If you've ever tried shopping for sheets, whether in-store or online, you probably recognize the term 'sateen'. Perhaps you've scrolled past the word 'sateen' as part of the product listing or spotted it printed on a care tag, and you still aren't sure what it means.
Sateen isn't the name of a fiber, but a kind of weave that feels silky and smooth against your skin. Out of all the bed sheet types, sateen looks and feels the most luxurious. You should find sateen sheets in all the best places to buy bedding.
As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the world's best bed sheets. I've sampled crisp percale, coarse linen, and breathable bamboo, and I can confirm that sateen sheets are the best option for cold sleepers and winter weather. Still, if you suffer from night sweats and hot flashes, you should consider cooling sheets.
What is sateen? Your expert guide
This article should tell you everything you need to know about sateen sheets, from how they're made to what they cost. If you like what you read, and you're keen to invest in a sateen set, then you're in luck. I've rounded up a few of my favorite sateen sets to suit every style of room and size of budget.
What is sateen?
Sateen sheets are so-called because they're meant to mimic the premium feel of satin at a more affordable price point. The best sateen sheets are woven from plant fibers, such as cotton or bamboo.
Sateen is a tight weave (three-threads-over, one-thread-under) that forms a thick, heavy sheet to retain heat. That's why I recommend sateen sheets for winter weather and anyone who lives in a colder climate. Conversely, percale is a loose weave (one-thread-over, one-thread-under) which offers better breathability for hot sleepers.
All those exposed threads should feel soft against your skin and catch the light to create an attractive sheen. Sateen might not feel quite as silky as the satin, but it's a good deal smoother than plain old cotton or percale. It's a good option for sensitive sleepers and anyone who prefers soft sheets.
These bamboo sateen sheets are equally suitable for sensitive sleepers and eco-conscious shoppers. Grown from 100% rainwater and treated with food-grade, non-toxic solvents, these sheets are totally free from harmful chemicals and plastics.
These aren't just the best sateen sheets – they're the best bed sheets, bar none, with more than 17,000 verified five-star reviews at Brooklinen. 'I wasn't sure it would be worth splurging on a nice set of sheets, but the second I opened these, I knew I made the right decision,' reads one recent review. 'They're so soft and really enhance my sleeping experience.'
These are the sheets that Kris Jenner sleeps on every night, so our Celebrity News Editor Sophie Edwards had to put them to the test. 'Compared to my old cotton percale set, these bamboo sateen sheets feel much softer and smoother on my skin,' says Sophie. 'Three months in, I'm seriously impressed.'
What are the pros of sleeping under sateen?
If you tend to sleep cool, or you live in a colder climate, you'll quickly feel the benefit of sateen sheets. This complex weave features fewer interlacings, so there are fewer gaps for cold air to sneak through. That's why sateen sheets make such good winter warmers.
I would recommend sateen sheets, in particular sateen pillowcases, for sleepers with sensitive skin. Your face should glide right over the soft fabric, which is smooth enough not to irritate eczema or aggravate acne.
Not only do sateen sheets sleep cool and feel smooth, but they wash well, too. While you should always check the care tag before you do your first load of laundry, you should be safe to throw your sateen sheets in the washing machine, then straight into the dryer, without worrying about folds and creases. As weaves go, sateen is inherently wrinkle-resistant, but you might want to iron their sheets for the smoothest possible finish.
What are the cons of sleeping under sateen?
It should go without saying, but it bears repeating that tightly woven sheets might be less suitable for hot sleepers and warmer weather. If you live in a temperate climate, you should narrow the search to the best cooling sheets.
While sateen sheets work well for sleepers with sensitive skin, they might not be quite so gentle on your hair. It all depends which material is woven into sateen. Water-wicking fibers, such as cotton and bamboo, will draw moisture from your hair and could cause it to lose its luster. If you want to start your journey towards clearer skin and cleaner hair, you should consider investing in the best silk pillowcase.
FAQs
Do sateen sheets keep you cool?
Not really. While some thinner sateen sheets might be suitable for year-round use, their tight weave is designed to trap heat and keep you warm in the winter months. I wouldn't recommend sateen sheets for hot sleepers or warmer climates, and I certainly wouldn't use them to try and keep cool. You'd have better luck with the best linen sheets.
Is cotton sateen better than cotton percale?
We've written an entire article in an attempt to settle the debate between percale vs sateen bed sheets. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here's what you need to know.
Percale is light and airy where sateen is thick and heavy. Hot sleepers will appreciate the breathability of percale, while cooler sleepers living in colder climates might prefer the warmth of sateen.
Percale is crisp where sateen is smooth. Percale might lie more neatly on your bed, but sateen will feel softer against your skin. Sateen is also far easier to wash and dry than percale, since it's naturally wrinkle-resistant.
Once you've settled on a material, it's time to consider the size, the shade, the thread count, and the budget. It's worth learning how to choose bed sheets that suit your sleep style and complement your color palette.
