Thread Count Explained

By: Jason Petrina



We spend roughly a third of our lives asleep so it stands to reason that the quality of your bed linens will contribute to the quality of your sleep. The quality of bed linens is often defined in terms of thread count. Most people are aware that a higher thread count is somehow better but most people don’t really understand what thread count is or why it would be better to have bed linens with a higher thread count than bed linens with a lower thread count. A better understanding of this concept will help most people to determine which bed linens they should purchase.

The first step to truly understanding thread count is knowing what the term means. The simplest definition of thread count is the number of threads, both horizontally and vertically, within one square inch of the fabric. Conventional wisdom holds that the higher the thread count, the softer the sheets will feel and therefore the better quality of sleep that you will have when using these sheets. Although the upper and lower thread count limits are constantly changing, in general they range from 80 to 800 with some companies boasting even higher thread counts. However, the majority of bed linens sold fall with a range of 180 and 320. Since, higher thread counts are thought to be better, they are significantly more expensive than lower thread count bed linens. While higher thread count bed linens cost significantly more than lower count bed linens, there is no evidence that shows that the higher count bed linens are more durable. Bed linens that fall into the thread count range of 180 and 200, in general, provide adequate comfort and are also durable enough to be long lasting.

Although, higher thread count bed linens are usually softer than those with a lower thread count, many doubt the authenticity of thread counts above 380. As previously mentioned thread count is the measure of horizontal and vertical threads within one square inch of the bed linen but there are those in the bed linen industry who believe that thread counts that rise above 380 are a product of a manufacturing technique that twists the threads in a way that has the effect of doubling the thread count. For this reason bed linens that boast thread counts above 380 may not be worth the high price.

While thread count does contribute to the softness of the fabric, it is important to remember that some materials simply do not conform to high thread count standards. Bed linens made of materials such as flannel and jersey material are becoming increasingly popular but these materials just do not have high thread counts. Increasing the thread count on these materials will cause the bed linens to vary too far from their intended look and feel. Bed linens of these materials are often chosen for their look and feel and attempting to make these materials softer compromises the other aspects of the material.

Most bed linen manufacturers would like you to believe that you should purchase the highest thread count available in order to ensure a great night of sleep. However, in actuality, thread count is important but thread counts around 200 are more than sufficient for providing comfortable and durable sheets. Thread count is also not the only factor to consider when choosing bed sheets. You should also consider the look and feel of the material as well as the weight of the material. Considering these factors will help you to purchase bed linens that suit your style and match your décor as well as providing you with a comfortable sleeping space.


Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com