What does thread count mean: Everything you need to know about thread count.
10-03-2021
Did you know the average person spends one-third, or roughly 26 years, of their lives sleeping?
When it comes to sleep, we’ve made it our business to ensure all those hours of shut eye are done in the most comfortable bed and linen in the market.
One commonly asked question revolves around thread count and what the ideal number you should look for in your linen. We’ve compiled some FAQs to help guide you through everything there is to know about thread count to help you get your comfiest night’s sleep, every night.
What is thread count?
You’d be forgiven to assume thread count is a made-up term to convince you to purchase expensive sheets, but in actual fact it comes down to science. According to How Stuff Works, a thread count is the number of threads woven together in a square inch.
Put simply, it’s a way of measuring the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch. The higher the thread count, the more threads within that fabric.
What does thread count mean for bed sheets?
When it comes to the bedsheets, we know after a long day, you want to fall asleep in the softest and smoothest linen, and finding sheets with the right thread count is a key ingredient to making that happen.
A thread count between 200 and 400 made from a breathable material, such as cotton, ensures you’re set up for a great night’s sleep.
Does a higher thread count mean sheets are softer?
According to Sleep Advisor, if the thread count is between 150 and 180, expect the sheets to feel rough and coarse.
Anything over 500 usually means the fibres have been woven together to create an inflated figure.
If finding the softest sheets is your aim, you should look to a thread count between 200 and 400. So put simply, no a higher thread count does not automatically mean it is softer.
Does a higher thread count mean better sheets?
As mentioned above, a higher thread count doesn’t necessarily mean higher quality. Most of the time, anything above 500 is in fact just a sheet with multi-ply thread.
What is multi-ply thread? We’re glad you asked!
If a fabric is multi-ply, it simply means two or more layers of fabric have been stitched together. It’s not uncommon for manufacturers to stitch two layers of 150 thread count together and claim the sheets have a thread count of 300- sneaky!
A good rule of thumb is to be wary of sheets with a thread count higher than 500, especially if they come with either a very expensive or very cheap price tag.
What thread count is coolest?
For those sleepers who get hot throughout the evening, there are two factors to consider when looking for the coolest sheets: thread count and material.
Thread count
Consider any thread count above 500 that claims to offer a cool night’s sleep a marketing ploy. Aim to look for sheets between 200 and 400 as a guide, but be sure to consider the material, too. A thread count over 250 with poor material won’t offer you the most comfortable sleep. We recommend a thread count of 370 made of cotton.
Material
Cotton should be a go-to sheet material for those hot sleepers. Offering breathability, cotton is cool to touch and won’t cause you to break out into a night sweat.
Our range of linen sheets are crafted from GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton ensuring you get your most comfortable sleep year round.
What is a good thread count for sheets?
Marketers will have you thinking that the higher the thread count, the softer and finer the fabric, but this isn’t always true. Many manufacturers have been known to use creative counting to exaggerate and inflate a thread count to trick you into thinking you’re buying the best. So we advise you to be skeptical of sheets with a thread count of 500 or above.
You should aim for a thread count between 200 and 400, with anything over 400 only coming with a higher price tag.
What other factors should you consider when purchasing new sheets
- Certified organic materials
Finding the perfect sheets requires finding linen that balances the right thread count with the right material. Our linen range uses 100% certified organic cotton which is free from chemicals and excessive water consumption throughout the manufacturing process. Organic cotton is also the ideal material fibre for those with allergies or sensitive skin.
- Sheets crafted to perfection
Our sheets are meticulously crafted to ensure you are sleeping on the softest yet most durable linen wash after wash.
Our 370 thread count ensures an optimum sleep-enhancing performance you’ll look forward to sleeping on every night.
- Environmentally-friendly sheets
Another way to sleep easy at night is to look for sheets that are environmentally friendly. Our sheets are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified and manufactured in eco-friendly facilities using socially responsible working conditions.
What does thread count on pillows mean?
Similar to sheets, pillow cases should also be a key consideration to helping you get your most comfortable night’s sleep. A thread count on a pillow is the same as thread count for bed sheets, it is the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch on the pillow case.
Aim to purchase a pillowcase with a thread count between 200 and 400 to ensure your head is resting on the softest fabric.
Other important considerations to make when it comes to finding the perfect pillow include:
- Replacing them regularly
Whilst many pillows come with a stamped expiration date, it’s recommended to replace regular pillows after 18 months and memory foam pillows after three years.
- Think how you sleep
It’s recommended that side sleepers look to firmer and thicker pillows; stomach sleeps should look at soft pillows and back sleepers may need to use a flat pillow to keep the head and neck in alignment.
- Choosing the right pillow for your mattress
Many people place great importance on investing in a high quality mattress that is comfortable and supportive enough to give you the best night’s sleep, but do not shop around for a good pillow. This is detrimental to their overall sleep quality.
When choosing the right pillow for you, we recommend a memory foam pillow as it provides the perfect amount of support and eliminates the problem of pillow shifting to give you a great night’s sleep. Having a high quality, supportive pillow such as a memory foam pillow can transform your night’s sleep and provide you with adequate neck and back support that prevents pain.
Shop our organic cotton sheets today
Ergoflex’s sheet range is woven with a premium-grade 370 thread count, giving you the feeling of 5-star hotel luxury in the comfort of your own home.
When choosing the thread count for our sheets, we meticulously designed our bed sheets to deliver optimum sleep-enhancing performance which is why we chose a thread count of 370. A thread count of 1000 may look impressive on paper, but we were determined to only produce the best to give you your most comfortable night’s sleep, night after night which is why we arrived at a thread count of 370.
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