Percale sheets use a one-over-one-under weave that gives them their classic crisp, smooth feel. Most percale sheets have a thread count of at least 200, so the weave is fairly tight. However, percale is still highly breathable. In fact, it is often considered the best type of sheet for people who tend to sleep hot.
Percale is a cotton fabric with a basic weave that feels light and airy. It's best for hot sleepers who want more breathability or those who prefer a crisp feel. Sateen is a cotton fabric with a satin-like weave that feels smooth and silky.
Brand new sheets, and in particular percale cotton sheets often initially feel scratchy or stiff. And that's sure to come between you and a good night's sleep.
Although percale sheets are popular for their lightweight and cool texture, they also have a few drawbacks, like being wrinkle-Although percale cotton sheets are popular for their lightweight and cool texture, they also have a few drawbacks, like being wrinkle-prone and not being ideal for cold sleepers.
Just like your favorite crisp white shirt, percale sheets are a bedroom must-have, especially during the hot summer months. Our high-end cotton percale linens are light and invigorating yet incredibly soft. Percale fabric is lighter in weight and more breathable making it perfect for summertime or warmer climates.
Hotel buyers in the know most often choose percale sheets over sateen or other weaves. Hotels want white. White sheets are bright, clean-looking, and give a feeling of newness, even though they may have been laundered multiple times. Hotels don't want patterns, colors, or designs that may fade or stain easily.
Each wash makes percale sheets softer. The longer you have them, the softer they become. To put numbers into this, percale sheets last three times longer than other sheets.
The difference between the two terms is that one refers to the actual material, that is, cotton. Percale is the style or design of weaving that makes the material strong. Percale is not only used as a term for Egyptian cotton. There are other types of cotton that are woven in the same way.
Percale: A smooth, flat, closely woven and combed fabric that comes in 100 percent cotton or 50/50 cotton/poly blends. Finer than muslin, expect thread counts here to range from 180 to 200. Pima or Supima: A high-quality cotton whose long fiber staple is somewhat similar to that of Egyptian cotton.
Percale sheets are simpler in weave, characterized by a matte finish, and a crisp handfeel. Percale sheets tend to be lighter in weight, cooler and more breathable. They tend to have that white-button-down-shirt kind of feel.
Percale sheets tend to get softer the more they are washed, although sheets made from low-quality materials may eventually pill. Most sateen sheets have a smooth, silky hand feel and an elegant drape. Crisp, cool, and reliable, percale sheets are generally not as soft as sateen. However, they're usually very durable.
If you love a light, crisp sheet with good breathability and aren't bothered by wrinkles, go with percale. If you prefer a soft, smooth sheet with a little more wrinkle resistance and thickness, go with sateen.
What Is the Ideal Thread Count for Percale Sheets? At minimum, percale sheets and pillowcases must have a thread count of 180, but the ideal thread range for this material is 200 to 300. If the yarns are exceptionally dense or the cotton staples are longer, then the thread count may be higher.
Percale sheets tend to be cool and crisp, and of the dozens of sets we've tried, L.L.Bean's 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set are our favorite. They're soft and breathable, yet more durable than others we've tested.
Like all 100% cotton fabrics, percale can shrink if it's not properly dried. In this case, the best course of action is to take your bedding out of the dryer when it's just ever so slightly damp (as opposed to bone dry) and immediately put it on your bed, smoothing out the creases as you go.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference – the crisp, cool hand of percale or the silky luxury of sateen. Either way, you can't go wrong with high-quality, 100% cotton bedding made from proven pure pima cotton.
Hotel bed sheets are washed regularly at high temperatures, crammed into high-speed dryers and heavy steam pressed to remove ugly creases. The trick is to press the sheets while they're still slightly damp. This makes them extra crisp, fresh, and ready quickly for the next guest.
As the sheet sets are all made with cotton, the largest price differentiator is the thread count, with higher thread-count-sheets falling at a higher price-point. The increased time and cost of manufacturing higher thread-count sheets accounts for this price difference.
Gopinath said a 250 to 300 thread count was optimal (there's wiggle room, though, as Maher said 200 was also good). Gopinath told us a 400 to 500 thread count for percale could reflect a denser sheet made of fine, good-quality yarns. Over 500 was “not necessary or likely,” she said.
The fibers used in supima cotton are also finer than Egyptian cotton, making for an even softer feel that has a long-wearing cycle. Supima cotton is produced in the U.S. It was primarily produced in Texas in the early 1900s. Since that time, the number of producers of supima cotton has expanded across the nation.
Percale is fabric made with a plain, or basket weave which is one thread over, one thread under, a method in use for hundreds of years. This weave gives the fabric its' strength and durability, matte appearance and a crisp feel. To be called percale, the fabric must have a thread count of 180 per square inch or higher.
The First Wash of your Luxury Percale and Sateen Bedding
Be sure to fully unfold items, set the machine to include a cold pre-soak, and use minimal liquid detergent. Either line dry or tumble dry on low heat. Remember that natural cotton fibers will wrinkle, and ironing may be required, depending upon your preferences.
If you are a hot sleeper or live in a place with longer summer months, cool, breathable, percale sheets will be perfect for you. However, if you live in a cold place you may prefer cotton sheets with a sateen weave, which is not as breathable as percale, or materials such as fleece and flannel.