The 2020 Best Bedding Awards – Good Housekeeping’s Top Bedding Picks

Bedding is one of those “small” life choices that quietly decides whether you wake up refreshed… or wake up feeling like you fought your fitted sheet in hand-to-hand combat and lost.
The good news: you don’t have to guess your way to better sleep. Good Housekeeping’s 2020 Best Bedding Awards pulled together 22 standoutsfrom mattresses to sheets to the kind of sleep mask that makes your bedroom feel like a VIP lounge for your eyeballs.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the winners, explain why they made the list, andmost importantlyhelp you figure out which picks match your sleep style, budget, and “my pillow is basically my emotional support animal” level of attachment.

What the 2020 Best Bedding Awards Actually Mean

Good Housekeeping’s awards aren’t just “this looks cute in a staged bedroom” endorsements. The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles Lab evaluates bedding with a mix of specialized lab testing and real consumer feedbacklooking at things like fabric strength, durability, washability, comfort, fit, and overall performance.
Translation: these picks aren’t just pretty. They’re designed to survive real lifenight sweats, pets who think your duvet is their throne, and the occasional “I’ll wash the sheets tomorrow” spiral.

The 22 Winners, Organized by How You Actually Shop

Most of us don’t buy a “bed.” We build one piece at a time. So instead of listing winners like a roll call, let’s break them into the categories that matter when you’re upgrading your sleep setup.

Mattresses: The Foundation of Your Whole Sleep Ecosystem

If your mattress is the wrong fit, even the world’s softest sheets can’t save you. The 2020 winners cover luxury, smart customization, and two strong online optionsbecause some of us want to test in-store, and some of us want a mattress delivered like a giant cinnamon roll.

Trusted Craftsmanship: Stearns & Foster Lux Estate Cassatt

This is the “I want a luxury hotel bed at home” choice. It’s built with an innerspring system and dense memory foam for support, plus multiple firmness options and the ability to add a pillow top.
If you’re the kind of person who reads reviews like it’s your second job, you’ll appreciate that this category is built around premium materials and a classic, supportive feel.

Ultimate Customizable Smart Bed: Sleep Number p6 360 Bed FlexTop King

Couples, rejoice. This smart bed uses adjustable air chambers so each side can feel different. It also includes sleep tracking and can auto-adjust as you move.
It’s basically the “relationship counselor” of mattresses: two people, two preferences, one bed that refuses to pick sides.

Top-Quality Internet Pick: Saatva Classic Mattress

If you like the idea of buying online but don’t love all-foam beds, this hybrid/innerspring style is a solid match. It aims to deliver that traditional “real mattress” feeloften associated with in-store shoppingwhile still giving you online convenience and a home trial.
This is a strong option for sleepers who want support, some bounce, and fewer “am I sinking into a marshmallow?” moments.

Magical Mattress-in-a-Box: Casper (The Casper)

The mattress-in-a-box category exists because modern life is busy and staircases are narrow. Casper’s all-foam model is designed to arrive compact, expand quickly, and provide a balanced feel that works for a wide range of sleepers.
If you want pressure relief and easy setup without turning delivery day into an Olympic event, this is the vibe.

Pillows & Sheets: Where Comfort Becomes Personal

Pillows and sheets are where preferences get weirdly specific. Some people want “crisp like a freshly pressed shirt,” others want “buttery like a fancy croissant,” and someone out there absolutely wants “cool to the touch and practically frictionless.”
The winners cover all of the above.

Pillows

Standout Support: Coop Home Goods Original Pillow

An adjustable pillow is a game-changer if you’ve ever thought, “This pillow is either too flat or too tallthere is no middle ground.” This one comes with extra fill so you can customize loft and firmness at home.
It’s supportive but plush, which makes it friendly for combo sleepers who switch positions like they’re trying to find a radio station.

Unbeatable Value: AmazonBasics Down Alternative Soft Density Pillows

Two pillows for a budget-friendly price is already nice. Add machine washability and a down-alternative fill that works for allergies, and you’ve got a practical win.
These are especially good if you prefer a lower-profile pillowgreat for stomach sleepers or kids.

Versatile Down: Home Decorators Down Surround Pillow

If you love real down, this one hits the sweet spot: medium density that works across sleeping positions and a dual-layer designfeather core for support, down outer layer for softness.
Think “structured comfort,” like a blazer made of clouds.

Sheets

Smooth Sateen: Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set

Sateen is for people who want silky-smooth sheets with a subtle sheen. This set stood out for strength, smoothness, and resistance to pilling, plus it holds up well after washing.
Bonus points for the fitted sheet labelingbecause flipping a fitted sheet six times like a confused octopus is not a hobby anyone asked for.

Luxury Cotton: Wamsutta PimaCott 500-TC Sheet Set

Pima cotton is known for long fibers that can feel softer and wear well over time. This set earned top marks for strength, pilling resistance, and softness.
It’s the kind of bedding that makes you say, “Okay, I get it now,” the first time you slide into bed.

Crisp Percale: Parachute Percale Sheet Set

Percale has that airy, crisp feellight and breathable, like the “cool side of the pillow” but in full-sheet form. This set tested strong, resisted pilling, and showed minimal shrinkage after washing.
If you run hot or just love that hotel-sheet snap, percale is your people.

Budget Buy: Mellanni Microfiber Sheet Set

Microfiber gets points for softness, wrinkle resistance, and low maintenance. This set proved resistant to shrinkage and wrinkles, and testers liked the smooth feel.
It’s a smart pick if you want comfort on a budgetor if ironing sheets sounds like a prank invented by time travelers.

Comforters, Blankets & Cases: Cozy, But Make It Strategic

Your top layer is where temperature control, allergies, and “I want to feel hugged by my bed” all collide. The winners include a high-end down comforter, an innovative down-alternative option designed to reduce clumping, a weighted blanket, and a silk pillowcase.

Innovative Construction: L.L.Bean Permabaffle Box Goose Down Comforter

Down comforters can be incredibleuntil the fill migrates and your comforter becomes a lumpy map of your regrets. This one is designed with construction meant to keep fill from shifting, plus loops to attach a duvet cover more easily.
It’s a strong choice for people who love classic fluff and want thoughtful details that improve real-world use.

Fluffiest Down Alternative: Buffy Cloud Comforter

Down alternative is appealing for allergies, easier care, or ethical preferencesbut clumping is a common complaint. This comforter uses a fiber-web style fill intended to prevent empty spots, and it skips box stitching that can compress layers.
If you want “soft and lofty” without the drama, this is a standout.

Soothing Weighted Blanket: Sleep Number Relaxation Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets are popular because deep pressure can feel calming for some people. This one earned high marks for softness and construction designed to keep the weight evenly distributed.

How to choose a weight: Many sleep guides suggest aiming for roughly 10% of your body weight. If you’re between sizes, go lighter if you’re unsureyou want gentle pressure, not “I can’t retrieve my phone from the nightstand” pressure.

Reality check: The evidence is still evolving. Weighted blankets can help some sleepers relax, but they’re not magic. If it feels soothing to you, it’s doing its job.

Stellar Silk Pillowcase: Fishers Finery 100% Mulberry 25MM Silk Pillowcase

Silk pillowcases are often loved for two practical reasons: they can feel cooler and smoother, and their low-friction surface may be gentler on hair. Dermatologists often mention satin/silk sleep accessories as a way to reduce frictionespecially for textured or curly hair.
This pick stood out in performance testing for durability measures like strength and abrasion resistance.

Mattress Toppers: The Fastest “New Bed” Feeling

Toppers are the cheat code for upgrading comfort without replacing the whole mattress. They’re also the peace treaty when one partner wants “firm support” and the other wants “soft marshmallow.”
The winners include foam for support, down/feather for plushness, and a natural-material option.

Superfirm Foam: Tempur-Pedic Tempur ProForm Supreme

Memory foam toppers can reduce pressure points and help with motion transferuseful if you sleep next to a person who tosses and turns like they’re auditioning for a breakdancing team.
This topper is known for dense support, and the washable cover is a practical perk.

Instant Feather Bed: Parachute Down Mattress Topper

If you want a pillow-top feel, a down-and-feather topper can create that plush “hotel bed” effect. Construction matters heregood baffle design helps keep fill evenly spread so you don’t end up with one corner that feels like a pancake.
If you’re sensitive to down, look for down-alternative versions.

Sustainable Choice: Avocado Green Mattress Topper

Natural materials like wool and latex are popular with shoppers looking for a different feel than traditional foam. This topper is designed to offer support while using materials associated with sustainability-focused manufacturing.
It’s a smart choice if you want a responsive, buoyant feel and care about certifications and sourcing.

Sleepwear & Accessories: The “Finish the Job” Details

Great bedding is the main course, but these are the side dishes that make the whole meal better: pajamas that manage temperature, recovery-style loungewear you can wear outside the house, and an eye mask that blocks light like it’s mad at the sun.

Classic Flannel: L.L.Bean Scotch Plaid Flannel Pajamas

Flannel is beloved for warmth and softness, especially in cold weather. This set performed well in textiles testing and was rated softer than average by testers.
If your winter personality is “human burrito,” flannel supports your lifestyle choices.

Sweat-Fighting Style: Lusomé Ginger Lace-Trim Camisole

Night sweats are not exactly a vibe, but moisture-managing sleepwear can help you feel more comfortable. This pick stood out in testing that evaluated how fabric handles moisture.
If you run warm at night, breathable and sweat-wicking materials can be as important as your sheets.

Expert & Editor Favorite: Under Armour Recovery Sleepwear

Sometimes you want sleepwear that doesn’t scream “pajamas” so you can walk the dog or grab coffee without looking like you’ve given up on daytime. This set is known for a soft, lightweight feel and solid wash durability.
It’s an easy pick if your life includes a lot of “one more errand” moments.

Light-Blocking Eye Mask: Bucky 40 Blinks Sleep Mask

If light wakes you up, blackout curtains aren’t your only option. This contoured mask is designed to block light while staying comfortabletesters even liked that they could open their eyes under it.
It’s basically a tiny portable night for your face.

How to Build Your Best Bed Using These Winners

You don’t need all 22 winners (unless you’re opening a boutique hotel in your apartment). Start with the piece that will change your sleep the most:

• If you wake up sore: prioritize the mattress or a supportive topper.
• If you wake up sweaty: choose breathable sheets (often percale) and temperature-friendly sleepwear.
• If you wake up with neck pain: focus on pillow loft and support first.
• If you wake up because of light/noise: accessories like a good eye mask can be surprisingly powerful.

Two quick shopping rules that save money and regret

1. Don’t obsess over thread count. Fiber quality and weave matter more than chasing the biggest number on the package.
   A well-made 300–500 thread count cotton set can outperform “1,000 thread count” marketing hype.
2. Match materials to your lifestyle. If you hate high-maintenance care, don’t buy something that requires delicate washing unless you genuinely love it.
   Convenience is part of comfort.

Bedding Care Tips to Keep the “New Bed” Feeling

Good bedding lasts longer when you treat it like a long-term relationship: regular care, honest communication (read the care label), and don’t ignore problems until everything pills and shrinks out of spite.

• Wash sheets weekly for freshness and hygiene. If you have pets, allergies, or heavy night sweating, wash more often.
• Use the warmest water your fabric can safely handle (check labels). For allergy concerns, some health organizations recommend hot water around 130°F to reduce dust mites.
• Dry gently (often low heat) to reduce wear and shrinkageespecially for cotton and performance fabrics.
• Rotate and fluff pillows and comforters so fill stays evenly distributed and feels supportive longer.

Extra: of Real-Life Bedding Upgrade Experiences

The first time you truly upgrade your bedding, it’s weirdly emotional. Not “tearful movie montage” emotional, but more like “Why did I live like this for so long?” emotional.
I’ve watched people treat sheets like a background detailsomething you buy once, forget forever, and replace only when they develop a mysterious crunchiness that no detergent can explain.
Then they try a genuinely well-made set, and suddenly they’re the person telling friends, unprompted, “You have to feel my sheets.”

My favorite bedding-upgrade moment is the fitted sheet realization. You know the one: you put the fitted sheet on, and it actually fits. The corners don’t pop off like toast.
You don’t have to do that midnight wrestling move where you hook one corner with your foot and yank with your hands.
When a set is thoughtfully designedlike when the sides are labeled, or the elastic actually holdsmaking the bed stops being a tiny daily feud.

Then there’s the “percale versus sateen” personality test. Percale people climb into bed and immediately feel refreshed, like they’re sleeping in a boutique hotel where someone folds the toilet paper into a swan.
Sateen people slide in and go, “Ah yes, luxury,” and then immediately start planning to buy a second set “so I never have to go back.”
Neither is wrong. The best sheets are the ones that make you excited to get into bed instead of doom-scrolling on the couch until your eyes burn.

Comforters are where optimism meets physics. Down can feel like floating, but you learn quickly that construction matters.
A comforter that keeps its fill in place feels consistently cozy; one that shifts around leaves you with cold zones that feel personally targeted.
Down alternative can be incredible when it’s engineered to resist clumpingespecially if you’ve ever washed a comforter and then stared at the dryer like, “So… are we friends again or what?”

Toppers have the most dramatic “before-and-after” energy. Add a supportive foam topper to a too-firm mattress and it’s like your bed learned empathy overnight.
Add a plush feather topper and it’s instant “pillow-top hotel” vibesuntil you realize you now need to budget an extra 30 seconds each morning for fluffing and smoothing.
It’s worth it. You’re investing in the kind of comfort that makes you say, out loud, “Okay… this is nice,” to an empty room.

And finally: the accessories. A real eye mask that blocks light is a sleep cheat code, especially if you live somewhere with streetlights, early sun, or a neighbor who believes 6 a.m. is the ideal time to start a leaf blower orchestra.
A weighted blanket can feel like a calming ritualsomething you reach for when you want your body to take a deep breath before your brain catches up.
The biggest lesson is that great sleep isn’t one magic product. It’s a set of small, smart choices that add up to a bed you actually look forward to.

Conclusion: Your Bed Can Be BetterAnd It Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

The 2020 Best Bedding Awards winners show that “better sleep” can come from practical upgrades: a mattress that matches your support needs, sheets that suit your temperature preferences, a pillow that actually fits your sleeping position, and a few accessories that remove common sleep annoyances.
Start with the one change that will help you most, then build from there. Your future selfwell-rested, less cranky, and no longer at war with the fitted sheetwill be very grateful.