Thread Count Guide: What Does It Mean for Sheets & Bedding?

You probably hear a lot about canvass thread count, and there is a lot of misinformation out in that location about it. We often are asked why we don't make k thread count sheets. This is because well-nigh people believe that high thread count sheets are the best quality, simply the truth is a niggling more circuitous. In fact, thread count is simply a part of the quality equation. Nosotros've gathered all of the details for y'all, and so you'll exist able to separate truth from myth.

The Marketing Terms Game

Once upon a time, nosotros all thought that any food package that said "lite" or "nutrition" on it must mean it's good for you lot. Many of these claims were debunked as simple marketing ploys when the terminology was standardized. We still see these kinds of disruptive terms on food packaging today. And information technology seems bedding has fallen casualty to similarly misleading marketing tactics.

Somewhere around the mid-nineties, Americans were sold the idea that a higher thread count means better quality sheets. We wanted a way to quantify quality. And let's face information technology, numbers are piece of cake. Give us a numerical calibration and we're on board. But the truth is a bit less simple.

What is Thread Count?

If yous expect up "thread count definition," you'll observe it's a count of the number of threads per square inch of cloth. And then a fabric with a thread count of 250 should accept 125 threads woven horizontally and 125 threads woven vertically per foursquare inch.

Sounds pretty straight forward, right? Not so fast.

There are plenty of ways for companies to boost their thread count through creative math, so it's come to hateful very piffling in terms of quality. In fact, almost all of the really high thread count sheets y'all'll find on the marketplace today are boosting their numbers with multi-ply yarns or other tricks.

Does thread count really matter?

The brusk reply is no. High thread count sheets do non mean ameliorate quality. Often threads are simply split to create a higher thread count, misleading the consumer that it's better, when in fact it can weaken the fabric and cause pilling.  For this reason, thread count should not be the deciding gene when purchasing high-quality sheets. Nosotros recommend looking deeper into the details when the thread count is college than 600. What matters almost in luxury bedding is the quality of the cotton fiber.

What is Multi-Ply Yarn?

A unmarried ply yarn is made upwardly of one long thread. A multi-ply yarn is fabricated of two, three, or even four or v threads twisted together. Unfortunately, this allows some companies to use cheaper multi-ply yarns and count each individual thread.

Call back our 250 thread count case higher up? Using the same exact weave, with a cheaper multi-ply yarn, some manufacturers could list a 500, 750, 1000, or 1250 thread count fabric! But it's not going to be almost as good quality as the single ply cloth with the lower number.

What thread count is the softest?

Thread count solitary does not determine soft features in bed sheets. Long staple cottons, especially with Egyptian cotton fiber, are considered to offer the most luxurious feeling. Sateen woven sheets are recommended for a  buttery shine feel with a luminous sheen. Nosotros offer luxurious 500 thread count sateen sheeting in our Emily Egyptian Cotton wool Canvass Set.

When Does Thread Count Matter?

The truth is, platonic thread count needs to be taken into account with the quality of cotton, single ply vs. multi ply cotton, and the type of weave. If you lot're a fan of a heavier sail, you might be a fan of our 600 thread count Virtuoso. If you prefer something a bit light weight and crisp, even a 200 thread count like our Boutique sheeting will have you in sleep heaven.

But really, it depends a lot on other factors. 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 annihilation with a thread count higher than 600. Information technology's nearly likely been inflated in an effort to charge more than for lower quality sheeting.

So Y'all Shouldn't Buy Those High Thread Count Sheets?

No, probably not. Anything with a thread count nearing (or higher up) g 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.

What Is a Good Thread Count for Sheets?

If you must measure thread count, expect for something in the 400-600 thread count range, and recollect to be certain that they're single ply. Simply really, there are much better ways of choosing fine quality sheets.

Firstly, you'll want to look at what the fibers are made of. Nosotros believe fine cotton sheets to exist the all-time, both in terms of comfort and ease of care. There'southward a reason cotton has been spun into sheeting for thousands of years.

Next, you'll want to choose a weave that feels right to you. The most mutual for fine sheets are sateen and percale. Bank check out our guide to the differences betwixt percale vs sateen for more details.

Finally, check to run into if the fabric is fabricated from long staple cotton fiber. This refers to the length of the private cotton fibers that were spun together to make each thread. Longer cotton fibers create stronger, smoother threads, and tend to last longer.

In the terminate, the best way to determine which sheeting is the right choice for you is to slumber on information technology. Different people sleep better with different weaves, weights, and textures of sheeting, so choose something that feels luxurious confronting your skin, and enjoy it!

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