Our pick
The high-quality, long-staple cotton of L.L.Bean’s Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel sheets stays soft over many seasons—we’ve used and loved these sheets for years. Made with Portuguese flannel (the softest in our testing), the Ultrasoft Comfort sheets are of better quality—but cost much less—than many high-end sets we’ve tried. These sheets are warm but not too heavy, and they didn’t cause our testers to overheat. They also come with L.L.Bean’s famous customer service and one-year return policy.
Budget pick
Target Threshold Flannel Sheet Set
These bargain sheets aren’t the most luxurious flannel set we recommend, but they outperformed many pricier sets we’ve tested. And they come in the most modern, whimsical prints of all of our picks.
Target’s Threshold Flannel Sheet Set costs about a quarter of the price of our top pick, from L.L.Bean. And though the Threshold sheets may not last as long, they’re still a fantastic deal and will definitely keep you warm. These sheets aren’t as soft as the L.L.Bean Ultrasoft Comfort sheets, and in long-term testing they pilled more. But they performed better than many expensive sets we’ve tried, including those from Boll & Branch and Riley. The Threshold sheets come in fun colors and prints, including holiday options, which vary from year to year but are typically more modern than those from L.L.Bean. Target carries these sheets only for winter, and the prints sell out often. Target does restock them throughout the season, but if you see a pattern you like, don’t wait to buy it.
Upgrade pick
L.L.Bean Premium Supima Flannel Sheets
The Premium Supima sheets feel softer and plusher than any other flannel sheets we’ve tried, and after years of long-term testing them, we know they last.
If you want the softest flannel sheets we’ve found and don’t mind paying more for them, we recommend the L.L.Bean Premium Supima Flannel Sheets. They’re almost twice the price of the L.L.Bean Ultrasoft Comfort sheets, but in our tests they were the softest sheets overall. The Supima sheets are beautifully constructed from Portuguese flannel, like the Ultrasofts, but the fabric is thicker and an ounce weightier per yard, with minimal shrinkage and pilling. We’ve been long-term testing them since 2016, and they’re still plush, warm, and cozy. The Premium Supima sheets are pricey, but they’re a great investment.