Percale vs. Sateen Sheets: What’s the Difference and Which Is Better?

Shopping for the very best sheets is hard sufficient, even when you recognize you favor cotton over every other supplies. But when searching for the very best cotton sheets on the market, you’ll probably come throughout technical language like “percale” and “sateen” which might make it harder to seek out what you’re searching for. While these phrases could appear international to some, they’re pretty easy when you study what they imply. Percale and sateen describe the weave of the material, which is simply as vital as understanding what fibers (cotton, linen, silk, and many others.) the sheets are fabricated from.

Luckily, the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab is filled with skilled analysts with backgrounds in textiles science who’re always testing sheets. In truth, we’ve evaluated greater than 250 sheet units in recent times for all the things from softness and wrinkle resistance to cloth power, shrinkage and extra. In addition to placing sheets by standardized Lab checks utilizing specialised tools, we’ve labored with a whole bunch of client testers who strive them out at house earlier than offering thorough suggestions on their expertise. The outcomes communicate for themselves, and we’ve discovered the very best percale sheets and greatest sateen sheets accessible for each kind of sleeper. Here’s how one can determine which weave is best for you.

What’s the distinction between percale and sateen sheets?

Percale sheets are light-weight, ethereal and crisp, whereas sateen sheets really feel silky clean and substantial. The distinction is because of how the yarns are woven. Even although they’re made with the identical supplies — cotton or cotton blends — the structural variations end in very totally different textures and bodily properties for every cloth.

Percale sheets have a primary one-over, one-under plain weave that enables for extra interlacings — factors the place the threads overlap — making it one of many extra sturdy materials utilized in bedding. This construction additionally supplies percale’s signature gentle and crisp really feel whereas providing the mandatory breathability to keep up a cushty physique temperature. On the opposite hand, sateen sheets usually have a four-over, one-under satin-like weave that gives a clean really feel and good sheen. Plus, it doesn’t are likely to wrinkle as a lot as percale.

Both sorts of sheets can be found in a variety of thread counts. Contrary to in style perception, greater thread counts usually don’t translate to raised high quality sheets, however we’ve discovered that sheets within the 300 to 500 vary have an excellent steadiness of softness and sturdiness.

What is percale?

Percale sheets are identified for his or her crisp really feel and light-weight high quality and are sometimes in comparison with button-down shirts, which generally have the identical 1:1 weave. This traditional sheet can be ethereal and breathable, making it an excellent choice for decent sleepers or those that dwell in hotter climates. The draw back to percale sheets is that they’ll really feel tough or scratchy in comparison with sateen sheets and have a tendency to wrinkle extra due to their crisp, sturdy nature.

Pros:

Feels light-weight and crisp
Breathable
Durable

Cons:

Wrinkles extra simply
Can really feel tough when new

But whereas percale can usually really feel tough in comparison with sateen, L.L.Bean’s Pima Percale Sheet Set nonetheless earned excessive softness rankings with client testers, because of the premium Pima cotton, and excelled in sturdiness testing in our Lab. Testers additionally beloved the breathability and raved in regards to the cool-to-the-touch really feel. Alternatively, if you happen to’re searching for one thing that’s a fraction of the worth with out compromising on high quality, Sweave’s Egyptian Cotton Percale Sheets are one to take a look at. Just be aware that our consultants weren’t in a position to confirm the Egyptian cotton claims.

Searching for a good softer percale sheet? Opt for The Crisp Sheet Set from Tuck. It earned the best marks in a blind softness take a look at, because of the texture of the cotton-lyocell mix. Or if you happen to desire natural bedding, Coyuchi’s Organic Percale Sheets have the identical relaxed look with GOTS-certified natural cotton that one tester referred to as “gentle [and] luxurious but crisp and funky.”

Top-Tested Percale Sheets

Best Overall Percale Sheets

L.L.Bean Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set

Best Value Percale Sheets

Sweave Egyptian Cotton Percale Sheets

Softest Percale Sheets

Tuck The Crisp Sheet Set

Best Organic Percale Sheets

Coyuchi Organic Crinkled Percale Sheets

READ MORE: The Best Percale Sheets, Tested by Experts

What is sateen?

Sateen sheets stand out for his or her clean really feel and slight sheen, with some materials having a slippery or silky texture. Sateen bedding is right for individuals who desire softness over crispness. The cloth can be inherently extra wrinkle-resistant in comparison with percale, and a few sateen sheets are even handled with a wrinkle-resistant end for a no-iron, picture-perfect look. But needless to say sateen sheets can really feel heavier or thicker than percale sheets, so that they’re greatest suited to somebody searching for a comfortable, gentle sheet. They don’t present the identical breathability as percale.

Pros:

Silky and clean really feel
Slight sheen
Durable
Tends to wrinkle lower than percale

Cons:

May really feel too thick for some
Not nice for decent sleepers

The Brooklinen Luxe Core is among the hottest sateen sheet units accessible with high quality cloth that’s each clean and sturdy. Not to say, the fitted sheet consists of game-changing “brief” aspect and “lengthy” aspect labels for straightforward bed-making. California Design Den’s Everyday Soft Sateen Sheets are additionally a wonderful choice, outperforming different sateen choices greater than 4 occasions its value, and so they are available all kinds of colours at an reasonably priced price.

For a good softer really feel, Riley’s Organic Cotton Sheet Set earned a number of the highest softness rankings throughout all different cotton sheets in our checks, with testers calling them “gentle but ethereal.” Although, if the natural issue is vital to you, we weren’t in a position to confirm if the set is totally natural. For a completely licensed natural choice, think about Delilah Home’s Organic Cotton Bed Sheets. Not solely are they GOTS-certified natural, gentle and light-weight however they’re additionally underneath $200.

Top-Tested Sateen Sheets

Best Overall Sateen Sheets

Brooklinen Luxe Core Sateen Sheet Set

Best Value Sateen Sheets

California Design Den Everyday Soft Sateen Sheets

Now 32% Off

Softest Sateen Sheets

Riley Organic Cotton Sheet Set

Best Organic Sateen Sheets

Delilah Home Organic Cotton Bed Sheets

Now 20% Off

READ MORE: The Best Sateen Sheets, Tested by Experts

The ultimate verdict: percale or sateen?

Our testers usually desire the texture of sateen in side-by-side comparability checks, however in the end it’s a matter of non-public choice. Our evaluations present that whereas percale cloth is inherently stronger and sateen is inherently softer, each sheets carry out effectively in our Lab and at house with client testers.

If you like a light-weight, crisp sheet with good breathability and aren’t bothered by wrinkles, go along with percale.
If you favor a gentle, clean sheet with just a little extra wrinkle resistance and thickness, go along with sateen.

Why belief Good Housekeeping?

Grace Wu joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2022 as a textiles product evaluations analyst with a deal with hands-on testing and evaluating client knowledge. With a powerful background in textile engineering, she has evaluated all kinds of bedding merchandise together with sheets, pillows, silk pillowcases and extra utilizing specialised laboratory tools and suggestions from a whole bunch of client testers. Prior to working at Good Housekeeping, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.

Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Product Analyst

Grace Wu (she/her) is a product evaluations analyst on the Good Housekeeping Institute‘s Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, the place she evaluates fabric-based merchandise utilizing specialised tools and client tester knowledge. Prior to beginning at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a grasp of engineering in supplies science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While incomes her levels, Grace labored in analysis laboratories for sensible textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.