Do Bamboo Sheets Have a Thread Count
For as long as people have been seeking the perfect nights rest, quality bedding has been synonymous with thread count.
Traditionally speaking, a higher thread count translates to better quality cotton sheets and a nicer sleeping experience as the cotton sheets are supposed to get softer with time and wear.
If you've ever stayed in a 4 or 5 star hotel and thought the quality of the bedding was supreme, chances are the sheets you slept in (potentially Egyptian cotton sheets) had a high thread count.
But what about bamboo sheets? As their popularity in the world of bedding grows, you're probably wondering if they stack up against quality cotton sheets and you might be asking yourself, "do bamboo sheets have a thread count"?
Well, look no further because your question is about to be answered.
What is a thread count?
We'll be short and sweet here because let's be honest, it's pretty self explanatory.
A thread count is the number of threads woven together per ten square centimetres of fabric, which includes both lengthwise and width wise.
Typically speaking, the finer the thread the more threads you can weave into a sheet, thus raising the total thread count and perceived quality.
Now onto the more juicy stuff.
Do bamboo sheets have a thread count?
Yes, bamboo sheets do indeed have thread count.
The specifics on range of thread count for bamboo sheets does vary depending on what you're reading, but generally speaking, bamboo bed sheets thread count's tend to be somewhere between 150 and 500.
Now don't go jumping to conclusions just yet if you're thinking "what about cotton vs bamboo sheets considering certain cotton sheets and Egyptian cotton sheets claim to have a 1000 thread count."
We'll get to why bamboo bedding is such a popular choice right now in a minute.
Although the range of thread count does vary between 150 and 500, the majority of bamboo bed sheets tend to have a thread count between 300 and 400.
Which is pretty fantastic considering most providers agree the median thread count for bamboo sheets is around 300.
You may find yourself coming across bamboo sheets that claim to have a 500 thread count. In this instance we'd advise digging a little deeper into the bamboo product itself, as many experts out there stand resolute in their claims that a bamboo bed sheets thread count that high can not possibly be 100% organic bamboo.
Bamboo sheets claiming such a high thread count could quite easily be a blend. So if you do see it, do your best Sherlock Holmes impersonation and dig a little deeper!
Now, getting back to the earlier query around how can bamboo sheets be better than Egyptian cotton with such a low thread count...
Simply put, bamboo fabric is the beez kneez!
Let us elaborate.
Why bamboo sheets are so incredibly soft without a high thread count
First and foremost, let's put our myth-busting hats on.
The traditional perception that the bigger the thread count number the better the sheet is not entirely true. Well, at least it's not any more.
While we're sure 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets are great, they're not bamboo bedding.
The unique benefits of bamboo bedding lie in the nature of bamboo fibres as the original thread naturally has by definition, a very long staple length, much longer than cotton fibres actually.
So, because of the length of bamboo fibres, most bamboo sheets tend to enable long and thin threads to be spun into the fabric, creating a lot more room for bamboo threads to be woven together compared to most cotton alternatives.
We know, it doesn't necessarily explain the thread count disparity between bamboo and cotton sheets.
Here it is. Cotton fibres are much shorter than bamboo fibres and because of this, you need to weave a lot more cotton threads together to create your sheets. So yes, the thread count in cotton may be higher, but that's only because cotton sheets require a lot more threads to complete a set of sheets.
Bamboo fibres are naturally longer, smoother, more eco-friendly, more durable, they're hypoallergenic, lightweight, regulate temperature fantastically, and to be honest, our personal favourite, they're just so damn silky!
Next time you're looking at thread counts, the staple length is a key consideration.
Yes, bamboo sheet sets have thread count, but don't consider it the almighty measuring stick for quality. That title should always go to the quality of the bamboo fibres themselves.
In Summary
The bamboo plant is a wonderous thing, it has so many uses we literally don't have enough space to list them all here.
If you're in the market for new bedding, buying bamboo sheets should be high on the agenda!
But if you're still a little unsure, you can sleep risk-free for 100 nights with our incredibly soft bamboo sheets and if you're not satisfied, simply return them.
We donate any unwanted returns to those most in need within our communities, so you don't have to worry about them going to waste.
Sources
- Howstuffworks, "What Does Thread Count Really Mean", Updated April 9 2021 (Accessed October 2021)
- Bamboo Detective, "The Ultimate List of Pros and Cons of Bamboo Sheets", September 19 2019 (Accessed October 2021)