The Best Percale Sheets

There’s nothing like that feeling of falling into bed after a hot summer’s day and feeling the cool, crisp sheets beneath you. The best percale sheets are so comfortable that you don’t even mind curling up with the top sheet over you. In fact, you might even reach for a blanket in the middle of the night. Finding the best percale sheets today requires a bit of digging. Ever since manufacturers have turned wood pulp and polyester into sheet fabric, the once reigning king of cotton sheets has been harder to find.

We’ve put together our top 6 picks of the best percale sheets money can buy, so save yourself the trouble of scouring the internet and simply read through our guide to find the ones you’ll love for years to come. You might be surprised by how great these sheets can be all year-round!

The Top 6 Best Percale Sheets

Percale Sheets Buyers Guide

What’s So Great About Percale?

Percale sheets are not a particular type of fiber or material but rather a type of weave. It’s woven one thread over another consistently to create a tight weave. The result is a sheet that has a matte finish and an airy feel. If you go run your hand over your bedsheets right now. How do they feel? Are they soft, like petting your cat, or do they feel more like you’re stroking a hairless cat? That’s essentially the difference between most sheets on the market today and percale.

Typically, percale sheets are made from 100 percent cotton. Cotton is one of the best fabrics for this weave, as cotton is quite breathable, so it can handle the tight weave. These sheets won’t cling to your skin or likely heat you up at night the way sateen can. Some percale sheets come in a cotton-polyester blend, and that has two effects. One, the sheets are going to be less wrinkly. Two, they’ll likely be softer. On the other hand, though, they’re likely to be warmer and maybe even softer.

If you opt for 100 percent cotton percale sheets, you might notice that the thread count rarely reaches over 300. Many people buy sheets based on high thread count, but that method is no longer fool-proof. Some manufacturers have stretched the truth and their thread count. Thread count indicates how many threads are in one square inch of the fabric. It used to be that this count was a simple way to know just how much cotton is used, and it indicated that long-staple cotton was being used. If a manufacturer uses double or triple-ply threads, which are actually weaker compared to single-ply, then they might inflate the thread count by claiming a 900-thread count, when in fact a set of sheets is only 300.

Percale sheets must have at least 180-thread count, and the higher the count, the higher quality the set should be. These sheets typically resist pilling, so they should last you several years, as long as you pay attention to the care instructions.

For sleepers who get hot at night and for those who live in warmer climates, percale sheets are like a long, cold drink of water. Even if you live in a colder climate, percale sheets can be ideal. Throw a comforter on top of your sheets and get cozy. Your body heat will keep you warm, but you’re not likely to overheat either.

How to Spot Fake Percale Sheets

To make it harder to find great sheets, labeling can be confusing as some manufacturers don’t disclose everything that coats their sheets, so here are a few tips to help you wade through and find the best.

Thread Count

It’s tempting to reach for the 1000-thread count sheets as they clearly have a certain allure to them. They might be softer than a baby’s butt, but it’s more likely that they’ve been treated with silicone to feel super soft right out of the packaging. After a few washes, the treatment wears off, and you’re stuck with expensive, rough, and scratchy sheets. The general rule of thumb is that you should typically stick to 300 to 500 thread-count sheets.

Processing

If your goal is to find sheets that prevent you from overheating in the summer, then you want to avoid sheets with labels that claim the cotton is combed or brushed. They’re softer, but they’re also going to make you warmer, too. It’s more likely to be blended with polyester, and pilling is sure to happen sooner.

Wrinkle-free

There are two ways to find yourself some wrinkle-free sheets. Buy polyester sheets, or buy sheets treated with wrinkle reducers. Neither is going to give you the percale feel you’re looking for. Either make peace with having wrinkly sheets, or get out your iron to remove the creases from your sheets. If you buy percale sheets with a pattern, this can also reduce the look of wrinkles.

How to Care for a Set of Percale Sheets

One of the biggest problems with the sheets you currently own might just be how you’re caring for them. It’s easy to just toss the sheets in the washer and choose the hot water setting to kill off whatever’s on there, add some detergent, bleach, maybe some fabric softener, and run the washer. Then you’ll probably dry them completely in the dryer and you’re done. Instead, here’s what you should do to keep your percale sheets as comfortable and durable as possible for as long as you can.

Cool

Choose the cool or cold water setting on your washer for your sheets. Your percale sheets are sturdy, but you want them to last as long as possible, so this is one way to achieve longevity.

Avoid Bleach, Fabric Softener, Dryer Sheets

Bleach, fabric softener and dryer sheets can all work to weaken the fabric of your sheets. A dryer sheet to avoid static in your clothes is fine once in a while, but you want to lose the bleach and fabric softener for good.

Tumble Dry Low

Choose a low setting on your dryer and whip those sheets out before they’re totally dry. This will help keep the wrinkles at bay and will extend the life of your sheets.

Conclusion

Getting that light and airy feel of a percale sheet is like a hot sleeper’s dream. Many simply can’t get a good night’s rest until they have them. Although there aren’t many percale cotton sheets on the market any longer, there are still some out there that fit the bill. While all those listed here are considered the best percale sheets by any hot sleeper’s standards, there’s one set that you might want to buy again and again.

The Abripedic 22″ Deep Pocket 300TC set seems to be the one that meets the needs of most consumers seeking out trustworthy percale sheets. It has deep enough pockets to fit the thickest of mattresses, includes a flat sheet that’s slightly oversized for a better fit and ample room for rolling over and taking the sheet with you. Regardless of whether you choose this set, or another on the list, you’re likely to wake up feeling refreshed after a restful night’s sleep.

Recent Updates

June 17, 2021: Our #2 pick, the SUPERIOR Cotton Percale Deep Pocket Sheet Set has been replaced with the popular Classic Core Sheet Set by Brooklinen due to product unavailability. A sixth product has been added to the list, the Mayfair Linen 100% Egyptian Cotton Sheets Set, due to the popularity of Egyptian Cotton sheets and being a highly-rated Amazon’s Choice product. Additional FAQs have been included: “What’s the best thread count for percale sheets?”, “What’s the difference between percale and sateen?” and “What’s the right way to wash and dry a percale sheet?” based on common consumer queries.