Does the material in a pillowcase really matter? What is the difference?

2022-08-18T13:50:09-05:00

Pillowcases and sheets come in various blends of materials and weaves. Whether buying pillowcases in bulk or buying just a dozen, here are the main differences between the materials used:

Made of 100% Cotton: Cotton is a natural substance that is farmed from the cotton plant. 100% cotton pillowcases or all cotton pillowcases are very soft. Cotton is not a man-made material, and is therefore very natural. A cotton pillowcase will shrink a little when washed. A cotton pillowcase will also wrinkle more easily when removed from the wash. Some people will even iron cotton pillowcases to make them look the best.
Made of 100% Egyptian Cotton: These pillowcases have the same attributes shown in a cotton pillowcase discussed above. However, Egyptian cotton comes from long staple cotton grown in Egypt and the long staple makes it very soft.

Cotton Polyester Blend: These pillowcases are made using material that was blended together with natural cotton and a man made fiber called polyester. A blended cotton polyester pillowcase will shrink less then 100% cotton. In addition, this type of blend will come out of the wash usually looking less wrinkled and does not require ironing to make a nice finish.

Pure Finish Percale: This fabric has a smooth finish and is tightly woven. It generally has a brighter appearance and will last much longer in the laundry. It comes in either 100% cotton or blended fabrics.

Mercerized Cotton: This is a special kind of cotton yarn that is more lustrous than conventional cotton. It is also stronger, takes dye a little more readily, makes the yarn more resistant to mildew and reduces lint. It also may not shrink or lose its shape as much as "regular" cotton. Mercerized yarn stays shiny through washing and gives a nice, somewhat fancier look to finished items. Source About.com.

Pillowcase Buyer’s Guide

2022-08-18T12:04:38-05:00

Trying to decide which pillowcase are right for you?

Here are some common questions we receive about pillowcases:

What is thread count? When you look at an ad for a pillowcase it has a T in front of a number. For example, T-130, T-180, etc…. This stands for thread count. The thread count is the number of horizontal and vertical threads in one square inch of fabric. The higher the thread count the softer the pillowcase will feel.

So to bring this concept home, the T-130 thread count pillowcases will often be an economy (or least expensive) pillowcase, while a T-250 will tend to be more expensive.

What is the difference in the type of material in a pillowcase? You can buy pillowcases with various blends of materials.

100% cotton pillowcases will shrink more in the wash then blended pillowcases. They also tend to be softer, and for those of us who love all cotton, feel not only soft but very natural. These can be ordered by the dozen or in bulk.
Blended pillowcases sold in the USA typically have a higher percentage of cotton. For example 55% cotton 45% polyester. One reason why the blend is higher in cotton is that the import duty rate on a pillowcase that has more polyester is higher. The blends tend to wrinkle less. These may also be purchased by a single dozen or in bulk quantities. As always, the higher the quantity ordered, the more discount is available.
Pillowcases that have color are pillowcases that have been dyed a certain color, eg, brown or blue or green. These can be both used for institutional purposes as well as just providing some color to a bedroom.
Pure Finish Percale is a fabric that has a smooth finish and is tightly woven.
Mercerized cotton is a special kind of cotton yarn that is more lustrous than conventional cotton. It is also stronger, takes dye a little more readily, makes the yarn more resistant to mildew and reduces lint. It also may not shrink or lose its shape as much as "regular" cotton. Mercerized yarn stays shiny through washing and gives a nice, somewhat fancier look to finished items. Source About.com.

What are the common sizes of pillowcases? Measureing one side only. Some websites might show the circumference around the pillowcase case as the measurement.

Standard Size: 20”W x 30”L
Queen Size: 20”W x 36L”
King Size: 20”W x 44”L

What is the HEM of a pillowcase? On the open end of a pillowcase you will find either a surged or folded over sewn hem. A surged pillowcase has no hem. The hem can range from 1” to 4” depending on the pillowcase. A person embroidering pillowcases often wants a larger hem on a pillowcase because they often embroider the hem with a design.

What are the uses for pillowcases? Besides the obvious use of protecting pillows, pillowcases also can be used for embroidery, screen printing, painting, crafts (sleepovers, birthdays, daycare, schools, etc…), pillowcase dresses, hotels, motels, military, Halloween costumes, and more… We even had a person purchase our pillowcases to pack moose meat out of the woods in northern Minnesota...the ideas are endless.

Our Pillowcase Comparison Chart:

Thread Count
Pillowcase Size
Hem
Material
T-130
Standard
*Varies
*Varies
T-180
Standard
*Varies
*Varies
T-180 Percale
Standard
1.75”
55%Cotton 45%Polyester
T-180 Percale Color
Standard
1.75”
55%Cotton 45%Polyester
T-220 Egyptian Percale
Standard,
Queen, & King

2" or 3”

100% Cotton
T-250 Mercerized
Standard & King
3”
60%Cotton 40%Polyester
T-300 Mercerized
Standard & King
3”
60%Cotton 40%Polyester

* Varies - We buy our pillowcases from several sources and occasionally the hem and material composition will change.

Once again, our pillowcase are sold by the dozen (except for the pillowcases that have been dyed a color which come in a pack of 6) and can be ordered in quantities as low as a dozen or in bulk quantities for more economy.

Thread Count	Pillowcase Size	Hem	Material
T-130	Standard	*Varies	*Varies
T-180	Standard	*Varies	*Varies
T-180 Percale	Standard	1.75”	55%Cotton 45%Polyester
T-180 Percale Color	Standard	1.75”	55%Cotton 45%Polyester
T-220 Egyptian Percale	Standard, Queen, & King	2" or 3”	100% Cotton
T-250 Mercerized	Standard & King	3”	60%Cotton 40%Polyester
T-300 Mercerized	Standard & King	3”	60%Cotton 40%Polyester

Pillowcase.net Blog

Does the material in a pillowcase really matter? What is the difference?

Pillowcase Buyer’s Guide