What is Thread Count?

What is Thread Count?  Does it matter?  Is higher thread count better?  We do our best to answer your questions about the number of threads in your bed linen and what difference it might make to your comfortable nights’ sleep.

What is Thread Count?

‘Thread count’ (often abbreviated to just ‘TC’) is the number of threads in woven material, per inch.  For example, a 200TC cotton sheet is made from woven cotton with 200 threads of cotton, in each direction (vertical and horizontal), per inch.

But – there’s always a ‘but’ – it’s never as simple as that.

Higher thread count sheets will often feel heavier than lower thread counts, giving a more ‘luxurious’ feel, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the sheets are of better quality.  If the cotton, or polycotton, is of a poor quality, the higher thread count means little – the sheets are still poor quality.  There’s a nice article over at austinlinen.com.

Also, the number can sometimes be misleading.  Here’s a good image…

The figure on the right shows a weave of one single fibre, while the one on the left shows how two smaller fibres can be twisted together making the same size thread, but counting double the thread count.  They’re effectively the same, as the 600TC thread is made from three much thinner twisted threads.

The terms has become almost synonymous with quality, but really, it isn’t.

Preference, Not Quality

Very generally speaking, higher thread counts should mean a heavier feeling sheet.  This make be good or bad, depending on your preference.  Many prefer a more lightweight feel to their bedding, feeling more airy and not so rigid.  If your aim is for higher quality, look to the higher quality cotton, like percale and Egyptian, don’t pay too much attention to the thread count.

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Order online for quick delivery throughout Ireland!  KerryLinen.ie supply quality cotton and polycotton bed linen to homes, holiday homes, guests houses and hotels.  Always great prices delivered to your door by An Post, usually in 48 hours!  (See delivery details.)

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Here at Kerry Linen, we offer great quality bed linen at very affordable prices! You can shop bed linen online at Kerry Linen and enjoy regular, specially reduced bed linen savings across our range of bedroom essentials: sheets, pillowcases, quilt covers, duvets, pillow protectors and mattress protectors, towels.  Our Bedding Sets are even better value and offer more convenient ordering if you’re buying full sets for a guest house or rental property.