L.L. Bean is known for classic, highly durable bedding focused on longevity and practicality, appealing to those who love a traditional aesthetic. In contrast, Brooklinen is a modern, direct-to-consumer brand that offers luxurious-feeling sheets with a contemporary vibe, premium materials, and a wider range of solid colors.
Let's compare them side-by-side to help you decide which sheets belong on your bed.
L.L. Bean: The Classic, Durable Bedding Choice
L.L. Bean is a legendary American brand built on a reputation for quality, outdoor-tested gear, and timeless home essentials. Their bedding collection reflects this heritage, offering no-fuss, incredibly durable sheets designed to last for years. This makes them a go-to for families, traditionalists, and anyone who values sturdy, practical comfort over trendy designs.
- Product mix: L.L. Bean offers a focused selection of sheet materials, including their famous percale, premium Egyptian cotton, and exceptionally soft flannel for colder months. Their collection prioritizes classic materials known for durability.
- Style/vibe: The aesthetic is traditional, clean, and understated. Expect classic solid colors, simple stripes, and traditional patterns like plaids that fit perfectly into classic, rustic, or country-style bedrooms.
- Price point: Mid-range and value-driven. A queen-size percale sheet set typically retails for $90–$150, while their popular flannel sets are around $129. They offer excellent durability for the price.
- Quality: The defining characteristic is durability. Made from sturdy 100% cotton, these sheets are designed to withstand countless washes, often getting softer over time. They are known for their substantial feel and resilient construction.
- Dimensions/Scale: Sizes range from Twin to California King. Their fitted sheets feature generous pockets designed to fit mattresses up to 16 inches deep, ensuring a secure and reliable fit.
- Return policy: Famous for its generous satisfaction guarantee, allowing returns within one year of purchase if a product proves unsatisfactory.
L.L. Bean sheets are an investment in long-term comfort and resilience, making them ideal for anyone who wants a dependable product with a timeless look.
Shop L.L. Bean: llbean.com
Brooklinen: The Modern Luxury Bedding Brand
Launched in 2014, Brooklinen quickly became a dominant force in the bedding market by selling high-quality, luxurious-feeling bedding. Its fabric options cater to different preferences, making it a favorite among a design-conscious audience seeking a hotel-like experience at home without the intimidating price tag. They focus on direct-to-consumer sales, making luxury more affordable at home.
- Product mix: Brooklinen offers a wider range of modern fabric options, including Classic Percale for a crisp feel, Luxe Sateen for a silky-smooth finish, Washed Linen for a relaxed vibe, and a cashmere blend for ultimate softness.
- Style/vibe: The look is modern, minimalist, and versatile. Brooklinen is known for its extensive palette of solid colors, ranging from core neutrals to limited-edition seasonal hues, allowing for easy mixing and matching.
- Price point: Mid-range to upper-mid-range. A queen-size Classic Percale Core Set starts at $159, while their Luxe Sateen Set is $179. Their prices reflect the use of premium long-staple cotton and finer finishing.
- Quality: Brooklinen uses high-quality raw materials, like long-staple cotton, which results in sheets that are softer and smoother right out of the box. Their products are OEKO-TEX certified for chemical safety, ensuring they're free from harmful substances. They focus on durability and quality, making great all-around products at an accessible price point.
- Sustainability: The brand emphasizes responsible sourcing, and most of its cotton products are OEKO-TEX certified, meaning they are free from harmful chemicals. Its dedication to quality, long-lasting linens also helps promote sustainability.
- Return policy: Customers can make returns or exchanges on any item within 365 days of purchase, even if it has been used and washed.
Brooklinen delivers modern, luxurious-feeling sheets with a focus on premium materials and versatile style, perfect for those upgrading their sleep experience.
Shop Brooklinen: brooklinen.com
L.L. Bean vs. Brooklinen Comparison
Price Comparison
L.L. Bean is generally the more affordable option. A standard queen percale set costs under $150, providing outstanding value through its long-term durability. You are paying for sheets that are built to last through years of washing and use, making the upfront cost very reasonable over the product's lifespan.
Brooklinen's sheet sets typically start around $159 and go up from there, positioning them as a premium-yet-accessible brand. The higher price is justified by their use of pricier raw materials like long-staple cotton and a more refined finishing process, which creates a softer, silkier hand-feel from the very first night.
Quality & Materials
Quality at L.L. Bean means toughness and resilience. Their 100% cotton percale is crisp and sturdy, and their flannel is legendary for its thickness and warmth. These are workhorse sheets that hold up incredibly well over time but may feel less refined or silky compared to a luxury brand.
For Brooklinen, quality is defined by softness and a luxurious texture. Their use of long-staple cotton means the individual fibers are longer, resulting in a stronger, smoother, and finer yarn. This translates to fabrics like their Luxe Sateen, which has a buttery feel and a subtle sheen, or their Classic Percale, which feels lighter and airier than L.L. Bean's version.
Style & Aesthetic
L.L. Bean’s style is undeniably classic American. Their color palette is more traditional, focusing on white, cream, navy, and subdued hues. They also lean into patterns like plaids and simple stripes, which complement rustic, farmhouse, or traditional home decor flawlessly. This is the place for a timeless, functional bedroom look.
Brooklinen is the clear winner for modern style and color choice. Their collection focuses almost entirely on solid colors, but they offer a vast range from essential neutrals to trendy, limited-edition colors that change with the seasons. This makes it easy to create a chic, coordinated, or layered bedding look that fits minimalist, contemporary, and eclectic spaces.
Shopping Experience
L.L. Bean offers an omnichannel shopping experience, you can buy online, through their famous catalog, or in one of their physical retail stores. Their customer service is highly regarded for its responsiveness and problem-solving, backed by an exceptional satisfaction guarantee.
As a digital-native brand, Brooklinen provides a sleek online shopping experience. Their website is easy to navigate, with high-quality imagery and detailed product guides to help you choose the right fabric. Their direct-to-consumer model simplifies the process, and their 365-day return policy (even on used products) removes any risk from buying online.
Sustainability & Ethics
L.L. Bean's approach to sustainability is rooted in its brand ethos of creating products that last, which inherently reduces consumption and waste. While they have ongoing responsible sourcing initiatives, a lot of their message is focused on durability.
Brooklinen is more vocal about its practices, particularly its OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification. This guarantees that their products have been tested and found free of a long list of substances that can be harmful to you or the environment. It provides a level of chemical safety assurance that many modern consumers look for.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both brands offer excellent products, but they cater to very different priorities and tastes.
Choose L.L. Bean if:
- You prioritize durability and want sheets that will withstand heavy use and frequent washing for many years.
- Your home has a traditional, rustic, or classic design aesthetic.
- You're shopping for flannel sheets - their collection is famously cozy and warm.
- You value a generous satisfaction guarantee and a brand with a century-long reputation for quality.
Choose Brooklinen if:
- You love a silky, smooth, or lightweight feel and want that "hotel luxury" experience at home.
- Your bedroom style is modern, minimalist, or contemporary.
- You want a wide selection of solid colors to perfectly match your decor.
- You appreciate modern brand transparency and certifications like OEKO-TEX for chemical safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is L.L. Bean or Brooklinen cheaper?
L.L. Bean is generally more affordable. Their queen percale sheet sets are often priced lower than Brooklinen's entry-level sets. However, both brands offer good value for their respective target markets - L.L. Bean for durability and Brooklinen for luxury feel.
Which has better quality sheets?
This depends on your definition of quality. If quality means extreme durability and longevity, L.L. Bean is a top contender. If quality means a softer, smoother, and more refined feel right out of the package, Brooklinen often has the edge thanks to its use of premium long-staple cotton.
Are L.L. Bean sheets soft?
Yes, L.L. Bean sheets are soft, but they are better known for being crisp and sturdy. Their Pima cotton percale and flannel sheets, in particular, become much softer over time with repeated washing while maintaining their durable structure.
Are Brooklinen sheets worth it?
For those who prioritize a cloud-like, luxurious sleep experience and appreciate modern design, many customers find Brooklinen sheets to be worth the investment. Their lenient 365-day return policy also allows you to try them risk-free to decide for yourself.
Which brand is better for hot sleepers?
Both brands offer excellent options. Percale is the best weave for hot sleepers due to its cool and crisp breathability. Brooklinen's Classic Percale and L.L. Bean's Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel and Cotton Percale Sheet Collection both are highly rated for sleeping cool. Additionally, Brooklinen offers another great option with linen for another way to stay cool while sleeping.
What kind of return policy do they have?
Both have outstanding return policies. L.L. Bean has a famous 1-year satisfaction guarantee. Brooklinen offers a 365-day return window for any reason, even if the sheets have been used or washed.
How deep are the pockets on Brooklinen sheets?
Brooklinen fitted sheets are designed to fit mattresses up to 15 inches deep. Their Luxe Sateen fitted sheets make making the bed a breeze with their labeled “long” and "short" sides. The elastic band ensures a secure fit.
Does L.L. Bean still have a lifetime warranty?
L.L. Bean updated their famous warranty in 2018. They now offer a limited one-year return period, which is considered very generous in their space. While not a true lifetime warranty, their customer service is committed to addressing quality concerns.
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