California Design Den 400 Thread Count Cotton Sateen Sheet Set: the downsides first

The percale set both Wirecutter and Good Housekeeping rank first: cool, breathable and very durable, and it gets softer over the years. It feels stiff and textured at first, and one Wirecutter editor found it baggy on her bed. It's sold by L.L.Bean, not on Amazon.

Amazon's best-selling sheet set, with about 380,000 ratings, and Good Housekeeping's best microfiber pick for years: very soft, wrinkle- and shrink-resistant, and about $50. But it's thin polyester that isn't as breathable as cotton, Amazon owners are split on whether the fitted sheet stays on, and Wirecutter avoids microfiber for heat and shedding.

Wirecutter's budget sateen pick since 2015: sturdy, wrinkle-resistant and about $55 for a queen, with deep 18-inch pockets and labeled sides. But Wirecutter says recent sets feel less silky with messier stitching, some testers slept hot on them, and lint and pet hair cling. It's sold only at Target.