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Are you Team Sateen or Team Percale? Here at Eastern Accents we know that there is no right answer to the fine linens’ industry most-asked question, but we have some tried-and-true tips on explaining the difference between percale and sateen sheeting, and choosing the right one for you.
What do percale and sateen mean?
Percale and sateen sheets are two of the industry’s most luxurious sheeting fabrics. The earliest percales were imported from India and manufactured in France. Sateen originated as a more affordable alternative to silk sheets, weaving cotton with a similar lustrous sheen.
Both are woven from high thread count 100% cotton, ensuring the best comfort, heat control, and longevity. At Eastern Accents, we source our percale and sateen linens from hand-selected Portuguese and Italian mills, which use only the finest long-staple Egyptian cotton.
Percale vs sateen weaves
Both crafted from 100% cotton, the difference between these fabrics is in how they are woven.
What is Percale Sheeting?
Percale is a 1-yarn-over-1-yarn basketweave. This construction results in a crisp, satisfying texture and matte finish. With its strong basketweave, percale is an especially durable textile resistant to tears and damage. It is breathable and retains less heat; the perfect cool, starched feel, ideal for warm climates and hot sleepers.
Fabric woven in a plain structure. This is a 1 yarn over 1 yarn construction. This weave is very durable and retains less heat. Percale is crisp and cool to the touch. Sheeting made with this construction is perfect for warm climates. 
What is Sateen Sheeting?
Sateen is a 3-yarns-over-1-yarn weave. Intended to mimic the feel of authentic silk sheets, sateen is sumptuous and luxurious. It has a glossy sheen and smooth feel in addition to increased heat retention—perfect for cooler climates and air-conditioned rooms.
Fabric is woven in a satin structure. A satin weave is characterized by multiple weft yarns over one warm yarn. The multiple floating yarns create a soft and shiny surface. The hand of the fabric is silky and smooth. This weave retains the most heat. Sheeting made with this construction is great for colder climates and air conditioned rooms.
But which fine linen fabric is better?
Both! Percale and sateen are both excellent, high-quality textiles for sheeting. It is just a matter of personal preference. Consider which textures you prefer as you sleep (silky or crisp?); your preferred sleeping temperature (warm or cool?); and your own personal aesthetic (glossy or matte?).
Or let us help you decide—-browse Eastern Accents’ renowned range of percale and sateen sheeting. Most fine linens collections include sheet sets and decorative top-of-bed, such as bed shams and duvet covers, in coordinating sheeting fabrics.
And did you know there is more than just percale and sateen? Popular alternatives include sheet sets crafted from 100% flax linen and cotton woven Jacquard. Whatever your preference, we hope you find the perfect sheet set for you.
FAQs
What is percale?
Percale is one of the most popular (and luxurious) type of fabrics for sheets. The earliest percales were imported from India and manufactured in France. It is woven from high thread count 100% cotton, ensuring the best comfort, heat control, and longevity. At Eastern Accents, we source our percale from hand-selected Portuguese and Italian mills, which use only the finest long-staple Egyptian cotton.
It is woven in a 1-yarn-over-1-yarn basketweave. This construction results in a crisp, satisfying texture and matte finish. With its strong basketweave, percale is an especially durable textile resistant to tears and damage. It is breathable and retains less heat; the perfect cool, starched feel, ideal for warm climates and hot sleepers.
What is sateen?
Sateen is a one of the most popular fabrics for high-quality sheets. It originated as a more affordable alternative to silk sheets, weaving cotton with a similar lustrous sheen. It is woven from high thread count 100% cotton, ensuring the best comfort, heat control, and longevity.
Sateen is a 3-yarns-over-1-yarn weave. Intended to mimic the feel of authentic silk sheets, sateen is sumptuous and luxurious. It has a glossy sheen and smooth feel in addition to increased heat retention—perfect for cooler climates and air-conditioned rooms.
Is sateen or percale better?
Percale and sateen are both excellent, high-quality textiles for sheeting. It is just a matter of personal preference. Consider which textures you prefer as you sleep, your preferred sleeping temperature, and your own personal aesthetic (glossy or matte?).
Sateen is ideal for those who prefer silky, warm, and/or glossy sheets; whereas percale sheets are crisp, cool, and matte.
What is thread count?
Thread count is a measure of fabric quality, and is especially relevant in determining the quality of sheeting. Thread count measures the number of horizontal and vertical threads in one square-inch of fabric. A higher thread count means that each square-inch of fabric has more threads, making the fabric denser, stronger, and longer-lasting.
High thread count is not the only determiner of fabric quality, however. Fabrics with very high thread counts at a low price may be "stuffed" with low-quality yarn to boost thread count without improving quality. These short-staple yarns are too short, protruding out on the surface of the fabric, and jeopardizing its durability and feel. You can often feel if a fabric has been woven with short-staple yarns by touch: a high thread count, 100% cotton fabric that feels rough has probably been woven with poor-quality yarn.
