The Best Bamboo Sheets – Reviews and Buyers Guide

It wouldn’t make sense to cover your $1,200, $1,700, or even $4,000 bed with a wool sweater would it? That’s pretty much what you’re doing when you skimp out on second-rate, scratchy sheets. And the worst part of all is that the hit you saved to your wallet is hitting you and your sleep quality.

So far two sets of bamboo sheets have made it into our rotation. Not only are they comfortable, but bamboo sheet sets start in the same range as scratchy sheets. Below is just about everything you’ll need to make a smart buy (or not).

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy Your Bamboo Sheets

If there’s nothing else you leave with, let it be the insights from this section. There are a plethora of products and details, but here are a few questions you must ask before you click buy. This short list is designed to keep it simple and make it as easy as possible to remember when you’re browsing Amazon, walking around Target, etc.

1. What is pilling and why should I care? Do you know those annoying little fuzz balls that pop up anywhere and everywhere? What you’re seeing are tiny fabric fibers tangling up in themselves. They’re referred to as pills and the process is called pilling. While low quality materials are susceptible, it isn’t that cut and dry. This can happen to just about all materials that have short fibers. Not so much with long fiber materials like silk though. All it takes is some friction applied, i.e. during your wash cycle or that certain spot in the sheets you always rub your feet on during the night. Whether your research gets you to somewhere like The Today Show or The Spruce, there are some very common care tips to prevent this such as turning materials inside out, slower wash cycles, and researching your detergent. The bottom line is read the reviews. Do your best to not pick brands that have a tendency to pill. Whether you use a search feature or simply scroll through, pay special attention to people that have had their sheets for a few months or more. Did they pill or not?
2. What materials are my sheet set made of? Bedding can come in almost any material, from flannel to satin through an endless amount of cotton blends (like jersey knit sets). When it comes to bamboo sheets, it is important to note that most sheets are a blend of materials. Rayon, a material that can be made from bamboo, is most often blended with microfiber. The most common blend appears to be 40% bamboo rayon and 60% microfiber. Other blends, like cotton, are out there in the market and even included in some of the products below. The question that’s probably on your mind now is, are there 100% bamboo sheets? The answer is yes. In fact, we’ve included our recommendation below (eLuxurySupplies). Thankfully we’ve made this clear in every review and most manufacturers do too, which isn’t true for everything.
3. What size is your bed (not just king or queen)? Don’t get me wrong, you have to know whether you have a twin, king, etc., but just about everyone knows that. If you don’t, here’s a handy table:
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   What’s equally important to know is the depth of your mattress. All standard mattresses should be OK, but with so many thicker mattresses available along with add-on pillow comforters, etc. this has to be said. Here are some guidelines to consider:

Bedding 101

Honestly, a lot of the details, research, and agonizing you’ll do won’t be about bamboo sheets at all. It’ll be general bedding. That shows with two of the three must ask questions above.

If you’re already a bedding pro, skip right on to the reviews. Otherwise, below you’ll find some of the basics when it comes to bedding, bamboo or otherwise. This section also includes care information. Even though this might seem like you’re getting ahead of yourself, if you don’t follow the wash/dry instructions you’ll certainly be disappointed.

What makes up a 4-piece sheet set?

Let’s start with the basics: sheet sets. Pretty much everything under the sun comes in a 4-piece set. What that includes are: one top sheet, one fitted/bottom sheet, and two pillowcases. Now, sometimes there are variations, but this is typically the standard.

In some instance you can find fitted/top sheet sets, but don’t count on it. It is more common to just buy a few sets of sheets you really love. However, when it comes to pillows you might be in luck. Some companies do sell additional pillow covers in sets of two. Royal Hotel for example (listed below), has both the standard and king size pillowcases available directly from the same page.

How much should I expect to pay?

The truth is that this is a difficult question to answer. With so many makers, materials, quality levels, and retail settings (Dollar General vs Bed Bath & Beyond vs Neiman Marcus). We didn’t want to leave this section blank though, so we set out to find what the starting price of three different varieties of sheets from three commonly shopped at stores/sites to compare three different materials. As of January 2018 here’s what we found. The price range reflects the smallest to largest sizes available (twin to king unless otherwise noted):

Microfiber sheet sets

These sheets are made of very fine fibers, even thinner in diameter than silk. Microfiber sheets are popular because they’re stain resistant. Here’s how the cost compares for the least expensive microfiber sheets available:

• Target $20.99 – $29.99
• Bed Bath Beyond $14.99 – $24.99
• Amazon $13.99 – $18.99

Jersey knit sheet sets

Jersey knit sheets can be made from cotton or a synthetic/cotton blend. As the name implies, these sheets are knit instead of woven. Here’s how the cheapest sets compare:

• Target $19.99 – $40.99
• Bed Bath Beyond $24.99 – $29.99
• Amazon $26.23 – $39.99 (California King)

Bamboo sheet sets

The truth is that retail giants are not giving bamboo sheets much shelf space. Unfortunately they are priced higher, have less variety, and are sometimes only available online (like Target). Here are the starting prices:

• Target $45.49 – $62.99 (note that only one sheet set is available)
• Bed Bath Beyond $49.99 – $79.99 (California King)
• Amazon $16.49 – $21.49

How do I care for my bamboo sheets?

We own two sets of bamboo sheets, so let’s take some of the guesswork out of this for you. The #1 thing you can do is follow the manufacturer’s directions. If for some reason the packing or product listing does not include it, try Amazon’s product Q&A section.

Our bamboo sheets are being washed just as directed – cold water with no fabric softener. When it comes time to drying them, there are two options (both worked ok): tumble dry on low heat or hang dry. The Royal Hotel set coming out of the washer is stiffer when wet, but dries to be very soft. The Mandarin Home set is soft either wet or dry. From half a dozen or more washes each, the Mandarin Home set does seem to dry faster than the Royal Hotel sheets.

*Note: Neither of the sheet sets show any signs of pilling if you’re wondering.

There are no hard and fast numbers for sheet care or changing sheets for example. In a style all their own, Deadspin wrote about this and did a poll. They found that 37% of respondents were washing/changing sheets every one or two weeks and another 29% of people said they changed their sheets monthly.

The Top Product Reviews

Below is a short list of some of the top bamboo sheet sets. Be sure to read the reviews and the product pages carefully. There are a lot of details to review, so first identify what is most important for you. For example, a certain color and/or durability. Standard points to review include materials, return policy, and mattress size.

Luxury Rayon Derived From Bamboo Bed Sheets - Eco-friendly, Hypoallergenic and Wrinkle Resistant

Made by Mandarin Home

This is one of our top recommendations for just about anyone interested in bamboo sheets. In fact, we own these sheets. While there aren’t a variety of color options, they’re so easy to recommend because the sheets are available in just about all bed sizes – twin, full, queen, king, and California king.

Caring for bamboo sheets (and pilling) is one of the biggest questions out there. So far there is no pilling to report, but we will update the review if that changes. The Mandarin Home set are being being cared for (about a dozen times so far) just as recommended – washing cold with no fabric softener. Then, setting the dryer to low heat OR to hang dry (we’ve done both).

Luxury Bamboo Bed Sheets (4-Piece)

Made by Zen Bamboo

With the amount of orders Amazon processes, it would be very remiss of this post to not take into account Amazon’s Choice for the category. In all, Zen Bamboo’s sheet set has accumulated over 2,800 reviews averaging 4+ stars. Please note that while this is Amazon’s Choice and distributed by Amazon, it is not Prime. However, because all sizes are over $25 it does qualify for free shipping.

One key benefit is the variety of sizes and colors. Sizes range from twin through California king and there are 10+ colors to choose from including gold, olive, burgundy, and purple (more colors listed below).

Premium Deep Pocket Bamboo Bed Sheets

Made by Cosy House Collective

Searching for a deep pocket bamboo sheet set? Both this set and the next one have very deep pockets. Cosy House sheets can accommodate a mattress up to 16” deep plus it is priced on the lower end of the spectrum, comes in a variety of sizes, and a variety of colors. While it doesn’t have quite as many reviews as the Zen Bamboo sheet set, it is Amazon’s Choice.

Again we’re looking at 10+ color options available and sizes available from full through California King. The fabric blend is similar to the above/the most common: 40% bamboo rayon and 60% microfiber.

Silky Soft Bamboo + Cotton Hybrid Sheet Set

Made by Royal Hotel

While these are a more expensive option, the Royal Hotel’s sheet set is a unique option in that it is not comprised of the standard 40% rayon / 60% microfiber blend. Instead, it blends blends bamboo (60%) and cotton (40%).

One of the biggest challenges with cotton is that low quality cotton can pill and feel coarse. While there are a few mentions of pilling, it’s less for Royal Hotel’s sheets compared to some of the other products reviewed and there are more mentions of the sheets not pilling. This is likely a big part of how these sheets have averaged 4.4 stars over 400+ user reviews.

What else makes this set unique? Royal Hotel provides a variety of sizes that are not available with other brands, specifically split king sheet sets and extra long twin sheet sets. There are a variety of colors available, plus additional pillow cases can also be purchased separately through the same product listing.

100% Bamboo Sheet Set (4-Piece)

Made by eLuxurySupply

As you’ve seen so far, the majority of sheets available are a blend. This set from eLuxurySupplies is in fact 100% rayon from bamboo. And while these do bring a heftier price tag, this set cost half as much as a similar set that almost made it into this review. Similar to the 100% bamboo pillows we’ve reviewed, these are typically noted as being extremely soft and often marketed as being great for sensitive skin/allergies.

In all, there are 8 colors to choose from with sizes available for just about all bed types (including split and California king). While it wasn’t clearly noted, we were able to track down a manufacturer’s comment mentioning that the pocket depth is 15” but can be stretched up to about 18”.

Beyond bamboo sheets, eLuxurySupply carries a variety of sheets including Egyptian Cotton. All of their sets come with a 30 day money back guarantee as well.

Conclusion: So what are the best bamboo sheets for you?

That’s up to you to decide. Just like your sheets, it’ll likely be a blend – user reviews, cost, materials, comfort, and durability come top of mind. Whether you’re purchasing a set online or in-store, be sure you’re 100% clear about the return policy. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck with something you don’t like or worse is low quality. Be sure to contact us if there is more you’d like to see or giving us feedback based on your purchase.