Gear

The Very Best Labor Day Deals You Can Already Buy

August 25, 2026

A close-up of folded L.L. Bean sheets. — Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

Time-tested sheets that get softer year after year

The absolute best percale set we’ve ever tested, these super-durable sheets have a smooth, cool feel and get softer the longer you use them.

Made of durable pima cotton that only gets softer with each wash, it’s no surprise these supple sheets have been one of our favorites for years. They remain the best, most crisp and breathable percale sets we’ve ever tested.

Flannel sheets so soft, you’ll never want to get out of bed

No other flannel sheets we’ve tested came close to this set’s winning combo of plush softness, warmth, and long-lasting quality.

We’ve loved these super-soft sheets for as long as they’ll keep you warm and cozy — and that’s a long time. A total bargain for their durability, this set is made of thick, plush Portuguese flannel that feels outstanding and has held up extremely well in our long-term testing.

Crisp and airy cotton sheets that look as good as they feel

Crisp and cool, these percale sheets feel lovely against the skin. The sharp prints change every few months and suit a range of styles.

Hot sleepers rejoice: The cool, breathable percale weave of these sheets is light and crisp. Made of long-staple cotton that can endure years of washes and wear, this set comes in a huge variety of colors and a rotating mix of hip prints, which are a few bucks more than the solid colors.

Cheery percale sheets that pop

These sheets come in a fantastic palette of colors, and the percale material is comfy, light, and pleasant to sleep on.

Colorful sheets can be a bedtime mood-booster, and this percale set comes in the most thoughtfully curated, vibrant, and fun hues we’ve seen. They’re a total dream to sleep on — light, crisp, and airy — with minimal wrinkles, even after many washes.

Bouncy linen that’s great for hot sleepers

It’s no wonder these drapey linen sheets are one of our longtime favorites: They offer the best combination of softness and durability we’ve found.

Linen bedding can be a game-changer for hot sleepers, and our longtime favorite sheets are durable, breathable, and among the softest we’ve tested. They look effortless and fresh, with a marvelously rumpled texture and satisfying drape.

An airy throw that’s roomy enough for couch naps

This gauzy cotton blankie is ideal for warm-weather naps. It’s one of the lightest throws we recommend, and its pleasant crinkly texture feels cool on skin.

This light but cozy throw is ideal for mild-weather snuggling. With four layers of cotton gauze, it’s substantially more hefty than others, and testers loved the subtle but cheerful colors. It fuzzes a bit in the wash, but remains bouncy and light.

A buttery-soft quilt with a handmade feel

Made with organic cotton and hand-quilted, this warm, soft quilt is the best we’ve tested. It’s also durable and easy enough to toss in a washer and dryer.

Warm, soft, and just the right weight for year-round snuggling, this heirloom-quality coverlet is made with thick, multicolored embroidery floss and particularly smooth long-staple cotton. The quilting is done by hand in India, so each one is unique.

An airy quilt in gorgeous colors

If you love quilts but hate the heavy look and feel, this cheerful, airy cotton voile option might be the bedspread of your dreams.

Made from lightweight cotton voile fabric for an airy, bouncy feel, this comforting quilt is cozy and durable enough for year-round use. It’s an incredible value for the quality — by far, the best sub-$200 quilt we’ve tested — and comes in more than a dozen colors.

A lofty down comforter for year-round warmth

This high-quality, fluffy comforter’s baffle box construction and 700-fill-power duck down will keep you toasty warm without overheating.

Seasons change, but one thing remains the same: how much we love cocooning ourselves in this lightweight and fluffy down comforter. It doesn’t slide off the bed, and its baffle box construction helps keep its loft, even after being in storage.

A comforter you don’t have to cover up

Unfussy, warm, and well-made, this stand-alone comforter is a fantastic option that comes in a rainbow of colors.

Because it’s so durable and doesn’t require a separate cover, this comforter is an excellent choice for kids, teens, and people who hate dealing with duvet covers. It can feel somewhat crinkly when new, but it’s easy to toss in the washing machine (and it’ll get softer when you do).

A sophisticated duvet cover in intriguing modern prints

This breathable percale duvet cover is one of the least expensive we’ve tried, and it comes in the most interesting variety of prints we’ve seen.

Soft, comfortable percale gives this light and airy duvet cover an upscale hotel bedding feel, without the fancy hotel price. Its cheery colors and prints add some oomph that other basic bedding lacks.

A hard-wearing, wrinkle-resistant duvet cover

This top-notch duvet cover is made from crisp, cool Supima cotton that only gets better with age. It barely wrinkles out of the dryer.

Kids, pets, multiple rounds in the washing machine — this duvet cover can survive it all. It’s made from the same high-quality Supima cotton as our favorite percale sheets, so it’s crisp and cool for sleeping and barely wrinkles out of the dryer.

A breezy textured duvet cover for linen lovers

This cool linen duvet cover sports a breathable rustic texture that is by far the softest we’ve tested. It holds up beautifully in the wash.

Add a pleasantly rumpled look to any bed with the softest linen duvet cover we’ve tested. Its strong, neat stitching holds up in the wash, and the corner ties stay secure.

Silk pillowcases to help keep bedhead at bay

These luminous 25-momme silk pillowcases create less friction than cotton, so they’re especially ideal for curly or potentially frizzy hair.

Our staff consider these silk pillowcases ideal for fighting frizz and taming tangles — compared with cotton, silk absorbs less product and creates less friction. They feel decadently lustrous and weighty out of the box, and testers liked them even more after washing. The price has risen significantly over the past year, so this BOGO deal helps.

An unalarming bedside companion

This soothing two-phase alarm clock offers ambient music and nature sounds, plus some thoughtful built-in bonus features. It’s one of the least jarring models we tested.

Prefer a gentler wake-up call? This smart-ish digital alarm clock first plays a mellow wake-up tone, then snoozes before emitting a louder melody to get you up. From the built-in night-light to the wide selection of gentle yet effective wake-up sounds, every detail feels refined to induce a state of calm.