The 7 Best Eco-Friendly Percale Sheets

Swaddle yourself in these crisp and cooling cotton sheets.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

White sheet set

Courtesy of Getty

Cotton is a popular choice for sheets, but the universe of cotton encompasses different weaves, thread counts, and finishes to decide between. The percale weave is made from cotton fibers woven in a checkerboard pattern, which produces a smooth fabric with a matte finish. Lightweight and breathable, they are ideal for hot sleepers who want a dreamy, airy night of sleep.

However, conventional cotton is among the world’s dirtiest crops, due to the heavy use of insecticides and pesticides. A thirsty plant, cotton cultivation requires intense irrigation and has led to acute agrarian distress and farmer suicides in India. We're here to help you find ethical cotton options that avoid these issues.

Ahead, our suggestions for the best eco-friendly percale sheets.

Best Overall

Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set

4.7
Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set

Brooklinen

Crisp, cool, and non-fussy, Brooklinen’s percale sheets are a popular choice and our top pick of percale sheets. Made from 100% long-staple cotton, the 270 thread count sheets are OEKO-TEX certified and are smooth, breathable, and gentle on your skin. They also have thoughtful details that sort out our niggling bedding issues, making them our top overall pick.

The clever envelope closures on the pillowcases keep the pillows from spilling out and snugly in place. The sides of the fitted sheet are labeled long or short, saving you from struggling to fit them correctly. You can pop them in the washing machine, and Brooklinen recommends you line dry them. It’s the perfect bedding to dive into after a long day, and if you’re still not convinced, the set comes with a 365 night sleep trial.

Price at time of publish: $139 for Twin

Best Budget

Sol Organics Percale Bedding Bundle

Sol Organics Bedding

Sol Organics

Sol Organics Percale Bedding bundle is is affordable without compromising on sustainability. The sheets have been made in India from Fair Trade cotton, using no child labor and are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

The single-ply yarn spun from long organic cotton fibers makes for smooth, durable sheets. Dyed with low-impact organic dyes, the bundles are thus available in just 3 shades: white, dove gray, and ivory. The set includes a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, a duvet cover, and two pillowcases and sham covers each (depending on size ordered). Sleep peacefully at night knowing your bedding is sustainable and has a positive social impact.

Price at time of publish: $199 for Twin

Best Organic

Pottery Barn Organic Percale Sheet Set

4.2
Pottery Barn 400-Thread-Count Organic Percale Sheet Set

Pottery Barn

Organic cotton is grown with fewer pesticides and no syntic fertilizer. We love that these classic percale sheets from Pottery Barn are not only certified GOTS organic, but they're also made in a Fair Trade Certified facility. They're available in five solid colors, and in twin/XL twin, full, queen, king, and California king sizes. You can also get them monogrammed for an additional fee.

The manufacturer recommends washing these in a warm cycle, and they can be tumbled dry at a medium heat. To avoid wrinkles, it's a good idea to remove them promptly from the dryer and put them right on the bed or fold them up for storage.

Best Color Variety

Coyuchi Organic Crinkled Percale Sheets

4.2
Coyuchi Organic Crinkled Percale Sheets

Coyuchi

We love Coyuchi’s Crinkled percale sheets which have the breathability of percale, while being extra soft, with a lovely, slightly rumpled look. You can either mix and match a set, or choose a single-color set. The sheets are available in a tempting palette of solid colors such as blush, aegean, pewter, ginger, and other soothing shades.

Made from GOTS-certified organic cotton grown and woven in India, they are smooth enough to snuggle in as soon as you remove them from the reusable bag they are packed in, which is also made from organic fabric. The moisture-wicking set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillowcases (one standard pillowcase for twin sets). The all-season sheet set is Fair Trade and Made Safe certified. Coyuchi also donates to environmental nonprofit 1% For the Planet.

Price at time of publish: $188 for Full

Best With Deep Pockets

Boll & Branch Percale Hemmed Sheet Set

Boll & Branch Percale Hemmed Sheet Set

Courtesy of Boll & Branch

If you’ve been struggling with untucked sheets every morning or have a particularly high mattress, look no further than Boll & Branch’s percale sheet set that comes with a generous 17-inch elasticized fitted sheet. It can comfortably slide under your mattress, gliding over any toppers or pads, and stays tucked in place, even after a night of tossing and turning.

The 360 thread count sheets come with Boll & Branch’s incredible commitment to the environment and social causes, which are outlined in the company’s detailed impact report. These crisp sheets are made from GOTS and Fair Trade-certified organic cotton in a Fair Trade factory and are OEKO-TEX certified. Beautifully hand-finished, they come with a 30-night trial.

Price at time of publish: $228 for Twin

Best Egyptian Cotton

L.L. Bean Premium Egyptian Percale Sheet Collection

Premium Egyptian Percale Sheet Collection

Courtesy of L.L. Bean

Egyptian cotton has a reputation for being the softest, luxurious, and most durable cotton. Sleeping on LL Bean’s Egyptian percale sheet bundle is akin to sleeping on a fluffy cloud. The set includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases (one pillowcase in case of twin sheets) made from 400 thread count long-staple Egyptian cotton.

Made in Portugal, the bedding set is OEKO-TEX certified. However, one of the only drawbacks of these hotel-style sheet sets is a limited color palette.

Price at time of publish: $229 for Twin

Best Luxury

Snowe Percale Sheet Set

4.7
Snowe Percale Sheet Set

SnoweHome

Swathe yourself in luxury with Snowe’s percale sheets. Boasting a 500-thread count, these Italian-milled percale sheets made from fine, long-staple cotton threads that are fluid and luxurious. Matte-finished and OEKO-TEX certified, the generously sized sheets drape easily and aren’t scratchy or coarse, though they are prone to wrinkling.

The trick to avoiding wrinkles is to iron or fit slightly damp sheets on your bed, thus smoothening any creases out. The set comes with a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases neatly packed in a percale envelope, which you can use to store them. If you're looking to splurge, these sheets are a luxury well worth the investment.

Price at time of publish: $225 for Twin

Final Verdict

Our overall top recommendation for percale sheets is the Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set. If you’re looking for a lower-cost option, go with the Sol Organic Percale Sheet Set.

Why Trust Treehugger?

Treehugger wants to help our readers find the most sustainable products because we know that buying home goods that don’t fit your needs can lead to waste. We've deeply researched the sustainability of the bedding market to make our product recommendations.

For this list, our sheet picks feature cotton percale that has been third-party certified as gentle on the environment, ideally with a positive social impact. This includes percale that is Global Organic Textile Standard certified, OEKO-TEX certified (indicating it is free from chemicals know to be harmful), and Fair Trade certified, which ensures decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers.  

Author Neeti Mehra is a luxury-industry veteran who’s also committed to sustainable, slow, and mindful living.