There’s been plenty of talk in the news lately about thread count following a Sydney Morning Herald consumer article which stated that some cotton bed sheets sold at Harris Scarfe and Spotlight retail stores had vastly inferior thread counts to what the manufacturer was advertising. This is obviously problematic due to the general population’s belief that a higher thread count equals better quality sheets, which is not always the case, especially with fabrics other than cotton.
More is not always better when it comes to thread count. The varied numbers of advertised threads on bed sheets can make it very confusing and lead people to assume that more must mean better. Higher thread count sheets will usually cost more but you could just be paying for marketing instead of an increase in quality.
What is thread count?
Thread count is the total number of horizontal threads and vertical threads in a square inch (imperial) or a 10cm (metric) square piece of fabric. It will determine how tightly the threads are woven together. This number will be higher when a finer yarn (a long, continuous length of interlocked fibres) is used.
So, when does a high thread count actually matter?
You should only consider a higher thread count to mean better quality when it is 100% long staple cotton and single ply. A high thread count in this situation will mean that finer and smoother yarns were used in its creation. Lower thread count 100% cotton sheets or 2-ply cotton sheets will be less breathable and have a scratchy, coarse feel.
Why do I see thread counts in the 1000’s then?
Manufacturers have crafty ways of multiplying their thread counts based on the fact that most people think a higher thread count equals better quality (therefore, they can charge more or they can charge the same and people think they’re getting better value).
- Polyester/nylon (microfibre) or polyester blended fabrics are usually the sheets that can reach the 1000’s for thread count as these are synthetic, machine created fibres that can be woven into very thin fabrics but will feel quite coarse and scratchy.
- Using multi-ply (2 layers of yarn twisted together to form one thread) yarns allows the manufacturer to count double the threads. 300 horizontal threads + 300 vertical threads x 2 ply allows a manufacturer to claim a 1200 thread count without any increase in quality. Multi-ply threads will often be coarse and heavier due to the cheaper, shorter threads being twisted together in an attempt to increase their strength and durability.
Ideal thread counts for various fabrics
Most of the chat about thread count in the media and marketing revolves around cotton but there are many other bed sheet fabrics out there, each with their own ideal thread counts based on the purpose of the fabric. One main thing that thread count doesn’t take into account is the quality of the fibre, which has a huge impact to the feel of your bed sheets. Different fabrics are also judged under different metrics than thread count. Here’s a list of fabrics by thread count and their ideal ranges:
- Tencel (300-400)
- Linen (80-150)
- Bamboo (300-500)
Weave will also affect thread count in cotton sheets with a percale weave attracting a slightly lower thread count on average (200-300) and a sateen weave being a higher ideal thread count (300-600) due to the nature of the weave. Percale is woven one over, one under and sateen is woven three over, one under. Hence the difference in threads.
Flannel and Microfibre are measured in GSM (grams per square metre) and silk is measured in Momme (pounds per 45inch x 100 yards).
Conclusion
If you’re on the search for 100% long staple cotton sheets, then thread count is something to look out for. Otherwise, features like fabric type, quality and weave are more important features to look out for. Be wary of sheets above 600 TC as these will likely be a marketing gimmick or a blend of cheaper, lower quality fibres to bump up the thread count.
thrae’s 100% Tencel bed sheet sets are 300 TC with a sateen weave to maintain an ultra-soft, silky smooth feel while still being breathable enough to last through the summer months.