Fitted sheets are one of those things we take for granted. A bed sheet with elasticated corners may not seem like an invention to roll out the glitter cannons for, but just imagine the tediousness of bedmaking before them.
Endless folding of hospital corners only to wake to them dislodged from the mattress, the sheet tangled between your limbs. Sure, not the biggest nightmare in the world, but one all of us would happily eliminate from daily life.
The patent for the first fitted sheets was only awarded in 1959 by American Bertha Berman. Even those weren’t perfect; the stretchy garters would continually ping off. In 1993, Canadian Gisele Jubinville came up with a deeper pocket design that would stay put despite nightly tossing and turning. This means that lined up against the entirety of human existence, modern fitted sheets have been around for the blink of an eye.
They may seem like an unremarkable piece of household bedding, but they play a vital role in creating a barrier to keep germs, dust and sweat off your mattress, increasing its longevity considerably. The simple sheet keeps one of the biggest furniture purchases in your home in better nick for much longer (although add a topper between your mattress and top sheet and you’ll increase your bed’s lifespan further).
They’re easy to maintain too; all can be chucked in with the weekly load, meaning you’re sleeping in a more hygienic setting too. Sweet dreams are made of this.
They might be everywhere but finding a decent one is still, somehow, a challenge. That’s why we’ve rounded up an edit of the very best fitted sheets that will make dressing the bed so simple you’ll relish switching them over every week.
We’ve taken care to choose skin-friendly, sweat-wicking textures like linen and cotton to enhance the sleeping setting, and there are high-thread count options here too for fancy folks who don’t mind investing in their bedding. All our options (and prices listed) are for double sizes although singles, king and super king are available in almost all cases.
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The White Company Symons Double Row Cord Deep Fitted Sheet
Slip into the sumptuous softness of the Symons fitted sheet. It doesn’t get much more luxurious than the silky 1000-thread-count fabric, an Egyptian cotton sateen that will make it more difficult than ever to leave your bed in the morning.
Buy now £145.00, The White Company
Bed Threads Lavender 100% French Flax Linen Fitted Sheet
Made from flax linen sourced from France, Bed Threads sheet sits snugly across corners. The breathable texture is warming in winter but will keep you cool in summer, making it the perfect bedding for year-round use. Best of all, there are 24 pretty colours to choose from, making it simple to pair with existing bedding and interior schemes.
Buy now £110.00, Bed Threads
Soak & Sleep White 600TC Egyptian Cotton Double sheet
There’s luxury and then there’s 600 Thread Count luxury. Soak & Sleep’s linen bedsheet offers hotel-quality sleep with a silky weave that you’ll be running to slip over at the end of a hard day.
Buy now £42.00, Soak & Sleep
Liberty Ianthe Cotton Sateen Double Fitted Sheet
Liberty’s archive of patterns is legendary. Now you can sport the Arts & Crafts look in bed thanks to this fitted sheet. Using the Ianthe look in navy blue over a white background, the 300 thread count design will fit beautifully over mattresses that are up to 30cm deep.
Buy now £155.00, Liberty
M&S Collection Pure Cotton 300 Thread Count Fitted Sheet
When in doubt, M&S can always be trusted to come up with the goods. While much is made of the food and fashion departments, the retailer’s homewares are its unsung hero. Here’s where you can pick up all manner of essentials, and all made to M&S’s famously value-for-money standards. This pure white sheet, made from cotton, is a case in point; breathable, soft and decently priced.
Buy now £24.00, M&S
The White Company Savoy Deep Fitted Sheet
For that five-star hotel feeling, your first port of call must be The White Company. This is the bestselling fitted sheet from the label and it’s clear why. The quality style is made up of a 400-thread count but has a lovely smooth feel. It is part of the Savoy collection and as such has a premium finish.
Buy now £55.00, The White Company
John Lewis Soft & Silky Specialist Temperature Balancing 400 Thread Count Cotton Fitted Sheet, Double, White
Few people split and store bed linen by season. For an all-rounder that you can use at any time of the year, John Lewis has nailed temperature control in its plain, white fitted sheet. The 400TC design is crafted from 100 per cent cotton and promises to keep you snoozing in a balanced sleep environment.
Buy now £40.00, John Lewis
Christy Soft and Relaxed Organic Cotton Fitted Sheet
Who doesn’t love the feeling of sliding into soft, fresh sheets every night? Christy’s fitted sheet is ready to ensconce dreamers in ridiculously soft organic cotton fibres. With a texture akin to gauze, this two-layer sheet traps tiny pockets of air to keep you warm when it's cold out and vice-versa on balmy evenings. We love the palette of earthy hues available, giving bedding an elevated touch.
Buy now £52.25, Christy
Piglet in Bed Pine Green Pembroke Stripe Linen Fitted Sheet
Whether you’ve kept your duvet and pillow covers plain or you like the thought of changing things up with a patterned fitted sheet, a good stripe is a universally adored thing. Piglet’s offering brings playtime to the bedroom, with ginghams and checks alongside stripes and colour block looks to choose from. Our money’s on this fresh green linen, woven in Portugal from European flax. The pre-washed look will fit mattresses up to 40cm deep.
Buy now £103.20, Piglet in Bed
DUSK Brushed Cotton Fitted Sheet - Off White
Brushed for extra, snuggly softness, DUSK’s off-white bedsheet promises to encase beds that are up to 38cm deep. The neutral look is easy to pair with a variety of duvet covers, blankets and pillows.
Buy now £14.00, DUSK
Dunelm Super Soft Recycled Polyester Fitted Sheet
A good fitted sheet doesn’t have to mean your best fitted sheet. If you’re looking for value bedding to cover guest rooms or need spare overs when your favourite ones are in the wash, Dunelm has all bases covered with a massive range that comes in a pleasing variety of colours. There are also different depths, depending on how plush your mattress is, which means no more wrestling over too-tight corners. Made from recycled polyester, this option sports elastic throughout the edge to help the sheet stay where it should.
Buy now £5.00, Dunelm
La Redoute Kumla Plain 100% Cotton Muslin Fitted Sheet
With the feel of light, delicate gauze, once you’ve rested on this fitted sheet, you’ll be annoyed with anything else. Offering a soft yet textured layer, the sheet can fit 30cm deep mattresses and pairs nicely with classic bedding styles. That said, it is available in 17 shade options, so you can add a splash of colour if you wish.
Buy now £43.40, La Redoute
YVES DELORME Grimani paisley-print organic-cotton fitted sheet
With the feel of light, delicate gauze, once you’ve rested on this fitted sheet, you’ll be annoyed with anything else. Offering a soft yet textured layer, the sheet can fit 30cm deep mattresses and pairs nicely with classic bedding styles. That said, it is available in 17 shade options, so you can add a splash of colour if you wish.
Buy now £235.00, Selfridges
Argos Home Fleece Oatmeal Fitted Sheet - Double
Best saved for truly frozen nights, there’s no need to raise the thermostat when you’ve got Argos’s fitted sheet to lay upon. Made with fleece-like textures and available in three other neutral shades, it’s the sort of bedding that will make trying to get out of bed hell.
Buy now £9.33, Argos
