Do any kind of research on thread counts and you will quickly understand that a higher count does not necessarily mean a better sheet. This Nautica 200 thread count cotton sheet set is very soft. Out of the package the sheets went directly into the washer then dryer. Without the addition of any kind of fabric softeners the sheets came out fantastic. I great addition to the bedroom sheet rotation. The color is consistent and rich and appeared as expected, not wildly different from what I saw on my computer screen. All stitching is well finished, and there were just a very few loose threads that ended up in the dryer lint trap -- a good sign of a clean manufacturing facility. My only negative note is: right out of the packaging the sheets smelled awful. Naturally we all wash sheets before use, and that smell is completely gone with a regular measure of Tide Original Scent.