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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.
Top complaints
- Stiff and textured at first
Wirecutter says some people find it rough and that it comes out of the package more taut than other percales, softening only over time. Good Housekeeping notes percale isn't as smooth as sateen.
- Can fit loosely
One Wirecutter editor found the sheets huge on her regular foam mattress: baggy, billowy, too loud and slippery.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT), best sheets - Shallower pocket than some rivals
The fitted sheet is 15 inches deep, versus 18 inches for Target's Threshold sets (Wirecutter's measurements).
What owners love
- Exceptionally durable
Wirecutter still uses a 2017 test set and says it only gets better with washing. In Good Housekeeping's lab it held up to strength, shrinkage and pilling tests.
- Cool and breathable
Wirecutter calls it very breathable and ideal for warm weather. A Good Housekeeping tester said it feels like quality hotel sheets and a bit cool to the touch.
- Softer than most percale
It stood out for softness against other percale in Good Housekeeping's lab and consumer tests, and Wirecutter calls it the smoothest, best-made percale it has tested.
- You want silky, smooth sateen
- Your mattress is deeper than about 15 inches
- You want lots of prints and colors
- Hot sleepers who like a crisp, cool feel
- Sheets meant to last for years
- A generous one-year return window
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT), cotton sheets guide: Best percale (updated 2026-10-02): smoother, better-made and more durable than any percale tested; stiff out of the package.
- Good Housekeeping: Best overall percale (updated 2026-04-03): crisp yet soft, cool and durable in lab tests; not as smooth as sateen.
- CNN Underscored: Named as a cheaper alternative to its Brooklinen percale pick if you want a stiffer percale.