It’s a common misconception that the, “higher the thread count, the better.” Many brands inflate the thread count of their sheets by using multi-ply yarns because they know people tend to seek out higher thread count fabrics. However, a higher thread count isn’t necessarily better, and thread count more or less serves as an indicator of the breathability of a sheet. A sheet should have a thread count of at least 250 to be considered durable. Sheets with thread counts between 300 and 400 are both durable and breathable. Once you get into the 500+ thread count range, you’re looking at warmer, cozier sheets—the more threads per square inch, the less airy the sheet. If you’re looking at sheets marketed with a thread count over 800, they’re likely not worth the money for two reasons. One, to achieve this high of a thread count, the brand likely used multi-ply yarns, and multi-ply yarns are more susceptible to pilling than single-ply yarns. Two, even if a brand did achieve such a high thread count using single-ply yarns, it’s likely the sheets are extremely thick and heavy, and super-thick sheets can easily cause you to overheat or feel “trapped” within the bed.