Thread Count Guide: How to Choose the Best Thread Count

Thread count is a measurement of the fineness or coarseness of fabric—often bedsheets and towels. Thread count includes the total weft threads (horizontal threads) and warp threads (vertical threads) within a square inch of fabric. If the fabric is multi-ply (two or more layers of fabric stitched together), the threads in each extra later also count.

For example, a single-ply sheet set with 150 weft threads and 150 warp threads per square inch would have a thread count of 300. If that same sheet set was made from two-ply yarn, the thread count would be doubled to 600.

Thread count matters for bedsheets specifically because a low thread count is a good indicator that the fabric is either woven loosely or too thick, both of which can cause sheets to feel rough. Sheets with higher thread counts feel softer—up to a point.

The thread count measurement is only useful for single-ply cotton fibers: A non-cotton fiber like polyester is so thin that it can produce thread counts in the thousands without feeling nearly as soft as a lower cotton thread count, and some linen manufactures use multi-ply thread to inflate their thread count numbers. Adding multiple layers of fabric is typically a marketing ploy to obtain a high thread count while still using lower quality fabric. For example, if you find a 1,000 thread count sheet, it's possible that the sheet is actually just a two-ply 500 thread count sheet.

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.

The best luxury sheets have high thread counts, and they’re woven from the highest quality yarns.

1. 1. Thread count: Single-ply cotton sheets with a thread count between 200 and 400 are ideal for bedding. Sheets with thread counts above or below this range tend to feel thicker or rougher than the best sheets.
2. 2. Fabric construction: The two most popular types of sheet fabric construction are percale and sateen. Bedding manufacturers make percale sheets using a “one thread over one thread" plain weave, while they make sateen sheets using a "four threads over one thread" satin weave. Percale sheets have a crisp feel, matte appearance, and are especially breathable. Sateen sheets are silky-smooth to the touch, have a mild sheen, are relatively wrinkle-resistant, and are less durable than percale sheets.
3. 3. Fiber content: The best yarn is made from premium long-staple cottons with longer cotton fiber threads. These longer cotton fibers help the woven weft and warp yarns remain flat and smooth, resulting in softer and more durable fabric. Pima cotton, Supima cotton, and most Egyptian cotton sheets are considered luxurious due to their long-staple cotton fibers.

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