asbe via Getty Images If you’ve ever shopped for bedding, you’ve probably noticed the price of similar-looking sheets can vary significantly, from under $20 for a full set to more than $1,000 for a single flat sheet. So what’s the difference between cheaper options and more expensive ones? Does a higher price always mean better quality and comfort? We talked to experts about which factors determine the cost of bedsheets — something many of us probably haven’t thought about before — and how to tell when they are actually worth the cost. Advertisement A higher thread count is usually pricier — but it doesn’t always mean better quality.
“[Thread count] is an important part of the sheet ...
and it affects the price both from a raw materials perspective and a manufacturing perspective,” explained Shannon Maher , dean of the Baker School of Business and Technology and previous chair of the Home Products Development program at the Fashion Institute of Technology. What exactly is thread count? It’s the number of threads per square inch of fabric. For example, a 1,000-thread-count sheet has 1,000 threads per square inch and a 200-thread-count sheet has 200 threads per square inch.
In higher thread count sheets, you’re using more materials per square inch and are therefore going to have a higher cost. Advertisement An inexpensive bedsheet is generally going to have a low thread count, which can make it less durable and feel rough. However, a higher thread count .
