A: For most sheets, a thread count of 300 to 600 is excellent. Sheets in this range tend to offer a great balance of softness, breathability, and durability. Higher thread counts above 600 can still feel luxurious, but they may be less breathable.
But what thread count is good – and what bedding thread count is luxurious? "“Basic quality" bedding of linen has a thread count of 132 to 144, "good quality" bedding has a thread count of 180 to 220, "great quality" fabric has a thread count beyond 300, and "excellent quality" linen has a thread count beyond 400.
Anything above 1,000 thread count is likely to be of lower quality. Some manufacturers will try to use as many threads as possible, but the softness and quality of the fabric is sacrificed in the process.
Gopinath said a 250 to 300 thread count was optimal (there's wiggle room, though, as Maher said 200 was also good). Gopinath told us a 400 to 500 thread count for percale could reflect a denser sheet made of fine, good-quality yarns. Over 500 was “not necessary or likely,” she said.
Instead, hotels focus on choosing bed sheets woven from single-ply and long-staple cotton, usually with a percale weave. A thread count of around 200+ for a percale weave or 300+ for a sateen weave feels suitably luxurious, and is often the weight that high-end hotels will use.
Frette: The gold standard when it comes to luxurious hotel linens, Frette has been producing its famous Italian sheets for more than 160 years. You'll find these perfect linens lining the beds of the world's best hotel brands, including Mandarin Oriental and Ritz-Carlton.
Marriott Hotels Bedding
Marriott Hotels designed a set of percale sheets made from a cotton blend for durability and incredible softness. Let's break down how those details can make not only your hotel room but your bedroom feel like a sanctuary.
Breathability: Bamboo regulates temperature well; cotton keeps you cool but isn't as versatile. Durability: Bamboo retains its texture and colour over time, while cotton may wear more quickly. Feel: Bamboo feels silky and soft, while cotton has a classic, crisp texture.
Note: A good rule of thumb is to have one thread for every 100 MHz of application server CPU available. For example if you have four 450 MHz processors available on your application server, you can start with 18 threads to begin your testing: (450 * 4) / 100 = 18.
The type of weave and quality of the cotton or other materials used makes a much bigger difference than the thread count number. That said, be suspicious of anything with a thread count higher than 600.
Very high thread count bed linens frequently have triple-ply woven cotton yarns, which adds more threads into the square inch and often means heavier (we think too much), less breathable, prone to wrinkling and coarse sheets.
If a few wrinkles remain, both fabrics can easily be ironed. If you're a hot sleeper, percale is going to be a better choice than sateen because of its natural cooling properties. For those who sleep cool and comfortably, sateen is the ultra-soft fabric your bed needs.
Egyptian cotton sheets are one of the lightest and they come under the category of single-ply which holds a thread count between 200 to 400. More airy sheets, such as linens, may have a thread count as low as 80. However, sheets with a thread count above around 300 are typically heavier.
Frette sheets are known for their luxurious feel and high quality. They are made from high-quality materials such as Egyptian cotton, silk, and linen, and are often described as soft, smooth, and silky. Frette uses five key factors to determine the quality of its bed linen: count, resistance, load, stretch and torsion.
The process of harvesting Mulberry silk is a delicate one. The cocoons are carefully harvested by hand, and the silk threads are then carefully extracted. This process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, which is why Mulberry silk is more expensive than other types of silk.
High thread count bedding such as 800 thread count sheets tends to feel denser, which can give more of a five-star hotel-style feel. However, 200 thread count sheets can still be of excellent quality and sumptuously soft. A lower thread count may feel lighter and airier to the touch.
According to Abbot, a 300 to 500 thread count is the sweet spot. "This range strikes a balance between a silky-smooth feel and good breathability, making for a cozy night's sleep," she says. Sheets with exceedingly higher thread counts can certainly be soft but probably aren't a great option for everyday sheets.
By dividing the amount of thread by the seam length, we get the ratio of thread consumed. If we multiply this factor times the total length of seam, we can determine the total thread consumed for that seam. *Generally, 10% to 15% wastage of thread is added to the consumption derived.
Metric Thread
Metric threads are the most commonly used worldwide and are also known as 'ISO Metric threads' or simply 'M' threads. Both coarse and fine thread options are available in a wide range of materials and sizes, conforming to various popular DIN standards.
Because bamboo sheets are delicate and soft, it's advised that you air dry them, to avoid damaging the fibres and maintain elasticity and colour. However, it is possible to machine dry bamboo sheets, so long as you choose a low heat and remove your bedding from the dryer as soon as the cycle is finished.
But when I learned that Oprah put Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets on her Favorite Things List in 2018, calling them "the softest bedding ever," I took notice. Then, over the next several years, she named the brand's pajamas, socks, waffle towels, joggers and body butter Favorites too.
Marriott hotels in the US use an all-foam mattress. Standing 9” tall, the soy-based foam used in these beds is resilient and high density, offering the blend of support and cushioning that you expect when snuggled up on a Marriott mattress.
Most hotels use high-thread-count cotton sheets, often ranging from 300 to 800 threads per square inch. These sheets are smooth to the touch, breathable, and durable, ensuring guests have a comfortable night's sleep.