What Are Sateen Sheets?

Sateen sheets are popular for their buttery soft feel, superior smoothness, lustrous sheen, and notable drape. They often give the bed a polished look while feeling good against the skin and being relatively easy to care for. These characteristics are appealing to a broad range of sleepers, but sateen sheets aren’t the only option on the market. Other types of sheets, such as percale sheets, also carry distinct benefits that may make them better for certain sleepers.

With so many options available, it can be hard to determine what is best for you. We’ll break down what sateen is, the potential benefits of sateen sheets, and how sateen compares to other weaves to help you determine what sheets might be most comfortable for you.

What Is Sateen?

The word “sateen” refers directly to the weave of the sheets rather than a specific type of fabric. The sateen weave uses a distinctive pattern that usually consists of one yarn under and three or four yarns over. This means that more of the yarn surface is exposed, creating the trademark smoothness, sheen, and drape of sateen sheets.

Like most weaves, the sateen weave can be used with several types of materials for sheets. Cotton is particularly common due to its softness, breathability, and durability. However, there are also many sateen sheets on the market that use bamboo- or eucalyptus-derived fabric for their softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties. Some sets also claim to be eco-friendly since the raw materials are easy to grow with little to no fertilizer or pesticide. However, processing these materials into fibers relies on chemicals.    

Polyester sateen sheets are also widely available. They’re often the most budget-friendly, but they may not be as breathable.

Benefits of Sateen Sheets

The best sateen sheets offer a wide range of potential benefits, but there can also be a few drawbacks. 

Frequent highlights of sateen sheets include their soft, gentle-on-the-skin texture, which many sleepers find supremely comfortable. Because of the fabric’s drape and naturally smooth texture, sleepers who typically prefer to iron their sheets may be able to skip that step. Most sateen sheets also have relatively easy care instructions, which usually include machine-washing. 

That said, sateen sheets are often a bit more expensive than sheets that use other weaves. The smooth, slippery texture of sateen sheets may also make them more prone to shifting if you move around a lot during the night. Additionally, the sateen weave tends to be heavier and less breathable than another popular weave, percale. Sateen sheets feel slightly warmer, particularly when they’re made of a less breathable material like polyester. That being said, people who sleep cold may love sateen sheets for their warmth.

Sateen vs. Other Weaves

Sateen vs. percale is one of the most hotly contested debates in the bedding world, but those aren’t the only two weave options. Each weave varies in its performance, feel, and ideal thread count. We’ll break down some of the top weaves you may see while shopping. 

Weave	What It Is	What You Should Know
Sateen	The sateen weave pattern consists of floating one yarn over three or four yarns for a smooth and lustrous texture.	Sateen sheets are typically heavier and less breathable, so they may not appeal to hot sleepers. The best thread counts for sateen are usually between 300 and 600.
Percale	The percale weave uses a simple one-over, one-under pattern that creates a crisp and breathable fabric.	Percale sheets are often stiffer and more prone to wrinkling. They also tend to be thinner. Great thread counts typically range from 200 to 400.
Twill	The twill weave uses an offset pattern that creates the appearance of diagonal lines. This weave traditionally leads to durable sheets with a more textured feel.	Twill sheets can feel somewhat rough, and they may limit air circulation due to their relatively tight, dense weave. Thread counts between 200 and 400 are usually appropriate.
Jersey	Jersey sheets are actually knit rather than woven. That means the fabric consists of a continuously looping thread. This typically leads to soft, stretchy, wrinkle-resistant sheets that feel like a broken-in T-shirt.	Jersey sheets often pill or snag, limiting their lifespan. They also tend to be warmer than sateen or percale sheets, so jersey sheets may not be ideal for hot sleepers. Jersey sheets are measured by weight instead of thread count, and 150 grams per square meter (GSM) is around average.

Are Sateen Sheets Right for You?

Whether sateen sheets are right for you depends on your personal needs and preferences. If you love smooth fabric that lays nicely on the bed, has a lustrous sheen, and lends to a luxurious look, then sateen sheets may be a perfect match. 

However, if you are prone to overheating during the night and looking for superior breathability and crispness, percale sheets are a better option. If you like your bed to have a lived-in look, the polished appearance of sateen sheets might also fail to complement your aesthetic. Additionally, if you tend to toss and turn and hate it when sheets bunch or shift, you might want a less smooth fabric. Sateen sheets are also unlikely to be the most affordable option available, so they may not be ideal for shoppers on a tight budget.

Sateen sheets are popular for many sleepers. However, the best sheets for you ultimately depend on your unique style and sleep habits.