Last updated August 16, 2023
Linen is the oldest fabric known and is used in a variety of ways in the textile industry. It is without a doubt a major star in the bedding world. On the one hand, its great qualities are definitely worth investing in. On the other, this investment can cost a pretty penny and affordable linen sheets are hard to find. But don’t worry, there are some hidden gems out there. We’ve gathered them here for you, so you could have the best of both worlds: wonderful quality linen sheets at an affordable price.
Here’s our selection of the best affordable linen sheets. You can find more info about each product below.
- Best overall: Sijo linen sheets
- Best value for money: Shilucheng linen sheets
- Best eco-friendly: Beflax linen sheets
- Best cooling: Simple&Opulence linen sheets
- Smoothest: Linoto linen sheets
- Most elegant: Huddleson linen sheets
- Most durable: XZ XIFA linen sheets
- Softest: DAPU linen sheets
What is linen fabric | Linen harvesting | What are linen properties | Breathable and durable | How to care for linen sheets | Affordable linen sheets
What Is Linen Fabric
Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant, also known as linseed plant. You can recognize the plant by its beautiful blue flowers. The flax plant needs a cooler and humid climate for growing, although it’s not as picky as many others. It is native to the region starting from the eastern Mediterranean all the way to India. The biggest flax production comes from Canada, Kazakhstan, China, Russia and the USA. A lot of flax also comes from Europe. I’m sure you’ve heard of French linen, which some consider the cream of the crop.
Linen Harvesting
From planting the seed, flax is usually harvested after about 100 days. The time of harvesting varies in different countries. This is because the plant does not tolerate much heat. So harvesting has to take place before the local climate becomes hot. The plant is ready once the stem turns yellow and the seeds turn brown. It’s preferable to pull the flax plant out with roots intact. For one, this increases the length of the fiber. It also prevents the plant sap from leaking out, which would result in a lower quality fabric.
After drying in the open air, flax seeds are removed from the stalk (threshing). Next, the retting process involves separating the fiber from the stem. The retted stalks still contain some woodier parts. And these are removed by scutching. The whole process is quite tricky. But in short, the stalks are passed through 2 metal rollers. These crush the wood into smaller pieces, making it easier to remove them. Finally flax fibers are ready for spinning.
What Are Linen Properties
Linen is not just a good fabric, it’s a truly great one. People have used it from the beginning of civilization and that speaks volumes. There are trends that come and go and there are true classics that stay for good. Linen is one of them. And no wonder, as it has many good qualities that make it stand out.
One reason why linen is a great choice is because it is a natural fabric. This means that it is made from natural materials. As opposed to synthetic materials that man has made from chemicals, such as microfibers. Natural materials are friendlier to sensitive skin and also to the environment. They decompose quicker.
Breathable And Durable
A more specific trait is linen’s ability to breathe. A linen thread is thicker when compared to other threads, such as cotton. So it’s not possible to weave it too tightly together. And this leaves more room between the threads for air to flow through. As a result the sheets are cool during warm nights. Linen also keeps you warm during cold winter nights. Its thermo-regulating quality works both ways, adjusting to your body temperature.
Another wonderful characteristic of linen is its moisture absorbing and wicking ability. As a natural fiber, it absorbs the extra moisture from its surroundings. This is especially useful if you tend to be a sweaty sleeper. Thanks to its moisture wicking quality, linen does not stay damp. It releases the moisture quickly. Linen sheets are the perfect go-to fabric for hot and sweaty sleepers.
Linen is also durable. I’m sure you have heard of bedding that starts ripping after just a few washes. Or worse, you’ve lived through that tragedy. But linen is different. It is considered to be 30% more durable than cotton. One tip to remember is not to fold linen sheets the same way time after time. They may start ripping at the creases as one point, as these parts will get worn down. If you take good care of your linen sheets, they can last for decades.
How To Care For Linen Sheets
Linen sheets are fairly easy to take care of. They don’t pick up dirt or stains as easily as many other fabrics, so you may not have to wash them that often. But remember that washing them will affect the softness. The more you wash linen, the softer it gets. But always check the specific washing instructions. Some sheets need washing by hand, others can handle machine washing. Just remember not to tumble dry linen sheets!
At first, a new set of linen sheets may feel rigid. You need to wash it to really break the linen in. It’s a good practice to put linen sheets in the washer even before the first use. You can wash them once, or even many times, as linen sheets will get softer with every wash. Some linen sheets are prewashed with stones (stone washed). This makes the fabric less rigid, more comfortable and gives it its chic, slightly worn look.
Affordable Linen Sheets
Affordable Linen Sheets – three words that rarely appear together. Linen is a high quality material and linen bedding does not come cheap. The average price for a good quality linen bed sheet set is around $400. Although the sheets may well be worth this price, it’s certainly higher than most of us are willing to pay. Or able to pay. But there are some affordable linen sheets out there as well. Here are our top picks for you to choose from.
Best overall: Sijo linen sheets
Sijo is without a doubt at the top of our list. They use linen that comes from Normandy, France – a region known for some of the best linen in the world. What we love most is that the sheets are preshrunk and stonewashed. This means they won’t shrink when you first wash them and they’ll already be soft when you put them on. These sheets will become softer with every wash, as do all linen sheets. Sijo sells the classical 4 piece set with 2 pillowcases, 1 flat sheet and 1 fitted sheet. But also a 3 piece set that includes 2 pillowcases and 2 fitted sheet. Wonderful flexibility if you’re looking for a slightly smaller set or a lower price. It’s such a treat to find all this at an affordable price.
Sizes: Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Colors: Slate, Dove, Snow, Forest, Blush, Fog, Night, Sky
Price: From $175
Best value for money: Shilucheng linen sheets
Another gem of French Normandy linen is brought to you by Shilucheng. At a great price, you get one of the best quality linen in the world. They’re eco-friendly, soft and durable. Breathable and temperature regulating, these sheets will allow your skin to breathe during the night. And they’ll keep you cool during warm nights, and warm during cold nights. The perfect sheet set for every kind of weather! The size and color selection is small, but if you have a queen or king size bed, this linen sheet set is the best bang for your buck.
Sizes: Queen, King
Colors: Dark Grey, Grey, Linen, White
Price: From $140
Best eco-friendly: Beflax linen sheets
Beflax Linen’s sheet set is made from French flax with superb quality. The sheets have been stonewashed, which gives them the extra touch of softness at the beginning. Of course, like all good quality linen sheets, these will become more soft with every wash. Beflax sheets are free of harmful chemicals and substances. The result is not only a soft, durable, perfect rustic high quality sheet. But also an eco-friendly and biodegradable product. They take care of your sleep, while staying friendly to the environment – we love that!
Sizes: Queen, King
Colors: Beige, Grey, Denim, White, Terracotta
Price: From $335
Best cooling: Simple&Opulence linen sheets
These Simple&Opulence sheets are made from Belgian linen. They are truly affordable linen sheets. With their light to medium-light weight they are a wonderful companion for hot summer nights. These cool sheets will not let you run hot during warm nights. Perfect for sweaty sleepers. As a typical linen sheet, they become softer with every wash. They will start to feel at their best after around 5 washes. So be patient with them. Once they break in, you’ll know the wait was worth it.
Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
Colors: Dark Grey, Dusty Blue, Light Grey, Linen, Sage Green, White, Pink, Purple
Price: From $117
Smoothest: Linoto linen sheets
Linoto Linen brings you the best of Belgian linen. The sheets themselves are made by hand by craftsmen in New York. What makes this set extra smooth is the long-staple linen. Linoto uses exclusively long-staple fibers and in addition to the smoothness, it also increases the durability of the product. These sheets are prewashed, but keep in mind that you’ll still have to give them a couple of washes to really break the softness in. The sizes are quite limited, as is the color selection. So unfortunately not everyone can get in on the excellent quality of these linen sheets.
Sizes: Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Colors: Ivory, Graphite, Pale Blue, Warm Grey
Price: From $324
Most elegant: Huddleson linen sheets
Huddleson sources their linen from Northern Italy, while the sheets are manufactured in California. Their unparalleled softness, texture, feel and drape makes then a true masterpiece of linen. With every wash, you’ll notice how they get softer. And their durability means that you can use these same sheets for decades to come. Be it warm or cold, the thermo-regulating qualities of linen will keep you comfortable anytime.
Sizes: Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Colors: Black, Brown, Celadon Green, Ivory, Natural, and more
Price: From $440
Softest: DAPU linen sheets
Last but not least, our pick for the softest affordable linen sheet set is from DAPU. These sheets are soft yet sturdy. They’re made from French linen, without chemicals or additives. The deliciously soft and comfortable sheets come in a variety of sizes and colors for you to choose from.
Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Colors: Dark Grey, Light Lilac, Mustard Yellow, and more
Price: From $120