Most individuals choose to use sateen sheets year-round, but especially hot sleepers may find them too warm. Since they regulate temperatures well, percale sheets are good for all seasons. They're breathable enough to satisfy hot sleepers, but they can also help keep you warm on a cold night.
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.
After testing dozens and dozens of sets in our ongoing quest for the best sheets, we've found that a set in linen or percale cotton (which is more breathable than sateen) is a great way to round out your bedding collection and extend the life of your everyday sheets by giving them the summer off.
A sateen weave does produce a thicker, less breathable sheet than a percale weave does, making sateen sheets well-suited to the cooler months. They aren't quite as warm and cozy as flannel, but sateen sheets tend to be heavier and warmer than percale sheets.
Sateen on the other hand, uses a three over (or more) and one under weave (see image) which traps more heat, making it an excellent choice for cooler seasons or cold sleepers. Many buy both weaves and match them to the season, preferring sateen sheets during winter and percale sheets during summer.
Both Egyptian cotton and Sateen are breathable.
This is due both to its weave and its crispness, which means it drapes further away from the body.
For people who get hot during sleep, choosing sheets made of bamboo, cotton, or linen — breathable fabrics that wick away moisture from the body and help maintain a comfortable temperature — can help.
Percale is known for a crisp, cool feel that is perfect for hot weather. Linen, meanwhile, has natural cooling properties. It's even more breathable, moisture-wicking, and absorbent than cotton—plus it's naturally antimicrobial.
Coolest Temperature
Crisp, percale cotton sheets are the best sheets for hot sleepers. They're a common choice for hotels and guesthouses, thanks to their fresh feel and cooling properties. And you, too, can enjoy a hotel quality of sleep with these cool, white percale cotton sheet sets.
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 (one under, one over - in comparison, sateen is typically three over, one under).
Using too much detergent causes a build up to accumulate, contributing to that unwelcome stiffness in the fabric. It may help to put your sheets through an extra rinse cycle to remove detergent residue. Take your brand new sheets and pop them in the machine before use.
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. Since they regulate temperatures well, percale sheets are good for all seasons.
But sateen is dryer than percale because it's drapier. It sits much closer to your body thus absorbing any excess sweat on the skin. If you shop for a cooling sheet at a store that only offers these two weaves, percale is a better bet.
Sateen sheets stand out for their smooth feel and slight sheen, with some fabrics having a slippery or silky texture. Sateen bedding is ideal for those who prefer softness over crispness.
Certain fillings allow for better ventilation than others, with down or wool being the best for combating night sweats. These fillings tend to breathe much better than synthetic fillings, which are known to ventilate poorly and cause those who use them to overheat and sweat much more.
Here are some tips for selecting the best fabrics for summer to wear: Look for lightweight and breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and rayon. Choose fabrics that have moisture-wicking properties as bamboo or polyester blends. Avoid heavy and thick fabrics like wool and denim.
Eucalyptus silk one of the best fabrics for night sweats, making it the perfect pick. Not only is it great at keeping you comfortable in any temperature, but it's also made with cool-to-touch technology that stays fresher for longer and keeps you snug and cosy without overheating.
If linen doesn't work for you, Fountain's recommendation is a percale weave cotton since the “one-over-one-under weave encourages airflow to keep you cool over the course of the night.” For a silky-smooth hand feel and fabric that feels initially cool to the touch, Fountain also recommends Tencel sheets.
You may think because percale sheets have a tighter weave that they are also warmer. However, due to the less thick yard used, Percale sheets will give you a cooler sleep experience. Percale sheets are better for those who sleep hot or live in warmer climates and will give you a crisp, cool sleep year round.
Sateen: Sateen fabrics are made from satin weave, which gives them that soft, luxurious, and silky exterior. They are soft and breathable, making them the perfect companion for a hot person. Silk helps ventilate the extra moisture you exude at night but does not make your skin dry or rough.