Another common term you'll see when shopping for sheets and pillowcases is thread count. With amounts ranging from around 100 to over 1,000, it's easy to start stressing about getting just the right number.
Thread count simply measures the number of horizontal and vertical threads in every square inch. Higher thread counts generally mean softer sheets. Also, higher thread counts can even mean the sheet will wear better when washed over time and even get softer.
However, you can rest easy when it comes to thread count numbers. Higher is not automatically better, as some manufactures will inflate the number. Other types, like linen, naturally have lower thread counts because the fibers are thicker. Some lower thread counts also might make up for it with nice finishes.
Some types of materials will also not have thread counts, such as silk, which measures how much the silk weighs.
In general, 200-count combed cotton from a well-known brand can work if you're on a budget, and around 300 to 400 is a decent thread count range for cotton sheets, as Jim Symmes, vice president at sheet manufacturing company Revman International, told HGTV.