Describe Different Bedsheet Types

Fitted Sheets

• Fitted sheets are also referred to as bottom sheets. They are used as a barrier between your body and your mattress. Fitted sheets have elastic bands or pockets at the four corners. The mattress corners are slipped into the pockets to hold the sheet in place. Most standard-size fitted-sheet pockets are designed to fit an 8-inch-thick mattress. If you have a thicker mattress, look for fitted sheets with deep pockets. These pockets are commonly made to accommodate mattresses up to 15 inches thick.

Flat Sheets

• A flat bedsheet is a rectangular piece of fabric designed to cover a mattress. Prior to the invention of fitted sheets, flat bedsheets were commonly used as the bottom and the top sheet. This tradition still holds true in the military, many hospitals and some hotels. Flat sheets are available in several standard sizes. The twin size measures 66 inches wide by 96 inches long. Full-size sheets measure 81 by 96 inches. Queen sheets are 90 by 102 inches and may be used on a full-size mattress. King flat sheets measure 108 inches wide by 102 inches long.

Hard-to-Fit Sheets

• Hardside waterbed mattresses require the use of specialty sheets. These sheets are designed to accommodate the size of the mattress and stay in place with the natural movement of the waterbed. One common style of waterbed sheet has a bottom sheet with four deep pockets. The top sheet is sewn onto the foot of the bottom sheet. Top sheets are available with pockets at the foot of the sheet. Sheets for uncommon mattress sizes, such as the extra-long twin and the California king, may not be stocked in your local retail store, but are readily available via the Internet and specialty bedding stores.

Fabric

• Cotton and cotton blend are the most commonly used fabrics for bedsheets. Thread count is often used as a gauge to determine the quality of a bedsheet. The thread count measures the number of threads in a 1-inch-square portion of the fabric. In general, higher thread counts signify a better-quality cotton. Muslin is at the low end, with an average thread count of 140. Egyptian cotton is commonly regarded as the supreme fabric for bedsheets. True Egyptian cotton is grown along the banks of the Nile River. U.S. cotton growers have developed a long-grained cotton similar to Egyptian. These cotton fibers are known as pima cotton. These fine-quality bedsheets generally have thread counts of over 200. Flannel sheets are wool blended with polyester or cotton. Flannel sheets are measured by the weight of the flannel per square yard rather than thread count.