Feb 24, 2022
Thread count has been a thing for so long in the fabric industry. It’s been used for fabrics for bed sheets, tablecloths and even some luxury garments. Which makes many people ask, “does threadcount matter?” There’s also the age-old mentality that the higher the thread count, the better sheet. It’s really confusing at first and without basic knowledge about thread counts, you’ll always find yourself picking up that premium price tag because it has that whopping 1200-thread count. Allow us to help and get you deep about thread count.
First, allow us to explain the meaning of thread count. The thread count is basically the number of threads per square inch of fabric. You count this by adding the vertical (warp) and horizontal (weft) threads within a square inch of fabric. Take for example a cotton fabric; you count 100 warp threads and 100-weft threads woven together makes 200-thread count. Some manufacturers claim that having higher thread makes for a better sheet. The idea here is that finer threads tightly woven together makes for a finer fabric.
Thread count has been used by manufacturers as a general indicator on the softness of a fabric, especially bed sheets. Higher thread count also means higher price tag. That is why there are thread counts going upwards to 1000 but now you’ll also have the question, “how do they fit that much in a square inch?”
The answer to the previous question is a bit complex and yet easy. Well, easy because technically you can’t fit that much thread in a single square inch, most times it’s just a marketing ploy because higher thread counts fetch a higher price in the market. It only gets complex when we dig deeper on how it is.
Some of these manufacturers use two threads and twist them together to make one thread, normally called a ply. This makes the thread stronger and more durable at the expense of breathability.
The problem arises when these said manufacturers count these threads as two instead of just one thread. For example, a normally 500 thread count sheet comes in at 1000 thread count. They count the plies as two instead of one using this simple step. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the sheet quality is better than that of one used with a single higher quality thread.
In fabric terms, longer thread – called staples – is an indication of higher quality. Let’s use the very famous and some would say, pinnacle of cotton fabrics, Egyptian cotton. These fabrics are filtered through different processes to only use the long staples. The long staple threads are usually stronger and much more pliable than shorter and twisted threads.
Egyptian cotton is usually in the 300-400 thread count range while normal cotton is in the 200-300 thread count range. Other higher quality fabrics like percale weave and sateen weave are usually in the 200-600 thread count range. Bamboo on the other hand goes on the 300-500 thread count range. Notice that no high quality fabric goes upward to 800?
Thread count is a factor when buying but it is by no means the only thing to consider when choosing your bed linen. You don’t need to count the thread count to know if something is of higher quality.
First is to look for fabrics in the decent range of 300-500. Also think about the in hand feel of the fabric itself. This is the best way to know how soft the fabric is. Do take note that thread counts on the 800+ side are usually soft because the threads are closer together but these are also less breathable than thread counts in our decent range.
Look at the workmanship of the fabric itself. Is the stitching secured and dense or is it rushed and all over the place? You’d want something that is both secured and dense as not to end up having your bed linen have loose ends.
Well, yes and no. Yes if we’re talking about a single ply 100% cotton sheet, then higher thread count matters. No because the quality of the thread is and always will be the basis of a better fabric. Again, quality of the thread and fabric is always the king when it comes to picking your bed linen.
Look for sheets that are at a reasonable range stated above. These typically are the best thread counts given the material. We usually have linen at this given range in our online store. Do check out the product description to see the thread counts on our online store to know if the bed linen falls in the range of 200-600.
Thread counts in the 600 and above range will feel the same as 200-600 thread count fabrics. The only thing that is noticeable is the higher price tag.
As much as possible, avoid thread counts in the 1000+ range as these are indications of lower quality thread as explained. You don’t need to pay too much for quality that is too little.
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