Thread count is a way of measuring the number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch of your bed sheet. The higher the thread count, the more threads there are within the fabric and the denser the bed sheet will feel.
Generally speaking, bed sheets with a higher thread count will have a more luxurious feel – and the majority of the top-rated bed sheets in this edit fall somewhere between the 300 and 500 thread count mark. That said, you can get some really great 200 thread count sheets that are washable and soft.
How to make your bed sheets last longer:
Farah Arshad, Head of Design at DUSK, says there are a few things you can do to ensure your bed sheets stand the test of time. “Although it’s common to use hot water to wash bed linen, heat can cause damage in the long term, shrinking the fabric, fading the colours and making stains stick,” she says.
Instead, luxury bed sheets should be washed at 30 degrees, which also reduces wrinkling in cotton, making your bed sheets easier to iron. “When washing, ensure you separate whites, treat stains straight away and avoid overloading your washing machine.” Anything else, we asked? “Never use bleach, which can be a tempting short term solution but over time can cause white bed sheets to yellow.”
How we chose and tested the best bed sheets:
By using reviews from buyers who’ve actually put the time into trying out the bed sheets, together with data on what you, the reader, have been searching for. We’ve also been researching which products feature high-quality versus less durable materials – e.g. polyester vs. cotton – before we curated what we feel is a round up of the very best fitted sheets and flat sheets available to buy today. We’ve rifled through the good and bad comments (and there are some bad ones), so you don’t have to, plus we – as a team of 30+ fashion, interiors and beauty experts – happen to know a thing or two about which homeware brands have earned their respective top spots as the best in the interiors business. Plus, of course some of us have trialled a fitted bed sheet or three, so we have some dos and don’t knowhow, too (namely: make sure it’s tumble dry friendly). Our aim is to find you pieces which will last for more than a year (at the least) and, should anything about a product signal that that’s not the case, you’ll be the first to know – happy shopping!
After more sleep content? We’ve got low platform bed frames, mattress toppers, duvets, bed sheets, weighted blankets and body pillows. Finish things off with the best duvet covers, blankets, linen bedding, silk bedding, the best silk pillowcase, best sofa beds, pillow spray, sleep books and cooling pillows. For more from our Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx.