Nothing feels quite as luxurious as new bedding (if you’d like to find the best sets, we have reviewed them here). And if we’re really pushing the boat out for a good night’s sleep, there’s a strong case for linen. Perfect for all temperatures, the breathable linen can keep you cool and dry on hot nights, while also holding in heat during the winter, too. They’re also antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, making them a good choice for allergy sufferers.
I’ve snuggled up with lots of linen sheets and the best duvets in a bid to find the best. I’m interested in quality, which comes down to the weight of the linen – heavier linen is better quality, and more durable, as well as where the linen comes from. French flax linen is considered the best, thanks to its durability and how it softens with each wash. And, if you’d like to know exactly how often you should wash your bedding, we wrote a guide about that too.
Linen generally needs much less water to grow than cotton, making it a better choice environmentally. It naturally crumpled aesthetic adds texture and warmth to your room, and I’m a fan of its relaxed look, which works really well when layered it bringing a boho aesthetic to your bedroom.
Though linen is one of the most expensive materials when it comes to bedding, I’ve found quality sets and separates from high street shops, independent and high-end dedicated bedding brands, from Piglet in Bed to old faithful, M&S. Keep reading for my ranking of the best linen bedding sets.
How I tested
I put these bedding sets on my bed and slept on each for several nights. Even if bedding didn’t come as a set, I tested the sheets and matching pillowcases for the full aesthetic. As it was the height of summer and the middle of this year’s heatwaves, I tested these sheets both with and without a duvet to see how well they cooled. I assessed them with the following criteria:
- Quality: This generally comes down to the percentage of linen (is it a blend or is it 100 per cent linen?), the weight of it (the more heavyweight, the better the quality), how resistant it is to wear and tear, and where it was made.
- Feel: You may assume linen is quite rough, but linen sheets are soft, and they get even softer with time. I noted how soft the linen felt against my skin whilst sleeping on it.
- Design: Style is equally important as comfort, so I acknowledged the look of each set, noting distinctive detailing, linen finish and range of colourways.
- Care: I washed the sets to see whether they kept their colour and shape. Happily, they did. Linen is supposed to get softer over time, but I didn’t notice this after washing them once, and actually found them to be quite soft before they were washed.
- Value for money: As always, I factored price into my review. All prices are for king-size bedding.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Every product we recommend has been tested in everyday settings, in the same way you will be using it. The bedding in this review was tested by Emma Henderson, a writer and editor with a sharp eye for quality and sustainability. Emma has remarkable experience with product reviews, as she not only worked for our IndyBest section for nearly a decade, but was also our editor. As well as the linen itself, the ethos of a brand is important to Emma. Whether it’s noting unnecessary plastic in a product or championing B-corp brands, she has done the legwork to bring you her honest reviews.
The best linen bedding for 2025 is:
- Best overall – Truly white 100 per cent linen ladder stitch duvet cover: £180, Truly.co.uk
- Best budget option – M&S pure linen bedset: £105, Marksandspencer.com
- Best luxury linen bedding – Rise & Fall relaxed and refined linen duvet: £217, Riseandfall.co
