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?

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.