Everyone hears a lot of babble about thread count being the be-all-end-all, but is it really? Thread count, by definition, is the measurement of the amount of threads in a single square-inch of fabric. This means, the higher the thread count, the more material there will be. The real question should be, what does thread count mean in regards to how the sheet feels? The simple answer is the lower the thread count, the lighter the sheet; the higher the thread count, the heavier the sheet. The battle rages on about High Thread Count Vs. Low Thread Count, but it's really all about personal preference.
Here is a very general breakout of our thread counts and their features:
Low Thread Counts (300 – 500)
- Super soft after the first wash
- Thinnest and lightest thread counts for luxury sheets (average set weight of 4 - 5 lbs.)
- Basic durability
Medium Thread Counts (500 – 800)
- Super soft after a couple washes
- Average thickness and weight due to thread count (average set weight of 6 - 7 lbs.)
- Higher durability and the "best of both worlds"; You get the durability of higher thread counts with the softness of the lower thread counts.
High Thread Counts (1000 - 1500)
- Not as "soft to the touch" out of the packaging, but get softer with each wash.
- Thickest and heaviest due to thread count (average set weight of 9 - 10 lbs.)
- Highest durability
Please note that the durability factor is heavily based on following the washing-instructions closely.
The best way to describe the difference between durability and softness in materials is by comparing denim jeans and a cotton t-shirt. When you buy denim jeans, which are extremely high thread count, they are stiff and rough.
T-shirts, on the other hand, are usually very soft right off the bat. Over time, the t-shirt will wear down and damage easier than the jeans will, but nothing is more comfortable than a well-worn pair of denim jeans.
Finding a balance between softness and durability is about knowing what you want in a set of sheets. If you live in the northern-reaches of Canada and you want to stay warm, a
high thread count bed sheet might be what you need. These high-thread count sheets will, over time and after a couple washes, become just as soft as
300 thread count sheets are out of the box, but are much warmer than a lower thread count.
Vice versa, if you live in the Sahara Desert, you may want to get a light-weight low thread count sheet. These will wear easier than the higher thread counts, but they will be light, cool, and soft right off the bat. For the majority of people who do not live in the extreme climates mentioned above, the middle thread counts (530, 650, and 800) offer a great middle-of-the-road mixture of durability and softness out of the box.
Do you have any questions concerning thread counts? Contact our eLuxury Sheet Experts at 1-800-977-7433 or by email at service@eluxury.com!