22 Momme Silk: What Momme Means, and Why We Chose 22

22 momme silk is silk whose weave weighs about 95 g/m², that is 22 × 4.34 g/m². The momme (abbreviated mm) is the Japanese unit that measures the weight, and therefore the density, of a silk weave: 1 momme ≈ 4.34 g/m². On the market scale, which runs from 6 to 30 momme, 22 is the weight we chose for our sleep mask, and the most common one for pillowcases: a silk dense enough to block light and hold its shape, fine enough to stay light against the skin.

That leaves the question the label does not answer: what does this number really change against your skin at 3 a.m.? Here is what it says, and what it doesn't.

Momme or fabric weight: what exactly does momme measure?

Fabric weight measures the weight of a fabric in grams per square meter (g/m²): it is the standard for cotton, linen and polyester. For silk, Japanese merchants historically used the momme (abbreviated mm), named after a Japanese unit of mass equal to 3.75 g: it is the weight in pounds of a piece of fabric 100 yards long (91.44 m) and 45 inches wide (1.14 m).

The conversion: 1 momme ≈ 4.34 g/m², that is 453.6 g (one pound) spread over the 104.5 m² of this reference piece. It works both ways: g/m² = momme × 4.34 and momme = g/m² ÷ 4.34. A 22 momme silk therefore weighs about 95 g/m², and a fabric listed at 82 g/m² is a 19 momme silk. The higher the momme, the more silk per square meter: the fabric is heavier, more opaque, and has more body.

Two common confusions are worth clearing up here. The "mm" on a silk product page stands for momme, never for millimeter. And the unit only applies to silk: cotton and linen are measured in g/m² or in thread count, and there is no conversion table between a momme and a thread count.

What momme does not tell you, however, is the quality of the fiber. A 22 momme silk can be woven from short or irregular threads: momme measures the density of the weave, not the length or the regularity of the thread. That is why the useful information on a label comes in two parts: grade 6A mulberry silk, 22 momme. The first describes the fiber, the second the weave.

The momme scale: from 6 to 30

Why we chose 22 momme for a sleep mask

At 19 momme, the fabric lacks a little body: it loses its shape faster and blocks light less evenly. At 25 momme, the fabric becomes noticeably heavy. The difference is negligible on a sheet, but noticeable on the face for 8 hours.

22 momme is what we were looking for: dense enough to hold its shape and block light, fine enough to breathe. No standard requires it; it is a choice.

Why not 25 momme?

A 25 momme silk mask would be heavier. Against the skin of the face, a small and sensitive area in constant contact, that extra weight adds nothing. The feel suffers for it. That is why we stopped at 22.

Which momme for a silk pillowcase: 22, 25 or 30?

On a pillowcase, the calculation is not the same as on a mask, and that is why the range on offer does not stop at the same number. The weight of the fabric is not felt the same way when it rests on the pillow rather than on the face: the extra density that becomes bothersome on a mask goes unnoticed on a pillowcase. That is why some brands offer 30 momme silk pillowcases, a weight you never see on an accessory that is worn.

One clarification before the numbers, because it is rarely made: no standard defines a momme per type of item. Momme is a Japanese unit of weight, not a product standard. So nobody can say that a pillowcase "must" have a given weight. The only honest reference is what the market actually sells, and that can be counted.

A check on Amazon.fr in July 2026 shows silk pillowcases sold in 19, 20, 22 and 25 momme, and several bedding brands carry 30 momme silk pillowcases. Here is what each step concretely changes.

• 19 to 20 momme: the serious entry level. The fabric is already smooth and light; it creases a little faster and stands up less well to repeated washing.
• 22 momme silk pillowcase: the most common weight. It is also the weight of our sleep mask.
• 25 momme silk pillowcase: denser, more opaque, with a "heavier" drape. You can feel the difference by hand as soon as you unbox it; it comes at a price.
• 30 momme silk pillowcase: the top of the scale in bedding. There is no sign that it is softer: past a certain weight, what you gain is mass, not comfort against the skin.

A higher momme is therefore not automatically a better product. It is a heavier fabric. On a pillowcase washed every week, density helps it withstand the washing: silk loses up to 20% of its strength when wet, and that is when it gets damaged, hence the importance of the right washing habits. But density improves neither the glide nor the coolness against the skin, which come from the fineness of the thread, not its weight.

How to check the momme of a pillowcase

Two habits are enough. First, insist on the number: out of 25 silk pillowcase listings checked on Amazon.fr in July 2026, 15 displayed the momme; the other ten said nothing about the weight.

Next, be wary of sets. In bedding sold as a bundle, the weight varies from one piece to another: you commonly find a duvet cover listed at 25 momme paired with 20 momme pillowcases, under one and the same product title. A single number displayed for a whole set says nothing about the pillowcase itself. It can be checked in one click, and it is the question to ask the seller: the weight, piece by piece. In the same listing, also check the stated size: 65x65, 50x70 and 60x60 do not fit the same pillow, and the momme will not make up for a badly sized pillowcase.

In our comparison of ten silk pillowcases, checked from September 29 to October 4, 2026, weights range from 19 to 23 momme among the nine brands that state it, and seven pillowcases out of ten are 22 momme. The weight of our upcoming silk pillowcase will be published on its page on the day it is released.

What momme says about the fabric's hygroscopicity

A 22 momme silk is hygroscopic: it takes up to about 11% of its weight in moisture from the surrounding air, while polyester takes up less than 1%. So it takes in part of the moisture around the face during the night, where a synthetic leaves it against the skin.

This property is intrinsic to mulberry silk: a 12 momme silk has it too. At 22 momme, there is simply more fiber per square meter. As for what this regulation really changes for skin and hair, the studies are more nuanced than the brands: what the studies really say about silk, skin and hair.

How to check the momme of a sleep mask

Most serious brands state it in the product description. A line such as 22 momme mulberry silk is a verifiable technical specification: insist on it.

The Noctya sleep mask is made of 22 momme mulberry silk, priced at €48. If you want to understand why this material changes the feel against the skin, read what makes mulberry silk softer. And to place this 22 momme among other masks, see which silk sleep mask to choose: seven models compared, from 19 to 23 momme.

FAQ: your questions about momme

What exactly does "momme" mean?

Momme is a Japanese unit that measures the density of a silk weave, a bit like grammage measures the density of paper. The higher the momme, the more silk the fabric contains per square centimeter, so the denser and more opaque it is.

19 or 22 momme silk: what is the difference?

At 19 momme, silk is finer and lets more light through. At 22 momme, it gains density and body without losing its suppleness: it is the weight we chose for a sleep mask worn every night.

Is a higher momme always better?

No. Above 25 momme, the fabric becomes heavier and stiffer: useful qualities for bed linen, less so for a mask resting on the face. No standard sets an ideal momme: for our sleep mask, we chose 22 momme.

How do you check the stated momme of a sleep mask?

A serious manufacturer displays the momme in black and white on its product page, along with the exact composition. When in doubt, the weight speaks for itself: a dense silk has more drape and opacity than a fine silk.

Which momme should you choose for a silk pillowcase?

No standard requires one: momme is a unit of weight, not a product standard. The market offers pillowcases in 19, 20, 22, 25 and up to 30 momme. 22 momme is the most common; beyond it, you gain mass, not comfort against the skin. Above all, check that the number is stated piece by piece, especially for bedding sold as a set.

What is 22 momme silk?

A silk whose weave weighs about 95 g/m². The momme (abbreviated mm) is the Japanese unit that measures the weight, and therefore the density, of a silk weave: 1 momme ≈ 4.34 g/m². On a scale that runs from 6 to 30 momme, 22 is the most common weight for pillowcases, and the one we chose for our sleep mask.

How much does 22 momme silk weigh per square meter?

About 95 g per square meter: 22 × 4.34 g/m². The conversion works both ways: g/m² = momme × 4.34 and momme = g/m² ÷ 4.34. A fabric listed at 82 g/m² is therefore a 19 momme silk.