Luxury hotel sheets are usually 300TC or 400TC cotton, with a tight percale or sateen weave to achieve the sought-after softness.
It's possible to buy sheets with over 1,000 thread counts, yet luxury hotel sheets often opt for sheet with 200-300 thread count.
Hotel Sheet Thread Count
Around 300 to 500 thread count is ideal for soft, durable, and breathable bed sheets. Lower thread counts feel rougher and can wear down quickly.
The best sheets typically have a thread count between 200 and 400. Any thread count lower than 180 tends to have a rougher texture. Any number over 400 is most likely an inflated figure due to multi-ply thread, meaning you'll pay a premium price for a sheet that doesn't actually feel any softer.
What's the best thread count for sheets? In our tests, top-rated bed sheets often have thread counts between 300 and 500. Anything above 500 isn't necessarily better (so don't be deceived when you see thread counts over 1,500), and on the flip side, you can still find quality sheets with thread counts under 300.
The highest thread count you should look for is 1,000. Anything above that number is unnecessary and often lower quality. This is because manufacturers use thinner cotton to cram in as many threads as possible, increasing the ply or the number of single threads twisted together.
No, probably not. Anything with a thread count nearing (or above) 1000 thread count is almost certain to be significantly lower quality than sheets with a more reasonable number. Most fabrics with a thread count over 600 are a sign of deceptive marketing tactics at work.
The general range of 200 to 400 is what to look for, though counts in the range of 300 to 360 will likely be the softest.
The logic behind why a higher thread count is better makes sense: all things being equal, higher thread counts require finer threads (the better to fit into a square inch), and the finer the threads you use, the softer, smoother, and more tightly woven (and thus, stronger) the fabric should be.
Thread count refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch. Generally, the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet, and the more likely it will wear well — or even soften — over time. Good sheets range anywhere from 200 to 800, although you'll occasionally see numbers over 1,000.
Luxury hotel sheets are usually 300TC or 400TC cotton, with a tight percale or sateen weave to achieve the sought-after softness. For the same reason, you won't find bamboo bed sheets higher than 500TC (Australian standards).
Comfortable, durable, luxury sheets – the ones that you reach for again and again that become even softer and more wonderful after years of use and washing – usually have thread counts from 200 to 600, depending on the material and finishing used for the product.
Gopinath said a 250 to 300 thread count was optimal (there's wiggle room, though, as Maher said 200 was also good). Gopinath told us a 400 to 500 thread count for percale could reflect a denser sheet made of fine, good-quality yarns. Over 500 was “not necessary or likely,” she said.
THREAD COUNT EXPLAINED
In Australia, it refers to the number of threads per 10cm2 (3.16cm x 3.16cm) of fabric. The measurement counts both warp and weft combined (300 warp + 300 weft = 600 thread count).
The Hilton Stripe Sheet set of linens are a 250 thread count sateen cotton blend that includes an elegant white-on-white stripe pattern. The set includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and 2 pillowcases. Consumers can buy a King, Queen, or Full-sized set. The Hilton linens are also sold separately.
Looking for sheets with a reasonable thread count (200-600 for most styles) will typically produce the best results. Be sure to modify your expectations somewhat depending on the material used. Excessively high thread counts (600-800) likely won't change much beyond the price tag.
Sheets with a thread count between 600-800 are considered very high quality. A 1500 thread count is through the roof. If you're suspicious about a set of 1500 thread-count sheets for $22 dollars, you're right to be.
The short answer is a resounding “yes” -- but it requires a bit of expert insight. Of course, we think you cannot put a price on a great night's sleep. That said, luxury linen is an investment and you deserve to understand precisely why expensive bed sheets are worthwhile.
Thread count is the number of threads that are woven together per square inch of material. The more threads woven together equals a higher thread count. Egyptian cotton can come in a range of thread counts, typically from 200 to 800.
The higher the thread count = the hotter the sheet. The lower the thread count = the cooler the sheet. One final note on high thread count sheets; depending on the cotton, yarn and weaving, a high thread count can improve general wear issues with the weaker Sateen weave.
The thread count for luxury quality Egyptian cotton, is from 200 threads per cm². Cotton sateen is a weave that offers a lighter, silkier, shinier fabric on one side and a more matte one on the other. For an extreme luxury drape, the weave can reach up to 1,000 threads.
Grown in the Nile River Valley, 100 percent pure Egyptian cotton features extra-long staple fibers that weave together into the finest yarns and fabrics. At once silky soft and delightfully durable, Egyptian cotton holds up for hundreds of washes without every tearing or pilling.
Pilling is a result of friction; when the fabric is rubbed the fibers can break. For example, pilling can often be seen on fitted sheets near the foot of the bed where frequent abrasive movement (from rough feet) can occur. Even the stubble from shaved body hair, backs and legs can be abrasive enough to cause pilling.
High thread count sheets are hot for two reasons; 1) the amount of cotton in the sheet making them thick. 2) the sateen weave which while soft/silky, doesn't breathe and traps heat. If you're always cold at night, high thread count sateen sheets are a great choice.