The "staple" refers to the length of the individual cotton fibers. Longer fibers create smoother, stronger, and more durable yarn with fewer exposed ends that cause pilling.
Anything above this range is often a marketing ploy and can actually lead to less breathable, "sweaty" sheets. Choosing Your Fiber: Cotton Staple Length how to buy good sheets
How to Choose Bed Sheets: A Buying Guide - The Company Store The "staple" refers to the length of the
Look for 200 to 500 for cotton percale and 300 to 600 for cotton sateen. how to buy good sheets
The biggest misconception is that a higher thread count always means better quality. Manufacturers often use multi-ply yarns (twisting thin, low-quality fibers together) to artificially inflate these numbers.