What's the best thread count for bed sheets?

What if we told you the best sheet thread count was 220?

Crazy, right?

All over the internet, you see sheet sets with 1,500 thread count, and the more the better, right? So why is 220 ACTUALLY the best?

Here’s the deal:

Anything above 400 thread count isn’t really a high thread count sheet. It’s actually just a sheet with multi-ply thread.

When you see a thread-count higher than 400, the number is nearly always a lie.

Here’s what we mean:

See this picture? High thread count sheet sets are REALLY just sheets made with cheap multi-ply yarns. They do a little magic marketing math, and BOOM! Before you know it, you have a 200 thread count sheet set being sold as a 600 thread count sheet set.

• Truly a 200 thread-count fabric.
• Cheaper, 3-ply yarns instead of quality single ply yarns.
• 3 X 200 = 600

And that folks, is how the sheet thread count game is played. What’s worst of all, because of the cheaper quality 3-ply yarns that are used, the consumer is actually left with a much lower quality product. The cheaper yarns are more prone to breakage, causing roughness and pilling in your bed sheets. 

So what do the best thread count sheets really look like?

In the end, it’s really about the textile used and the weave. American-cotton and a percale weave make for a good match. The thread count of a sheet set is just a part of what makes it any good, the material it is woven from is what makes you sleep like a baby.

Here’s what we look for in the very best sheets (hint: 1,500 thread count sheets definitely don’t make our list):

An honest thread-count with single ply yarns.

For soft, cool sheets that hold up for years, 180-280 thread count is a perfect range. Authenticity50’s sheet sets are 220 thread count (because it’s what we like sleeping in too).

Extra-Long Staple Cotton Sheets

Cotton is the best material for sheets because of its breathability and durability. It’s smooth and cool to the touch, and doesn’t make you break out in night sweats like microfiber or polyester will.

Conventional cotton fibers are pretty short, and the shorter the fiber, the scratchier the feel.  Extra-long staple cottons make for the best sheets because their fibers are soft and long.

We love American-grown cotton because it’s the softest and most durable, has the best breathability, 100% the real deal — with no filler fibers, and nothing fake.

Percale Weave Sheets

How the cotton is woven is what makes the biggest difference in how it feels when it rubs against your skin.

The Percale weave is what fine 5-star hotels use (and clearly they’re doing something right). It’s the right weave for 95% of sleepers because it sleeps cooler and helps regulate body temperature. It also lasts longer than a sateen weave and has a crisp feeling that resists pilling (those funny little balls that build up on cheap polyester sheets).

High Thread Count Sheets Are All Hype

Sheets are a huge deal around here, but when it comes to thread count, we don’t believe in bogus marketing. The reality is that anything above a 400 thread count sheet is almost always a complete fabrication, and you’re paying for nothing but slick marketing.

Sheet thread count comes down to the type of fiber used and whether it’s of high quality, not necessarily how much of it is used. A set of cheap 1,500 thread count  sheets won’t feel NEARLY as good as our 220 thread count percale weave, woven with superior American-grown cotton.

Pay for what matters — a good night’s sleep.