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.
If you're a hot sleeper, percale is going to be a better choice than sateen because of its natural cooling properties. For those who sleep cool and comfortably, sateen is the ultra-soft fabric your bed needs.
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.
Sateen bedding is ideal for those who prefer softness over crispness. The fabric is also inherently more wrinkle-resistant compared to percale, and some sateen sheets are even treated with a wrinkle-resistant finish for a no-iron, picture-perfect look.
The best sheets typically have a thread count between 200 and 400. Any thread count lower than 180 tends to have a rougher texture. Any number over 400 is most likely an inflated figure due to multi-ply thread, meaning you'll pay a premium price for a sheet that doesn't actually feel any softer.
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.
The Wrinkles — Sateen woven fabric is generally more resistant to wrinkles, while percale woven fabric is more prone to wrinkles. The Washing — Typically, both sateen and percale woven fabrics are machine washable and dryable.
Temperature Control
Sateen sheets tend to sleep warmer due to their heavier weave, although temperature regulation also depends on thread count and the type of material. The percale weave is highly breathable, making it a good choice for hot sleepers.
You're used to a softer, synthetic-material sheet, then 100% cotton sheets may feel rough in comparison (especially percale) You're using more detergent and/or fabric softener than the manufacturer's instructions recommend. You're overstuffing the washer, and the detergent isn't able to fully rinse out.
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.
Although top sheets prevent your comforter from getting dirty, the widespread use of duvet covers has made them somewhat obsolete. Either way you choose to go, make sure your bedding is soft, comfortable, customized to your liking — and regularly washed.
The term “percale” refers to a type of weave used to make bed sheets, pillowcases, and other bedding accessories. Most percale sheets are made of 100 percent cotton fabrics, but sometimes they are blended with other fabrics such as silk, synthetic, or rayon.
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.
Cotton percales are more breathable and cooler-feeling than other sheets, and they're built to last. These tightly woven sheets tend to resist pilling, so they can withstand years of washing without compromising any of you bedtime comfort.
In most instances, the thread count of percale is 200 or higher. The percale weave is often produced of 100 percent cotton or uses a blend of cotton and polyester.
Due to its tighter weave and lower thread count, percale sheets tend to be very lightweight and breathable. Cotton percale is also absorbent and will wick moisture away from the skin. Percale sheets and pillowcases feel crisp at first but soften over time, striking a fine balance between smooth and scratchy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Percale sheets made from long-staple Egyptian-cotton are famously lightweight sheets. This naturally cool and breathable cotton is the best bed sheet material for night sweats. Also worth noting, the soft-to-the-touch material will have you sleeping better in general as well.
Several of the sleep experts I spoke to suggested linen sheets. According to Dr. Joshua Tal, a psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders, they are very breathable and “pick up cool air.” Oks says that since linen is made of a looser weave than, say, a cotton sheet with a high thread count, it traps less heat.
Fabrics made from natural fibers are more breathable and cool than synthetics, whether used for bed linens or clothing. Natural fibers include wool, cotton, linen, and silk. Some of these can be quite expensive, and that's why many synthetic products exist.