Microfiber vs Cotton Sheets: Which is The Best?

Good sleep is the key to gain both physical and mental health. So it’s necessary for all of us to get the most comfortable night’s sleep. But how to get this? The answer is simple: just by picking up the right sheets for your bed! Many people don’t pay much attention while buying the bedding, but it requires much thought other than the color and style of the particular sheet. Get knowledge about microfiber sheets vs cotton, knows which one is better.

Sheets are available in a variety of materials such as cotton, microfiber, silk, linen, and many more. But these days microfiber and cotton sheets are in trend. You should consider many things before picking the one for you, such as texture, feel, and moisture-wicking capabilities. Today we are going to tell you the difference between microfiber sheets and cotton sheets. So keep on reading to discover which one is the best for you.

What are Microfiber Sheets?

Microfiber sheets, also known as microplush sheets, are made from super-thin fibers. These fibers are even thinner than one-fifth of a single human hair. These fibers are woven together to create lightweight and soft sheets.

Basically, the sheet is set apart by its particular thickness measuring around one denier in diameter. These microfiber sheets can be made from various materials such as nylon polymers, polyester, or wood pulp. Also, know about the murphy bed.

Pros and Cons of Microfiber Sheets

PROS
  • Soft to the touch
  • Low maintenance
  • Durable
  • Lightweight
  • Machine washable
CONS
  • Highly absorbent, and therefore more prone to staining
  • More likely to generate static
  • Durability depends on thread count and weave
Microfiber Sheets

What are Cotton Sheets?

Whenever it comes to bedsheets, the most common material which is used is cotton. The reason is simple as cotton is a breathable fabric that is made from cotton plants. It is natural, ultra-soft, and feels comfortable on the skin. 

The quality of the cotton depends on the thread count. For example, sheets with low thread counts are scratchy, whereas the higher thread count sheets are much softer. The most luxurious cotton sheets are made from Supima, Pima, and Egyptian cotton. 

Fine kinds of cotton, such as Egyptian or Supima cotton are recognized amongst the finest quality cotton sheets available in the market. They are made of the highest quality cotton, called long-staple cotton. If you want to know more about Egyptian cotton sheets, read our blog on the best Egyptian cotton sheets.

Pros and Cons of Cotton Sheets

PROS
  • Soft and Soothing to the skin
  • Comes in a wide range of options
  • Breathable and cool
  • Good for those with allergies
  • All-natural
  • Natural moisture-wicking properties
  • Durable while maintaining softness
CONS
  • Natural fibers are not as durable
  • Expensive
cotton sheets

Comparison of Microfiber Sheets & Cotton Sheets

Before you start shopping for the beddings, it is vital to know the basic difference between the microfiber and cotton sheets. They are different from each other in numerous ways, such as durability, quality, and cost. Both microfiber sheets and cotton sheets come in a variety of options when it comes to weave and thread counts.

Cotton sheets are more breathable and softer than microfibers and also they don’t catch the heat, providing a more relaxed and comfortable sleep. Whereas microfiber sheets are more durable than cotton sheets because natural fiber like cotton can break easily. So it’s important to find those sheets which are make from materials that will provide you comfort and durability at the same time. 

For some people, bedsheet shopping may sound easy, but it can be a challenge to find a set that will also fulfill your desires and also fit in your budget. Here is the table of comparison of both sheets: 

Factors Microfiber SheetsCotton Sheets
DurabilityLess durableMore durable
FeelSmooth and silkySoft and breathable
CleaningEasy to WashEasy to wash
AirflowGood airflowExcellent airflow
Average price$15 and up$50 and up
Average lifespan2-3 years2-3 years
Comparison of Microfiber Sheets & Cotton Sheets

Now, let’s compare these common factors that you should look at when buying sheets in detail:

Lifespan and Warranty

It is one of the factors that we all look at while buying sheets, right? Apparently, both microfiber and cotton are highly durable, and if you will correctly use them, they can last up to several years. 

But microfibers sheets are more durable than the cotton sheets. The reason is the tightness of the weave, which are weak in the cotton sheets due to these natural fibers. These natural fibers have a tendency to break down whenever you wash them. Now let’s talk about the warranty. Both sheets often come with a one year warranty. But it mostly depends on the brand and cost of the sheets.

Cleaning and Care

Microfiber sheets are made from synthetic materials, and cotton sheets are made from cotton, which is obtained from the cotton plant. Both sheets are easy to care, but microfibers have a unique resistant property, which means they don’t wrinkles and shrink when washing or drying. 

Apart from this, they are also resistant to normal wear and tear that causes sheets to disintegrate their quality. So they last much longer as compared to cotton sheets. Whereas on the other hand, cotton is very soft and durable, but you have to pay extra attention to their washing process. 

The more you wash these sheets, they’ll become softer and softer. Thus it’s more prone to breaking down because of its natural fibers. Also, they shrank and wrinkles every time you wash them, and you have to keep them away from heat, especially sheets made from Egyptian cotton or Pima cotton.

A bed with blue sheets and pillows in a bedroom

Color Fading

When you spend a lot on sheets, it’s evident that you want them to stay looking good, right? Cotton sheets are known for carrying the same vibrant color over the years, no matter how many times you wash them. 

In comparison, microfiber sheets are engineered in such a way that they easily absorb the desired color or pattern of a linen set. Hence you’ll find a variety of designs and patterns in these sheets. However, with repeated washes, these bright colors and patterns fade rather quickly.

Temperature Control

Cotton sheets are construct from extra-long-staple natural cotton with the most durable fiber without additional heat retaining thickness. Being a natural fiber, it will give much greater heat distribution throughout the night than the microfiber sheets. 

They also have great breathability, so these sheets will keep you cool while naturally wicking moisture away from your body. Microfiber sheets are make from synthetic fiber, so they’ll trap your natural body heat. 

A bed with white sheets and pillows in a room

Durability

Like any other thing, in bedding, also, “you get what you pay for.” It means the low-cost microfiber sheets are more prone to tear and damage. With every wash, the durability of the woven fibers gets weakend. And within a short time period, these microfiber sheets show signs of wear and tear. Not only this, but the color also starts fading, and sheets will turn dull. 

But this does not happen with the cotton sheets. Do you know that the life span of cotton sheets is three times more than the microfiber sheets? And opposite to the other sheets, each time you wash a cotton sheet, you’ll get more soft sheets.

Cost

See the pricing of both types of sheets depends on the quality of the sheet purchase in either category. As both have various price ranges, such as both, have cost-effective options and high-end sheets depending upon the thread count and weave. But overall cotton sheets are more expensive than the microfiber sheets. 

What’s The Best Choice – Microfiber Or Cotton?

A bed with a white headboard and a blue painting on the wall

There is no doubt that both microfiber and cotton sheets are durable and feel super comfortable on the skin. You will also find various styles, quality, and price ranges in both types of sheets.

But despite their similarities, there are some factors that you should keep in mind before making the final decision, such as if you’re looking for a more cost-effective, durable, and more wrinkle-resistant option, then you should buy microfiber sheets. Whereas you should buy cotton sheets if you’re looking for more breathable and soft sheets and you have sensitive skin. 

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Rishi Goratela
Rishi Goratela
Rishi Goratela has over 5 years of experience in SEO and blogging, which he uses to help bloggers and website owners increase their online visibility and traffic organically. He is an expert in creating content strategies, conducting keyword research, publishing blogs, and optimizing technical issues.

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