Trying to settle on a set of sheets? Understanding some basics about the fabrics they're made of will help you compare labels wisely and make a smart choice. "Cotton is by far the most-loved fabric for sheets," says Jim Symmes, vice president at Revman International, which manufactures sheets for prominent brands such as Tommy Bahama and Laura Ashley. "It's soft, durable, and breathes well. But improvements in the manufacturing process and finishing techniques mean that other fabrics like polyester can be a viable alternative to cotton." What you're looking for is what the industry dubs a nice "hand"-soft and luxe to the touch. Some fabrics may fit your needs better than others. Here's a guide to choosing the sheet that's right for you: Sheets made of microfiber-fabric composed of extremely fine fibers of polyester-are affordable and soft, and they resist pilling more than traditional polyester fabric does. However, polyester is less breathable than cotton and is probably not the best choice for those with sensitive skin.
The choice of crisp white sheets and rich blue bedding creates a distinctive look with a global influence. Cotton jersey sheets are also reasonably priced and very breathable because they're knit rather than woven. Jersey is basically T-shirt fabric, so jersey sheets may appeal to you if you like sleeping in a soft old shirt. Microfiber and jersey don't have the cool crispness of woven cotton, so if you like to flip your pillows to the cool side all night long, you're better off looking at an inexpensive cotton percale instead. The highest-quality, softest sheets use cotton with extra-long fibers (called long-staple fibers) that can be spun into fine, strong yarns. Certified long-staple cottons include Egyptian, pima, and Supima®. That doesn't mean that other types of cotton don't make nice sheets, Symmes says. A fabric that is finished nicely with a high thread count can be made of a non-certified cotton and still be very comfortable. 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 see numbers over 1,000. Astronomical thread counts don't necessarily mean the sheet is better-there are even tricks to inflating the thread count (such as using multiple yarns twisted together) that don't actually improve the hand of the fabric and may even detract from its quality. Don't assume a low thread count means low-quality sheets. "There are 200-count cotton sheets out there that are finished very nicely and actually feel like they have a higher thread count," Symmes says. "Fewer chemicals and more mechanical finishings are used these days, giving a nice hand and performance." If you're watching pennies, try a 200-count combed cotton set from a well-known brand; name brands are likely to have high certification standards for their finishing processes. Symmes says that his ideal sheet is a combed cotton sheet in the 300 to 400 thread count range.
Usually, the fabric weave and the manufacturing processes used won't be a big factor in your decision; often they don't even appear on the packaging. But there are a few terms you should know: Sateen is cotton cloth made with a satin weave, a weave that produces a very soft, lustrous feel but can be somewhat less durable than a tighter weave. Percale is the crisp, durable plain weave fabric typically used for sheets; it has a thread count of at least 180. Combed cotton has been combed to remove the short fibers and leave the long ones, which makes for a strong, soft fabric. See our bedding glossary for more information on fabrics, finishes and styles.Whether one settles into a bed for warmth to escape howling winter winds or desires a set of cool, breathable sheets to escape a scorching summer sun, the perfect bed sheets are paramount to a restful night of sleep. While most can be easily persuaded to swing for a more luxurious set of sheets, the labeling and thread count terminology in sheet shopping can be misleading.
How To Shop for the Softest Sheets Our tips on what to look for in ply, thread-count, and cotton types will help you find the perfect set of sheets for your bed. One of the most frequently asked questions in any department store across the South is how do you ever pick the softest set of sheets? Shopping for sheets for a bedroom is a very tricky matter as one has quite a few things to ponder when making a list of what matters most. In the South, especially with hot summers and chilly winters, our homerun winner for every room including guest rooms and children's rooms is always going to be the softest 100% cotton bedding. A cotton sheet may start off crisp, but with time they will only improve with every wash cycle. In a few months, you will have a luxuriously soft and cool bed to retreat to each evening. A soft set of sheets is extra important for a good nights rest. Satin, bamboo, brushed linen, jersey and other options are also great. The pricing ranges for soft sheets so make sure you are picking a set that you know will last!
Consider this the Martha Stewart equivalent of finding out Santa isn't real, or that SPF 100 really won't work. You ready for this? A higher thread count doesn't mean you're buying a better quality sheet. Yes, higher does NOT mean better. Believe us, we were as shocked as you. We wanted to get to the bottom of this misconception -- obviously -- so we spoke with Nancy Koltes, a luxury linens designer, and Shannon Maher, Assistant Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology Home Product Development Program who also has a background in bedding, to try to figure out this bed linen lie. How did the misconception come about? Thread count, which Maher defines as "the number of yarn per square inch" seems to have started as a pretty genius marketing idea. "[It's] an invention of the American market," said Koltes. More specifically, thread count isn't so much a "lie" as it is a falsified way to determine to the quality of sheets, especially when it's used as the only way to determine quality.
Just as we attach labels like "low-fat" and "organic" to food, linen retailers extended this to luxury linens in the mid-1990s, Koltes explains. By the early 2000s, the "thread count lie" had reached new levels when the first 1,000-plus thread count linens were introduced. "It's just all promotional. Thread count doesn't represent quality," Koltes says. Nevertheless, it seems to have stuck with customers. Well, what should we do instead? Instead of relying on thread count alone when trying to purchase an excellent sheet, consider these other factors as well: Fiber: According to Maher, the majority of fibers that make up sheets are cotton and you should look for a longer fiber. "Longer fiber is ideal, because when you spin the yarn, it gives it strength, which means less pilling." Egyptian cotton, which Koltes says is basically the standard of excellence, has a long fiber. Other good high-quality fiber options to look for are pima and supima, organic cotton, cotton-poplin, cotton-polyester and even bamboo.
Weave: According to Real Simple, the weave of your sheet "affects the way a sheet feels, the way it looks, its longevity, and its price." There are many different kinds of weaves, but "a percale weave is the most prominent," says Maher. "It's a balanced weave, sort of like a basket weave, and it is a crisper or cooler feel." Maher said another common choice is a sateen weave, which "has a bit of a softer feel to it, and a little warmer than percale." Numbers aren't everything: Even if a sheet has a high thread count, that can be inflated by manipulating the sheet-making process with a low-quality construction or thread. As a general rule, buy above a 200-thread count sheet, and know that anything over an 800-thread count really doesn't matter. To help protect consumers from inflated thread counts, the Federal Trade Commission does its best to crack down on deceptive techniques and technology designed to increase thread count, as well as deceptive advertising and marketing.
Location, location, location: Not all thread is created equal. In an interview with New York Magazine, Amanda Mettler, a textile buyer for Gracious Home, said "I can guarantee a 200 thread count from Italy is better quality than a 1,000 thread count from Pakistan." France and Italy are regarded as some of the best sheet-makers in the business, even though the fiber they use isn't always from those particular countries (such as Egyptian cotton). Price matters: Maher is quick to remind people that "price and quality definitely go together. Bed Bath & Beyond or a Target 700-thread-count sheet is not really going to be the best quality." Finish is everything: Most sheets are "finished" with chemical processes to keep them from wrinkling or shrinking (look for words like "shrinkage control"). Though it's nice not to have wrinkly sheets, try looking for organic cotton which should be chemical-free. Buying the right sheets is a balancing act. For additional linen help, consult our handy-dandy buying guide to finding the best sheets for your budget or use this little trick to turn your bed into a luxurious hotel room.