If you’re scratching your head in the home linens department over the best thread count for bedsheets, you’re not alone. For many people, their bed is their happy place, and so you want to outfit said place in soft and luxurious comfort. But does nicer percale or a smoother weave correlate with better sheets?
It might seem that a higher thread count of 700 would be better than a weave with a thread count of 400, but is that all that matters when buying a flat or fitted sheet? (Spoiler alert: The answer is no.)
Here’s the skinny on this question, including the best thread count and the price you can expect to pay for quality, cozy sheet sets.
This refers to the number of threads woven into a square inch of material, says Kathy Bliss Goldfarb, an interior designer in Northeastern Ohio.
“This number is based on the threads woven horizontally (weft) and vertically (warp),” she explains. A thread with one yarn is called single ply, while two-ply (double ply) means that two strands of yarn were twisted together.
When discussing the quality of cotton sheets, thread count is often the first determining factor. But the idea that it’s the only indicator of quality bedsheets is a common misconception.
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While most experts agree that a bigger yarn or thread count signals quality percale (e.g., a 200 versus a 400 thread count), there isn’t necessarily a direct correlation between this number and personal comfort, says Darla DeMorrow, author of “Organizing Your Home With Sort and Succeed.”
“The sheet set material matters a great deal more than the thread count,” she says. DeMorrow recommends higher-grade materials, such as Egyptian cotton, Supima cotton, percale, bamboo, organic cotton, or linen sheets in a lower count, over polyester sheets with a higher thread count.
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You’ll pay more for higher-count sheet sets because it takes more skill and labor to spin finer denier (the unit used to measure a fabric’s thickness) and weave more threads per square inch, says Goldfarb.
Prices vary depending on the maker and fabric type (Egyptian cotton, sateen weave), but in general, queen sets can run from $30 to $600 for thread counts under 400, says Karin Sun, founder of Crane & Canopy, an online luxury bedding brand.
“Over 400 ranges from $80 to $1,200,” she says. Those price tags may seem vast, but many factors go into how a company prices its flat and fitted sheets, including the materials, such as Egyptian cotton, organic cottons, or sateen weave, as well as manufacturing methods.
So when shopping for Egyptian cotton sheets, flannel sheets, or percale sheet sets, is a higher count really that much better?
“Thread count matters—to a point,” says Sun. “After the count reaches about 430, higher numbers can only be achieved through creative manufacturing methods, and this doesn’t really add up to a better product.”
Extra yarn or threads, called “picks,” can be woven into the weft and then added to the total, which is how some sheets end up with thread counts in the thousands.
Interior designer Sara Chiarilli likes a higher thread count for bedsheets (around 500), though she would go a bit lower if it’s a quality fabric. She recommends buying single-ply threads, which means there’s only one strand of yarn per thread (check the label).
“If you’re looking at 600-count flat sheets or duvet covers and they seem crazy cheap, the maker is likely using multi-ply threads of lesser quality,” she explains. “Sheets that are 300-count, made of single-ply threads, are better than 600 thread count that’s multi-ply.”
So if you want comfortable, high-quality sheets and pillowcases, look for ones with a weave of 100% Egyptian cotton or Supima cotton, with a thread count around 400. You might also seek out deep pockets for easy bed making. Pleasant dreams on your supersoft sheets with the best thread count.
Jennifer Kelly Geddes creates content for WhatToExpect.com, the National Sleep Foundation, American Airlines Vacations, Oxo, and Mastercard.