Grandma here. Been buying sheets for a long time. Look in the 200-400 thread count range, in a 60-40 cotton/polyester blend. Higher than that, the threads are really, really really fine, so you end up with very thin, delicate sheets that don't wear well at all, and feel kinda slithery and floppy. Honestly, the best sheets I've ever bought are these, from Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/search?q=mainstays%20300tc%20cotton%20rich%20percale%20easy%20care%20bed%20sheet%20set&typeahead=mainstays%20300tc Well made, durable, beefy, smooth. Answer from refugefirstmate on reddit.com
🌐
Good Housekeeping
goodhousekeeping.com › home & outdoor products › mattresses & sleep › does thread count matter? here’s what good housekeeping's tests reveal.
Is a Higher Thread Count Really Better for Sheets?
1 month ago - In recent years, we've tested 353 sheet sets and cross-referenced our results with the thread count. In our tests, higher thread count did not correlate with improved performance or necessarily a softer feel. The fiber scientists in Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab regularly test bed sheets to find the best set for every type of sleeper.
🌐
Sophie Allport
sophieallport.com › home › sophie's tips › sophie's tips
Our Guide To The Best Thread Count For Sheets
Using too many threads can have a negative effect and will result in a heavier sheet that can block airflow due to the number of threads per square inch. Good bed sheets tend to have a thread count of 200, and there are many reasons why this ...
People also ask

What is the highest thread count for sheets?

The highest thread count for sheets is usually 1,000. Anything above that number is often lower quality. In fact, a 1,000 thread count is not always a marker of quality or softness.

🌐
sealy.com.au
sealy.com.au › home › sleep & wellness hub › what’s the best thread count for sheets? does a higher thread count matter?
What’s the best thread count for sheets and does a higher thread ...
Is 1500 a good thread count for sheets?

A higher thread count is not always a marker of quality or softness. Anything above 1,000 thread count is likely to be of lower quality. Some manufacturers will try to use as many threads as possible, but the softness and quality of the fabric are sacrificed in the process.

🌐
sealy.com.au
sealy.com.au › home › sleep & wellness hub › what’s the best thread count for sheets? does a higher thread count matter?
What’s the best thread count for sheets and does a higher thread ...
Are 1000 thread count sheets worth it?

A high thread count is not always a marker of quality or softness. Thread count has nothing to do with a fabric’s breathability, comfort or softness. A 400 thread count sheet may be softer and more breathable than a 1,000 thread count sheet.

🌐
sealy.com.au
sealy.com.au › home › sleep & wellness hub › what’s the best thread count for sheets? does a higher thread count matter?
What’s the best thread count for sheets and does a higher thread ...
🌐
Sealy Australia
sealy.com.au › home › sleep & wellness hub › what’s the best thread count for sheets? does a higher thread count matter?
What’s the best thread count for sheets and does a higher thread count matter?
September 1, 2025 - For most fabrics, a 200-600 thread count is good. Higher thread counts are often more luxurious. Here’s everything you need to know about thread counts.
🌐
Peacock Alley
peacockalley.com › pages › thread-count-guide
What Thread Count is Best for Sheets? | Peacock Alley
Q: How does thread count affect sheet breathability? A: A moderate thread count (300-500) offers a good balance of softness and breathability.
🌐
Sleep Number
sleepnumber.com › home › sleep science
What Is Really the Best Thread Count For Sheets? | Sleep Number
Then, a 300 thread count is a great starting point for well-balanced sheets. Quality sheets can also combine other fibers with long-staple cotton to provide additional benefits, such as the extra wicking ability from lyocell in Sleep Number's ...
🌐
MasterClass
masterclass.com › articles › how-to-choose-the-best-thread-count
Thread Count Guide: How to Choose the Best Thread Count - 2025 - MasterClass
Thread count matters for bedsheets specifically because a low thread count is a good indicator that the fabric is either woven loosely or too thick, both of which can cause sheets to feel rough. Sheets with higher thread counts feel softer—up to a point. The thread count measurement is only useful for single-ply cotton fibers: A non-cotton fiber like polyester is so thin that it can produce thread counts in the thousands without feeling nearly as soft as a lower cotton thread count, and some linen manufactures use multi-ply thread to inflate their thread count numbers.
Find elsewhere
🌐
Furn
furn.com › blogs › help-advice › what-is-thread-count-and-why-is-it-important
Your Thread Count Questions, Answered – Furn.com
August 3, 2023 - ... The best thread count for bedding all depends on the fabric you’re working with. Generally, a good cotton thread count can range from 200-600, with percale sheets coming in at 200-400, and sateen weaves going up to 600.
🌐
Delara
delarahome.com › blogs › news › what-actually-is-the-best-thread-count-for-sheets
Best Thread Count for Sheets: What You Really Need? – Delara
May 16, 2025 - When buying sheets, it is important to look for a higher thread count. Thread counts range from around 120 to 1,000 and higher. Generally, a thread count of 300 or above is considered to be good quality.
🌐
Amazon
amazon.com › ask › questions › Tx2JQKRDRIKLOJG
Amazon.com: Customer Questions & Answers
Thread count only applies to cotton. These are 100% polyester. ... They are microfiber so no thread count like cotton. ... Hello Kayle Mager, I did a web chat with Amazon today using their contact form, and they said that these sheets have a thread count of 300 like Thelma E.
🌐
Sleep Foundation
sleepfoundation.org › best sheets of 2025
What Is the Best Thread Count for Sheets? Here's the Magic Number
January 31, 2023 - The quality of the yarns or threads used is often more important than the quantity of threads, or thread count. ... Quality, comfortable sheets can be found with thread counts ranging from 200 to 800 and beyond. There’s no magic number that ...
🌐
Vision Linens
visionlinens.com › 144-thread-count-white-polycotton-fitted-sheet
144 Thread Count Polycotton Fitted Sheet | Vision Linens
V144 Polycotton Plain Fitted Sheet
This quality fitted bed sheet is made from a 50/50 polyester cotton blend with a 144-thread count. It’s ideal for creating a classic look in any bedroom and providing an extra touch of elegance whilst also keeping the mattress protected. It's available in single, double, king and super king sizes.
Price   £3.42
🌐
NapLab
naplab.com › home › mattress guides & sleep education › what does thread count mean?
What Does Thread Count Mean? — The Industry's Dirty Secret - NapLab
October 6, 2023 - Manufacturers may use low-grade cotton to create multi-ply threads, notes Business Insider. This allows them to claim double or triple the thread count, but it doesn’t mean you’re getting softer or stronger sheets. Polyester fibers and cotton/polyester blends are very thin, which allows manufacturers to increase the thread count.
🌐
HGTV
hgtv.com › design › rooms › bedrooms › guide-to-buying-sheets
Bed Sheet Buying Guide: Materials and Thread Count | HGTV
July 28, 2025 - 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 ...
🌐
Yves Delorme
usa.yvesdelorme.com › l › blog › luxury-sheet-thread-count-guide.html
The Ultimate Thread Count Guide for Luxury Sheets
A higher thread count can mean a softer, smoother sheet — but only when the threads themselves are high-quality. Using inferior cotton or synthetic blends can result in stiff, heavy sheets even with a high thread count.
🌐
Brooklyn Bedding
brooklynbedding.com › blog › weave-ply-thread-count-oh-my-5-tips-for-buying-great-sheets
Sheet Thread Count Guide: 5 Tips for Buying Great Sheets - Brooklyn Bedding
As a general rule, single-ply is less opaque and easier to see through... and tend to look a bit on the cheaper side. Double-ply is thicker and tends to look more luxurious or expensive, but can also be less breathable than thinner sheets that are only single-ply. ... Thread count is the number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch.
🌐
Tache Home Fashion
tachehf.com › home › tache home blog › tache home blog
What is a Good Thread Count for Bed Sheets?
April 13, 2023 - What is Thread Count? Thread count refers to the number of threads, both vertical (warp) and horizontal (weft), per square inch of fabric in bed sheets. In general, a higher thread count typically indicates a denser, softer, and more luxurious sheet, but it is not the only factor to consider ...
🌐
NYTimes
nytimes.com › wirecutter › blog › good-thread-count-for-sheets
What Is a Good Thread Count for Sheets?
February 7, 2024 - According to the many experts we’ve interviewed, really good sheets—the ones that feel soft and wear well after years of use and washing—generally have thread counts ranging from 200 to 600, depending on whether they’re percale or sateen.
🌐
Amerisleep
amerisleep.com › blog › bedding › what is the best thread count for sheets?
What is the Best Thread Count for Sheets? - Amerisleep
August 5, 2025 - Be skeptical of sheets with thread counts of 1000 or higher, especially if they’re unusually cheap. This likely means the manufacturer used two or more strands of fibers to make one thread, a tactic to double or triple thread counts.