What Thread Count Do I Sleep On?

Growing up in a 100-year-old family business known for selling the finest linens in the world, it’s no wonder that people often ask me about my personal preferences. At Pioneer Linens, I literally learned at my grandfather’s knee most of what there is to know about separating the best linens from all the rest, and it’s my pleasure to share that knowledge every day.

The question I’m most often asked is what thread count I sleep on. People are usually surprised by my reply: Thread count doesn’t matter as much as most people think it does. Rather, thread count is just one characteristic to consider when selecting luxury linens for yachts and estates. I tell people that the three most important features to look for when you’re shopping for luxury linens – more important than the thread count number – are the following:

1) 100% Egyptian cotton;

2) woven or loomed in Italy or somewhere else in Europe;

3) finished in the United States of America.

These three points, which are universal on the packaging at most major retailers, are the most important qualities to look for. Thread count is secondary. It refers simply to the number of threads per square inch of fabric. Linens produced for the mass market may sacrifice the quality of other factors in order to market high thread counts at lower price points. A fine quality 300 thread count can feel even better than a 1,000 thread count of inferior quality. With luxury linens, as with most other products, you get what you pay for.

After I offer my explanation of the three factors that are more important than thread count, people usually ask me how I select my sheets from among those that are 100% Egyptian cotton, woven in Italy and finished in the U.S. For me, the selection comes down to the temperature I like between the sheets. It may sound crazy, but I tell my friends to choose their sheets based on how they like to feel when they sleep.

I like to sleep in a cold room with the temperature in the low 60s and be very warm between my sheets. I sleep on 1020 thread count sheets from Sferra Linens. The sheets are thick and luxurious and when you slide between them after a long day of work, they’re the type of sumptuous sheets that help you drift off in minutes.

If you like to be very cool when you sleep, look at lighter weight sheets with, in most cases, a lower thread count.  If you like to be warmer, choose a higher thread count of 600 or more. Also take into account the weight of the comforter, coverlet or duvet you prefer and the type of mattress pad you like.

Choosing the right luxury linens for your yacht or home takes some careful consideration, but at the end of the day, it’s part of the secret of a good night’s sleep.