If you compare linen vs cotton sheets in terms of breathability, another major difference emerges — linen will keep you much cooler at night because of its longer fibers and, therefore, looser weave. Air can pass through linen more easily, keeping your body cool. Cotton, as previously discussed, can also be perfect for warm sleepers (in the case of percale bedding), but linen definitely has the edge over it.

Ply refers to the number of fibers used to create one thread. One-ply sheets have one fiber, while two-ply sheets have two fibers wrapped together to create a single thread.