Percale vs sateen – what's the difference and which meets your sleep needs?

As the resident Sleep Editor at Homes & Gardens, I'm often asked whether percale or sateen makes the best bed sheets. My answer varies from one shopper to the next. It depends on whether you prefer crisp, cool sheets, or silky, smooth ones.

Percale and sateen are two of the most common bed sheet types. You'd be forgiven for thinking they're different materials, but actually, percale and sateen are weaves, or ways of threading fabrics together. The way in which a material is woven informs how it looks, how it feels, and how it holds heat. Percale and sateen weaves are most common in cotton, but you'll also see them on bamboo, eucalyptus, and more.

To help you split the difference between the weaves and find the best bed sheets for you, I've set percale vs sateen head to head. I've outlined the differences between the materials, as well as their pros and cons.

Percale vs sateen − what's the difference and which is best for you?

To save you time and money, I've even picked out a few of my favorite percale and sateen sheet sets. I've combed through our back catalog of reviews and spent hours researching the best places to buy bedding in percale and sateen.

Percale – the pros and cons

Percale describes a criss-cross weave, where the pattern 'one-thread-over, one-thread-under' creates lightweight sheets with plenty of interlacings. These gaps between the threads allow air to move freely through the sheets, so they feel cool and crisp.

Many of the best cooling sheets are woven into percale. If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, or you live in a particularly hot climate, then you'll appreciate the thermoregulatory properties of a looser weave.

If you've ever wondered, 'which bedding do luxury hotels use?', the answer is probably percale. The crisp, cool finish is effortlessly elegant, but the simplicity of the weave has another practical benefit: durability. You should be able to throw percale sheets into the washer and dryer without worrying about wear and tear.

Compared to smooth sateen, percale sheets are more likely to crease. It's worth learning how to wash bed sheets to keep your percale set looking crisp. I recommend washing your percale sheets separately and hanging them out to air dry. You could even iron your percale set for a super-smooth finish.

Sateen − the pros and cons

Sateen is a tighter, more complex weave, which goes 'three-threads-over, one-thread-under'. This pattern creates a thick, heavy sheet, which retains heat. I wouldn't recommend sateen sheets for hot sleepers: they're more suitable for cool sleepers and cold weather.

Compared with percale, which goes 'one-thread-over, one-thread-under', sateen has more exposed threads, which catch the light to create a gorgeous sheen. That's why sateen sheets look so luxurious. All those exposed threads also make sateen feel softer, so it's a good option for sensitive sleepers.

One practical benefit of sateen is its wrinkle-resistance. You should be able to throw your sateen sheets in the washer and dryer without worrying about crinkles and creases. It's a great low-maintenance weave for anyone who hates making the bed.

Like I say, sateen sheets tend to trap heat: while they make great winter warmers, they're less suitable for hot sleepers and summer weather.

Some people love the silky feel of sateen, but others find it a little slippery. If you're looking for tough, textured bedding, I suggest you consider the best linen sheets.

As a general rule, I recommend percale sheets for hot sleepers in warm climates and sateen sheets for cold sleepers in cooler climates.

Ultimately, the way to work out which bedding material is best for you is to sample a wide range. Don't stop at percale and sateen: consider bamboo, eucalyptus, Tencel, wool, and more.