When you’re shopping for new sheets, what’s the first thing you look for? The materials and fibers used? The care and wash instructions? The sleep and comfort benefits? Or do you find yourself searching for the thread count before anything else? While many of us were trained that the higher the thread count, the more luxurious the bedding, you may be surprised to hear that when it comes to thread count, it doesn’t really matter. 

What is Thread Count?

Thread count is a unit of measurement used specifically for textiles that measures the number of total yarns, or threads, found in a square inch. When weaving fabric, there are two basic components: the warp and the weft. Warp is the vertical set of yarn while weft is the horizontal set of yarn that is threaded through the warps. To find a fabric’s thread count, we combine the number of warp threads and weft threads found in an inch of fabric (as shown below). 

The Truth Behind Thread Count

The idea of thread count as many know it today has turned into more of a marketing tactic than helpful information about your sheets. Because our brains have a hard time comprehending large numbers, we are more likely to lean towards the idea of “the bigger, the better” when it comes to most things we encounter. This has caused many companies and manufacturers to inflate their thread count in order to capture the customer’s attention, making them believe it is the superior product.

The idea of thread count being more misleading than helpful was confirmed back in 2005 by the Federal Trade Commission’s opinions stating, “…we believe that consumers could be deceived or misled by the practice of stating an inflated thread count…” in response to the claim that some suppliers were inflating thread counts on product labels.

Today, we see various brands selling sheets with thread counts of up to 1,000, but just 60 years ago, “luxury” sheets had a thread count of around 180. Often, when we see an extremely high thread count (900 or above), that could be an indicator that the thread count has been artificially inflated with lower-quality materials or by counting individual plies instead of threads. Additionally, too high of a thread count can sometimes result in sheets that are too stiff or not breathable enough for a comfortable sleep temperature.

What to Look for Instead of Thread Count

So if thread count doesn’t actually matter, what should you be looking for when buying your next set of sheets? With so many bedding brands on the market all selling a wide variety of sheets, how will you know you're getting the best quality before putting them on your bed? Here are a few important things to consider:

Materials Used

One of the most important things to consider when it comes to the comfort of your bedding is the material(s) used. Think about the benefits you’d prefer to receive from your bedding: soft or stiff, cooling or insulating, natural or synthetic, etc. Once you know what you want from your sheets, you can start looking into different fibers and materials that meet those needs. Here are a few helpful examples:

• For those looking for sheets that are guaranteed to be extremely soft and gentle on the skin, TENCEL™ Modal is the perfect pick.
• If you are looking for sheets with cooling properties, TENCEL™ Lyocell can be a great place to start as it’s known for being cool to the touch.
• If you’re someone who prefers natural fibers over synthetic, try exploring materials like hemp, cotton, and linen. 

The Perfect Fit

The key to a comfortable sleep space isn’t just about the fabric but the fit as well. Even if your bedding is made of the most high-quality, luxurious fibers, the wrong fit can lead to discomfort and interrupted sleep. The first step to the perfect fit is making sure you have the correct size for your mattress.

The next thing you want to look for is if the bedding you’re buying comes with any specific fit details that will make your sleep space more comfortable. For example, all of our Purecare premium sheets are enhanced with exclusive Precision-Fit® details. These details include:

• Cinched, sewn-in elastic corners on the fitted sheet for a crisp fit on mattresses up to 18” deep
• A thick 1” elastic cuff that helps keep your fitted sheet in place
• An additional 4” of width on the flat sheet for even coverage 
• Deep-pocket, enveloping pillowcases that prevent your pillows from slipping out throughout the night

Each of these fit details can make a huge difference in your comfort and overall sleep experience.

Certifications & Accreditations

Another helpful feature to focus on when deciding which bedding is best for you would be the certification(s) and/or accreditation(s) a product or brand has. Certifications are proof that a brand or product has met specific guidelines or requirements while an accreditation is typically a recognition of quality and credibility.

At Purecare, all of our products are STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified. In addition, we’ve also sought out other rigorous certifications for various products like Fairtrade, Better Cotton Initiative, Responsible Down Standard, Vartest, and more.

Our entire line of sheets and protectors has also received an accreditation in the form of an exclusive seal from the Women’s Choice Award, meaning that upon surveyed, 9 out of 10 women said they would recommend our products to their friends and family.

Treatments & Finishes

One final thing you can consider before buying your next set of sheets is the treatment and/or finish used on the product you’re purchasing. Treatments and finishes are used to add specific benefits to a fabric.

The majority of our Purecare branded products come with an Antimicrobial Silver Product Protection (AgCl) treatment that is designed to keep bedding fresher for a longer period of time by inhibiting bacteria, mold, and mildew that can cause deterioration, stains, and odors on fabrics.

Specific to our line of Blended Linen products, we also use a plant-based HeiQ Mint treatment that is designed to keep bedding fresh by neutralizing odors for up to 50 washes.

A common finish used in bedding is called a “garment wash.” Garment Washing means that the product has been pre-washed in order to provide a softer, more lived-in feel to the fabric before the customer uses it. Garment Washing can also help prevent shrinking when washed at home. We use a Garment Washed finish on a handful of our products, including our Garment Washed Percale Sheets.

Considering the treatment or finish used on a product can help ensure that the sheets you're buying offer a cleaner, more comfortable sleep space that's guaranteed to last. 

Quality Over Everything

The main key to being an educated buyer is to look for and consider quality over quantity. If the quality of the fibers used in your sheets is higher, the thread count won’t matter. Quality fibers can bring durability, softness, breathability, and wellness benefits that sheets that have been inflated with low-quality materials don’t have. Stop worrying about thread count and start focusing on quality materials.

Thankfully, your search for high-quality sheets begins and ends here—with premium, wellness-focused bedding designed to give you amazing sleep. Create your comfortable sleep space today by exploring our collection of high-quality sheets and other top-of-bed essentials.