You buy a new set of sheets. They feel smooth and soft. Then a few months later, you start noticing tiny rough balls of fabric, usually right where you lay.
Those little balls are called pills, and once they show up, even otherwise comfortable sheets can start feeling rough against your skin.
So why do sheets pill? And more importantly, what should you look for when buying sheets if you want to avoid pilling in the first place?
The answer isn't as simple as choosing bamboo over cotton or looking for the highest thread count on the package. Fiber quality, yarn construction, weave, friction and laundering all play a part.
Here's what you need to know before buying your next set of sheets.
What Is Sheet Pilling?
Pilling happens when small, loose fibers work their way to the surface of a fabric. As you move in bed and the sheets rub against your body, mattress and each other, those fibers can become tangled together and form tiny balls.
That's why pilling often appears first in high-friction areas such as where your legs, feet, hips or shoulders regularly contact the sheets.
Friction happens in the laundry room, too. Sheets rub against each other and other fabrics in the washing machine and dryer. Over time, that repeated abrasion can loosen fibers.
Any fabric can potentially pill. The important difference is how easily its fibers work loose and how well the fabric is constructed to keep them in place.
Why Do Some Sheets Pill More Than Others?
Think of pilling as a combination of three things:
Fiber + construction + friction.
Friction starts the process, but the quality and construction of the fabric can determine how quickly visible pilling develops.
1. Short or Loose Fibers
Short fibers naturally have more fiber ends within a yarn. Those ends have more opportunities to work their way toward the fabric's surface, where friction can cause them to tangle together.
This is one reason inexpensive, short-staple cotton can be more prone to pilling than quality long-staple or extra-long-staple cotton. But fiber length isn't the whole story.
2. A Loose or Poorly Constructed Weave
How yarns are woven together matters.
A tightly constructed fabric helps hold the yarns securely in place. With a looser or less stable construction of low-thread count fibers and yarns which allow more opportunity to move and rub against one another.
That means you shouldn't shop for sheets based solely on whether the package says cotton, bamboo, microfiber or another fiber. How the fabric is made matters, too.
3. Everyday Friction
You don't have to be a restless sleeper to create friction. Simply moving your legs at night, turning over, or repeatedly sleeping in the same position creates surface abrasion. Pets can add friction, too.
Then your sheets go through another round of rubbing in the washer and dryer. Good sheets are made with everyday life in mind. You shouldn't have to lie perfectly still at night to protect them.
4. Heat and Harsh Laundry Products
Repeated exposure to excessive heat and harsh laundry products can put unnecessary stress on fibers. Gentler laundering detergents can make a big difference.
That's one reason following the manufacturer's laundering instructions matters. Proper care isn't just about keeping sheets clean, it can also help protect the fabric and extend its useful life.
Pills, Fuzz and Lint Aren't the Same Thing
Before assuming your new sheets are pilling, take a closer look.
Pills are small balls made from fibers that have tangled together and remain attached to the fabric.
Fuzz is made up of loose fibers standing on or above the fabric's surface. Some new textiles may release a small amount of loose fiber during their first few washes. That doesn't necessarily mean the sheets are pilling.
Lint may not be coming from your sheets at all. Towels, clothing and other items washed with bedding can shed fibers that attach themselves to your sheets.
That's one reason we recommend washing BedVoyage bedding separately from towels and other laundry.
Which Types of Sheets Are Most Likely to Pill?
There isn't one fiber that always pills and another that never does. Quality and construction can make an enormous difference within the same category.
Here's what shoppers should know:
Cotton Sheets
Cotton can pill, particularly when sheets are made from shorter staple fibers or lower-quality yarns, as well as very low thread counts.
Long-staple and extra-long-staple cotton have longer fibers and fewer exposed fiber ends, which can help reduce pilling when the fabric is well constructed.
Flannel and Jersey Sheets
These tend to be more susceptible to pilling.
Flannel gets its familiar soft, fuzzy feel by brushing the fabric and raising fibers at the surface. Those exposed fibers are also more available to rub, tangle and form pills.
Jersey is knitted rather than woven. Its soft, stretchy construction can also be more susceptible to surface wear and pilling depending on the yarn and quality.
Polyester and Microfiber Sheets
Synthetic fibers such as polyester are strong. That sounds like an advantage, and in some ways it is, but it can also make pills particularly stubborn.
When loose fibers tangle into a pill, strong synthetic fibers may continue holding that pill to the fabric rather than allowing it to eventually break away.
Quality still matters. Not every microfiber or polyester sheet will perform the same way.
Sateen Sheets
Sateen is a weave, not a fiber.
Its construction creates longer yarn "floats" across the surface, which contributes to sateen's smooth feel and subtle sheen. Those longer exposed sections can also be more susceptible to abrasion or snagging than some tighter constructions.
That doesn't mean all sateen sheets pill. High-quality sateen made with good yarn can perform very well. Again, construction matters.
Bamboo Sheets
Can bamboo sheets pill? Yes.
"Bamboo" on the package doesn't automatically guarantee a pill-free sheet.
Just as with cotton, there can be substantial differences in the quality, yarn and weave of bamboo bedding. A poorly constructed bamboo sheet can pill, while a well-made fabric designed to minimize fiber movement can be highly resistant to it.
That's why it's worth looking beyond the word bamboo when you're shopping.
Why BedVoyage Uses a 300 Thread Count Twill Weave
At BedVoyage, our Cooling Bamboo Sheets are made from 100% viscose from bamboo using a tightly constructed 300-thread-count twill weave. Note: 300 thread count is high for bamboo, while many brands offer 200-250 thread count.
And there's a reason we chose twill.
Fabric is created by interlacing lengthwise warp yarns with crosswise weft yarns. With a twill weave, those yarns interlace in a repeating pattern that creates the subtle diagonal structure characteristic of twill.
if you want to get a little nerdy, here is the actual weaving process: in a twill weave, the weft travels over 1-3 warp ends and then passes under 1-3 weft ends. Each progressive row shifts by one warp end, creating a diagonal line across your cloth. Twill is generally woven on 4 shafts (though you see 3 shaft variations) and creates a strong and smooth fabric.
That tightly constructed pattern helps keep the yarns stable and fibers secured within the fabric instead of allowing excessive movement at the surface.
Less loose fiber at the surface means less opportunity for friction to turn those fibers into pills.
Twill is more costly to produce than some simpler bedding constructions, but our goal was never to make the cheapest bamboo sheet possible.
We wanted to make sheets that feel good when they're new, and are designed to stay smooth through years of sleeping and washing. That's also why we don't chase giant thread-count numbers. BedVoyage's 300 thread count Bamboo Sheets are the 'sweet spot' between breathability and softness. If you weave too tight (high thread count) you are creating a non-breathable surface which can cause overheating while sleeping.
Does a Higher Thread Count Mean Sheets Won't Pill?
No. Thread count alone is not a reliable measure of sheet quality or pilling resistance.
Thread count simply describes the number of threads woven into a square inch of fabric. It doesn't tell you the quality of those fibers, how the yarn was made, whether multiple yarns were counted together to create a larger marketing number, or how well the fabric was constructed.
A tightly woven, high-quality 300-thread-count sheet can be a better-made fabric than a sheet marketed as 800, 1,000 or even 1,500 thread count.
Instead of shopping for the biggest number on the package, look at the entire construction:
What's the fiber? How is it woven? Is the fabric tightly constructed? Who made it? And is the manufacturer willing to explain what's actually in the sheet?
Those questions tell you much more than thread count alone.
How to Choose Sheets That Resist Pilling
If smooth sheets are important to you, don't make your decision based on softness in the package alone.
Some fabrics can feel exceptionally soft when they're brand new but develop surface wear quickly.
Instead, look for:
- Quality fibers and yarns with fewer loose fiber ends
- A tight, stable weave that helps keep fibers and yarns in place
- A realistic thread count rather than an unusually high number being used as the primary selling point
- 100% fiber constructions or clearly explained blends so you know what you're buying
- Clear laundering instructions from the manufacturer
- An established manufacturer with a track record behind the product
Most importantly, look for a company that tells you how its sheets are made, not just how soft they're supposed to feel.
How to Prevent Sheets From Pilling
Even well-made sheets benefit from proper laundering.
The goal is simple: clean your sheets without creating unnecessary friction, chemical stress or heat.
BedVoyage recommends laundering Bamboo Sheets with the below instructions:
BedVoyage Bamboo Sheet Laundry Care
- Wash sheets before first use
- Machine wash in cold or warm water
- Use a gentle liquid detergent
- Wash bedding separately from towels and other laundry
- Avoid bleach
- Avoid fabric softener
- Avoid dryer sheets
- Avoid dryer balls
- Dry on medium heat
- Remove sheets from the dryer while they're still warm to help prevent wrinkles
- You may iron bamboo if desired, with high heat and steam, it won't harm them
- We recommend gentle detergents such as ECOS, Mrs. Meyer's or Seventh Generation rather than harsher detergents.
One particularly easy habit is washing sheets separately. Towels, denim, clothing with zippers and other rough fabrics create additional friction your bedding simply doesn't need.
What If Your Sheets Are Already Pilling?
Light pilling doesn't necessarily mean your sheets need to go in the trash.
A fabric shaver can carefully remove pills from the surface. Lay the sheet flat and taut, then use the shaver lightly according to its directions.
Be cautious with disposable razors or scissors. They can remove pills, but they can also nick or cut the fabric itself.
If pills return rapidly after removal, or the fabric has also become thin, rough, transparent or developed holes, the underlying material may simply be wearing out.
At that point, it's probably time for new sheets.
Buy the Construction, Not Just the Claim
When you're standing in a store or scrolling through dozens of sheets online, it's easy to get distracted by thread counts, buzzwords and promises of unbelievable softness.
There's a simpler way to shop.
Look at what the sheets are made from. Then look at how they're woven.
Pilling begins when fibers work loose and friction tangles them together. Quality fibers help. A stable, tightly constructed weave helps. Proper laundering helps.
BedVoyage has been making bamboo bedding since 2008, and we've learned that the details shoppers can't immediately see can make the biggest difference years later.
That's why our Cooling Bamboo Sheets use 100% viscose from bamboo in a tightly constructed 300-thread-count twill weave. They're also OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified, meaning they've been tested for harmful substances according to OEKO-TEX requirements.
We'd rather explain what's inside our sheets than put an enormous thread-count number on the package.
Because the real test of good sheets isn't just how they feel the first night.
It's how they feel after you've actually lived with them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sheet Pilling
1. Why are my sheets pilling?
Sheets pill when loose fibers work their way to the fabric's surface and become tangled through friction. Sleeping, tossing and turning, laundering and drying all create friction. Fiber quality, yarn construction, weave and laundering habits can affect how easily pilling develops.
2. Do bamboo sheets pill?
Bamboo sheets can pill, just like other textiles. The word "bamboo" alone doesn't determine pilling resistance. Fiber and yarn quality, fabric construction, weave and care all matter. A tightly constructed bamboo fabric can be highly resistant to pilling. BedVoyage's quality twill weave is what makes them resistant to pilling.
3. What sheets are least likely to pill?
Look for sheets made with quality fibers and yarns and a tight, stable weave. Long-staple cotton, quality linen and well-constructed bamboo fabrics can all offer good resistance to pilling. Don't judge pilling resistance by fiber name or thread count alone. But in general; a twill weave is more resistant to pilling that virtually all other weaves.
4. Why do my sheets pill where my feet are?
The foot and leg area can receive a lot of repeated friction while you sleep. As your feet and legs move against the fabric night after night, that abrasion can loosen surface fibers and make this one of the first places pilling becomes noticeable.
5. Does high thread count prevent pilling?
No. A higher thread count does not automatically mean a sheet is higher quality or more resistant to pilling. Fiber quality, yarn construction and weave matter, too. A well-made 300-thread-count fabric can outperform a poorly constructed sheet carrying a much higher advertised thread count.
6. Can you remove pilling from bed sheets?
Yes. Light surface pilling can often be removed carefully with a fabric shaver. If the fabric is also thinning, developing holes or immediately pills again, however, the sheet itself may be reaching the end of its useful life.
7. How can I keep bamboo sheets from pilling?
Start with well-constructed twill weave bamboo sheets and follow the manufacturer's care instructions. For BedVoyage sheets, wash in cold or warm water with a gentle liquid detergent, wash bedding separately, avoid bleach and fabric softener, dry on medium heat, and avoid dryer sheets and dryer balls. Reducing unnecessary friction and harsh laundering helps protect the fabric over time.
Explore our other bamboo comparison blogs:
Bamboo vs. Down Pillows and Comforters
Sweet Dreams~
