In my search for the perfect bed sheets, I started looking for something that was super soft, fit the mattress well, was easy to take care of, and was affordable. Not much to ask, right? My search brought me to the jersey sheet, which we’ll talk about today. I’ll go over what they are, the benefits, what to look for when shopping for them, and give you 5 of the best sheets on the market to get you started.
Without further ado, let’s talk about Jersey sheets.
What are Jersey Sheets?
Jersey fabric is akin to your best and most comfortable t-shirt. It’s soft, cozy, breathable, hugs your mattress, and has that broken-in feeling to them. They can be made from 100% cotton to cotton blends using different fibers, like polyester. What makes Jersey different from other fabrics is how it’s produced, a process that gives you it a stretchy comfortable feel.
Historically, this fabric was used for sweaters and hosiery. It became popular to be used as daywear in 1879, and in the 1920s the fabric was made fashionable by Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, as comfortably fitting women’s suits and dresses. Today, it is used to make t-shirts, sweaters, hosiery, sportswear, and of course bedding.
How Jersey Fabric is Made
Most fabrics for sheets, such as cotton, are woven. Jersey, on the other hand, is knitted into rows of yarn loops. Each loop is pulled through the loop below it, creating vertical rows. Knitted fabrics don’t have straight lines, which allows the fabric to stretch in every direction, giving it more elasticity than other fabrics. Jersey is made either by hand or with a weft knitting machine, which allows for smaller even stitches.
Top Five Rated Jersey Sheets
1. Best Overall: Lifetown Jersey Knit Cotton Sheet Set
Why You’ll Like Them: If you’re looking for an overall good quality, affordable jersey sheet set with a snug fit, this 100% jersey cotton sheet from Lifetown is the perfect choice.
To start, these fitted sheets from Lifetown are 100% jersey cotton making it very comfortable to sleep on.
The sheets are soft, lightweight, breathable, and wick moisture well, allowing heat to escape the body and for you to stay cool. This sheet set comes with a fitted sheet and 2 pillowcases. Since it doesn’t come with a top sheet, it’s a great choice for adjustable beds. Due to its deep pockets these jersey fitted sheets are a good option also for deep mattresses. Add to this the fabrics’ stretchiness and you have a sheet that will stay put.
As far as taking care of these sheets, you can just toss them in your washer, tumble them dry, and they are ready to go back on your bed with no need for ironing. The fitted sheet is fully elasticized and has 15-inch deep pockets.
One more thing I really liked with this set is that the pillowcases have envelope closures, which is a nice finishing touch. This true jersey knit sheets come in a really nice selection of colors and you have a 30-day return policy.
Pros: Affordable, easy to care for, really soft to the touch, great for deep mattresses, true jersey knit sheets
Cons: No top sheet
2. Best Budgey Sheets: Great Bay Home Extra Soft Jersey
Why You’ll Like Them: If you want great sheets on a budget without losing out on quality, You will love this sheet set from Great Bay Home.
These sheets are made of a 90% cotton 10% polyester blend, which gives them added durability and stretch. They are very comfortable and breathable, moisture-wicking, and great for hot or cold nights.
The fitted sheet is fully elasticated and has generous 17-inch deep pockets. I also liked that they not only have a nice choice of fade-resistant colors to choose from but some chevron patterns as well. It’s hard to find Jersey cotton sheets in patterns, but this gives you the option to mix patterns with solid colors to match your décor.
The sheets are easy to care for and will get softer with each wash, although many have said they are super soft right out of the package anyway. You can machine wash and dry them, then put them on your bed right from the dryer without having to worry about wrinkling. You also get a 30-day guarantee.
Pros: Can be used year-round, affordable, 10 colors and patterns to choose from, easy to care for, deep pockets, and breathable
Cons: The fit is a little too snug for deep mattresses
3. Best for Hot Sleepers: AmazonBasics
Why You’ll Like Them: If you’re a hot sleeper and want a 100% Jersey cotton sheet set that is super soft, AmazonBasics has you covered.
The sheets are not only 100% cotton but also combed to give it a heathered effect softness. Heather Jersey is known for its exceptional softness. They are breathable and won’t trap heat, so they keep you feeling cool. You can still use these all-year-round though. The elasticity of this fabric also helps the sheet to hug the mattress and stay on.
Like most Jersey sheets, these are very easy to care for, can be machine washed and dried, and then put back on your bed right away. Their ability to stretch also makes them fairly wrinkle-free. They come in a range of 5 neutral colors using pre-dyed yarn that will work as a foundation for your décor. The fitted sheet is fully elasticated with 16-inch deep pockets, and you get a 1-year warranty from Amazon with them.
Pros: Super soft, wrinkle-free, affordable, easy to care for, stretch to fit, and you get a 1-year warranty.
Cons: Some buyers found that these sheets pilled a lot and wanted more color options.
4. Best Mid-Range: Brielle 100% Cotton Jersey
Why You’ll Like Them: If you want affordable yet stylish jersey cotton sheets from a well-known brand, Brielle is for you.
Brielle has been in the textile business for 60 years and knows how to make a good quality sheet. Made from 100% high-quality cotton, many buyers said they were cloud-soft and felt like their most comfortable T-shirt.
Because of how Jersey sheets are knitted, the fabric has a nice thickness while remaining very breathable and lightweight. This means they can be used all-year-round, which saves you on having to buy separate sheets for each season. They may be slightly more than some Jersey sheets but, for the quality of the fabric, they are well worth it.
The fitted sheet is fully elasticated with 15-inch deep pockets. It comes in a stylish pattern – Fleur de Lis Blue – that will suit any bedroom decor. They are easy to care for, however, the manufacturer does suggest that you don’t fully dry the sheets to help avoid wrinkles and prevent any shrinkage.
Pros: Good quality, affordable, fit for all-year-round, nice pattern, and very soft and comfortable.
Cons: Lack of color options and bed sizes
5. Best Wrinkle-Resistant: Royale Linens Cotton-Modal Jersey Knit
Why You’ll Like Them: For those of you who want a more luxurious Jersey knit sheet set that it’s easy to care for, Royale Linens make an exceptional one that you will love.
The Soft Tees sheet set is made from a blend of 30% combed cotton and 70% Modal. Modal is a bamboo-derived fiber that is also known as rayon. This blend gives you a very silky soft, luxurious feeling sheet that has a nice sheen to it. They are very lightweight but aren’t as breathable as the other sheets we have looked at. So, these sheets are a better option for colder nights.
They still have the stretchy quality the Jersey knits are known for. The flat sheet is fully elasticated and has 15-inch deep pockets. They come in a nice range of neutral colors and a simple classic design. The sheets are also easy to care for and can be machine washed and dried, as well as being both wrinkle, pill, fade, and shrink resistant.
Pros: Has an almost silky feel and sheen, stretch to fit, affordable, good for cold nights, and comes in a nice range of colors.
Cons: Few prints, may be too thin for some, only fits mattresses up to 15″ thick
Types of Jersey Fabrics
Jersey can come in several types:
Single jersey: This is made with a fine grade yarn in a single ply and gives the fabric more elasticity.
Double, or Interlocking: This uses two layers of the fabric and knits them together. Knitting is done alternately, with one stitch being done on the front of the fabric and the next stitch on the back. This gives you a stronger, thicker fabric that has less elasticity than single Jersey.
Jacquard jersey: With Jacquard, a complex pattern is knitted into the fabric, which gives it texture. This can be done using single or multiple colors.
Intarsia jersey: This uses two or more colors that are knit into designs to create areas of color that are self-contained (such as striped sweaters). It’s expensive to manufacture in comparison to printing a pattern on the fabric.
Clocqué jersey: Clocque is French for blister and refers to a woven pattern that has a puckered or raised woven pattern.
A note on fabrics
Beddings come in such a wide array of fabric choices that it can be hard to know which to choose. The best way to start is to know the specific qualities of each one. This will help you pick a fabric that works well for you. Some fabrics are good for specific seasons and may not be good for hot sleepers. Others can be used all year-round. Most jersey sheets are made from cotton, which is a good all-year-round choice.
Cotton itself comes in a few types, and it can also be blended with other fabrics.
So let’s have a look at what each one can do for you.
Looking at the Cottons
With cotton, you have everything from your everyday Upland to the more luxurious Egyptian cotton. All of these can be used to make a Jersey knot fabric. However, they won’t all feel the same. With Upland cotton, the fibers are shorter and can feel a bit rougher. They also are more prone to breakage. However, it’s the cheapest version of cotton that you can get.
Egyptian, Pima, and Supima cotton are the more higher-end cotton fibers used to make sheets. These use long-staple fibers that are more resilient, durable, and much softer and smoother. They are also more expensive.
Egyptian cotton is less prone to pilling because it uses a single-ply thread, making it stronger to everyday wear-and-tear. Pima and Supima are the next best type, with Supima being a more superior version of Pima. It uses extra-long-staple fibers.
Microfiber
Some Jersey sheets are made from a blend of cotton and polyester, or microfiber. Polyester is less breathable and traps heat, which can be good for colder weather. When blended with cotton, and depending on the ratio, the two can balance each other out to give you a sheet that can be used all year-round. It also adds a bit more stretch to the fabric.
Modal
Modal is a type of rayon that is made from wood pulp. It uses a sateen weave and, when blended with Jersey cotton, gives the sheet a silky softness and sheen that you don’t normally see in a Jersey fabric. It’s not as cooling as cotton though and may not be best for hot sleepers.
How to Choose the Right Set for Your Bed
Jersey sheets have many benefits, including being an all-year-round material. Their ability to stretch lets them hug the mattress for a really nice fit. They are cozy, soft, and comfortable to sleep on. They are also really easy to care for and resistant to wrinkles. Because they are knitted, they are stronger and have more durability. The best part is that they are so affordable.
So how do you choose the best Jersey sheet for you?
Here are the qualities to look for.
- 100% Cotton: While cotton blends tend to be less expensive, they can also be lower quality. The best jersey sheets use 100% cotton for comfort, softness, longevity, and quality.
- Easy Care: Most jersey sheets are really easy to care for. They can be machine washed and dried and wrinkle-free and ready to put on your bed straight from the dryer. This means no ironing is needed. Some blended Jersey fabrics may require a bit more attention, which is why going for straight cotton is best.
- Size Variety: As with any sheet, make sure you get the size needed for your bed. For example, if you have a thick mattress, you will need sheets that come with deep pockets to ensure they fit and stay on the mattress. While jersey is quite stretchy, you should still to the size recommended for your bed. A queen-sized sheet won’t be stretchy enough to cover a king-sized mattress.
- Affordability: Price is always a consideration when buying sheets. Jersey sheets offer good-quality at a price that will fit your budget. Saying that you can get higher-quality, luxury jersey bedsheets too. Keep in mind that jersey sheets are meant to be soft, comfortable, and fit for everyday use.
- Patterns and Colors: While this isn’t quite a mandatory requirement, it’s always nice to have a variety of choices in color and pattern to suit everyone’s taste. Look for brands that give you a range of color and pattern choices. Speaking of brands, it’s a good idea to look for brands that are well-known. You may come across cheaper sets from an obscure company only to find they have used low-quality materials.
If you haven’t tried jersey sheets before you should definitely give them a chance. It’s such a simple fabric that has a lot to offer. When you’re shopping for your sheets, make sure you do some price comparisons to see what options are available to you.
I’m sure you will love the way these sheets feel and look.
How to Care for Jersey Sheets
Jersey fabric is known as being an easy to care for fabric. However, if you want to get the most out of your Jersey sheets, there are a few tips for washing and drying them.
Most manufacturers advise you to wash Jersey sheets in a cool temperature setting unless they are very dirty or stained. It’s also best to wash them on their own to reduce friction from rougher materials.
You can dry Jersey sheets in a tumble dryer, but use a cool setting to avoid shrinkage of the fabric. Jersey fabric is less wrinkle-prone due to it being a knit and more flexible, so you won’t really need to iron them. In fact, you can usually put them on your bed right out of the drier.
In Summary
So, you have 5 of the best Jersey sheet sets to get you started on your search. My personal choice is the set from Great Bay Home because of the brushed heathered texture, which gives these sheets such a soft feel. They are also a good price! I hope this guide has been helpful for you today and you find the perfect choice of bedding sheets.