Finding the Best Twin XL Sheets: Tips & Tricks

Let’s talk the best sheets for a twin XL bed.

We surveyed our parent readers to find the best tips and advice. Then we launched into several more hours of research, comparing quality and construction.

Along the way, we came across some general tricks and tips to orderings sheets like this:

• Wash the sheets first! As always, it is best to wash the sheets first before putting on a bed. Sheets are treated with various chemicals during manufacturing, so it is best to wash first. Some of our readers say that sheets sometimes arrive a bit dusty after sitting in a warehouse—washing first gives you a clean start.

• For less shrinkage, consider microfiber fabric. Yes, you can buy all-cotton sheets or even bamboo. But we found microfiber performed the best at shrinkage.

• Some of these picks are sets (top and bottom sheet), while others are just bottom sheets. We know some folks like sets while others are just fine with bottom sheets and a light comforter. Confirm before ordering whether the sheets picked this article are a set or just bottom sheets.

• Colors may vary from the picture you see online. This is a common issue mentioned by our readers—the colors featured online don’t match the sheets they get. Be aware of small color variations—if you have to have a very specific shade or hue, look at the return policies before ordering.

Here are the best twin XL sheets from our research:

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!