The best Twin XL sheets you can buy for your college dorm

August 21, 2017
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It’s an exciting time — heading off to college and away from home for the first time. You’ll be meeting new people, facing new challenges, and enjoying new experiences and independent living. And most likely, you’ll be pulling a few all-nighters before an important test, while finishing a term paper, or just hanging out with friends.

But no matter how late you stay up, eventually you are going to want to catch up on some much-needed shut-eye. Make that sleep as restful as possible by setting up your dorm room and bed to provide a comfortable sleeping place that's also a reflection of your style and tastes.

Though the decorating of your dorm room might not be as crucial as choosing a major or registering for classes, that small space will be your home for at least the next year, so you want to create an environment that is comfortable, welcoming, and cheerful. This may also be the first time you get to pick out bedding for yourself, rather than living with what your mom chose or what was handed down from someone else’s bed. Take a bit of time to think about what colors, patterns, and themes would make you happiest as the first thing you see when you open your eyes in the morning and the last thing you see when going to sleep at night.

Before buying new bedding, however, read your dorm information and note the measurements of the bed. Almost all dorm rooms have an 80-inch extra-long twin mattress, which is 5 inches longer than a standard twin. Extra-long and standard twin mattresses are both 39 inches wide.

Once you’re clear on exactly what you need for your dorm room, it’s time to shop. And we’re going to make it a little easier for you with this guide to the best Twin XL sheets.

If you're headed off to college, you can also find more great back to school content on Insider Picks along with our guide to all the school supplies your K-12 student needs and all the college dorm supplies your college kid could possibly want.

Although the Wamsutta 400-Thread-Count Sateen Sheets are our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider Kohl’s The Big One Percale Sheets, the Room Essentials Jersey Sheet Set from Target, the Chevron Sheet Set from Intelligent Design, or the Mellanni Bed Sheet Set.

The best Twin XL sheets overall

Wamsutta/Bed Bath & Beyond/Business Insider

Why you'll love them: Extra-soft and silky against your skin, you’ll want to keep on using the Wamsutta 400-Thread-Count Sateen Sheets long after your college days are done.

If you like your sheets soft and silky, a sateen weave (not to be confused with satin, which is a fabric, not a weave) is for you. Sateen has more threads running vertically than horizontally, creating a slight sheen and a super-soft feel. The Wamsutta Sateen Sheets are about as soft as you can get. Made from 100-percent cotton, they’re cool and breathable as well.

As an extra bonus, Wamsutta sells its Twin XL sheets in a wide range of colors, including purple, blue jean, coral, gray, and sky blue. Many other manufacturers skimp on the color selection for this specialty-size sheet.

The XL twin set includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and one pillowcase. You can also buy extra pillowcases separately.

The Sweethome chose these sheets as its number one pick for dorm rooms, saying, “We think the Wamsutta 400 Thread Count Sateen Sheet Set is the best for most dorm beds. It’s one of the softest sets we tested, it comes in great colors, and we think it will be durable enough to last for your entire dorm experience.”

Buyers on BedBathandBeyond.com, where the Wamsutta 400-Thread-Count Sateen Sheets have more than 850 reviews and an average of 4 stars, also praise the sheets highly. Comments frequently mention that the sheets get softer with each washing, are excellent quality, and are reasonably priced. 

Pros: Very soft, good quality, large color selection

Cons: Sateen-weave sheets are more prone to tears than sturdier percale

Buy the XL twin Wamsutta 400-Thread-Count Sateen Sheets at Bed Bath & Beyond for $44.99



The best percale Twin XL sheets

The Big One/Kohl's

Why you'll love them: Kohl’s The Big One Percale Sheets get an A+ for quality, comfort, and durability.

If you prefer sheets with a crisp, cool feel, and just a little bit of “tooth,” then a percale weave is the right choice for you. Unlike sateen, a percale weave has the same number of tightly woven threads running both horizontally and vertically, creating a fabric that is strong and soft but still feels wonderful against your skin.

The Big One Percale Sheets from Kohl’s are a cotton/poly blend, so they aren’t quite as breathable as 100-percent cotton, but they are still cool, resist wrinkles like a champ, come in a wide range of fun prints, and hold up to wear well. They can survive the washing machine and dryer over and over without fading or pilling.

The Sweethome chose these as its Twin XL sheets runner-up, praising the selection of prints, the great price and the resistance to wrinkles.

On Kohl’s website, The Big One Percale Sheets have nearly 3,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.2 stars. Buyers like the coolness of the sheets, their old-fashioned crisp feel, and the fact that the elastic runs all the way around the fitted sheet, meaning it won’t pull loose from the mattress.

The 275-thread-count twin XL set comes with one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and one standard pillowcase. You can also buy additional pillowcases separately.

Pros: Nice selection of prints, great price, easy care, cool, and comfortable

Cons: Not 100-percent cotton, might be too rough if you don’t like a percale weave

Buy  XL twin The Big One Percale Sheets at Kohl's for $19.99



The best jersey knit Twin XL sheets

Room Essentials/Target/Business Insider

Why you'll love them: If you love the comfy feel of your favorite t-shirt, then you’ll love the cozy, soft, comfort of the Room Essentials Jersey Sheet Set from Target. 

Jersey-knit sheets are sometimes called t-shirt sheets, as they are made from the same type of soft, slightly stretchy, just-a-little-bit-fuzzy fabric as your favorite garments. And Target’s Room Essential Jersey Sheets are definitely comfortable enough to send you blissfully off to the land of Nod.

Made of 100-percent cotton, these sheets are breathable and very soft. You’ll certainly feel cozy, but not overly hot or sweaty. The fitted sheets have elastic all the way around, not just at the corners, so the sheet will stay in place — no slipping or sliding during the night.

Target offers the Room Essential Jersey Sheet Set in a nice range of solid colors, including navy blue, red, aqua, and white. The sheets have nearly 600 reviews on Target.com and an average rating of four stars. Buyers praise the sheet’s softness, but some complained that they were a bit thin.

The XL twin sheet set includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and one pillowcase

Pros: Cozy, soft fabric, 100-percent cotton, great price, good color selection

Cons: Might be a little thin

Buy the XL twin Room Essentials Jersey Sheet Set at Target for $16.99




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