Thread count is not the whole story

Thread count counts threads, not quality. Mills can inflate the number by twisting several thin plies together, which produces a sheet that feels soft in the showroom and pills after twenty washes.

Ask instead about fibre length, yarn count and weave. Long staple cotton with a 40s or finer single ply yarn in a percale or sateen weave will hold colour, shape and hand feel through commercial laundry.

For hotel use we generally recommend 250 to 400 thread count percale for a crisp, cool finish, or sateen when the property wants a softer drape and a subtle sheen.

Finishing matters as much as the cloth: mercerised yarn, pre-shrunk fabric and a generous fitted skirt keep housekeeping fast and the bed looking tight all day.