Best Thread Count for Sheets

After a long tiring day, the comfort you get from a good quality bed sheet really matters. Or else, a poor-quality scratchy sheet could completely ruin your sleep environment. That’s why we scrutinise the quality of sheets in terms of their softness, weaving pattern, and, most importantly, thread count.

Now, you must wonder what the thread count of sheets is all about. And, what would be the best thread count for sheets if it matters? To know it all, scroll down as we explain everything related to thread count.

What Does Thread Count Mean?

Thread count means the total number of yarns woven in a square inch of fabric. It’s a parameter to check the softness of fabrics. Generally, fabrics are woven with horizontal and vertical yarns, also known as wefts and wraps. These two types of yarns are calculated to determine the thread count of fabrics.

If the thread count is a parameter to check fabric softness or density, what is a good thread count for sheets?

Usually, high thread counts are considered better than low thread counts. That’s because a high thread count means a higher number of yarns are used for weaving, which indicates that the strands are super fine. On the other hand, a low thread count indicates that the strands used for weaving are comparatively thicker.

Thread count is a parameter for mostly cotton and linen fabrics. But, the good thread counts of these two fabrics are different. A 200-400 thread count for a cotton bedsheet is considered excellent, but that’ll be quite an ordinary thread count for linen. The quality of flannel, silk and other fabrics is determined by their weight.

What Is the Best Thread Count for Sheets?

We already know that the highest thread count sheets are those with a maximum number of yarns, be it cotton, linen, or any other fabric. But, the ratio of yarns may vary in different types of fabrics. Usually, a high-quality sheet comes with a thread count of anything ranging between 200 and 800.

But, interestingly, there’s no specific number that can determine a high-quality sheet. That’s because the construction of fabrics and their fibre content are two other essential aspects in checking the quality of sheets. So now, let us find out the thread count of different types of sheets with their effect on the softness or smoothness.

Cotton

They usually have a 200-400 thread count. Anything more than this number isn’t necessarily better. The maximum number of users will go for comfortable cotton sheets without a second thought. The fabric is gentle, breathable, and highly durable. Good quality cotton sheets soften over regular wear. 

Linen

The thread count of a linen sheet should be around 80-140. Anything higher than this number should be avoided. Linen is one of the finest fabrics available to humanity. For luxury bedding, you can choose linen sheets over any other fabric. Linen sheets are soft and durable, and they have hypoallergenic properties. 

Percale Weave

In case you don’t know, the percale is a type of fabric with a conventional crisscross pattern of yarns. It’s one of the common fabrics used for bedsheets. The fabric is quite firm and smooth with medium weight. To claim a percale weave sheet top-quality, the thread count should be around 200-400.

Bamboo

As thread count for bamboo sheets is 300-500, on cold winter nights bamboo sheets can be your saviour. They are soft, breathable, and have the best temperature regulation. For all these reasons, bamboo is becoming quite popular as one of the best materials for sheets. 

Egyptian Cotton

The high thread count sheets made of Egyptian cotton have around 300-400 thread count. It’s a fabric with longer and finer strands than regular cotton. The super smooth fabric is one of the best choices regarding bed sheets, pillow covers, duvets and more. 

Sateen Weave

For a sateen weave fabric, a good thread count will be around 300-600. Sateen weave will be a perfect choice if you’re looking for bedsheets with gloss and shine. It’s different from the satin fabric and has shorter filaments. 

As we’ve mentioned above, these fabrics are measured by thread count. In contrast, other fabrics are usually measured by different parameters such as weight, fall etc. Now, let’s find out how they are measured and how to ensure the best quality.

• Silk: Momme (measures the weight). 17-22 momme is considered the best.
• Jersey: GSM (grams per square metre). 150 GSM is a good weight for jersey fabric.
• Flannel: GSM (grams per square metre). More than 170 GSM means good quality flannel.
• Microfiber: GSM (grams per square metre). 90-120 GSM is considered the best.

Is Higher Thread Count Better?

We’ve already mentioned that higher thread counts are usually better than the lower ones. But, that’s not always accurate. Some manufacturers claim that their sheets have 1000 or 1500 thread counts. It would be best if you were a little sceptical when they claim so and moreover when these sheets are exceptionally cheap.

You already know what is thread count, what thread count is best for sheets and how it differs from fabric to fabric. But, there’s also a standard thread count for each fabric that we’ve mentioned. While you must avoid anything lower than the range, anything better should also be avoided. That’s because these sheets may have mixed fabric yarns, which means the quality isn’t up to the mark.

Some manufacturers increase the thread count of sheets by using multiple strands in one thread. However, multi-ply threads can lead to rough and loose fabrics. These are comparatively cheaper but are neither soft nor durable. In contrast, single-ply strands make better quality fabrics, which are softer and can withstand regular wear for a long time.

According to the above analysis, it’s clear that single-ply strands will have a lower thread count than multi-strand fabrics. But, they are way better in quality than the multi-strand ones. For all these reasons, you need to consider the sheet thread count guide for every type of sheet.

What Qualities Make for a Good Bed Sheet

Besides considering bed sheets thread count, you also need to know the other qualities or aspects that make for a good bed sheet. Here are some essential things to check while buying bed sheets:

1. Thread Count

So far, you know the importance of the best thread count for soft sheets. Also, better quality fibre means softer sheets, even with a lower thread count. So there’s no need to choose a sheet with a higher thread count that’s made of low-quality fibre.

2. Weave Type

Weaving is how fabrics are crafted by interlacing the warps and wefts. Now, weaving can be of numerous types depending on the texture of strands, the fabric design and the overall feel. Weaving also determines how soft and durable a piece of fabric is. Among all types of weaving, percale and sateen are the most common ones. While percale sheets are crisp and suitable for winter, sateen sheets are smoother and more breathable.

3. Material

When it comes to sheets, material refers to the fibres used. Some common materials for sheets are cotton, linen, bamboo, poly-cotton, Egyptian cotton and more. Depending on the material, the softness, longevity, maintenance needs, and look of sheets may differ.

4. Size

When choosing a bedsheet, it’s pretty important to check the size. Bed sheets are available in multiple sizes such as single, double, king-size, queen-size and more. You need to know your bed size so you can never go wrong with the size of the sheets.

5. Eco-Friendliness

Finally, you also need to check the eco-friendliness of the different sheet materials. Cotton, bamboo and linen are more eco-friendly than the rest.

Conclusion

That’s all about the thread count for bed sheets! To sum it up, thread count really matters when you’re expecting a good night’s sleep. Other factors such as the material and weave type also do matter in determining the overall quality of your sheets.

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