The Vermont Country Store Cotton Flannel Sheets: These soft, thick sheets kept us warm but never made us overheat. The fabric is super breathable, and we were initially impressed with the quality of construction. However, over time we noticed pilling on the most-used portions of the sheets and pillowcases, and shrinking meant making the bed became more difficult.
Flannel is a fabric that can be made from cotton, wool, polyester, or other synthetic fibers. Cotton makes for softer flannel, which is why most of the products on our best flannel sheets list are made from cotton. During our testing, we discovered that no matter the material, most flannel sheets tend to pill over time. However, higher-quality cotton flannel sheets are more resistant to pilling. We found that the Lands' End Comfy Super Soft Cotton Flannel Sheet Set was very resistant to pilling.
You'll notice that no thread count is listed for these sheets. That's because the quality of flannel sheets is measured in terms of GSM (grams per square meter), not thread count. The Sleep Foundation recommends looking for flannel sheets in the 170+ GSM range for durability and heaviness, though if you want something more lightweight, choose a lower GSM. Some manufacturers don't list the GSM on the website, but you can always reach out for that information.
The pocket depth, which is listed in inches, refers to the length of a fitted sheet's corner seam. For a sheet to fit well on your mattress, the pocket depth should be larger than the depth of the mattress. If you're at the store and you've forgotten to measure your mattress, just know that the deeper the pocket, the better the sheets will stay on your bed without popping off in the middle of the night. Don't go too deep, though, or else you might find yourself having to tuck extra fabric under the mattress.
Since flannel sheets are made from cotton, they're easy to care for. All of the sheets on our list are machine-washable. Check the manufacturer's instructions for specific recommendations on water and dryer temperature. Flannel sheets tend to shed a lot of lint, so wash them separately from other laundry, and be sure to clean your dryer's lint filter after drying.
Price is always a factor when it comes to bedding. But for flannel sheets that you will only be using for part of the year, it's even more important. While you don't want to waste money on a set of sheets that will fall apart after just a couple of washes, you might not want to spend hundreds of dollars on a seasonal item. Still, just like a pair of silk or satin sheets, with proper laundering, a well-made set of flannel sheets could last for many winters, so you might want to invest in a premium set like the Lands' End Comfy Super Soft Cotton Flannel Sheet Set or the L.L.Bean Comfort Flannel Sheet Set.
Our PEOPLE Tested team tried out 30 flannel sheet sets, ranging in design, price, and GSM from popular brands like Eddie Bauer, L.L.Bean, The Company Store, and more.
Barbara Bellesi Zito is a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE who covers lifestyle, real estate, and home improvement content. To curate this article on the best flannel sheets, she consulted our testers, who provided their insights and honest thoughts on which sets were warm and cozy without being too hot. PEOPLE shopping writer Genevieve Cepeda most recently updated this article. After reevaluating PEOPLE's top picks, she further narrowed down our favorites to recommend the absolute best flannel sheets of 2024.
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval -- because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust -- every day, every purchase.