What is thread count?
Thread count is the number of warp and weft yarns in one square inch of a woven fabric. It is widely used for bed sheets. A higher count can mean a denser weave, but yarn size and fiber change what that density feels like. It is not GSM, and it is not a grade for every apparel cloth.
- It applies to wovens, not to a knit the same way.
- Count without yarn size is incomplete.
- Do not confuse it with GSM.
How it is counted
Add the lengthwise yarns and the crosswise yarns in one square inch. Multi-ply yarns are sometimes marketed in ways that inflate the number. Read the construction, not only the headline count.
How to use this answer
“What is thread count?” is the only question this page answers. The short answer is: Thread count is the number of warp and weft yarns in one square inch of a woven fabric. It is widely used for bed sheets. A higher count can mean a denser weave, but yarn size and fiber change what that density feels like. It is not GSM, and it is not a grade for every apparel cloth.
The points to keep are It applies to wovens, not to a knit the same way. Count without yarn size is incomplete. Do not confuse it with GSM.
Related terms that belong here, and not as a keyword list, are thread count fabric, threads per square inch. Use them when they describe the same decision.
If the next step is a cloth rather than a definition, open the marketplace or the collection linked below and read the published composition and construction. This page does not add a price, a certificate, or a supplier count.
Care, weight, and sourcing only matter here when they change the answer to what is thread count. Otherwise leave them on the guide that already owns that subject.
Related questions
Is thread count the same as GSM?
No. Thread count is yarns per area. GSM is grams per square metre.