How to Choose the Best Cotton Bedsheets-From 200 Thread Count Sheets to 1,000 Thread Count Sheets

 Cotton is a staple fabric in our lives, you're probably wearing some right now, and chances are you also went to sleep last night on cotton sheets, whether 200 thread count sheets or luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets. But just what is all of the hullaballo about quality cotton sheets, and what exactly is thread count anyway? Well my friend, let me introduce you to a world of sleep that goes beyond just hitting the sheets, and moves on to actually enjoying them for once.

Before we go any further, let me give you the basics of thread count, a crucial piece of knowledge in the hunt for the best cotton bed sheets.

Thread count refers to how many threads there are in a square inch, including both horizontal (weft) and vertical (warp) threads. Typically a higher thread count (more threads packed in an inch) means a softer fabric, though this can be affected by the size of the yarn used to make the thread and what kind of cotton was used to make the thread.

 We start at the beginning, with the classic and cheap set of 200 thread count sheets. These are what many people sleep on because they are cheap, and who wants to spend tons of money these days? In fact, for many people who have never slept on higher thread count sheets, this is the end all be all of sheets. Take a sensitive person like myself however and you'll have them out of the bed and down the hall screaming their heads off. That said, there are certain uses for 200 thread count sheets, such as guest bedding on a budget and kid bedding which gets messy often and changed quickly. Also, keep in mind that a 200 thread count set of sheets made with one-ply yarn will be softer than cotton sheets made with two-ply yarn (two strands).

 300 to 400 thread count cotton sheets are the bread and butter of the sheet world. Priced just right for us working folk and soft enough to lull you into sweet slumber, 300 to 400 thread count sheets are a great compromise between luxury and affordability. Keep in mind that using single-ply yarn the highest thread count that can be achieved is about 300, and single-ply yarn will create softer 300 thread count sheets than yarn with multiple plies. I still love a well woven higher thread count sheet though, regardless of the number of plies!

So now we come to the cream of the crop, the sheets with the highest thread counts, ranging from 600 thread count cotton sheets to 1,000 thread count cotton sheets and above. A well woven, high thread count sheet made with quality cotton can be as luxurious as silk sheets, but for far less in cost. When shopping for the highest thread count sheets it's important to remember that you get what you pay for. Cheaper sheets may be made with very high ply yarns, which can be stiff, or may be poorly finished, leading to early wear and tear like pilling that is very disappointing in what is supposed to be a luxury sheet set.

 Many times when you are sheet shopping you'll also see sheet sets labeled "Egyptian Cotton" or "Pima Cotton", and you may wonder what this means or why you would care. Egyptian cotton sheets and Pima cotton sheets are highly prized by some sheet shoppers because they are both types of cottons that have longer staples, meaning that they create longer, finer and stronger threads than other types of cottons, which ultimately leads to softer sheets. Before you buy your sheets however, check the labels to see just how much of the fiber is Egyptian or Pima cotton, and how much is other materials.

 Sleep can be far more comfortable and rewarding with a comfortable, quality set of cotton sheets. A good set of sheets will last you many years and will only get softer with each and every wash. It may seem like a steep price, but paying and extra $20 to $40 for a decent set of sheets will pay off in the long run in terms of the longevity of the sheets and your own comfort. After all, don't you deserve it?