Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
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Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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These luxury sateen sheets are a splurge, made from Egyptian cotton. Set includes a larger than most flat sheet for extra coverage in bed. Read More
These luxury sheets are made by a world-class textile company, and they feel like it with a satiny finish, nice weight, and deep pockets. Read More
You won't notice a wrinkle on these smooth, Supima cotton sheets that come in more than a dozen colors. Read More
These soft, organic linens get softer over time and washes, all while maintaining excellent quality. Read More
Super silky and very soft, these bamboo sheets have heft and are great in winter. Unfortunately, they snag. Read More
If you love the feel of soft, smooth fabric against your skin, chances are you prefer sateen sheets over percale sheets—at least we do. While both types of sheets are generally made from cotton, sateen has a soft, buttery feel that’s smooth and slightly shiny, while percale is best described as crisp and cool, similar to a high-end dress shirt.
However, there are dozens of sateen sheet sets on the market, many of which you can only buy online. To help you find the perfect pair for a luxurious night’s sleep, we spent weeks testing a variety of popular options. Amongst top rated sateen sheet sets, our picks was our top pick, the Pure Parima Triple Luxe Sateen Sheet Set (available at Amazon) with its wonderfully smooth and luxurious100% cotton fabric that gets more cozy with each wash. If you want to feel like you’re sleeping in total hotel luxury, the Ritz Carlton Diamond Border Linen Set is a worthy splurge made from Egyptian cotton.
Soft, smooth, and comfortable
Durable and long-lasting
Available with or without top sheet
None that we could find
Soft, smooth feel
Optional top sheet
No twin size
Fitted sheet slides off mattress
Soft, smooth texture
Optional top sheet
Fitted sheet slides off mattress
Many colors and patterns
Soft to the touch
Slippery
Slides off mattress
Fewer wrinkles than other sheets
Reinforced stitching
Slightly rough texture
Unpleasant odor
Neat stitching
Uncomfortable texture
Not breathable
I’m Camryn Rabideau, a freelance contributor here at Reviewed. I’ve been testing sheets and other bedding for several years now, and I’ve personally slept on more than four dozen sets, ranging from sateen and percale to flannel and linen. (An added bonus is that I’m now an expert at folding fitted sheets!) I also studied textiles, fashion merchandising, and design in college, where I learned how to evaluate and differentiate fabrics.
I spent several days testing each of these sets of sateen sheets, evaluating them on factors like fit, texture, and ease of care. For each set, I put the fitted sheet onto my bed to see how it fit right out of the package and if it was deep enough for my mattress, which is around 16 inches in thickness. I also weighed and measured the dimensions of each flat sheet so we could calculate its weight per square yard—this allows us to compare the fabric thickness of different sets. Once these two tests were complete, I washed and dried each set of sheets according to their care guidelines, then put them back onto my bed. At this point, I made note of whether the fitted sheet shrunk at all in the wash—generally speaking, sheets that were washed in warm water tended to shrink more.
Next came the fun part: Sleeping! I tested each set of sheets by sleeping on them for a few nights at home. I evaluated how soft and comfortable each felt, noting things like if they slept warm or cool and if they stayed in place on the mattress. I also took my partner’s thoughts into account for each set, as he tends to have different preferences for bedding.
I also examined the construction of the sheets, as I’ve often found that the corners of inexpensive sheets are prone to ripping at the seams. I looked at the neatness of the stitching, noting loose, fraying thread or uneven seams, and I made note of whether the sheets had reinforced edges in the fitted sheet or any type of decorative details. I scored each product in these different areas, and their cumulative scores were used to create the ranking listed above.
Most of us buy sheets simply based on how they feel, but there are actually quite a few factors that differentiate bed linens. Fiber, construction method, and thread count all affect how sheets feel, perform, and wear over time.
Sateen is made from fibers (usually cotton) that go through a treatment process in order to seal the fibers of the yarn, resulting in spun yarn. Unlike silk, sateen is smooth on both sides, giving a luxurious feel to the touch and an instant upgrade to any room. While sateen sheets typically have a lower thread count than percale sheets, people tend to buy sateen sheets for their durability, soft feel, and excellent heat retention.
Most people know that sateen sheets have a silky smooth feel, but do you know what sets them apart from percale sheets? Sateen and percale are actually different styles of weaving. They’re both often made from the exact same yarns. In weaving, the yarns that run vertically are called “warp” yarns, and the horizontal ones are called “weft” yarns. Sateen relies on a over-one, under-three weaving pattern, while percale uses a simple over-one, under-one pattern.
Sateen has a looser weave than percale, which gives it a luxurious sheen. The tight weave of a percale gives it a crisp feel and matte finish. Sateen drapes nicely, and it’s more wrinkle resistant than percale. However, its silky smooth structure can also make it more prone to snagging and pilling.
Satin is not only a type of fabric, but it's also a weave pattern. While sateen is a fabric made using a satin weave pattern with smooth spun yarn, satin is made using the same satin weave and a hairy filament yarn, which is typically made from silk, nylon, or polyester fibers. Satin sheets will also come with a higher price tag compared to a sateen sheet set.
Made from natural fibers from the cocoons of silkworms, silk tends to be more breathable compared to the synthetic fibers that make up satin, making it great for temperature control. That said, it also comes at a higher cost.
Unlike sateen (woven in a satin weave with spun yarn), silk is able to be woven in a number of ways. Overall the differences really come down to preference. If you can afford to dish out some extra bucks for silk sheets you might benefit from the added breathability. But, if you’re looking for comfortable, and durable sheets at a lower price point, sateen sheets will deliver.
Basically all three fabrics are made using the same weave but with different materials.
Most of the sheet sets we tested were 100% cotton, which is a popular fiber for bedding because it is absorbent, cool, and breathable. When shopping, you may see the terms Pima and Egyptian cotton, which both refer to the staple, or length, of a cotton fiber used in manufacturing. Pima, primarily grown in the U.S., and Egyptian cotton, which is only grown in the U.S., Egypt, and Turkmenistan, are considered long or extra-long staple.
Organic cotton has become popular in recent years, as farmers have commonly used a lot of pesticides and insecticides in growing conventional cotton, making it one of the most chemically intensive crops. If choosing organic bedding is important to you, look for the GOTS Organic or Made with Organic seals on packaging.
So, what is a good thread count in bed sheets? Thread count refers to the number of warp and weft threads in one square inch of fabric. While many assume that a higher thread count automatically equals higher quality, that’s not necessarily true, as thread count can be calculated differently depending on the manufacturing country.
As long as the thread count isn’t ultra-low, say less than 200, you probably don’t need to sweat it. In fact, in our extensive testing, many of the best sheets have a thread count of 250 or 300, so we don’t recommend worrying too much about it.
Camryn Rabideau is a full-time freelance writer and product tester with eight years of experience. She's been lucky enough to test hundreds of products firsthand, and her specialties include bedding and pet products, which often require help from her two dogs, three cats, and flock of rambunctious chickens.
Leigh Harrington has 25 years experience as a writer and editor for myriad print and digital publications.
At USA TODAY and Reviewed, Harrington oversees large appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, and laundry, and manages Reviewed's overall home content, including areas of focus like home improvement, cleaning, gardening, cooking, and parenting. She focuses on developing and editing consumer ed content, product reviews and buying guides, but she also writes, too.
Harrington is also an experienced travel writer, and has authored books including Fodor's Boston, 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die, and Colorful Boston, an adult coloring book. www.leighharrington.com
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