When scanning the market for new sheets, comfort is more than just the top priority – it’s practically the only consideration. Luckily, in the world of sheets, comfort and durability can both me measured in terms of thread count. Thread count is the total number of threads per square inch in a piece of fabric. If you want to quickly determine the quality of a set of sheets, hold them up to the light. Low-quality cotton is thin and transparent.

Higher-quality items, such as a set of 1200 thread count sheets, will feature soft, luxurious fabric with a visible sheen. These sheets are also more durable than others, so they will last longer and resist shrinkage. Muslin sheets, which average somewhere in the neighborhood of 130 threads per square inch, are no substitute for Egyptian cotton.