There are many factors to a good rest, and comfort is above everything. When it comes to the best pillowcases to improve your sleep, are you up to date? If not, we’ll be more than happy to help you!
Take a look at our reviews and guide to discover some of the best products currently on the market, and learn all about choosing the perfect pillowcase just for you. Let’s dive in!
Rachel Silk 30 Momme Luxury Oxford Envelope Silk Pillowcase
Overall highest-rated mulberry silk pillowcase
- 800-thread count mulberry silk
- Great for reducing wrinkles and hair damage
- Certified organic, eco-friendly, and non-toxic
- Highly durable silk
Sheets & Giggles Extra Pillowcases
Excellent choice for the skin
- Good for sensitive skin
- Heat-transferring eucalyptus lyocell fibers
- Grow softer in time
- No pesticides
Fishers Finery 25-Momme 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Great option to block bedhead
- Blocks bedhead
- Large envelope flap without zippers
- Available in undyed variant
- Grade 6A mulberry silk
Cozy Earth Bamboo Pillowcases
Top-selling cooling pillowcase
- Infused with natural silver
- Excellent choice for acne-prone skin
- Kills off 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria
- Requires less washing
Miracle 2x Pillowcases Extra Luxe
Top-rated pillowcase for acne
- Infused with natural silver
- Excellent choice for acne-prone skin
- Kills off 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria
- Requires less washing
Our Top 5 Pillowcase Reviews
Rachel Silk 30 Momme Luxury Oxford Envelope Silk Pillowcase
Overall highest-rated mulberry silk pillowcase
- Material: Silk
- Colors and sizes: 7 colors and 3 sizes
- Shipping and returns: Free shipping for orders over $29.9 and a 30-day return policy
The crucial ace up our sleeve is a luxurious gem by Rachel Silk made of 30 momme mulberry silk. A lot of effort was invested in the perfection of these pillowcases — an 800 thread count makes them exceptionally long-lasting, smooth, and beneficial for your hair and skin.
The elegance of the design of these top-quality silk pillowcases is bound to win you over quickly, featuring an envelope closure especially made to protect the silky surface from scratching. The cherry on top is the 2 inches flange typical for the famed Oxford weaving style.
This product gets many recommendations as an excellent choice to reduce wrinkles and avoid crease marks or messy hair. The ultra-luxury 30-momme mulberry silk provides the softness your skin needs.
The pillowcases are internationally certified organic, eco-friendly, and non-toxic. They’re made of grade 6A mulberry silk of the highest quality, meaning that the silk retains its shape and uniformity for a long time.
Many buyers who indulge in this silky fantasy are delighted with the quality of these pillowcases. Some took issue with the price of the set, but its durability compensates for this.
Pros
- + 800-thread count mulberry silk
- + Great for reducing wrinkles and hair damage
- + Certified organic, eco-friendly, and non-toxic
- + Highly durable silk
Cons
- − Might be expensive for some
Sheets & Giggles Extra Pillowcases
Excellent choice for the skin
- Material: Eucalyptus Lyocell
- Colors and sizes: 8 colors and 2 sizes
- Shipping and returns: Free shipping & returns
Next, we have a pair of ultra-soft organic pillowcases by Sheets & Giggles made entirely of eucalyptus lyocell fibers. The set includes two pillowcases you can combine with other Sheets & Giggles products or gift them to your loved ones.
Eucalyptus lyocell is hypoallergenic and gentle to sensitive skin and as such is recommended by dermatologists. You won’t have trouble with your pillowcase catching dust, dirt, or hair.
Another reason this is one of the best pillowcases for skin is that no pesticides are used to treat eucalyptus trees, compared to cotton, which is said to be treated with around 16-24% of global insecticides.
A significant factor of sound sleep is thermoregulation. These pillowcases will maintain just the right temperature, so you won’t have to struggle and flip your pillow to find the cool side.
While we’re at it, lyocell is also a moisture-wicking material, which means you won’t wake up with dehydrated skin. Add the incredible softness of the fabric to this combination, and you get the perfect pillowcase to lull you to sleep in no time.
Happy customers confirm that these are good-quality pillowcases that grow softer after each washing. While the reviews overflow with positive comments, some wish the pillowcases came in standard size.
Pros
- + Good for sensitive skin
- + Heat-transferring eucalyptus lyocell fibers
- + Grow softer in time
- + No pesticides
Cons
- − Standard size not available
Fishers Finery 25-Momme 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Great option to block bedhead
- Material: Silk
- Colors and sizes: 11 colors and 3 sizes
- Shipping and returns: Free shipping
Here’s a highly praised grade A silk pillowcase you can use both for your bedding and decorative pillows. Sleep like a true king or queen on the pillowcase labeled as the “All-Star Standout” by Good Housekeeping.
The pillowcase has many properties that ensure you’ll get your beauty sleep every single night. The oversized envelope flap makes sure your pillow stays securely packed inside, and you can sleep on either side.
The 25-momme silk means we’re talking only the best quality silk pillowcases, so you’ll reap the many skin and hair benefits of sleeping on this fabric. Forget about the bedhead look and wake up as fresh as a daisy every single morning.
Mulberry silk is smooth and doesn’t crease, meaning you won’t have to deal with wrinkles or sleep lines. With the luxury and comfort of sleeping on a silky pillow, you also won’t have to worry about staying cool and well-aired no matter the season.
One of the best-rated silk pillowcases come in standard, king, and queen size. In addition, you can choose from a selection of as many as 11 different colors and find your perfect match. Note that the Natural White alternative is undyed, as well.
Numerous 5-star reviews confirm that this product improves sleep quality, and many have even bought it for a second time. A potential deal-breaker is that silk does require delicate care, but the company gave helpful maintenance instructions on their website to help you out.
Pros
- + Blocks bedhead
- + Large envelope flap without zippers
- + Available in undyed variant
- + Grade 6A mulberry silk
Cons
- − Requires delicate care
Cozy Earth Bamboo Pillowcases
Top-selling cooling pillowcase
- Material: Viscose from Bamboo
- Colors and sizes: 5 colors and 2 sizes
- Shipping and returns: 100-day return policy
Getting to the cooler side of the pillow is always a struggle. However, you can solve your problem with Cozy Earth’s bamboo pillowcases designed specifically to help you keep cool while in bed and wake up fresh and well-rested.
This innovative product is made of bamboo viscose, which naturally wicks moisture and stops skin dehydration. On top of that, viscose feels degrees cooler than cotton, which means that your nightly hot flashes can finally become a thing of the past.
This is not just one of the best pillowcases for cooling — the material is so soft it feels feathery on the skin. If you don’t believe us, take it from Oprah, who claims that the material is the “softest EVER.” Who dares defy Oprah, right?
Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic and insect-repellent, so there won’t be any bed bugs biting you any time soon. In addition, the pillowcases are chemical-free, they’re very easy to wash, and they remain clean for a long time.
You can purchase these popular pillowcases in standard or king-size, and there are also five colors to choose from. In addition, you can machine wash them and count on their longevity, as they don’t pill or decolorate.
The company offers a 100-night trial period and guarantees ten years of unchanged pillowcase quality. The customers are predominantly satisfied, with an occasional remark that the pillowcases get wrinkled when taken out of the dryer.
Pros
- + Infused with natural silver
- + Excellent choice for acne-prone skin
- + Kills off 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria
- + Requires less washing
Cons
- − Wrinkle after drying
Miracle 2x Pillowcases Extra Luxe
Top-rated pillowcase for acne
- Material: Cotton
- Colors and sizes: 3 colors and 2 sizes
- Shipping and returns: Free USA shipping & returns
Many people who suffer from skin problems such as acne, and on top of that are side sleepers, usually struggle with sweat and skin irritation from bacteria on the pillowcase. Miracle offers a game-changing product to mitigate these issues and allow you to sleep carefree.
These are high-quality cotton pillowcases infused with natural silver. They’re explicitly designed to help you clear your skin as the silver fights off 99/9% of odor-causing bacteria so that you would sleep on clean and fresh pillows.
Apart from its skin health benefits, the antimicrobial silver helps prevent morning stuffiness often caused by allergens and chemicals found in your bedding. Additionally, cotton is naturally thermoregulating, which also prevents night sweating.
One big plus in terms of maintenance when it comes to this pillowcase set is that it requires three times less washing than regular cotton sheets, once again courtesy of the miracle silver fibers.
The Extra Luxe version of Miracle Sheets is made of 500-thread count cotton, meaning that it feels as smooth as silk on your face. The best cotton pillowcases on the list are also available in the Signature version made of 350-thread count long-staple cotton.
Miracle offers a 30-night trial period and a full refund if you’re not happy with your pillowcases. Buyers are generally delighted with the pillowcases; however, some found that they weren’t as soft as expected.
Pros
- + Infused with natural silver
- + Excellent choice for acne-prone skin
- + Kills off 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria
- + Requires less washing
Cons
- − Could be softer
A Buyer’s Guide on How to Choose the Best Pillowcase
Think about how much time you invested in picking your king-size mattress or the perfect pillows. Although it might seem just a final touch, it’s your pillowcase that affects your skin, hair, and overall comfort.
Now that you’ve gained some insight into the current top-rated selection, it’s time for a few useful tips on what to look for when buying an appropriate pillowcase that fits your needs.
What sizes do pillowcases come in?
Size does matter, and it’s no different with your bedding. Naturally, pillowcase size will match the size of the pillow, and they come in four main sizes:
- Standard (20×26 inches) — these are typically the most popular pillowcases if you have twin or twin XL size mattresses, but they also work for queen-size ones. Beddings sets for these sizes will include only one standard pillowcase, while sets for larger beds come with two cases.
- Queen (20×30 inches) — as the name states, these cases are a perfect fit for a queen-size bed, although you can place them on a king or even a California king bed too.
- King (20×36 inches) — exactly ten inches longer than standard ones, king-size cases will be just the right match for pillows residing on king and California king-size mattresses.
- Body (20×54 inches) — this is the best pillowcase for a body pillow. Body pillow shapes vary and dictate the shape of the case, but a typical variant is the I-shaped body pillow which generally comes with a suitable case. You might have trouble finding cases for C-, U-, or J-shaped body pillows.
In addition to these, there are several specialty pillow sizes that require custom cases, including:
- Euro — these pillowcases fit large square pillows used for decoration or support on your living room sofa. We don’t invest much thought in buying quality pillowcases for decorative pillows, but this will keep your pillows free from stains and dust.
- Travel — you’ve probably used C-shaped travel pillows to rest your neck on long trips. You won’t easily find a C-shaped pillowcase, though — most travel pillows come in pre-made, non-removable cases.
- Orthopedic — as these are cases for pillows used to support parts of your body during sleep, you’ll find them in many variations. Custom-shaped orthopedic pillows usually come with a fitting pillowcase, but sometimes you’ll have to go the extra mile and purchase one separately.
- Throw — throw pillows are the most versatile group of pillows in terms of shape and size and are exclusively used for decoration, so you can have some fun choosing an original pillowcase to complement your furniture.
What fabric is used to make pillowcases?
Now that you got the dimensions out of the way, let’s tackle the most demanding aspect of buying a pillowcase — the material. This section of the guide will help you learn how to find the best fabric for pillowcases you’ll be using and how they affect your sleep.
Natural vs. Synthetic Materials
Pillowcases are made of either natural or synthetic fabrics, both of which have their respective advantages and disadvantages.
Natural materials, including cotton, linen, or flannel, are generally soft and highly absorbent. They’re a good option for those on a budget, and they mix well with other materials. However, they might not be the most appropriate choice for a pillowcase since absorbent materials may dehydrate your hair and skin.
On the other hand, silk is a higher-quality natural material used to make top-rated soft pillowcases. Silk wicks moisture so it won’t dry out your hair and skin, and it’s also your best ally for beauty sleep as it won’t crease and leave marks on your face. Although a more luxurious choice, silk is a high-maintenance material and requires delicate handling.
Synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are much less absorbent — and much less skin-friendly. A cheaper option than natural materials, although they are pleasing to the eye, their quality is significantly lower than that of natural fabrics.
Material origin usually dictates the quality and the cost of a pillowcase. Let’s find out which fabrics make the most popular choices for pillowcases.
Cotton
Cotton is probably the first fabric that comes to mind when discussing bedding due to its many positive sides. Cotton is affordable, it will keep you cool during hot summer nights, and it lets your skin breathe without making you sweat overnight. The material is also easy to wash and endures frequent laundering better than other materials.
Praised for its versatility, cotton can be color-infused and quite flexible in design. It is also one of the most comfortable materials for pillowcases, although even the highest quality cotton pillowcases are not as soft as silk or fleece ones.
A drawback of having a cotton pillowcase is that it tends to crease easily, so you might wake up with a few temporary crease marks on your cheeks and your hair all tangled up. Cotton is also quite absorbent, so it may deprive you of your natural skin moisture and leave it dry.
Silk
Silk always makes us think of luxury and costliness, but when you think about all the benefits and comfort of sleeping on a silky smooth pillow, it’s understandable that silk is king when it comes to pillowcase fabric.
Silk is among the softest materials in the world, which is one of the key factors to consider when buying a pillowcase. Top-rated silk pillowcases have good thermoregulating properties — they’ll keep you warm on cold winter nights, but they’ll also let you breathe in the summer.
Silk is also known for its skin and hair benefits. Unlike cotton, the smooth surface of this fabric is much less likely to crease and give you the bedhead look in the morning. Silk also greatly benefits your skin since it’s less absorbent than cotton and won’t dehydrate your skin.
A potential con for many is the price. Silk pillowcases are more expensive than other fabrics because silk is sold by weight. In addition, despite being a good thermoregulator, silk can’t top cotton when it comes to cooling. Also, remember that silk is quite delicate and requires hand washing.
Nylon
While cotton and silk are natural fabrics, nylon is a synthetic fabric that can easily be mistaken for silk due to its glowy silk-like surface. This is a long-lasting and versatile material that is also easy-care and dries fast. Another benefit is that they’re hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to overthink your choice of detergent.
Not all that glitters is gold, or in this case silk, so despite its aesthetic appeal, nylon can never match the quality and benefits of top silk pillowcases. Synthetic materials are not a friend to the skin, so nylon pillowcases are likely to cause your face to sweat and expose it to bacteria.
Satin
Satin beats silk when it comes to luxury and represents strong competition due to its many similar benefits. Satin pillowcases guarantee you’ll have your beauty sleep as they’re smooth with little friction, so you can sleep soundly without worrying about frizzy hair or sleep lines.
In terms of pillowcase price, an affordable alternative to silk is polyester satin. Polyester satin combines the best of both worlds — it’s machine washable like cotton but provides the enjoyment of sleeping on silk.
Other materials
Knowing the pillowcase material will tell you everything you need to know about its quality, so it’s probably the most important factor of the purchase. Always check if the material is natural or synthetic, and investigate its general characteristics and maintenance tips.
With this in mind, you can choose to buy some of the best linen pillowcases out there, or maybe you’d prefer a balanced mix of natural and synthetic fabrics to make the most out of your sleeping experience. Master your materials, and you’ll be sure to buy the right product.
Why is thread-count/momme important?
As you’ve noticed in our reviews, there is talk about thread count fabric. The thread count is the number of threads woven together and measured per square inch of the material. Although many brands claim that a higher thread count is an indicator of higher quality cotton pillowcases, the quality often depends predominantly on the type and length of the threads.
That said, a higher thread count means higher maintenance. Our advice is to go for a pillowcase made of 400-600 thread count cotton, as it will have just the perfect softness and feel great on your skin.
In turn, momme (mm) is the unit of measurement for silk materials and testifies on their quality. Silk momme weight on average ranges between 12 mm and 22 mm. Higher momme weight implies a longer shelf life of the silk. The best silk pillowcases on our list have an even higher momme weight, so you can be sure you’re looking at top-notch silk products.
Conclusion
Buying a pillowcase can be quite an experience for first-timers, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Hopefully, we’ve equipped you with sufficient knowledge on how to choose the best pillowcases and wake up fresh and well-rested. The only thing left to do now is go shopping — so, happy hunting!
FAQ
What is the best material for a pillowcase?
Cotton is arguably the best material for a pillowcase as it is the most durable and handles daily use and frequent washing well, and it’s also affordable and versatile.
Preferably, you should pick natural, skin-friendly materials that repel bacteria and don’t crease, but sometimes a mix of synthetic and natural materials can compensate for some intrinsic lackings of a particular material.
What pillowcases are good for your hair and skin?
In terms of material, silk is the best fabric to keep your skin healthy and hydrated during sleep. Moreover, silk can help reduce wrinkles and sleep lines and is also known to prevent hair tangling and frizzing. Silk lets your skin breathe and doesn’t induce sweat, which is a critical factor in preventing bacterial infections and skin irritations.
Is it better to sleep on a cotton or polyester pillowcase?
Cotton takes the cake as the better alternative as it is a natural material that lets your skin breathe and feels soft and comfortable. Polyester is a cheap synthetic material of very low quality and may work well only combined with other fabrics such as satin. In addition, you wouldn’t want to lay your skin on a polyester pillowcase as they tend to be very stiff and scratchy.
How often should you wash pillowcases?
Ideally, you should wash your pillowcases weekly but consider their material and quality. Some materials, like cotton, handle regular machine washing well and can endure frequent laundering. Others, like silk, require hand washing and delicate treatment, so if you’re not careful, you could tear or cause discoloration of your pillowcase due to improper care.
Most manufacturers include care instructions with their products, so if you have any doubts, be sure to read them carefully.
