The world of bedding is kind of tricky.

You probably thought it was just about thread count. But dip your toe in too far, and you will be accosted with information about weave, ply and more.

But we dug into this topic with the experts and have done the homework for you.

Linwood Wright, chairman of the National Textile Association’s Bedding Committee, has worked in bedding for 50 years. After that many years in the business, he knows exactly what he likes: 100-percent long-staple, combed cotton sheets. (We’ll explain.)

“Ideally, I think a bed sheet should be made as small a yarn or as fine a yarn as we can commercially handle, putting as many yarns in a square inch as we can and interlacing it as much as possible,” said Wright, also a consultant for Virginia-based bedding manufacturer Dan River Inc.

THREAD COUNT

While thread count long has been a measure of quality for bed sheets, in recent years it has gotten out of control. Retailers and companies are touting thread sheet counts at 1,000 and up. Those numbers sound extreme for a reason.

Thread count is the number of vertical and horizontal threads in 1 square inch of fabric. Typically, if a sheet is made well, the higher the thread count, the better the sheet and the longer it will last. The thread count for standard sheets ranges from 150 to 400.

Traditionally, the count includes individual threads, but some companies count the thin, twisting yarns that make up a thread, known as plies. Using that math, they can double, triple or even quadruple the thread count with multi-ply thread.

As a result, inaccurate thread counts have become a source of contention.

Last year, at the National Textile Association’s request, the Federal Trade Commission issued a staff opinion clarifying that companies should count an individual thread as one, regardless of ply.

But that doesn’t help shoppers if companies are still labeling sheets incorrectly, so consider what Wright says about thread count. In his experience, the upper limit to produce quality satin weave sheets is a 700 thread count. For a quality traditional plain weave, that limit is 450 to 500.

FIBER

But there are a couple other critical elements that can help you make a smart purchase, including fiber.

There are three main types of fiber on the market:

– Long staple cotton, which is the most expensive and highest-quality cotton. This category includes pima, Egyptian and sea island. These premium cottons are usually labeled.

– Short staple cotton, which is the most common type of cotton used for sheets. If a sheet is 100 percent cotton but doesn’t specify a type, it’s probably short staple.

– Poly-cotton blends, a blend of polyester and cotton. They are more affordable, last longer than cotton sheets and wrinkle less, but don’t breathe like 100 percent cotton.

Most cotton used for sheets is combed, which means the short fibers are removed.

“For a consumer, look at fiber content and decide what you like,” Wright said. “That’s really trial and error. Some people are perfectly happy with polyester and cotton. Other people want all cotton.”

WEAVE

Once you’ve picked the kind of fiber you like, pay attention to weave.

The two main choices are the more traditional plain weave or the popular satin weave, also known as sateen.

People who like a crisp, traditional sheet are more likely to choose a plain weave, which is constructed of interlacing threads woven vertically and horizontally.

Percale is the most common way to refer to plain weave for sheets with 180 thread count or higher.

But those who like a softer sheet that drapes will prefer a satin weave, Wright said. In a satin sheet, four threads are woven over one to create the softer finish.

Each weave has its strengths and weaknesses. A plain weave won’t fuzz as much as a satin weave, but it is crisper than the soft satin weave.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BUY?

A 2005 Consumer Reports story recommends a thread count of 200 to 400. The main difference in sheets with higher thread counts, according to the report, is cost. Think about fiber, fit and construction. All-cotton sheets are the best option for care, comfort and durability, according to Consumer Reports.

Also keep in mind that most sheets have a “finish” or some sort of chemical treatment. You won’t figure that out from packaging, but a sure sign is a package that touts “wrinkle free,” “no iron” or “easy-care” sheets. Some finishes wash out, some don’t.

Sandy Glaze, who owns Seattle bedding company Sin in Linen, chose 230 thread count, 100-percent cotton sateen sheets for her sassy pinup and tattoo sheets. Despite her knowledge of various sheet options, she said that people should choose sheets by how they feel.