Thread Count

Thread count is a technical measurement that counts the total number of horizontal (weft) and vertical (warp) threads woven into one square inch of fabric. Long considered the primary indicator of sheet quality, thread count has become a widely known but frequently misunderstood metric. While higher thread counts generally indicate a smoother, denser weave, the relationship between thread count and quality plateaus around 400-600 for single-ply fabrics, beyond which fiber quality and weave type become far more meaningful indicators of comfort. The thread count marketing race has led some manufacturers to artificially inflate numbers by counting individual plies within multi-ply threads. A so-called 1000-thread-count sheet may actually use two-ply yarns in a 500-thread construction, with each ply counted separately to reach the higher number. Genuinely high thread counts require thinner, longer fibers to fit more threads per inch, which is why premium long-staple and extra-long-staple cottons achieve legitimate high thread counts. For consumers, focusing on fiber quality, weave type, and brand reputation provides more reliable guidance than thread count alone.