What Is a Good Thread Count for Cotton Sheets?

Thread count is a commonly-highlighted feature when shopping for cotton sheets, and the higher the thread count, the more premium the bedding is said to be. There are some misunderstandings about thread count among various types of bedding and its quality, so it’s important that you know what the terminology means before making a purchase.

Thread count, as its name suggests, refers to the number of threads in a fabric – whether it’s blankets, throws, clothing, bed linen, etc. Thread count is defined by the number of threads – both vertical and horizontal - per square inch.

Although it’s a successful marketing term, higher thread count does not always mean higher quality. All that is guaranteed with higher thread count is greater density, which is created by the number of threads per square inch, and has its own various pros and cons.

Denser bedding can lack breathability, and struggle with temperature control. Dense material will not last as long as more durable materials, meaning it will need to be washed and eventually replaced more frequently.

Another factor to consider is thread length. For example, Egyptian cotton is considered the highest-quality cotton bedding available on the market, and is distinguished by its extra-long cotton fibres used in the weaving process. This wouldn’t automatically create a high thread count.

Deceptive retailers will sacrifice the quality of bedding to create the more luxurious-sounding higher thread count. Some manufacturers will split threads to create a higher thread count, but in the process, this will weaken the strength of the bedding.

There is an ideal range for thread count when looking for bedding. Going too low will often create similar problems as too high a thread count – including (but not limited to) low durability, poor quality temperature control, and lack of flexibility.

The New York Times estimates a range between 200-600 threads per square inch is the optimum measurement you should consider while shopping. This is also dependent on the fabric – for example, percale bedding typically has a thread count of 180, whereas sateen can go up to around 300 on average.

This would also be dependent on bedding type, also. For example, an ideal flat sheet thread tends to sit around the 300 mark, whereas those living in typically cold climates will want to reach for a thread count on the highest range of the spectrum as possible before the high thread count is detrimental to the quality of the fabric.

The manufacturing process also affects thread count. Using the example of high-quality fitted sheets, Egyptian cotton sheets may have a lower thread count, but have longer, stronger fibres, overall enhancing the product’s softness and durability.

Percale and sateen – the two most common types of weaves – accommodate different demands when it comes to sleeping. Percale creates a crisper, more natural look and feeling, using fewer threads. Sateen - a soft, thick bedding type favoured in the cold with a shiny sheen, uses a higher thread count.

A thread count of 200 is good – but it is at the lower ideal range, which is approximately 200-600 threads per square inch. However, do not automatically assume a 500-thread count sheet is automatically better than a 200-thread count sheet, as there are several other factors at play here.

High-thread count fitted sheets, marketed as premium quality bedding, often come with a premium price tag, too. It is important to remember that high thread count is not always an indicator of quality, especially in terms of comfort and durability, and is often used as a buzzword by retailers to get shoppers to part with their hard-earned cash.

Thread count depends on the material used. Using the example of percale and sateen – percale is a lighter, cooler fabric, making it ideal for those living in hotter climate. It offers a breathable quality, but is tends to be lower in thread count, preventing heat from getting trapped and waking you up.

Sateen, on the other hand, is breathable and suitable for varying climates that lean both hot and cold. It is also much heavier to accommodate the colder nights where heat needs to be trapped. A higher thread count is needed to accommodate these extremes, and prevents the thick, fluffy bedding from snagging and becoming wrecked.

Linen sheets, considered a more natural, hypoallergic alternative to regular cotton, will have a lower thread count, even though it is much thicker. This is a key example of why thread count doesn’t always matter. In this instance, a high-thread-count cotton sheet for those with allergies or sensitive skin would hinder rather than help with this issue.

Thread count is calculated by adding together length-wise and width-wise threads by square inch. For example bedding with 250 vertical threads and another 250 horizontal threads in a square inch would be a thread count of 500.

High thread-count fitted sheets have the benefits of breathability and durability, but thread count is not the only thing high-quality bedding has to offer. The highest thread count bed sheet on the market sits at around 1,500 threads per square inch. Others claim to be higher, with new innovative methods, such as the record-breaking 2017 4k Ultra TC (Tencel) sheet, However, shoppers should be sceptical of any retailer that claims to have bedding with a thread count over 1,500.

This is almost always a marketing gimmick, and the threads were probably broken during manufacturing to create such a higher number, creating a dense fabric that’s prone to pilling.

The optimum bedding thread count range, according to sleep tech experts, is around 200 to 600. Sleepers should stray from any thread count significantly higher or lower than this. For those who sleep in hot climates or tend to get sweaty or overheated, they should go to the lower range of this scale. Luxury bed linen options can range higher in this scale, but it is not always a necessity to stay high in return for good quality.

Thicker, fluffier sheets used in the wintertime have high threads to keep it strong and bouncy, helping it to retain heat, so this is the opposite of what you want to do. Sheets designed to keep you cool, such as percale weave sheets, should be of a lower thread count – perhaps just under 200 with a maximum of 400.