Not all cotton is equal. While most cotton things may feel similar, the length of the cotton fibers themselves plays a large roll in how soft the material will feel. There are three primary types of cotton that are used when it comes to making sheets: American Upland, Pima, and Egyptian.

American Upland cotton is the most common type of cotton used for making sheets. The actual fibrous strands are rather short, which means that they will not be exceptionally soft. They will still be soft of course; having sheets made from American Upland cotton is very common. Even with short fibers, the higher the thread count, the softer they sheets will feel. So you can purchase sheets made from American Upland cotton that have a high thread count and be very comfortable.

Pima cotton has longer fibers, which will make the material feel softer. This type of cotton is very commonly used in midline sweaters to give them a softer feel and greater appeal than the standard cotton sweaters. Naturally sheets made from pima cotton are going to have the same appeal as the sweaters, soft and silky. As always, as the thread count increases, pima cotton sheets will feel softer and more durable.

Egyptian cotton is the best and highest quality cotton available on the market. This type of cotton has very long fibers which makes it exceptionally soft. As stated by the name, this cotton comes from Egypt and will be expensive because of the quality and because it is an imported item. Egyptian cotton sheets with a high thread count may even give you the illusion of sleeping on silk sheets because they are so soft.

If cotton is not for you, there are pure linen sheets. Linen sheets will keep you cool in warmer climates, but may not be the best of choices if you live in a cooler climate. You would have to use the sheets seasonally.