Bedsheet thread counts have been artificially inflated for years by the shifty linen companies counting individual fibers that the threads consist of as threads themselves. It’s become a meaningless number, since there is zero regulation. If you want a nice thick heavy cloth, GSM is the number you want, but most companies won’t share this (looking at you, The Company Store) because they obviously don’t want you to know how thin and flimsy their products really are before you buy them.
I misstated the definition a bit, although in real world terms a higher GSM does often manifest as a thicker cloth. GSM stands for grams per square meter. It measures how much fabric weighs in a given area. It is a weight rating, not a thickness rating.
Higher GSM means denser, heavier fabric. Lower GSM means lighter, more breathable fabric.
Bedsheet thread counts have been artificially inflated for years by the shifty linen companies counting individual fibers that the threads consist of as threads themselves. It’s become a meaningless number, since there is zero regulation. If you want a nice thick heavy cloth, GSM is the number you want, but most companies won’t share this (looking at you, The Company Store) because they obviously don’t want you to know how thin and flimsy their products really are before you buy them.
What is GSM?
The thickness of the cloth
What does the acronyms stand for?
I misstated the definition a bit, although in real world terms a higher GSM does often manifest as a thicker cloth. GSM stands for grams per square meter. It measures how much fabric weighs in a given area. It is a weight rating, not a thickness rating.
Higher GSM means denser, heavier fabric. Lower GSM means lighter, more breathable fabric.
General guide:
120–140 GSM = lightweight (summer sheets, thin shirts)
150–170 GSM = medium weight (jersey sheets, linen duvet covers)
180–250 GSM = heavier weight (flannel, winter bedding)
GSM helps compare feel and durability across materials, but thickness will vary by fiber type.
Thanks!
Grams per square metre
Then shouldn’t it be g/m^2 ?
I’m not going to speculate on what it should or could be. I’m just telling you what it is
Paper weight is also commonly expressed in gsm
Americans probably want in trucks per square football field. Anything but metric.