in 2022.