Giza 45 vs Giza 87 — Which Egyptian Cotton Is Best?

Giza 45 and Giza 87 are the two most famous Egyptian cottons. Both are extra-long-staple — so which is better, and does it matter?

Before you buy: a lot of what is sold as “Egyptian cotton” is blended or mislabelled. Here is how to spot fake Egyptian cotton before you spend a penny.

In short. Giza 45 is the finest and rarest Egyptian cotton — the longest, most uniform fibre, grown in a tiny eastern-Delta area and reserved for the world’s best shirting. Giza 87 is also extra-long-staple, slightly less fine but far more available, and excellent for premium knitwear. For most pieces, Giza 87-class cotton is the smart choice.

Giza 45 — the pinnacle

Giza 45 has the longest, finest, most uniform fibre of any Egyptian cotton. It grows only in a small region of the eastern Nile Delta, in limited volume, which makes it scarce and expensive. Japanese and Italian shirtmakers prize it for ultra-fine, high-thread-count cloth.

Giza 87 — the premium workhorse

Giza 87 is also extra-long-staple — soft, strong, low-pilling — just a touch less fine than Giza 45, and grown in greater volume. That makes it the practical premium fibre: most of the “Egyptian cotton” quality you can actually feel, without the four-figure price.

Which matters for you

For a shirt you’ll judge under a loupe, Giza 45 is the trophy. For relaxed knitwear you’ll wear every week, extra-long-staple Egyptian Giza of the 87 class gives you the softness and durability that matter — which is exactly where Giza Mills sits.

Common questions

Is Giza 45 worth the premium?

For ultra-fine shirting, yes — it’s the finest fibre there is. For everyday knitwear, a Giza 87-class extra-long-staple cotton delivers most of the feel at a far more honest price.

Can you tell Giza 45 and Giza 87 apart by hand?

Barely, in finished knitwear. The biggest difference shows in very fine, high-thread-count shirting — not in relaxed polos and sweaters.

Feel it for yourself — the collection is pure long-staple Egyptian Giza cotton, knit by hand in Egypt.

Related reading: What is Giza cotton? · the full Giza varieties list

From Giza Mills — we weave menswear from genuine 2-ply Egyptian Giza cotton, made in Cairo. If you would like to feel the cloth rather than just read about it, see our Egyptian cotton Oxford shirt, browse the full shirts collection, or read Is Egyptian cotton worth it?