Luxury sheets have no limits on thread count or price. Generally, the more you pay, the better sheets you get. Most hotels use sheets with a thread count of 250 while high-end hotels use sheets with a 300 thread count. Some luxury hotels even use sheets of 600 or 800 thread counts, but it varies from hotel to hotel.
In our tests, top-rated bed sheets often have thread counts between 300 and 500. Anything above 500 isn't necessarily better (so don't be deceived when you see thread counts over 1,500), and on the flip side, you can still find quality sheets with thread counts under 300.
Thread counts of 800–1000 or more likely use multi-ply threads which are more expensive and less durable with limited benefits. So in terms of thread count alone, anything around 200–400 will be good quality and comfortable, broadly speaking.
Sheets with a thread count between 600-800 are considered very high quality. A 1500 thread count is through the roof. If you're suspicious about a set of 1500 thread-count sheets for $22 dollars, you're right to be.
Thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch. Generally, the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet, and the more likely it will wear well — or even soften — over time. Good sheets range anywhere from 200 to 800, although you'll occasionally see numbers over 1,000.
Here's what we look for in the very best sheets (hint: 1,500 thread count sheets definitely don't make our list): An honest thread-count with single ply yarns. For soft, cool sheets that hold up for years, 180-280 thread count is a perfect range.
Anything with a thread count nearing (or above) 1000 thread count is almost certain to be significantly lower quality than sheets with a more reasonable number. Most fabrics with a thread count over 600 are a sign of deceptive marketing tactics at work.
There isn't really a best thread count for sheets. Depending on budget, aim for a thread count between 400 and 1,000. The highest thread count you should look for is 1,000. Anything above that number is unnecessary and often lower quality.
High Thread Count For Bed Sheets
1000 TC sheets are the warmest cotton sheets available on the market. Lower thread counts (250 TC-350 TC), on the other hand, provide cooler sheets but they must be made of high-quality cotton to retain a premium standard.
The higher the thread count, the finer and more luxurious the fabric will feel. Cotton percale sheets found in hotels usually have a thread count between 250 and 600, while cotton sateen sheets will usually have a thread count between 300 and 600.
Microfiber sheets from The Bed Sheet Club feature an 1800 thread count per square inch which provides ultimate quality and softness. This high thread count also helps to deter the sheets from wear and tear and results in a sheet that will last longer than sheets with lower thread counts.
According to the many experts we've interviewed, really good sheets—the ones that feel soft and wear well after years of use and washing—generally have thread counts ranging from 200 to 600, depending on whether they're percale or sateen. But honestly, thread count isn't the most important thing to consider.
Egyptian cotton can come in a range of thread counts, typically from 200 to 800. We picked 600 thread count for our scooms satin-weave bed linen. It gives scooms sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases a dense and silky-soft feel.
Theoretically, a higher number should mean softer, better quality sheets. But many manufacturers use creative counting methods to give you sheets with up to 1200 thread count on the label. This is done by using multi-ply threads.
High thread count sheets use cotton threads that are thinner than regular yarns, so when they're exposed to high temperatures, they're much more likely to break. These sheets should be washed in warm water and dried in the dryer on a cool setting.
You've probably seen a sheet set ranging from 200-500 TC. The highest thread count bed sheets can go up to 1500. And though questionable, some brands even claim to provide a 3000 thread count sheet marketed as luxury sheets.
Very high thread counts are typically very similar in terms of feel and performance to high-quality fabrics with lower counts. Trying to pack too many threads into a fabric can sometimes stifle airflow, resulting in a heavier, warmer feel. Shoppers should be wary of extremely high thread counts, such as 900 or more.
The 1,100-thread count is complimented by a sateen weave that feels silky-smooth on your skin and delivers five-star comfort to your bed all night long.
If you want your sheets as soft to the touch as possible and if you like to stay cool thanks to the high-breathability fabric, a lower thread count is probably the best. If you are looking for super warm sheets that are thick and durable, you need to go with the highest thread count sheets possible.
A thread count between 400 and 700 is generally optimal for Egyptian cotton sheets. High-quality options with lower thread counts may also be comfortable and frequently cost less. Customers should pay close attention to sheets that list a thread count over the 600-800 range in order to make sure this count is accurate.
The best Egyptian cotton sheets can be extraordinarily soft, breathable, and durable while infusing your sleep surface with a luxury-hotel feel. Other types of long-staple and extra-long staple cotton can feel similarly luxurious at a fraction of the cost.
Well the answer is in the name: 1000 thread. That means there are 1000 threads per 10 square centimetres, counted along two sides of a square that is 3.16cm wide and 3.16cm high, distributed across the warp (up/down) and weft (across).
An 800-thread count sheet will usually be made up of 150 horizontal multi-ply threads and 150 vertical multi-ply threads. But, the difference here is that the manufacturer will use multi 3-ply threads to achieve this.
The logic behind why a higher thread count is better makes sense: all things being equal, higher thread counts require finer threads (the better to fit into a square inch), and the finer the threads you use, the softer, smoother, and more tightly woven (and thus, stronger) the fabric should be.
High thread count does not mean high quality sheets.
It's not that thread count is an irrelevant detail, but it doesn't mean that the higher number of threads, the better the quality. In short, more threads are used to make the sheet, which affects the texture of the fabric, but has nothing to do with quality.