Memory foam mattresses are great for giving you that extra support and firmness to get a good night’s sleep. The problem many people run into, however, is that these mattresses retain our body heat, which means you’ll need a certain type of sheet that will help keep you cool. We’ve researched a number of fabrics and sheet sets to give you a few choices. Our review will look at the best sheets for memory foam mattresses, along with a buyer’s guide to help.
What are the best sheets to use if I have a memory foam mattress?
As we just mentioned, memory foam mattresses retain body heat. So, you will want to steer clear of fabrics that are known for their warmth factors, such as flannel, polyester, and microfiber sheets because they are less breathable.
Instead, go for breathable fabrics:
- Cotton: cotton is known for its breath-ability. You can choose percale sheets, which are cooler, or a sateen weave, which is softer.
- Linen: this is another breathable and cooling fabric, however, it can be a bit on the expensive side.
- Silk: this gives you a breathable, soft, and luxurious feeling sheet, but can also be on the expensive side.
- Bamboo: known for it’s natural hypoallergenic and breathable properties, bamboo sheets are a good choice for those with sensitive skin and allergies.
Memory foam mattresses also compress and expand a lot, and they tend to be thicker than ordinary mattresses. So, you will need sheets that have deep or extra-deep pockets on the fitted sheet to keep it securely on the mattress.
Thread count is something else you will want to pay attention too, but the fabric and weave also play a role here. For most sheets, a good quality thread count is between 200 and 400.
For example, a good thread count for a percale weave, which is a tight weave, is about 200 to keep it light and airy. A sateen weave, which is not as tightly woven, should have a thread count of around 300.
The Eight Best Sheets for Memory Foam Beds
1. Best Overall Memory Foam Bed Sheets: Peru Pima Cotton Sheet Set
Why You’ll Love Them: The 415 thread count 100% Peruvian Pima cotton sheet set from Peru Pima are simple, classic, clean, and timeless – exactly what you would look for in a good quality sheet.
Fabric & Fitted sheet depth: 100% Peruvian Pima cotton, 15-inch deep pocket sheets
Made from 285 thread count 100% Peruvian Pima cotton, these sheets have a percale weave that gives the sheets breathability. They’re cool and crisp, and perfect for hot sleepers. This gives you a nice cool barrier between the memory foam mattress and your skin. They have that hotel quality feel that so many people love. The high-quality long-staple cotton also gives these sheets durability and makes them pill-resistant.
The fitted sheet is fully elasticated and has 15-inch deep pockets to help keep it securely on the mattress, even with all the compression and expansion. The sheets are Oeko-Tex certified, so you know no harmful chemicals have been used.
The quality of the cotton used allows for deeper dying, making them resistant to fading. The sheets come in several colors and all mattresses sizes, and the manufacturer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros: durable, pill and fade resistant, cool, no harsh chemicals used, suited for hot sleepers, and you get a money-back guarantee.
Cons: not the softest right out of the bag, not available in twin XL mattresses
Buy the Peru Pima percale cotton 4-piece sheet set on Amazon
2. Best Rated (Less Expensive) Sheets: Dreamz Specialty Sheets for Queen Size Memory Foam Mattress
Why You’ll Love Them: Dreamz cotton sheets are specifically designed for memory foam beds. The 4-piece set comes in a good choice of neutral options, including this ivory set that has 16.5″ deep pockets and a smooth yet durable, 400 thread count.
Fabric & Fitted sheet depth: cotton, 16.5-inch deep pocket sheets
These 400 thread count 100% cotton sheets are sized especially for memory foam mattresses. They are made with a sateen weave to give it added softness and a nice sheen. They are breathable, cooling, and durable. You get a nice balance of luxury without losing the strength of the fabric. The breathable surface of these sheets also works to repel moisture and dust.
The fitted sheet is fully elasticated with 16.5-inch pockets and very thick elastic bands. The sheet set comes in 5 neutral colors that are fade-resistant. They can be machine washed and dried, and wrinkle-resistant, making them easy to care for.
Pros: affordable, good quality cotton, deep pockets, strong elastic bands, durable, luxury-look, and are easy to care for.
Cons: few color choices, gets softer with each wash
Buy the Dreamz memory foam mattress cotton sheets on Amazon
3. Best Sheets for Hot Sleepers: Casper
Why You’ll Love Them: If you’re a hot sleeper, cool, breathable sheets can make a huge difference to your sleep. The secret is in the material and weave and that’s why Casper Sleep’s supima cotton sheets are the perfect cooling sheet set for you.
Fabric & Fitted sheet depth: 100% Supima cotton with a sateen weave, 14-inch deep pocket sheets
Made from 400 thread count 2-ply 100% Supima cotton with a percale weave, these sheets are very durable, tear and pill-resistant. The sheets have a cool, crisp feel to them, and the extra-long-staple fibers give these sheets a super soft feel. The percale weave gives these sheets the breathability needed to keep you feeling cool at night, as well as repels allergens and dust mites.
The fitted sheet is fully elasticated with 14-inch deep pockets. It stretches well without losing its shape over time. Sizes run from twin to California king, and they come in 5 neutral colors. You also get a 100-day money-back guarantee from the manufacturer. They can be machine washed and dried, making them easy to care for.
Pros: highly durable, tear and pill-resistant, easy to care for and maintain, have minimal shrinkage after washing, and has good breathability, made with Supima cotton from California
Cons: limited color options, expensive
Buy Casper Sleep supima cotton 4-piece sheet set on Amazon
4. Best Silk Sheets: ZimaSilk 100% Mullberry Silk
Why You’ll Love Them: If you want soft, breathable cooling sheets with anti-aging properties ZimaSilk’s mulberry silk sheets are silky soft and buttery smooth with a somewhat lustrous sheen that offers a luxe sleeping experience.
Fabric & Fitted sheet depth: 100% Mulberry silk, 16-inch deep pocket sheets
Made from 100% Mulberry silk, which is known for its tensile strength, these sheets are durable with a luxurious look and feel. The lightweight fabric makes them breathable, cooling, and smooth feeling. Silk is known for its ability to protect the hair and skin because it doesn’t catch or wrinkle when moving around.
The silk has a 19 momme rating, which is equivalent to a 600 thread count sheet. It’s shrink-resistant and will retain its shape over time. The fitted sheet is fully elasticated to keep it from slipping off, with 16-inch deep pockets. The sheets are Okeo-Tex certified, so you know the sheets are chemical-free and only uses dyes that are environmentally friendly.
The sheets come in 6 nice colors and in sizes queen and king. You also get a 1-year guarantee from the manufacturer.
Pros: Oeko-Tex certified, durable, breathable, shrink-resistant, environmentally friendly dyes are used, and you get a 1-year guarantee.
Cons: expensive, best if line dried
Buy ZimaSilk 4-piece mulberry sheet set on Amazon
5. Best Bamboo Sheets: Hotel Sheets Direct
Why You’ll Love Them: If you’re looking for hypoallergenic sheets for your memory foam mattress, check out these bamboo sheets from Hotel Sheets Direct. They come with a great price tag, have antibacterial/antifungal properties (sans pesticides) and are ideal for both hot and cold sleepers.
Fabric & Fitted sheet depth: 100% bamboo, 16-inch deep pocket sheets
Made from 144 gsm high-grade 100% Viscose Bamboo, these sheets are very lightweight and super soft. Bamboo is known for its natural hypoallergenic properties, making these a good choice for those with allergies and sensitive skin. The close woven fabric gives these sheets durability, pill-resistance, fade, and shrink resistance.
The sheets are eco-friendly and anti-microbial. They are also thermo-regulating, meaning they will keep you feeling cool when the weather is hot, and warm when it’s cold, making them perfect for year-round use.
The fitted sheet is fully elasticated with 15-inch deep-pockets, and they come in a variety of soft neutral and vibrant colors to choose from and sizes that range from twin to California king. They can be machine washed and dried on cold and low heat settings, making them fairly easy to care for. You get a 90-day sleep challenge guarantee from the manufacturer.
Pros: inexpensive, hypoallergenic, anti-microbial, pill, fade and shrink resistant, durable, lightweight, eco-friendly, heat-regulating and good for all seasons.
Cons: requires gentle care, no prints, wrinkle easily
Buy the Hotel Sheets Direct 100% Bamboo Bed Sheet Set on Amazon
6. Best All-Seasons Sheets: Simple & Opulence
Why You’ll Love Them: If you’re unfamiliar with linen sheets, they’re great for both hot and cold weather, are highly breathable, absorbs moisture well and have hypo-allergenic properties plus they’re also eco-friendly. If you’re looking for the perfect all-season sheet set for your memory foam bed, you’ll like these from Simple & Opulence.
Fabric & Fitted sheet depth: 100% pure Belgian flax linen, 14-inch deep pocket sheets
Made from 100% stonewashed Belgium Linen, these sheets have a simple look with a nice trim to them. Linen is known for its high durability, so the sheets will last for quite some time. The sheets are breathable and cooling, making them a good choice for hot sleepers and warm temperatures. They are also more moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating than cotton and can be used year-round.
The stonewash process makes these sheets feel soft from the start, and they are Oeko-Tex Certified, which means no chemicals are used in the manufacturing process. They are fade and shrink resistant, and can be machine washed and dried, making them fairly easy to care for.
The fitted sheet is fully elasticated with 14-inch deep-pockets. They come in 5 color choices and 4 sizes.
Pros: moisture-wicking, durable, temperature-regulating, stonewashed for added softness, eco-friendly, fade and shrink resistant, and good for all year round.
Cons: limited color choices, tad pricey for budget buyers, not available in twin xl or Cal King mattresses
Buy Simple & Opulence 4-piece linen sheet set on Amazon
7. Best Deep Pocket Sheets: Elegant Bedding
No products found.Why You’ll Love Them: These are also great sheets to check out for their super elastic deep pockets and timeless look.
Fabric & Fitted sheet depth: cotton, 15-inch deep pocket sheets
These 300 thread count 100% plush cotton sheets have a sateen weave that gives them added softness and durability. The plush long-staple cotton fibers are two times longer than your standard cotton fibers, giving them a light drape and softness. The sheets are breathable, moisture-wicking to keep you feeling cool and pill-resistant.
They also have a 4-inch hem with piping that gives them a simple but elegant look. The fully elasticated fitted sheet has a stretchy 15-inch deep pocket that can fit mattresses up to 18-inches in depth. The sheets stretch for a firm fit but keep their shape over time. They come in a nice variety of colors and sizes. They can be machine washed and dried, so are easy to maintain.
Pros: plush long-staple cotton makes them very soft, sateen weave, breathable, moisture-wicking, pill-resistant, durable, and easy to care for and maintain.
Cons: slightly thinner fabric than other brands, a little pricey
Buy Elegant Bedding cotton sheet set on Amazon
8. Best Extra-Deep Pocket Sheets: MD Home Decor
Why You’ll Love Them: If you need more than just a deep-pocket sheet to fit your mattress, these affordable 100% Egyptian cotton sheets from MD Home Decor has just the perfect set for you.
Fabric & Fitted sheet depth: 100% Egyptian cotton, 22 inches deep pocket sheets
Made from 400 thread count 100% cotton, these sheets are soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking to keep you feeling cool when the temperature is warm. The weave makes these sheets both stain and wrinkle-resistant, as well as durable with a thickness that is just right. The extra flexible fully elasticated fitted sheet has extra-deep 22-inch pockets that will fit on those extra-deep mattresses and stay in place.
The sheets can be machine washed and dried, so caring for them is easy. The sheets come in a wide selection of colors and sizes that range from twin to California king. You also get a 30-day no questions asked return policy from the manufacturer.
Pros: breathable, affordable, moisture-wicking, extra-deep pockets, stain and wrinkle-resistant, durable, and comes in a wide variety of colors.
Cons: some pilling after a few months of use
Buy MD Home Decor 4-piece Egyptian cotton bed sheet set on Amazon
Bedsheets Buyer’s Guide
Now that we’ve had a look at some reviews on quality sheets, let’s get into what to look for when buying the right sheets for your memory foam mattress.
How to choose sheets for a foam mattress?
The first thing that you need to take into consideration when buying your sheets is the sizing. Memory foam mattresses and toppers mean your standard sizing isn’t going to fit. Before you buy sheets, take some measurements of your mattress, especially the depth, because this is where many run into issues. You may have a queen-sized mattress, but it may not be a standard size for sheets.
One great tip is to make sure the sheets you buy don’t have the same pocket measurement as your mattress. In other words, add about 2 inches to the depth and buy sheets of that size to ensure they have enough material to fit under the mattress and stay snuggly on it.
Your average deep-pocket sheet will have a 15-inch pocket, whereas an extra-deep sheet will be between 16 and 24-inches.
Choosing White vs. Color
Another consideration is whether to go for plain white sheets or colored sheets. Where maintenance is concerned, a white sheet is a lot easier to care for than colored sheets in most cases. They will also match any color scheme.
With colored sheets, you tend to have to care for them a bit more in order to keep them from fading and getting dull looking.
It can be a good option to choose a light neutral color if you want that splash of color that is a bit easier to maintain than dark colors. You can also grab a few sets in different colors, so you can play around with mixing and matching.
Should you choose a sheet set or buy individual sheets?
We see this debate a lot. You see, not everyone uses the top sheet, so it makes no sense for them to buy a set and have a sheet they won’t use. Sheet sets are great for your standard beds, can be less expensive, and you do get a good choice of colors, patterns, and fabrics.
Things can get tricky though if you have a memory foam mattress or mattress topper. Those standard fitted sheets won’t fit your mattress well. So, buying sheets on an individual basis can be the better option here. It also gives you a bit of freedom to mix and match colors and patterns that you may not get with a pre-packaged sheet set.
Something to keep in mind is that the fitted sheets tend to take most of the brunt of our body weight and friction, so they wear out quicker than a top sheet. Rather than having to buy another full set, it can make more sense to buy an individual fitted sheet or two, as a backup.
Also, check to see if you can buy extra pillowcases for your sheet set. A lot of people with larger beds use more than 2 pillows, and most sets only have 2 pillowcases. So, the sheets you choose should give you the ability to buy extra ones separately.
Which fabric is best for memory foam bedding?
We touched earlier on how memory foam mattresses retain our body heat, so you need a sheet that has cooling properties.
Otherwise, you may overheat during the night, which can affect your sleep.
The best fabrics to go for are those that are breathable, cooling, and are natural fibers. This would be your cotton, silk, bamboo, linen, and hemp fabrics. All of these are breathable, moisture-wicking, and help keep your body feeling cool when it’s warm.
Fabrics that you want to avoid would be heavier and synthetic fibers, such as flannel, polyester, and microfiber.
Weave type: percale or sateen?
Considering the weave of the fabric is something else you should do. Let’s take the top used weaves, percale and sateen. Both weaves are fine for a memory foam mattress because they are cool, crisp, and breathable. The choice between the two is down to personal preference, with more people leaning towards sateen for its silky smooth softness. Let’s look at the difference between the two.
Percale Weave: Percale is made using a simple one-over-one-under weave. This gives you a lightweight fabric that has a matte finish to it.
Sateen Weave: Sateen is made using a three-over-one-under weave. This gives you a lightweight fabric that has a smooth feel and sheen to it, quite similar to silk.
Ideal thread count?
There was a lot of controversy over thread counts and their validity in determining the quality of a sheet. The higher the thread count, the softer the sheet. The problem arose when unscrupulous manufacturers tried to pass off cheaper threads for very high thread counts.
Things have gotten better over time, with thread counts being closer to reality. Buying from a reputable company will ensure you are getting what you paid for. When it comes to sheets for a memory foam mattress, the best thread count is between 200 and 300. This allows for a sheet that is breathable yet durable.
Conclusion
We’ve learned that memory foam mattresses trap body heat, so the sheet we choose needs to be one that is breathable and cooling for the most comfort. There a few fabrics that you can choose from, from crisp clean linen to silky smooth silk and bamboo. You also need to keep those mattresses and pocket depths in mind when looking for the right sheets.
Overall, we liked the Peru Pima set because it gives a good balance of quality and price. But some of you may prefer a silkier sheet or one that has other properties, like being eco-friendly or hypoallergenic. Hopefully, our reviews and guide will help you find those perfect memory foam mattress sheets!