There’s a misconception that, when it comes to thread count, bigger is necessarily better. That’s not always the case. Thread count offers a broad indication of quality, but there’s a big element of subjectivity to selecting your bed sheets.

Jersey: Jersey is a type of knit that often uses cotton, but not always. The weight may vary somewhat depending on the material used. Many jersey cotton sheets are around 150 GSM.Sateen is smooth and silky-soft when new. Over time, sateen will become softer and drapier. Since the thread count is higher, sateen is usually heavier than percale and also not as breathable. Percale sheets are best suited to people who prefer crisp, lightweight bedding. They also offer above-average breathability.

Polyester or blends: Unlike cotton, polyester fibers are manufactured in a factory and can be produced to be super thin, meaning polyester and cotton/polyester blends can have thread counts in the thousands. In fact, manufacturers are coming up with techniques to use thin polyester yarns with the sole purpose of increasing the thread count claim. Some sleepers find percale too coarse and scratchy. This is particularly common with sheet sets made from low-grade cotton, cotton blends, and synthetic fabrics like polyester. Flannel: Measured in GSM. Durable, heavyweight flannel sheets are in the 170+ GSM range. Lighter flannel sheets will be less durable, but lighter and more breathable. Some consumers mistake “cotton percale” for a specific variety of cotton. In fact, the term percale refers to a type of weave used to make bedding, garments, and other products. Percale is also known as plain weave. Most percale sheets are made from cotton, but this weave can also be used with polyester, rayon from bamboo, microfiber, and other synthetic fabrics. The weft thread floats under three warp threads for each one it floats over, resulting in a looser weave.Line drying is preferred on most fabrics as the weight of the fabric on the washing line just allows the creases to drop out. When this is not always possible or convenient, tumble drying on a low to medium setting with easy care also helps make light work of those hard to remove creases. Polycotton does sometimes get a bad reputation for being slightly rough to the feel than say cotton, however this is not the case with a percale fabric as the quality of the polyester is much greater and the cotton portion is mainly combed, to give it a much softer and supple feel.

While percale sheets are popular with many sleepers, some find this type of bedding a bit too coarse at first. The Snowe Percale Sheet Set feels exceptionally soft while retaining the classic crisp appearance of percale sheets. The sheets are particularly well-suited to people seeking sheets that are both breathable and easy on the skin. While percale is quite breathable and well suited to warm weather, the fabric is a bit too thin and lightweight to insulate you from the cold. You may want to consider a heavier sheet set for the winter months. The tight weave gives percale an initially crisp feel that many compare to men’s shirting material, but it will soften with use. Percale is also very lightweight and breathable since it requires fewer threads. From misleadingly high thread counts to claims of sheets that “never wear out,” dubious assertions and exaggerations can be common in the bedding industry. Rather than relying on brand marketers to guide your purchasing decision, we recommend evaluating each set using the following criteria. This will help you distinguish high-quality sheet sets from their lower-quality competitors.Yusuf Ozkanli is the founder and product manager of luxury bedding brand Beddable and has over 7 years of experience in sourcing home textiles from across the world. The best thread count for bed sheets Linen: 80-140. Thread count is less of a useful indicator for linen sheets and rarely listed. Avoid higher thread counts for linen sheets. It is calculated by adding together the numbers of lengthwise (warp) and widthwise (weft) threads within a certain area. For example, a cotton sheet with 100 warp threads and 100 weft threads in each square inch of fabric would have a listed thread count of 200.

If the sheets aren't 100% cotton with single-ply weaves, chances are thread counts are either misleading or irrelevant. Here's why thread count doesn't matter for other materials: Microfiber: Measured in grams per square meter (GSM). Look for microfiber sheets in the 90-120 GSM range. Percale sheets and pillowcases feel crisp at first but soften over time, striking a fine balance between smooth and scratchy.Percale sheets are optimal for people who want a crisp hand-feel from their bedding that will become softer over time. The fabric will never drape closely to the skin like sateen due to its tighter weave, nor will it feel as smooth, but many sleepers prefer the gentle texture of used percale to the body-hugging clinginess of sateen. Delivered within 7 working days to over 5000+ ParcelShops nationwide. Find your nearest ParcelShop. READ NEXT: Our round-up of the best mattresses available The best sheets to buy for every recommended thread count 1. White Company Essentials Egyptian Cotton range: Best everyday thread count sheets Gopinath said a 250 to 300 thread count was optimal (there’s wiggle room, though, as Maher said 200 was also good). Sateen sheets, meanwhile, offer a silker, glossier appearance, although for this you may forfeit some of the light airiness associated with percale. The finer weaving of sateen means a thread count in the region of 300 to 600 is ideal for this refined fabric.