Brooklinen and Parachute sell the same core weaves (percale, sateen, and linen) at two different priorities. Brooklinen is the value pick: lower entry prices, frequent sales, the widest range of fabrics and colors, and a 365-day return window. Parachute costs more and rarely discounts, but you get Egyptian-cotton sheets finished in Portugal, a slightly softer hand, and physical stores where you can feel the fabric first.
Both brands launched in 2014, both run on long-staple cotton, and both have become default answers when someone asks where to buy nice sheets online. So the real question is not which is "better" in the abstract. It is which one fits how you sleep, how much you want to spend, and how long you want to be able to change your mind.
Here is the honest breakdown, with the prices, weaves, and return policies checked against each brand's own site.
How we compared them
- Weave range. Does the brand cover percale, sateen, and linen at minimum, and what else is on the menu.
- Material honesty. The actual cotton type and any third-party certification (OEKO-TEX, GOTS, Egyptian cotton).
- Price and sale cadence. The entry price for a queen set and how often it goes on sale.
- Return safety net. How long you have to return, and any fee.
- Where you can buy it. Online only, or physical stores you can walk into.
At a glance
| Brand | Best for | Price | Returns | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklinen | Value and the longest return window | Lower entry, frequent sales | 365 days ($9.95 mail-in fee) | Widest weave and color range |
| Parachute | Premium feel and buying in a store | Higher, rare sales | 60 days US ($8 mail-in, free in store) | Egyptian-cotton percale finished in Portugal |
Brooklinen
Brooklinen started in 2014 when Rich and Vicki Fulop tried (and failed) to buy the comfortable sheets off a hotel bed, then raised the money to make their own on Kickstarter. It has since grown into one of the largest direct-to-consumer bedding brands.
The lineup is the widest in this matchup. You get Classic Percale (a crisp, cool 270 thread count), Luxe Sateen (a silky, buttery weave around 480 thread count), Washed European Linen, a GOTS-certified Organic Cotton line, Heathered Cashmere, and flannel in colder months. The Classic Percale and Luxe Sateen sets are OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, meaning a third party tested them and found them free of a long list of harmful chemicals.
Pricing sits below Parachute: a queen Classic Percale set runs around $139 and Luxe Sateen around $219 at full price, and Brooklinen discounts often, usually 15 to 25 percent. The return window is the most generous here at 365 days, with a $9.95 fee deducted from mail-in refunds. It is best for budget-minded buyers, anyone who wants a big color palette, and shoppers who want a year to decide.
Parachute
Parachute also launched in 2014, founded by Ariel Kaye after a trip to Italy left her chasing the feel of good hotel bedding. The brand built its name on long-staple Egyptian cotton, sourced and finished in Portugal, plus European flax for its linen.
The sheet menu covers Percale (crisp, cool Egyptian cotton), Sateen (silky, smooth cotton), Linen (relaxed European flax), Brushed Cotton (soft and breathable), and a cooling Linen Tencel blend. It is a tighter range than Brooklinen, but the material story is more premium, and testers tend to say the cotton feels a touch softer out of the bag and softens further with washing.
You pay for that. A queen percale set runs about $149 without a top sheet, and sateen climbs higher (around $264 for a queen in head-to-head lab testing). Parachute rarely discounts, with most deals landing around Black Friday. Returns run 60 days in the US (90 in Canada), free if you bring them to a store or take store credit, with an $8 flat fee on mail-in refunds. The big differentiator: Parachute has physical stores, so you can touch the fabric before you commit. It is best for buyers who want a premium hand-feel, care about the Egyptian-cotton sourcing, and want to see the product in person.
How they compare
Weave and fabric. Both cover the big three (percale, sateen, linen). Brooklinen goes wider with organic cotton, cashmere, and flannel; Parachute counters with brushed cotton and a linen-Tencel blend, and leans on its Egyptian-cotton story. If you want the most options under one roof, Brooklinen wins. If you want a curated Egyptian-cotton line, Parachute.
Feel and softness. This is close, and it is the one place Parachute edges ahead. Independent testers generally find Parachute's cotton slightly softer out of the package, with both brands softening over time. Brooklinen's percale is crisp and hotel-like; its sateen is smooth and warm. Pick the weave to match how you sleep, not just the brand.
Price. Brooklinen is clearly cheaper at the entry point and discounts year-round, so you can usually catch a sale. Parachute sits at a premium and almost never marks down, which means the sticker price is closer to what you actually pay.
Returns. This one is not close. Brooklinen gives you a full year (365 days, minus a $9.95 mail-in fee). Parachute gives US buyers 60 days, with free in-store or store-credit returns and an $8 mail-in fee. If a long, low-risk trial matters to you, Brooklinen is the safer bet.
Durability. Good Housekeeping's textile lab found Parachute resisted pilling better than Brooklinen over 100-plus wash cycles, but wrinkled more. So Parachute tends to stay smooth-surfaced longer, while Brooklinen tends to look less rumpled straight off the line. Both are built to last; the trade-off is pilling versus wrinkling.
Where you buy. Parachute has physical stores, which is a real advantage if you want to feel the fabric first. Brooklinen is primarily online, though it ships fast and backs the purchase with that year-long window.
Which should you buy?
- If you run hot: go percale from either brand. Both make a crisp, breathable percale; Parachute's is Egyptian cotton, Brooklinen's is the cheaper entry. Skip sateen, which sleeps warmer.
- If you want the softest, silkiest feel: sateen from either, with a slight edge to Parachute on out-of-the-bag softness.
- If you are on a budget or buying your first nice sheets: Brooklinen, for the lower price, frequent sales, and the safety net of a 365-day return.
- If you want to touch the fabric before buying: Parachute, because you can visit a store.
- If you love a relaxed, lived-in look: linen from either; Parachute uses European flax, Brooklinen washed European linen.
- If you hate the idea of being stuck with sheets you dislike: Brooklinen, on the strength of that year-long return window.
Both are genuinely good. Brooklinen wins on value, range, and returns. Parachute wins on premium hand-feel and the in-store experience. Match the weave to your sleep first, then let price and return policy break the tie.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brooklinen or Parachute cheaper?
Brooklinen is cheaper. A queen Classic Percale set runs around $139 versus roughly $149 for Parachute's percale (without a top sheet), and the gap widens on sateen. Brooklinen also discounts 15 to 25 percent throughout the year, while Parachute rarely runs sales outside Black Friday.
Which is better for hot sleepers, Brooklinen or Parachute?
Choose the weave, not the brand. Both make a crisp percale that breathes well and sleeps cool, plus airy linen. Avoid sateen from either brand if you sleep hot, since the smoother, denser weave traps more warmth.
Do Brooklinen and Parachute have free returns?
Not entirely. Brooklinen accepts most returns for 365 days but deducts a $9.95 fee from mail-in refunds. Parachute gives US buyers 60 days, free if you return in a store or take store credit, with an $8 fee on mail-in refunds.
Which sheets are softer, Brooklinen sateen or Parachute sateen?
Independent testers generally give Parachute a slight edge on out-of-the-bag softness, and say its cotton softens further with washes. Brooklinen's sateen is still smooth and plush, just a touch crisper to start. The difference is small.
Are Brooklinen and Parachute sheets made of good cotton?
Yes. Both use long-staple cotton. Parachute uses Egyptian cotton finished in Portugal, and Brooklinen's Classic Percale and Luxe Sateen are OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, with a GOTS-certified organic line as well.
Does Parachute have physical stores?
Yes. Parachute runs physical retail locations with a store locator on its site, so you can feel the fabric before buying. Brooklinen is primarily online and ships direct.
More brand guides
Looking for more? These guides round up the best brands in other categories.