Single-ply construction found in 200-400 thread count sheets feels softer and will last longer than multi-ply cotton bedding with a higher thread count number. Therefore, 'the best thread count for bed sheets is 200-400, because sheets within this range are soft and durable, ', says Yusuf Ozkanli.
The best sheets typically have a thread count between 200 and 400. Any thread count lower than 180 tends to have a rougher texture. Any number over 400 is most likely an inflated figure due to multi-ply thread, meaning you'll pay a premium price for a sheet that doesn't actually feel any softer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
High Thread Count Sheets Are All Hype
The reality is that anything above a 400 thread count sheet is almost always a complete fabrication, and you're paying for nothing but slick marketing. Sheet thread count comes down to the type of fiber used and whether it's of high quality, not necessarily how much of it is used.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
That's why hotels generally use low thread count sheets (250TC). Fewer threads require less cotton, less cotton means lower costs, and this allows hotels to get quality for a reasonable price.
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.
You should be looking for a range from 200 to 400. If the number is between 150 and 180, then the sheets are going to be rough and not at all soft. A number over 400 means that the fibers are likely woven together to get an inflated figure.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks to the weather in this part of the world, Egyptian cotton plants grow fibers that are long, strong, and highly durable. They're then harvested by hand and manufactured into premium yarn. The result is a bedding material of superior quality and smoothness that lasts for years and feels like silk against the skin.
Thread count refers to the number of threads or strands per square inch of fabric, counting horizontal and vertical threads. It indicates how tightly woven the fabric is. This number is an approximate indicator of fabric softness, but does not always translate to higher quality.
If you want lighter sheets, Joanna says, a 400 thread count sheet can be soft and light, while an 800 percale would be soft and dense. The higher the thread count, the more likely multiple-ply thread is used or picks are added, making the fabric denser and heavier.
1. Read the fiber content first. 100% cotton is always an excellent go-to because it's soft and affordable. If you're looking for premium, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton, like Egyptian or Pima, is even softer and more durable.
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.
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.
Percale is a weave of fabric with a simple criss-cross pattern. The yarns go one-under-one-over, creating a tight-knit structure that is smooth and durable. Percale sheets feel crisp to the touch, and they get softer with every wash.