A common bedding misconception is that sheets with high thread counts are superior to sheets with low thread counts. Surprise! It's not that simple. There are many factors that contribute to soft, comfortable sheets. Don’t settle for subpar sheets, learn everything – from material to ply to weave – that impacts quality and the best thread count for sheets in our guide below.

What Is Thread Count?
Bed Sheet Materials
Cotton
Flannel
Linen
Polyester
Microfiber
Silk
Weaves
Percale Sheets
Cotton Sateen
Ply

What Is Thread Count?

Thread count refers to the number of horizontal threads (weft) and vertical threads (warp) that are in a square inch of fabric. Generally, good sheets have a thread count between 200–800. However, while thread count matters, look at the material, ply, and weave to make a more informed choice when comparing options. For example, a 200-thread-count sheet may feel softer in one particular material than an 800-thread-count sheet in another material because of these factors.

Bed Sheet Materials

Sheets come in many different materials and each has its own benefit. Parents tend to opt for easily washable materials like cotton for kids, while silk sheets are a high maintenance yet luxurious way to make a bed. Each material has their own bed sheet thread count that is the “best” due to their makeup, weave, and ply.

Cotton

Known for its breathability and softness, cotton is the most common sheet option. Cotton sheets can be made from a variety of fibers (short staples, long staples, and extra-long staples). Short staples are the lowest quality, long staples are high quality, and extra-long are the finest quality. The softest sheets use cotton with extra-long fibers, which are spun into strong yarns. The best thread count for sheets made with cotton range from 200 to 400.

Types of Cotton

Pima: Made from long staple fibers, this is soft yet strong, durable, and long lasting.
Supima: Made from American-grown pima, this is soft yet strong, and retains color.
Egyptian: Made from the highest quality cotton with the finest and longest staple, this cotton material is soft and breathable.

Flannel

Made from a blend of different types of cotton, flannel sheets have a soft, brushed surface that is extremely warm. These are measured in ounces per square yard, not thread count. We recommend sheets with at least 4 ounces per square yard to keep you cool and comfortable through the night.

Tip!

Organic cotton is grown without herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers and will have the mark of United States government-approved certification on the package.

Linen

Linen is a very breathable fabric that improves with age. It’s best for warm or summer months, and often has a lower thread count for breathability purposes. Because of this, the best bed sheet thread count for linen sheets range from 80 to 140.

Polyester

This man-made material is less breathable than cotton, and can be considered stiff and scratchy when on its own. Polyester blends are more popular because they have a softer feel that is durable, wrinkle-free, long-lasting, and easy to care for. Polyester sheets can have the highest bed sheet thread count since they range from 200 to 800.

Microfiber

Microfiber is made from synthetic polyester fibers that are woven tightly together to create a thin, but strong sheet. It is warm, very soft, and repels liquids. Microfiber is one sheet material that is not measured in thread count, but with grams-per-square-meter (GSM). If you choose bed sheets made with microfiber materials, your bed sheet thread count should range from 90–120 GSM.

Silk

Considered the most luxurious sheet material, silk is produced by silkworms and has a soft and smooth feel. It often feels cooler than cotton, and is hypoallergenic. Silk is measured by weight (per 100 yards), and not thread count, so look for momme weight in the description. We recommend buying sheets with a weight between 19–21mm (mommes). You must handwash silk sheet with lukewarm water and a gentle detergent to preserve their luxurious feel and longevity.

Weaves

Weaves can affect the way your sheet looks, feels, and how long it lasts.

Percale Sheets

Also known as “plain weave,” the cotton yarn are woven over and under each other (like a basket weave). Percale has a cool, crisp feel. It’s the most common weave for cotton, polyester, or silk sheets, and is very durable. Quality percale sheets have between 200 and 400 thread counts.

Cotton Sateen

This weaving process comprises one vertical thread for every four horizontal threads. Made from cotton, sateen is tightly woven and produces a very soft feel. It is heavier than percale, but not as durable. It has a somewhat glossy appearance, doesn’t wrinkle easily, is hypoallergenic, but may be prone to snags.

Ply

Ply refers to the number of yarns in each thread and is a critical component in determining a sheet’s quality.

There are three ply options: single, two, and multi. Single-ply means there is only one strand of yarn per thread, whereas two-ply means that two strands of yarn are twisted together in each thread. Multi-ply, like the name suggests, means there are more than two strands of yarn twisted together in each thread.

In this case, less is more! Single-ply sheets are the best option as manufacturers need to use high-quality material that is strong enough to be woven alone.

Two-ply or multi-ply sheets are made with lower quality materials, which is why they need to be woven together – they aren’t strong enough to be woven alone. The result: coarse and heavy sheets. Why do manufacturers use two- or mutli-ply? By weaving the threads together, they can fit more threads into an inch – increasing thread count and giving the illusion of quality. However, these are typically made with low-grade materials.