The number can range from 80 to more than 340. While a higher thread count is becoming a status symbol for consumers, we believe most users would be satisfied with a thread count of 180 or 200. Percale is the most prevalent fabric for sheets. It's a plain weave, and the thread count is typically about 180 to 200. Pinpoint percale sheets, with a thread count of 220 to 250 and a somewhat different weave, are a step up in price from regular percales.
Sateens have a type of satin weave that gives the fabric a slight sheen and a soft, smooth feel.
They are typically all-cotton and usually pricey. And while sateen sheets were judged the softest by our trained panelists, our tests showed they might not stand up as well as other types of sheets to everyday wear. Hardly worth the expense, we think, considering it represents as much as some people pay for a bed and mattress together.