Why Luxury Bed Sheets Keep Their Shape Shrinkage Allowance & Sanforising Explained
Luxury bed sheets should feel beautifully smooth on night one and fit perfectly after many washes. The secret is a careful combination of sanforising and shrinkage allowance, supported by fine yarns and considered finishing. Sanforising stabilises the cloth before cutting and sewing so real world wash shrinkage stays very low.
What is sanforising
Sanforising is a controlled pre shrink process for cotton fabrics. The cloth is moistened, compressed and set under heat so it relaxes in a predictable way at home. When a sheet is sanforised and allowed a proper shrinkage allowance, it keeps its lines, stays square at the corners and holds a crisp edge over time. You will feel the benefit most on smooth percale and softly lustrous sateen within our Egyptian cotton bed linen.
What is shrinkage allowance
Natural fibres relax in the first few washes. Makers of fine bed linen allow a small percentage of movement at weaving and cutting so the finished item settles into its true size after laundering. If you want an instant hotel look, match your sheet to our range of fitted sheets that are sized with real world shrinkage and mattress depth in mind, and see The Right Fitted Sheet for Every Mattress for clear depth guidance.
Percale versus sateen and how they behave
Percale has a cool, matte hand and tends to feel taut and structured once it has settled. Sateen has a gentler drape with a quiet sheen. For a deeper comparison of feel, season and styling, read Percale vs Sateen: Which Egyptian Cotton Finish Suits Your Bedroom Best? Pair your cover with coordinating duvet covers for a consistent hand and finish.
UK sizing guidance that keeps the fit
Choose sheets that match your mattress size in the UK standard set of single, double, king or super king. Check depth so the elastic sits cleanly under the corners once the fabric has settled. If you use a topper, select a deeper cut. Explore the full bed linen collection or sizes and coordinating pieces.
Care that preserves shape
Wash at a moderate temperature with a gentle detergent. Give sheets space in the drum so they rinse cleanly. Remove promptly and shake out before drying. Line dry where possible or tumble on a low setting until just dry. Avoid overdrying since high heat can set creases and tighten fibres. For fuller routines and troubleshooting, see our Ultimate Bedding Care and Maintenance Masterclass.
Facts that matter
Residual shrinkage after sanforising is typically held to a very low figure under standard home laundry tests. This is why corners stay square and edges keep their line after the first few washes.
How luxury makers keep sheets true to size
Fine long staple cotton spins into strong, even yarns that weave with accuracy. Loom tensions are monitored and finishing is paced to avoid stress in the cloth. Cutting rooms use patterns that account for the very small movement that remains after sanforising. These steps are invisible in daily use yet they are why luxury sheets keep their clean edge for years.