
What is the difference between cotton and sateen sheets?
The Difference Between Cotton and Cotton Sateen. Sateen -- a term that defines the type of weave in fabric -- has a softer, silkier feel as compared to cotton sheets made from a plain or standard weave. But, while sateen sheets may feel softer to the touch, they don't have the lifespan that plain weaves offer.
What does sateen feel like?
Due to its looser weave, where more yarn is exposed to the surface, sateen feels silky smooth, with a slight sheen to it. It's very soft and warm, but it's less breathable than percale, so it might not work for people who sleep warm. Thanks to its luxurious feel, many hotels use sateen sheets in their guestrooms. Is percale or sateen better?
Should I buy Egyptian cotton or sateen sheets?
However, since sateen sheets are often more likely to snag or pill, some owners may prefer to replace them sooner. Egyptian cotton sheets typically get softer and smoother with each washing. While they may start out a bit rougher, they should get a buttery texture over time. Sateen sheets have a smooth, silky feel.
What are sateen sheets used for?
Sateen is commonly used for sheets and bedding. People who want to more luxurious fabrics in their homes often choose sateen sheets for their silky qualities, and they've found that sheets with a higher thread count are very durable. They are more expensive than plain cotton sheets, however.

Is sateen cotton soft?
Sateen -- a term that defines the type of weave in fabric -- has a softer, silkier feel as compared to cotton sheets made from a plain or standard weave. But, while sateen sheets may feel softer to the touch, they don't have the lifespan that plain weaves offer.
Is cotton sateen better than cotton?
The difference between Sateen and cotton is because of these fibers' treatment. In Sateen, the long cotton fibers are mercerized, meaning soaked in lye (sodium hydroxide) and then in an acid. This sort of “seals” the fibers, making them more durable and long lasting than untreated cotton.
What does sateen feel like?
What are Sateen Sheets? If you like buttery softness, sateen is the way to go. Sateen sheets have a heavier, smoother finish that boasts a silky feel and a slight sheen. This type of sheet lies heavier on the body, which is great if you're prone to get chilly.
Is cotton sateen hot to sleep in?
Temperature Neutrality Sateen sheets are more prone to heat retention than some alternatives. In winter, this may feel cozy to sleepers. Most individuals choose to use sateen sheets year-round, but especially hot sleepers may find them too warm.
Is cotton sateen slippery?
Sateen feels soft or sometime slippery depending on the yarn-type. They can be so soft that some are seduced by the feel without realising they're also hotter. Also, sateen is used to weave super high thread count sheets (1000TC), which has lead many to believe that high thread counts are soft.
Does sateen make you sweat?
Sateen sheets can be a good choice for those who suffer from allergies because they resist mildew. They have a high thread count and are very breathable making them cool to sleep on.
Are sateen sheets cooler than cotton?
Cotton sheets are much cooler than cotton sateen sheets. This is because cotton is extremely breathable and provides excellent temperature control. It drapes further away from the body, and so it doesn't trap too much heat.
Is cotton sateen shiny?
Although cotton can be treated and manufactured to give a satin-like appearance, sateen is not quite as shiny and silky as satin and its finish has more of a sheen.
What kind of sheets do 5 star hotels use?
Hotels opt for a percale weave over sateen as percale epitomizes the cool, crisp feeling typical of a luxury hotel suite. A percale weave is also naturally longer lasting as by definition, it's a tighter weave.
Does sateen feel silk?
Thanks in part to the satin weaving process, sateen can have that silk-like softness and shine while still being made of spun yarns. Typically, the cotton or rayon used is carded, combed, or mercerized to assist with the characteristic “silkiness.”
Is sateen good for summer?
Sateen Sheets We love the silky smooth feel of a sateen weave just as much as anyone, but this one isn't a great pick for summertime. Because the weave is more dense, the fabric becomes less breathable and sleeps hotter.
Is cotton sateen good for hot sleepers?
Most commonly seen in cotton bedding, the percale weave style is a pretty safe bet for hot sleepers. Sateen: Sateen, on the other hand, is almost like the counterpart to percale. A sateen weave typically creates a thicker, heavier, less breathable fabric that's better suited to folks who run cold.
What is a sateen bed?
Woman making bed. Image Credit: Thinkstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images. Sateen -- a term that defines the type of weave in fabric -- has a softer, silkier feel as compared to cotton sheets made from a plain or standard weave. But, while sateen sheets may feel softer to the touch, they don't have the lifespan that plain weaves offer.
How does cotton fabric affect sheets?
The weave of the cotton fabric affects how the sheets feel against your skin. After the creation of the cotton yarns, the manufacturer uses one of several weaves to construct the fabric for sheets. Inexpensive plain weaves have an equal number of horizontal and vertical yarns that results in a slightly rougher feel.
What are the different types of cotton sheets?
Types of Cotton. Cotton bed sheets are made from five types of cotton: Sea-Island, Asiatic, Pima, Upland and Egyptian. Grown in warm climates around the world, their differences include the fineness of the fibers, softness and length. Extra-long staple cotton -- Gossypium barbadense, grown in Egypt -- produces cotton blossoms at least 1 3/8 inch in ...
What is extra long cotton?
Extra-long staple cotton -- Gossypium barbadense, grown in Egypt -- produces cotton blossoms at least 1 3/8 inch in length or longer with the finest and softest fibers. In bed sheets, the cotton's type, the fabric's number of threads per square inch and the weave determine the differences between low- and high-end cotton sheets. Advertisement.
Is sateen softer than percale?
And plain- and percale-weave sheets get softer with age, wear and washing.
Do sateen sheets have a lifespan?
But, while sateen sheets may feel softer to the touch, they don't have the lifespan that plain weaves offer. When you're buying sheets, look at the type of cotton, thread count, the fabric weave, and ultimately, what feels best against your skin. Advertisement.
Is Egyptian cotton softer than other cotton?
And plain- and percale-weave sheets get softer with age, wear and washing. Genuine Egyptian cotton produces a considerably softer product over other cotton types, and you can buy it in a percale or sateen weave. Advertisement.
What is cotton sateen?
Cotton sateen is made, as the name suggests, from nothing more and nothing less than cotton.
Is cotton sateen breathable?
Breathability: Cotton sateen is made from cotton, one of the most breathable and summer-friendly fabrics around. If you want to keep your cool no matter how high the temperatures rise, cotton sateen will help you do it. Durability: Thanks to the mercerization process good quality cotton sateen goes through, it holds dye exceptionally well.
Is cotton sateen hypoallergenic?
Hypoallergenic: Cotton sateen, before anything else, is cotton. And if there’s one thing cotton is known for (at least among the sensitive-skinned), it’s its hypoallergenic qualities. If you’re looking for a fabric that won’t itch, scratch, or irritate, it’s a wise choice. Wrinkle resistance: While most cotton fabrics aren’t known ...
Does cotton sateen wrinkle?
Wrinkle resistance: While most cotton fabrics aren’t known for their ability to withstand creases, cotton sateen is a different thing entirely. Thanks to its softness and excellent drapability, it offers excellent wrinkle resistance.
Which is better, Egyptian cotton or sateen?
The performance of Egyptian cotton sheets depends partly on their weave, while sateen sheets may vary based on their materials. In general, true Egyptian cotton sheets tend to be more durable and higher in price.
Why do people prefer sateen sheets over Egyptian cotton sheets?
Budget shoppers may prefer sateen sheets to Egyptian cotton sheets because they are often available at a lower price point. If you can’t decide between the two, you can also look for Egyptian cotton sateen sheets to balance the potential benefits of each.
How much does Egyptian cotton cost?
However, some more affordable alternatives may also use the term “Egyptian cotton.”. Egyptian cotton sheet sets can cost over $500. Since they vary in quality and materials, sateen sheets are available at most price points. Budget shoppers can find options for under $50, while luxury sets can cost over $500.
How long do Egyptian cotton sheets last?
The extra-long staples in Egyptian cotton typically make the fabric highly durable. A quality set of Egyptian cotton sheets could last for over a decade. Sateen sheets typically enjoy a similar lifespan to most sheet sets.
What is a sateen sheet?
Sateen Sheets. Sateen refers to a weave pattern rather than a material. This weave uses a one yarn under, three or four yarns over pattern. This gives it a heavier feel than some other weaves, like percale, and sleepers may feel this weightiness makes the sheets seem especially luxurious.
What materials are used to make sateen sheets?
Any number of materials may be used to craft sateen sheets, including cotton, polyester, rayon, and lyocell, each of which can influence the overall feel and appearance. A similar weave is used to craft satin, though satin typically uses silk or nylon.
Why is extra long cotton used?
This variety of extra-long staple cotton is traditionally picked by hand to maintain the length of the fibers. Long fibers help craft a smoother, more durable fabric. This high-quality material also traditionally carries a higher price tag, though some lower-priced options also use the term “Egyptian cotton.”.
What is a sateen sheet?
Sateen Sheets. Sateen fabric uses a one yarn under, three or four yarns over weave that gives them their distinctive look and feel. The appearance tends to have a subtle shine, and the fabric drapes exceptionally well. Sateen sheets are naturally wrinkle-resistant, so they have a smooth look without ironing.
What is satin fabric?
Cotton, polyester, rayon, and lyocell can be used in sateen sheets, each influencing the performance. When silk and nylon are used with a similar weave, the resulting fabric is considered satin.
Why are percale sheets so popular?
However, many prefer percale sheets for their crispness, breathability, and durability.
What is the difference between sateen and percale?
Percale is light, crisp, and durable, whereas sateen is silky, heavier, and wrinkle-resistant. Percale’s main downsides may be its propensity to wrinkle and make noise when the sleeper moves, while sateen’s main weaknesses could be its added warmth and tendency towards pilling.
Is a sateen sheet durable?
Sateen sheets tend to be moderately durable. However, pilling and snagging may limit their usable lifespan, and the sheen may fade over time. Washing softens percale sheets, so they may get more comfortable over time. This lends to their exceptional durability.
Do sateen sheets have ironing?
Sateen sheets are naturally wrinkle-resistant, so they have a smooth look without ironing. This weave makes the resulting sheets a bit heavier than percale, which can make them seem cozy and luxurious. However, they may also be more likely to trap heat.
Do percale sheets need to be ironed?
They have a smooth matte finish that some compare to an ironed button-down shirt. The best percale sheets also tend to be durable and easy to care for. However, since they’re prone to wrinkling in the wash, many sleepers choose to iron percale to enhance its crispness.
