What Is a Good Thread Count for Your Sheets?

Nothing makes people happier than jumping into beds that have high quality sheets. A good quality sheet set ensures a perfect night’s sleep; therefore quality should not be compromised on. According to consumers, high quality sheet sets, which are higher in thread count, can help make the bed more comfortable.

So, what is a thread count?

Thread count is defined as the number of threads in one square inch of fabric, and what is usually used to measure the quality of the sheets. This is the number of threads woven in the fabric horizontally and vertically. To increase the thread count, more threads are woven into one square inch of the fabric.

The "Higher the Thread Count, the Better the Sheets" Myth:

When it comes to choosing the right sheet sets, people consider the number of threads in the fabric. This is all due to the fabricated myth that began as a marketing scheme by bedding manufacturers. These manufacturers began to twist 2-3 weaker threads together to inflate the thread count. They claimed that a higher thread count equated to "higher quality" in order to increase sales and sell their products at unreasonably higher prices. This marketing scheme has been so ingrained in consumers that now thread count is one of the main components considered when purchasing new bedding products.

The Drawbacks of Higher Thread Count:

A higher thread count does not necessarily always mean better quality; there's a sweet spot to aim for. Too low of a thread count results in fabric that isn't soft enough, but too high of a thread count and the fabric becomes too stiff or coarse. Instead of enhancing the quality of your sheets, higher thread count can cause the following issues;

(i) Heavier Material:

Increasing the number of thread count in the fabric makes the fabric heavier and less breathable. Heavy sheets might be nice for a couple of months out of the year, but they are usually not very comfortable.

(ii) Coarse Sheets:

When the thread count is too high, the threads are woven tightly together which results in stiff fabric. No one wants to sleep in stiff and coarse bed sheets after a long and tiring day.

(iii) Cheap Quality Cotton:

In order to cut down on costs of making higher threat count products, manufacturers use weaker, cheaper short-staple cotton threads. This lowers the quality of the sheet set while retaining their fraudulent "higher quality" name tag and expensive prices.

The Best Thread Count:

So, is there a thread-count that actually increases the quality of bedding? For percale sheets, thread counts between 250 and 500 are ideal. For sateen sheets, look for thread counts between 300 and 800. A sheet set with a higher thread count will not always enhance the quality of the bedding but it will make the bed sheet heavier and possibly more coarse. When there are more threads, they have to be woven tightly which results in less room between threads. Less room between threads leads to less airflow which reduces the breathability of the fabric unless extremely fine threads are used like those made from 100% extra-long staple Egyptian cotton. The perfect level of softness, comfort, and luxurious feel your body needs to rest can be achieved through a bed sheet thread count of 300-400.

Pure Parima’s mission is to provide pure, top-quality Egyptian Cotton bedding to its customers. Our 400 thread-count sateen Egyptian Cotton sheet sets and duvet covers give you the luxurious feel you desire while maintaining high quality bedding.

Pure Parima’s mission is to provide pure, top-quality Egyptian Cotton bedding to its customers. Our 400 thread-count sateen Egyptian Cotton sheet sets and duvet covers give you the luxurious feel you desire while maintaining high quality bedding.