Thread count in bedding and what the number means
Short answer: Thread count is the number of threads per square inch in a fabric. Up to a certain point, more threads mean better bedding, but beyond that it only makes the fabric heavier without meaningfully improving quality.
What the number actually counts
Thread count counts the threads lengthwise and crosswise in a square of one inch, added together into a single number. A figure around three hundred is often considered good bedding. Below two hundred, the fabric tends to be thin and loosely woven, while above five hundred rarely gives an improvement you can actually feel.
Why very high numbers are misleading
Some manufacturers count every single thread in a composite yarn, where several thin threads are twisted together, and thereby reach very high numbers on the packaging. The fabric does not become better because of it, only denser and heavier to sleep under. Look instead at fibre type and weave when judging a bedding set.
What matters more than the number
The fibre and the weave itself matter more for the feel than thread count alone. Bamboo viscose woven as sateen feels smooth and soft regardless of the exact number, while the same fibre woven as percale feels cool and matte. See bamboo bedding to compare different weaves in the same fibre.
What to look for instead
Look at weight per square metre, at the fibre composition itself, and at whether the fabric is woven as percale or sateen. Together, these three things tell you more about quality than thread count alone, and they are easier to compare across different brands and shops.
Connection to washing behaviour
Bedding with too high a thread count can feel stiff and heavy after several washes, because the many threads clog the fabric and make it less airy over time. A more balanced figure around three hundred often stays softer over several years of ordinary use and washing at forty to sixty degrees.
Thread count and price
Is a high thread count always more expensive. Often yes, because more yarn is used, but the price does not necessarily follow a real improvement of the fabric. A bedding set with a moderate figure and good fibre can easily feel better than one with a high figure and cheap, undocumented fibre.
Thread count in fitted sheets
Fitted sheets with elastic in the edge face more tension than flat sheets, because the fabric is stretched around the mattress every day. Too high a thread count here can make the fabric less elastic and harder to fit properly. See bamboo fitted sheets with a balanced figure for daily use.
Thread count compared with knitted fabric
Thread count is only used for woven fabrics and says nothing about knitted textiles such as jersey. For knits, weight per square metre is used instead as the central measure, because knits do not have the same lengthwise and crosswise thread system that a woven construction has.
How to read a product page
When looking at a bedding set, look for thread count, weight and fibre type together in one place, rather than focusing only on the single number. See bamboo sheets, where all three pieces of information sit together, so you can judge the whole picture rather than thread count alone.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a high thread count always more expensive
Often yes, because more yarn is used in production. The price does not always follow a real improvement in the fabric's actual quality or comfort.
What counts as a good thread count
Between two hundred and fifty and four hundred covers most good bedding. Higher numbers rarely make a noticeable difference in everyday use.
Is thread count also used for knitted fabric
No. For knits such as jersey, weight per square metre is used instead, because knitted fabrics do not have the same crossing thread system that a woven fabric has.
See our range of Nordic Weaving bedding.
