percale vs. sateen sheets: what's the difference?
In the fascinating world of sheets, you have more options than you might realize. No shade to the cheap sheets from your first apartment, but you can do better.
It’s time to step up your sheet game. And the first step is to learn the difference between percale and sateen sheets.
Let’s get to it.
what are sateen sheets?
Picture the silkiest, shiniest sheets that look like they could lull you to sleep in an instant. Those are probably sateen sheets.
Dream sheets. Literally.
Not to be confused with satin sheets, sateen sheets are a type of sheets made with a specific, loose weave. It’s a one-under and three- or four-over sateen weave that creates an incredibly silky feel and distinctive sheen.
Sateen sheets are made with thicker yarn, too, which means they foster a warmer sleeping environment. So before you move to the tropics to avoid freezing in your sleep this winter, just try sleeping in some sateen sheets.
pros and cons of sateen sheets
Because of their loose weave, sateen sheets are perfect for people with sensitive skin. They’re also wrinkle-resistant and drape beautifully over any bed.
The silky-smooth texture is the big winner, though. Sateen sheets can have you sleeping like royalty* without spending a mint.
*That’s assuming royals actually do sleep and aren’t just pod people. Anyway, you’ll sleep like someone who sleeps great–royalty or otherwise–in sateen sheets.
Some of the minor cons of using sateen sheets are that they can pill or snag more often than other sheets and they may bunch up if not tucked in properly.
what are percale sheets?
Percale sheets are known for being crisp and smooth.
You can think of them as an ironed cotton dress shirt in sheet form. (If you’ve never actually ironed a cotton dress shirt, just try to imagine the feel of a white button-up without wrinkles. We’ll wait.)
The key factor that makes percale sheets actual percale sheets is the tight-knit, one-over-one-under weave. This weave makes percale sheets durable, so if you’re routinely engaged in a tug of war over the sheets with your bedmate or petmate, percale could be the right choice.
“No, I never pull on the sheets. Why do you ask?”
They also need a minimum thread count of 180 but are often much higher. Even though thread count is a scam this is still good information to keep in mind.
pros and cons of percale sheets
The main pros of percale sheets are that they’re easy to care for, crisp, and breathable. Anyone who’s often overheating or sweating in their sleep might benefit from the cooling properties of percale.
As for cons, the major cons of percale sheets are that they wrinkle easily, are less soft, and can often be thinner than sateen sheets.
bottom line
Choosing the right bed sheets is something of an art.
But if we’re being completely honest (and totally predictable), we’re big fans of sateen sheets. Team Sateen, if you will. Our luxurious 100% eucalyptus lyocell sheets are made with a luxurious sateen weave.
We’re sure that you’ve never felt sheets as soft and silky as these sheets. But, luckily, that can change. Just give them a try and you, too, will know the unmatched comfort of sateen sheets. Once you do, there’s no looking back.
Sateen sheets ftw
Read more about why Thread Count is a Scam