Percale vs. Sateen Sheets - What's the Difference?

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Have you been shopping for bed sheets and seen the labels Percale or Sateen on the tag? What does that even mean and should I even care? We've got all the answers for you in this video!

The first thing to know is that the terms Percale and Sateen refer to different types of fabric weaves. These weaves can be done in a variety of fabrics, like cotton, bamboo, etc. but they all require a longer staple fiber (as opposed to shorter staple) this makes them more durable and softer - so you can't go wrong with either!

The percale weave is one under and one over. This simple weave creates a crisp and lightweight fabric that holds up over time and continues to soften with each wash. You'll recognize that feeling of percale from white hotel sheets or a nice new business shirt. It's good for summer months or for hot sleepers - but it does tend to wrinkle easily!

Sateen, on the other hand, has more of a luxurious vibe going for it. It also has a more complex weave. The weave is one under and two/three/four over. This creates a thicker fabric with a soft, buttery feel and a luminous shine or silky feel to it. It looks really rich on your bed and it's super soft and warm, making it a great sheet for the winter months. Plus it doesn't wrinkle as easily as percale.

Which one is best for you will depend on many things - your sleep preferences and environment are some of the factors.

When picking sheets, make sure to take the fabric, thread count, pocket depth, color and price all into consideration as well.

Comment below and tell me if you're Team Percale or Team Sateen!

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[Mattressclarity]

⬇️Click the coupon links below to save on our favorite Percale and Sateen sheet sets!⬇️
Save up to 20% on the Brooklinen sheets!

Get up to 10% off!


Save up to 15% on the Puffy sheets!

[reykjavik]

"hand-feel" demonstration of both materials was extremely useful for me! Thank you!

[AllisonReece]

After all these years, I still love a classic, very crisp white sheet!

[mindybrown]

Watched several comparison videos like this today and yours is the first that has demonstrated or mentioned that "rustling" sound that percale makes. I have a set of percale sheets from Brooklinen, very nice quality, have held up really well over the several years we've had them, but I'm over the loud "rustling" sound. Hasn't lessened with washing as I hoped. They are smooth and soft and no issues with quality, but yes, they are just as loud as my husband's crisp white cotton button-down work shirts, lol. Just my own annoyance, but it's something I notice every night as I typically toss and turn (mattress issue, not the sheets).

[JosieSchuller]

Team cotton percale. I’m a hot sleeper even in winter so sateen is far too warm for me. I love the coolness of cotton percale and I’ve found that even though the sheets are “crisp” they feel soft and are so cool and comfortable to sleep in.

[karalove]

Thnaks for the explanation... I loved Sateen when we lived in Seattle, but now, in Southern New Mexico, we'll be going percale because of the heat.

[SANDAN]

Team Sateen here. A nice sheen to the fabric makes the bed look luxurious and elegant.

[d.vaders]

Prefer crisp and thick cotton percale BUT just bought Kirkland Signature NEW Pima cotton sateen...680 tc for $79.99 king at warehouse (89.99 online). They are the lightest sateen I’ve ever found. Still a tad warm in August but will be great winter cotton. Came with 4 pillowcases. Super high quality with 1” all around elastic on fitted sheet and generous size flat sheet. Laundered well and dried in 35 minutes on LOW! So great energy saver in the dryer for us frequent launderers. I do highly recommend. Liked them so much I bought some for our vacation rental as well. Gift worthy sheets in case you all need Christmas gift ideas.

[estergrant]

this was very educational, i have been on a mission: beds in movies and tv shows always look so so much more comfortable than real beds and i swear its the sheets material that does it. i think ive solved my problem

[Davethreshold]

A very well spent 6 minutes. Thank you!

[Jubellymmel]

Sateen here. Love the look and the smooth soft feel on my skin. Never had a problem with it feeling too warm, if that would be the case I'd just stick a leg or an arm out to cool off.

[judith]

Thank you for a really useful video. I've often wondered what the difference is, and after all these years I now know that I have a set of each. I like them them both but prefer the percale. That crisp cool feeling....love it.

[soulaesthete]

Team Sateen for me as well. I don't want sheets that are made of silk, but I do want a sheet set that is on the slick side. I'm so tired of microfiber sheets that may not wrinkle easily, but they have a slight rough feel. I miss the cotton blend sheets that didn't need ironing and felt smooth, cool, and crisp.

[-]

Percale for sure! I am an older woman that is used to sheets from 1950s. My grandma used to iron them. No sweating...the best!

[rosannebeck]

Thank you! I'm planning on spending plenty of money for sheets on my NEW bed & had no idea what I wanted. Now, I know...percale!

[eatonuter]

Thank you for the explanation! I'm a back sleeper and I have been using standard cotton sheets for years. I've used sateen sheets before, and they are nice, but as you mentioned, it does feel warmer. I'm going to try Percale and see what happens!

[Jessistein]

Just tried out both kinds of sheets and I am totally team percale!! They were very cool and crisp feeling! Sateen is soft but I slept so hot on it were as the percale sheets I didn’t wake up hot once!! 🙌🏼☺️

[ericr.]

Line-dried and ironed Percale is heaven on a hot summer night.

[carolinebubel]

I like sheets that stay up over you, especially my legs. By that I mean they do not drop down between leg# etc and you can turn over under them and they do nor roll with you. Hope that makes sense. I have had high count supima cotton that I really liked. Percale I guess

[hereandnow]

Thx for the lesson...I enjoy both kinds, they both have their positives....I think the temperature would affect my choice.