What's The Difference Between Percale and Sateen?

If you have bought sheets recently, or you are looking at getting a new set of sheets, you may have run into both percale sheets and sateen sheets. Understanding the difference between these two "types" of sheets can appear confusing, but we are here to help you learn! You might have thought that the material is the only thing that makes a big difference with your sheets, but that is not the truth! Let's investigate this a bit further!

Understanding the weave of your sheets All bed sheets have a weave.

Your sheets are made out of whatever material they are made out of, and the weave is simply how those material threads are assembled to make a solid sheet. The percale and sateen weaves are not types of cotton, just how the cotton is assembled! Percale and sateen refers to the type of weave your sheet is made with.

So you might be wondering what is the difference between weaves. Well, let's take a look at them!

What is cotton percale?

Cotton percale is a weave where each thread is assembled with one thread over and then one thread under. This results in a sheet that has an almost matte finish and has that crisp feeling to them. If you were to check the weave of the sheets at the next hotel you stayed at, they most likely are made with a percale weave.

They are also arguably more durable, and you are less prone to damage these sheets (like accidentally putting holes in your sheets with sharp objects). Percale weaves are also known to be wrinkle-resistant and therefore can feel high quality.

Sheets with a percale weave are also typically never more than 300TC, if you are looking for a higher thread count, you'll have to choose a different weave.

My Linen has a wide range of cotton percale sheets available for you to choose from.

What is cotton sateen?

Cotton sateen is also a weave, but this weave has four cotton threads over, and then one thread under. This makes the sheet silky smooth and is the best choice if you are looking for bed sheets with a luxurious feel. The sateen weave is the most popular choice among those looking for cotton sheet sets.

If you are interested in cotton sateen sheets, My Linen has quite a large range on hand.

Percale vs sateen, which one is better?

Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks which have been outlined above, but ultimately it's up to you. Which weave you choose really is up to personal preference and what you are looking for in your new set of sheets! You can see the below diagram to better help you understand the differences between the two.

And there you have it! Hopefully, we have cleared up any questions you had about the weave of your sheets! If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to our friendly team of experts who will be more than happy to help you out!