Are Silk Pajamas Worth It? Momme, Care and Cost per Wear, Compared

The best silk pajamas for women are 100% mulberry silk with care you'll actually keep up with, and they're worth it if you wear them often: the Inez Washable Silk Long PJ Set ($298) can be machine washed cold, and worn two nights a week for three years it works out to about $0.96 a wear. A silk set isn't worth it if it will sit in a drawer, or if it needs dry cleaning you won't keep up with.

Here's how to judge a silk set before you buy: what the fiber and momme weight tell you, what care will really involve, and how the cost-per-wear math works out. 

What You're Paying for in a Silk Pajama Set

• Fiber: look for "100% mulberry silk" on the label. Satin is a weave, not a fiber, so a satin set may contain no silk at all.
• Fabric weight (momme): a higher momme means more silk per square meter. Not every label publishes it.
• Care: washable silk can be laundered at home; traditional silk often calls for dry cleaning.
• Testing: certifications such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 mean the textile has been tested for harmful substances.

How to Judge a Silk Set: A Quick Checklist

• Read the fiber line first. "100% mulberry silk" tells you what you're buying; "satin" alone doesn't.
• Find the care label before you buy. If it says dry clean, add those bills to the cost of the set.
• Treat momme as one clue, not the verdict. If it's listed, use it to compare fabric weight; if it isn't, lean on fiber, care and fit.
• Look for testing. OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 means the textile has been tested for harmful substances.
• Be honest about how often you'll wear it. The more nights it's on, the lower the cost per wear.

Eberjey Washable Silk Styles Compared: Fiber, Care and Price

The main differences are coverage and price, from the $198 sleepshirt to the $298 long set. The care is the same across the line: every style can go in the washing machine on a cold, delicate cycle, so you don't need to budget for dry cleaning.

The Cost-per-Wear Math

Cost per wear is the price divided by the number of times you wear something. The table assumes three years of wear. That's an illustration, not a durability test.

If a set needs dry cleaning, add each cleaning bill to the price before you divide. For a washable set you launder at home, the main extra costs are detergent and a mesh wash bag. For our general guide to cost per wear across fabrics, see What Makes Sleepwear Worth the Investment?.

Momme: What the Number Tells You, and What It Doesn't

Momme is the traditional unit for silk fabric weight: one momme is about 4.34 grams per square meter. A 22 momme fabric has more silk per square meter than a 19 momme one. Momme is one specification among several, and Eberjey doesn't publish it for its Washable Silk. Fiber content, care, construction and fit decide how often you'll actually reach for the set.

Care: Washable vs. Dry-Clean Silk

Eberjey's Washable Silk can be hand washed or machine washed cold on a delicate cycle, separately, in a mesh wash bag. Remove it promptly, lay it flat to dry and don't bleach it. Our step-by-step silk washing guide walks through each step. If you run warm, our Education guide answers whether silk pajamas are breathable.

When a Silk Set Isn't Worth It

• You'll only wear it on special occasions. Low wear counts make the cost per wear high.
• You prefer stretch and a soft knit. The Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Long PJ Set ($158) is 95% LENZING TENCEL™ Modal, 5% elastane, machine washable and tumble-dry-low.
• You want silk at a lower price. The Inez Washable Silk Sleepshirt is $198, and the Washable Silk Lace Cami & Short Set is $228.

All Eberjey Washable Silk styles are 100% washable silk; the Inez Long PJ Set is 100% mulberry silk, produced using bluesign®-certified processes and verified by OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. Read more in Silk Pajamas You Can Actually Wear Every Night.

Frequently asked questions

Are silk pajamas worth the money?

They can be if you wear them often and can care for them easily. Worn two nights a week for three years, a $298 Inez Washable Silk Long PJ Set works out to about $0.96 a wear, or about $0.48 at four nights a week. Washable silk also saves you the cost and trips of dry cleaning.

How do you work out the cost per wear of silk pajamas?

Divide the price by the number of times you expect to wear them. Two nights a week for three years is 312 wears. If the set needs dry cleaning, add each cleaning bill to the total before you divide.

What momme is best for silk pajamas?

There is no single best number. Momme measures silk fabric weight: one momme is about 4.34 grams per square meter, so a higher momme means more silk per square meter. Not every label publishes it, including Eberjey's Washable Silk, so weigh it alongside fiber content, care instructions and fit.

Can you machine wash silk pajamas?

Only if the care label says so. Eberjey's Washable Silk can be hand washed or machine washed cold on a delicate cycle, separately, in a mesh wash bag, then laid flat to dry. Traditional silk often calls for dry cleaning, so always check the label.

What is the difference between silk and satin pajamas?

Silk is a fiber; satin is a weave. Satin was originally a silk fabric but is now made from other fibers too, so a satin pajama set may not contain any silk. Check the fiber content on the label.

How much do Eberjey silk pajamas cost?

Eberjey Washable Silk pajamas and sleepshirts run from $198 for the Inez Washable Silk Sleepshirt to $298 for the Inez Washable Silk Long PJ Set. Women's sets come in sizes XS–XL.

Sources

• Eberjey, “Inez Washable Silk Long PJ Set” (product page)
• Apparel Search, “Momme: Silk Fabric Weight”
• Encyclopaedia Britannica, “What Is the Difference Between Silk and Satin?”
• OEKO-TEX®, “OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100”