Yvonne Glasgow
If you haven’t fallen into the rabbit hole of sheet thread counts yet, you may be wondering what the fuss is all about. Some people live by this bedroom linen standard, but does it matter?
What Is Thread Count?
Thread count is the number of threads found per square inch of a sheet. Reputable companies count the individual threads of single-ply threads. Some sheets have multi-ply thread, which are threads that consist of more than one string twisted together. These still should count as a single thread, even if they consist of two or more threads twisted together.
Thread Count Myths and Mistakes
Some people believe that the higher the thread count, the better quality the sheet. This isn’t always true. You see, those multi-ply threads offer some manufacturers and marketers a way to make you think a sheet is higher quality with higher thread counts when it isn’t actually better.
Multi-ply threads are one of the ways that some companies use to boost the overall thread counts of their products. Companies will sometimes count each thread in a multi-ply thread, making a sheet that would typically be 250 threat count falsy sellable at 500 thread count with a two-ply thread.
A sheet with a false thread count of a higher number won’t be as high-quality as a single-ply sheet with the correct count.
So, Does It Matter?
Does thread count matter? Not really. It’s another marketing term used to sell sheets.
When you’re in the market for a new set, you should be looking at the fabric quality rather than thread count. Pima, Supima, and Egyptian are the best quality fabrics. Pick a set of sheets in one of these fabrics, with a quality brand name and higher thread count, and you may just find a set of sheets you like.
