The Best Sateen Sheets to Buy

Sateen sheets are smooth, silky, and luxurious. With a supple, lavish appearance, sateen sheets add a hint of elegance to a bedroom’s decor. Their somewhat heavy feel and cozy comfort are well suited for winter months and for those who like a snuggly bed.  

We’ve reviewed our 5 top picks for the best sateen sheets. After that, we’ll go into more detail about what sateen sheets are and how to choose the best sateen sheet set for your bedroom. 

Best Sateen Sheets

• Best Sateen Sheets for Sensitive Skin – Casper Sateen Sheets
• Best High Thread Count Sateen Sheets – Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set
• Best Cotton Sateen Sheets – California Design Den Sateen Sheets
• Best Value Sateen Sheets – Pizuna Linens 400 Thread Count
• Best 100% Egyptian Cotton Sateen Sheets – Mayfair Linen Cotton Sateen Sheets

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What Are Sateen Sheets?

Sateen sheets are a silky smooth bedding accessory typically made from long-staple cotton. With an elegant drape and an extravagant feel, sateen is a leading fabric for luxury sheets. When you slip into a bed made with sateen sheets, you’ll be met with a weighty fabric and ultra-soft feel.  

Sateen Sheets vs Percale Sheets

Are you someone who wants your sheets to envelop you with a rich buttery feel that keeps you cozy all night long? Or do you struggle with night sweats and need sheets that are crisp, fresh, and breathable? Your answer to these questions determines if sateen or percale sheets are right for you.

The difference between percale and sateen sheets is not their thread count or fiber, but rather their weave. With a dense three-under one-over weave, the sateen weave creates sheets that are smooth, shiny, and warm. Percale’s one-over one-under weave achieves a lightweight, breathable fabric great for hot sleepers. 

As a general rule, go with a sateen sheet set if you want a warm, silky feel. But if you’re looking for a cool, crisp feel, a percale sheet set is a better fit. 

Read More: Best Percale Sheets

Another difference between the two is how they look. Sateen sheets have a distinctly elegant appearance. They are easy-to-care for and resistant to wrinkles, adding a stylish flair to any bedroom. Percale sheets have a more laid-back appearance, with a matte, crisp finish. 

While it’s easier to keep sateen sheets wrinkle-free, percale sheets are typically more durable. With every wash, percale sheets become softer. Sateen sheets, however, slowly lose their lustrous sheen and are more prone to pilling than percale sheets.

Do sateen sheets keep you cool?

Most sateen sheets are not designed to sleep particularly cool. Their close weave delivers a cozy and warm experience, great for cooler months. Cotton blends, in particular, tend to sleep warmer than 100% cotton sheets and are best for cool months. 

However, because sateen sheets are often made from 100% cotton, they’re relatively breathable and wick away moisture incredibly well. Some sateen sheets are designed to be temperature neutral, sleeping neither warm nor cold. Read the description and reviews before you choose a set of sheets to ensure that you find one that fits your sleep needs. 

Benefits of Sateen Bed Sheets

There are many reasons why sateen bed sheet sets are one of the most popular types of sheets available. These benefits include

1. Their buttery smooth texture: Sateen sheets are exceptionally soft and supple. Because they were designed as a more affordable and durable version of silky satin, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this weave of cotton boasts an exceptionally silky feel. 
2. Their comforting and cozy feel: Sateen fabric is typically heavy and warm, particularly when compared to other types of cotton sheets. When you slip underneath sateen sheets, you will feel embraced by the warm and snuggly fabric. 
3. Their elegant appearance: Sateen is subtly shiny with a generous drape-like appearance. The way they hang is much like a heavy luxury curtain, and it makes a room look and feel opulent. 
4. Their ease of care: Sateen sheets are machine washable and dryable. And because they are wrinkle-resistant, they are even easier to care for than other machine washable sheets. 
5. Their natural fibers: While not all sateen sheets are 100% cotton, many are. For those looking for a safe and eco-friendly option, 100% cotton sateen sheets are an excellent fit. 

Thread Count

Thread count is a measure of the total number of threads, or fibers, in one square inch of fabric. While high thread count once was considered a direct indicator of high-quality sheets, the relationship today is more complicated. The truth is that higher thread count does not always mean better sheets. 

Why does high thread count not always mean quality? 

To start, there is an upper-limit to how many fibers can fit in one square inch. While silk and satin have incredibly thin fibers, cotton threads are thicker. This means that 100% cotton sheets that boast 1,000+ thread count, rather than somewhere around 400 to 600, are likely to be made in an unethical way simply to encourage greater sales. 

There are manufacturers who weave in extra threads just to say that their thread count is higher. These random fibers can actually cause sheets to be less durable and pill easily, getting bumpy after just a few washes. 

Additionally, thread count has an unexpected link to durability. While a moderate thread count can result in durable, smooth sheets, too high of a thread count leads to sheets with poor longevity that are prone to pilling and snagging. 

As a general rule for cotton sheets, the sweet spot ranges from 400 to 600-thread count. When you buy 100% cotton sheets with between 400-600 threads per square inch, you get a fabric that is soft, smooth, and stands the test of time. 

Type of Cotton

When shopping for a high-quality cotton sheet set, the type of cotton is more telling than the thread count. 

Cotton plants create short-staple or long-staple cotton, with the staple referring to the length of the cotton fibers found within. Long-staple cotton creates sheets that are softer and more durable than short-staple cotton. 

Most luxury sheets are made using Egyptian cotton or Pima cotton (known as Supima cotton when grown in the United States). These types of cotton have a long fiber that creates an elegant feel and long-lasting fabric. 

But be careful that you’re buying luxury sheets from a trustworthy company—there are unfortunately sheets out there labeled as Egyptian cotton sheets that are not made using Egyptian cotton. Some dishonest manufacturers use the phrase to sell sheets that are not made from this type of cotton. 

Temperature Regulation

Maintaining a comfortable body temperature is key to sleeping soundly through the night. If your bedroom temperature fluctuates with the seasons, you may find yourself hot and sweaty during the summer and chilly come winter. Yet others seem to always run too hot or too cold.

The majority of sateen sheets are best for cold sleepers or use during chilly months. Their heavy drape and super soft feel envelopes sleepers in a silky, warm embrace. 

There are other sateen sheets designed to be temperature neutral, making them a good choice for year-round use. We love temperature neutral sateen bedding for those whose household temperature remains constant throughout the year.

If you are someone who wakes up hot and sticky, percale sheets or linen sheets are a better fit.

Read More: Best Linen Sheets

Easy Care

Sateen sheets are easy to care for. To keep your sheets looking and feeling like new for years to come, wash them in cold water with a mild detergent. You do not need to use fabric softener to achieve sateen’s luscious feel. 

To dry sateen sheets, use your dryer’s lowest setting. The air dry setting limits damage to the cotton fibers, increasing its longevity. 

One thing that customers love about sateen sheets is that they are resistant to wrinkling. You don’t need to promptly remove sateen sheets from the dryer for them to stay wrinkle-free, making them one of the easiest types of sheets to care for. 

Note that some sateen sheets, particularly those made using a quality cotton blend, can be washed and dried on warmer temperatures, and others may recommend line drying for the best results. Read the care instructions on your sheets to ensure many years of snuggly use.

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Summary: What Are the Best Sateen Sheets?

The best sateen sheets are made using long-staple cotton with a thread count between 400 and 600. Always opt for trustworthy brands to ensure that you’re getting the quality and comfort that you pay for.

Sateen sheets are a top pick for consumers that enjoy a silky smooth texture and cozy feel. Sateen fabric is incredibly soft and slightly heavy, making it ideal for warmer months. With a luxurious drape and wrinkle-resistance, sateen sheets add an elegant feel to any bedroom’s decor.

If you’re looking for more great sheets in different styles, check out our best sheets buying guide.