When browsing bed sheets online, you’ll quickly notice cotton sheets use thread count as a synonym for quality.
Egyptian cotton sheets might have thread counts in the high hundreds, even 1,000 or 1,200. But you won’t see those same numbers on bamboo bed sheets.
There are a few good reasons why 250-350TC (thread count) is standard for soft and smooth bamboo bed sheets.
What does thread count mean?
Thread count (TC) refers to the number of fabric strands per square inch of fabric. The number comes from counting up the horizontal and vertical threads. So 1,000 thread count cotton might have 500 horizontal and 500 vertical strands.
But here’s the big secret in bedding: materials matter more than thread counts.
For example, 300 or 400 thread count bamboo will be noticeably softer than the equivalent cotton sheet. Not even 1,000TC Egyptian cotton can compete with the softness and quality of bamboo.
Do bamboo sheets have a thread count?
Yes, bamboo bed sheets have a thread count. Like any fabric, bamboo bed sheets are woven from thin fibres called bamboo rayon.
Here is where the difference between bamboo and cotton becomes noticeable.
Bamboo’s naturally strong, supple fibres outperform cotton on every score. Bamboo fabric is softer, hypoallergenic, more breathable and durable, and better at wicking away moisture. So when you compare bamboo to cotton or silk sheets, don’t let thread count comparisons suck you in.
What is the best thread count for bamboo bed sheets?
Most bamboo fabric has a thread count between 150 and 400. At OLARA, we use 500 thread count by Australian standards (or 400TC by American standards) – this is at the premium end for bamboo material, meaning it doesn’t get smoother or softer than these sheets!