The Best High Thread Count Sheets

High thread counts used to mean super soft high-quality sheets, but things have changed. Read on to get a better understanding of what high thread count is all about and our picks for the best sheets.

Spinning a Yarn

The idiom to “spin a yarn” (which means to tell a story that isn’t entirely true) applies in more ways than one when it comes to thread count. First, thread count is all about how much yarn is woven into the fabric. It is determined by how many threads there are per square inch, and this includes both horizontal and vertical threads known as the warps and wefts. The maximum number of single fiber threads that can fit on a loom per square inch is 400.

Lower thread counts in the 150-200 range have been considered a looser, coarser, and shorter wearing weave, but with modern ways of finishing fabrics, lower thread counts can be quite comfortable, even luxurious. Higher thread counts in the 300-400 per square inch range are generally a softer, more durable fabric and considered ideal.

But then things began to change…Manufacturers started literally and figuratively “spinning a yarn” by using multiple strands to make up a single thread. The thread is the same size whether it is made of one single strand, two, or even three thin strands twisted together into one thread.

If manufacturers count all three strands in a thread, they can claim thread counts as high as 1200. But this is very misleading, because multiple stands in a thread don’t improve the fabric and can actually compromise the quality and softness of the sheets.

Linen experts consistently recommend you look for single ply cotton as a hallmark of good sheets. This restricts total thread count to a maximum of 400 or thereabouts. Further, they encourage extra-long staple cotton for higher quality. Look for Pima, Egyptian, and Supima® in 250-500 thread counts. Here are our top recommendations for best high thread count sheets.

Our Top Picks for the Best High Thread Count Sheets

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The Pros and Cons of High Thread Count Cotton Sheets

Pros 

Cotton sheets are considered the most popular material for bedding. It feels good on the skin, is easy to care for, washes up nicely, and can get softer with multiple washings. Cotton comes in an organic option if you are so inclined, is readily available, and comes in a range of prices. Cotton sheets are durable, especially if they are high thread count, and can last for years and years. Cotton is easy to print and patterned cotton sheets abound.

Cons

Sometimes the world of cotton thread count can be confusing and misleading. It can take some work to understand why some higher thread counts are not really better sheets, and it can be easy to purchase something and then be disappointed.

Egyptian cotton for example, is grown in an area of Egypt that produces extra-long fibers that make for an especially soft and strong sheet, but the labeling for sheets is not regulated and consumer can be fooled. Estimates are that with as much as 90% of the sheets labeled as Egyptian cotton really have cotton from other countries. Another downside to high thread count cotton is that it can be expensive and less expensive versions can be scratchy and uncomfortable.

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Summary

In order to purchase a good set of high thread count sheets you need to understand exactly what the count means. Your best bet is to find sheets between 300-400 or thereabouts. Higher numbers, especially over 1,000, can be very misleading with threads made from multiple twisted fibers that don’t improve the quality of the sheets. In order to make a good choice, do some research or pick from one of our recommendations for best high thread count sheets.