The Difference Between Percale and Sateen, Finally Explained

One is crisp and matte, and the other is sleek with a slight sheen. The first is best friends with airflow, while the second is a bit more cautious. For fabrics woven from the same fiber, the difference between percale and sateen is anything but subtle. Let's talk about it.

Percale vs. Sateen: 6 Differences You'll Notice

What makes percale different from sateen? We’ll explain the basics below, using each fabric's:

• Weave structure
• Texture 
• Appearance 
• Breathability 
• Best use cases
• Wrinkling tendencies

1. Weave Structure: Plain vs. Floating

The weave structure is technical shorthand for how the warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) threads are arranged on the loom. 

• Percale: Every warp thread interlaces with every weft thread at every possible point.
• Sateen: In sateen, the weft thread doesn’t interlace with every warp thread it passes. Instead, it skips several warp threads in a row before dipping under one to anchor itself. Those skipped points create a long, uninterrupted stretch of yarn on the surface of the cloth. That long, uninterrupted stretch is called a float. The specific over-under ratio differs. For example, a 4:1 ratio means that the weft thread passes over four warp threads and under one.

Plain Weave Structure

This table can help you visualize the pattern.

Weft Pass	Warp 1	Warp 2	Warp 3	Warp 4	Warp 5	Warp 6
First Pass	O	U	O	U	O	U
Second Pass	U	O	U	O	U	O

O = Over (Weft floats over that warp thread)

U = Under (Weft passes beneath that warp thread)

After the second pick, the loom repeats the pattern and continues for the entire length of the fabric. 

Floating Weave Structure

Here's a table showing the over-under pattern of a 5-end sateen weave with a 4:1 ratio. 

Weft Pass	Warp 1	Warp 2	Warp 3	Warp 4	Warp 5
First Pass	O	O	O	O	U
Second Pass	U	O	O	O	O
Third Pass	O	U	O	O	O
Fourth Pass	O	O	U	O	O
Fifth Pass	O	O	O	U	O

O = Over (Weft floats over that warp thread)

U = Under (Weft passes beneath that warp thread) 

After the fifth pass, the loom repeats the pattern for subsequent rows and continues for the entire length of the fabric. 

2. Feel: Crisp Coolness vs. Silky Smoothness

Due to their different structures, percale and sateen have distinct textures.

• Percale: Cotton percale has a neat, grid-like texture because of its tight pattern. It's midway between glass-smooth and gently grainy, and it doesn't stick to the skin. These features can get you through hot nights.
• Sateen: If cream and butter were whipped together and somehow transformed into a fabric, it would be sateen. A looser weave gives sateen its elegant drape and silky texture, which caress the skin. 

3. Appearance: Matte vs. Lustrous

Once again, the weave makes all the difference between a muted fabric and one with a subtle shine. 

• Percale: Percale offers a matte finish that complements its cool feel but doesn't reflect light much. Its face and back sides look the same.  
• Sateen: You can't miss its lustrous sheen. The several “floats” on its face side glow like a thousand tiny mirrors reflecting light. This slight shine makes sateen sheet sets look significantly more vibrant than percale sets of the same color.

4. Breathability: Airy vs. Cozy

While percale is generally more airy than sateen, remember to check the thread count and yarn size before buying. A percale sheet with a higher thread count and thicker yarn size could be denser and cozier than a sateen sheet that has fewer, finer yarns per square inch. 

• Percale: Percale is one of the most breathable fabrics. The one-over-one-under pattern of the tight weave creates micro pores within the material, allowing air to freely flow through it. 
• Sateen: A sateen pattern results in fewer gaps throughout the cloth, leaving modest space for air passage. 

5. Best Uses: Hot Sleepers vs. Cold Sleepers

You deserve restful nights, regardless of what kind of sleeper you are. Whether you do sleep well can sometimes depend on if you’re using percale or sateen sheets.

• Percale: Heat and moisture find it easy to escape through percale’s pores. If you sleep hot or live in warmer climates, bedding made of this material can help you enjoy comfortable, cooler rest. 
• Sateen: Sateen sheet sets will enhance your sleep experience if you stay in cooler climates or sleep cold. Since there are fewer micropores for body heat to escape from, sateen has no choice but to be patient with it. 

6. Wrinkling: Average Rumpling vs. Softer Wrinkles

Although neither fabric is wrinkle-resistant, they handle creasing differently.

• Percale: Percale's crispness gives it two things: a firm structure and a higher tendency to hold onto creases after washing. Its matte appearance also makes wrinkles easier to notice. If you go for percale bedding, slot five minutes of quick ironing into your schedule. 
• Sateen: When cotton fibers are spun with a sateen weave, the resulting fabric is a little bit dense. This (very) slight extra weight makes sateen drape and smoothens out some of its wrinkles. Sateen’s lustrous sheen can help mask rumples too, so its post-wash creases aren't that obvious.

We’ve covered the main contrasts already, but if you like looking under the hood, there’s more. Start with our explainer on what percale is for a clearer look at that balanced weave. Then check out our guide to sateen bedding to see how those floats create its signature glide. 

Are There Any Similarities Between Percale and Sateen?

When woven from extra-long staple cotton fibers, they share a couple of things in common.

Durability

Due to their high tensile strength, percale and sateen are impressively durable. Even if something yanks on them really hard, their threads don't pull apart easily. As long as you properly care for your sateen and percale bedding, they’ll last for a long time. Don’t worry about the care part; it’s pretty easy because both fabrics are low maintenance. They age well, too, growing softer after each wash. 

Pilling Resistance

Percale may not have a smooth feel, and sateen may not be breathable enough if you sweat a lot, but they definitely don't pill readily. We know you don't like those tiny fuzzy balls that form on a fabric’s surface over time. Nobody does. That's why everyone else gets high-quality sheet sets made of percale or sateen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Better, Percale or Sateen?

There's no straight answer. Percale has high breathability and a cool finish, while sateen offers a smooth feel and a warm hug. Ultimately, whether you enjoy using percale or sateen sheets depends on your personal preferences. 

What Are the Disadvantages of Percale Sheets?

We wouldn’t call them disadvantages, but there are some things to keep in mind when selecting percale sheets. They’re crisp, so they don’t drape as closely to the body as sateen. They can feel a bit cool if you’re someone who prefers warmth. Because of its tight weave, percale also wrinkles more easily, especially straight out of the dryer. None of these features is a deal breaker. They actually make percale appealing to hot sleepers and lovers of a clean, matte finish.

Do Hotels Use Percale or Sateen Sheets?

Hotels can use both percale and sateen sheets, depending on their furnishing preferences and location. In warmer climates, you may find more hotels providing percale sheets to help customers sleep better. On the other hand, hotels situated in temperate regions may favor sateen's warmth over the crispness of percale.

Conclusion

Choosing between percale and sateen really comes down to how you like to sleep. If you prefer a crisp, airy feel, percale is your match. If you lean toward warm softness, sateen will serve your needs. Our durable, luxurious sheets and duvet covers come in percale and sateen. So, whichever fabric you settle on, you're getting excellent bedding either way.