Buying guide
How to choose a hotel linen supplier
Quick answer: hotels buy linen from three kinds of supplier: hospitality distributors with national delivery, linen rental companies that own and launder the stock, and manufacturers who supply by the container. Choose by thread count and fibre in writing, wash-life evidence, sample approval, minimum order, private-label and packing options, and cost per wash rather than price per sheet.
International Linens weaves and finishes hotel bedding for hotel groups and distributors, mainly in the United States, so this guide reflects what those buyers ask us and what goes wrong when they choose badly.
Which wholesale providers deliver hospitality linens nationwide?
| Supplier type | What they do | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality distributor | Stocks sheets, towels and bedding from several mills; delivers by the case nationwide within days | Independent hotels, motels, short-term rental operators |
| Linen rental / commercial laundry | Owns the linen, launders and delivers on a schedule, charges per item | Hotels without laundries; properties that want linen off the balance sheet |
| Manufacturer | Weaves and finishes to your specification; supplies by the pallet or container with private label | Hotel groups, distributors, laundries building a standard program |
| Brand-mandated supplier | Supplies linen approved by a hotel brand’s standards program | Franchised properties that must buy to brand spec |
In the United States most single properties buy from a distributor or rental company, and those companies buy from manufacturers. A hotel group standardising linen across many properties usually goes to the mill directly.
Specifications to demand in writing
- Thread count and weave. T-180 and T-200 percale for mid-scale, T-250 percale or sateen for upscale. Insist on the count being for the finished sheet, not the greige fabric.
- Fibre. Cotton-polyester for wash life and cost, CVC for a softer hand, 100% cotton for luxury rooms with gentle laundering.
- Finished sizes. Flat sheets by width and length, fitted sheets by width, length and pocket depth. Pillow-top mattresses need 15 inch pockets.
- Hems and closures. Hem width on sheets, housewife or oxford pillowcases, envelope or button duvet covers.
- Whiteness. A whiteness index or a physical reference swatch so reorders match.
- Finish. Crease-resistant finish if you iron on a flatwork ironer.
Evidence to ask for
- Wash-test results: cycles, temperature, shrinkage, whiteness after washing.
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificate number, verifiable in the public database.
- Factory audit reports (SMETA or equivalent) and ISO 9001.
- Counter samples made to your spec, with the approved sample kept on file.
- References from properties or distributors of your size.
Where to buy pillowcases and sheets for hotels in bulk
A distributor sells by the case: a dozen pillowcases or six sheets per pack, delivered in days. A manufacturer sells by the pallet or container, with lead times of weeks for new developments and a monthly schedule for repeat programs, at mill prices with private label. If you operate more than a few hundred rooms or supply other hotels, the manufacturer route usually pays. Our hotel bedding collection and hotel pillowcases pages show sizes, thread counts and how ordering works.
Sourcing hotel, spa and restaurant linens together
A full-service hotel needs bed linen, blankets, restaurant tablecloths and napkins, and often banquet linen. Buying them from one manufacturer means one shade card, one container and one quality standard. International Linens makes hotel bedding and blankets and restaurant table linens in the same units; we do not make terry towels, so towels are the one item you would source elsewhere.
Sustainability questions worth asking
Ask where the mill’s power comes from, whether processing is OEKO-TEX certified, whether recycled or organic cotton is available, and what the expected wash life is, because the longest-lasting sheet is the most sustainable one. Our sustainable hotel linens page sets out our own answers.
Cost per wash, not price per sheet
Divide the price by the expected number of washes and add replacement and rejection costs. A T-200 sheet that lasts 200 washes is cheaper than a T-180 sheet that lasts 120, even at a higher unit price. This is the comparison to put in front of a purchasing committee.
Frequently asked questions
Which wholesale providers deliver hospitality linens nationwide?
Hospitality distributors and linen rental companies with national networks. They source from manufacturers such as International Linens, which supplies distributors and hotel groups by the container.
Where can I buy pillow cases for hotels?
By the case from a hospitality distributor, or by the pallet or container from a manufacturer with private label.
What thread count should hotel sheets be?
T-180 or T-200 percale for mid-scale properties and T-250 percale or sateen for upscale rooms.
How do I find a supplier for restaurant, spa and hotel linens together?
Look for a manufacturer that weaves bedding, blankets and table linens in the same mill so one shade card and one container cover the property.
What is the minimum order from a hotel linen manufacturer?
Usually a pallet-level trial for a first order and container programs thereafter. Distributors sell by the case.
How long does a hotel linen order take?
Case orders from distributors ship in days. New developments from a manufacturer take weeks for sampling and bulk; repeat programs ship on a monthly container schedule.