The Best Sateen Sheets for Your Bed

There’s something incredibly luxurious about slipping in between the best sateen sheets when you crawl into bed. They have that undeniably appealing satiny sheen to them, and they feel softer than they should. These sheets are typically thicker and warmer than other sheets you’ve used. And when you run your hand across the top, it almost feels like you’re petting your sheets the way you might with a long-haired cat. What makes the best sateen sheets so amazing? The answer lies in the process, the cotton – and the weave. To find the right set of sateen sheets for your bed, keep reading. You’ll learn more about whether sateen sheets are what you want, and which ones would be perfect for your mattress.

The Best Sateen Sheets

Why Would You Want Sateen Sheets?

If you’ve ever looked at a piece of satin and thought how amazing it might feel to sleep on, then sateen sheets might be the answer for you. Of course, sleeping on satin isn’t all it seems. Satin tends to be slippery and sweaty. It may seem romantic and sexy at first but spend a few hours with satin sheets wrapped around you, and you might be begging for release … from the sheets, that is.

Sateen sheets share the lustrous sheen of satin because they’re made in a similar fashion. Threads are laid on a loom vertically, and this is called the warp. In a sateen weave, there are several threads that make up the warp thread section. The weft thread is what is woven on top and underneath the warp threads. The difference is that more of the weft thread is exposed than the warp thread, which contributes to the shiny look of a sateen weave. It sort of catches the light.

What that weave also means is that you’re going to feel the waft thread first and foremost. To ensure your sheets are super soft when using a sateen weave, most manufacturers use combed cotton or a strong, soft single-ply long-staple cotton. The yarn used is generally thicker, too. Those details matter because it means your sheets are going to feel thicker, heavier, and generally warmer.

Sateen sheets are meant to be incredibly soft, beautifully shiny, and noticeably warmer. These are the sheets you want to sleep on and under during the cold winter months. You shouldn’t slip and slide on these sheets, but you will feel as though you’re gliding into bed (especially with freshly shaved legs).

Percale Sheets

On the opposite side of the spectrum are percale sheets. They’re just as luxurious and well-made as sateen, but they have a looser weave and are not made of combed cotton, therefore they aren’t quite as soft. Rather, they’re crisp and have a matte feel to them. They’re perfect for those who tend to sleep on the hot side.

Are Sateen Sheets Only Made from Cotton?

The short answer to that question is: No. Sateen is more of a process, a weave, rather than fabric-specific. However, cotton is the most common fabric used for sheets, especially for luxury sheets. Sateen sheets come in a variety of fabrics that are still considered luxurious, and people pay a pretty penny for them. For example, modal is an up-and-coming fabric that produces a sumptuous feel and is often made with the sateen weave to get that shiny look to the sheets.

There are also budget versions of sateen sheets that are typically made from a cotton blend. You can find these sheets at a price point well below the typical 100 percent cotton sateen sheets that are on the market – like, less than $50 for a set. The benefit of these lower quality sheets is that they still have that super-soft feel to them at a lower cost. However, a cotton and polyester blend is going to sleep a bit warmer than a 100 percent cotton product. Polyester is synthetic, and it doesn’t breathe the way natural fabrics do. There are other benefits to a cotton blend, though. One, colors appear deeply saturated, and they don’t fade as quickly after being washed several times. Two, these sheets are typically quite durable, and they’re wrinkle-resistant.

So, there are benefits and drawbacks to any fabric you choose. It’s important to just pick a fabric you know you like or that you will like based on the properties of the fabric. Then spend a little more, if necessary, to get exactly what you want.

What Are the Major Differences Between Sateen and Satin?

Satin was once the number one choice for sheets when it came to luxury and that symbolic, romantic look. Unfortunately, satin silk sheets are too expensive for most people, so the majority of satin sheets on the market are made from polyester, which takes away from the sheets’ quality, longevity, and overall feeling of luxury. But now that there’s an affordable natural fabric alternative to choose over it, satin is no longer the most craved for option. Sateen appeared as a quite good solution that solves some of the apparent issues that satin has, but without fully replacing it. Right off the bat, you can notice that the major difference is in the fabric – more precisely in the weave method. Unique weaving patterns brought on a variety of differences that can make your experiences with these two seemingly similar materials wholly different. Here are some of the most prominent differences between satin and sateen weave:

Breathability

Satin was always synonymous with quality and luxury. But once you get to experience this fabric in every circumstance, you can notice some clear downsides. And once you compare it to sateen, you really get a great idea of how different they can be. One major difference is breathability. Nowadays, satin is not always 100% pure silk – it is often made from a blend of nylon and polyester. These artificial, synthetic fabrics are known for having no ability to “breathe” – leaving you literally sweating in your sheets. Sateen on the other hand features cotton almost exclusively – showcasing totally different properties in every aspect, one of these being better breathability. Cotton is well known as being a multi-season material, so whether you need to be cool in the summer or warm in the winter, this difference is crucial.

Durability

Cotton fabric – and sateen sheets especially – are well known for their exceptional durability. Due to the natural resilience of the cotton, as well as the chemical processing that emphasizes its strength, sateen sheets have a great ability to withstand wear and tear and will last you a long time. Satin sheets, on the other hand, are much more gentle, and often can’t be machine washed, instead of requiring a trip to the dry cleaners. Moreover, they might require the addition of fabric softener to retain their sleek flexibility – sateen sheets do not, and are much simpler to wash and dry.

Comfort

Sheets are all about comfort and a natural feel – in all seasons. Sateen sheets are specifically designed to be shiny and sleek, but at the same time incredibly soft and comfortably warm in the winter months, yet cool to touch in the hotter months of the year. Cotton is a great insulator that adapts to different seasons and can be used throughout the year. Satin sheets on the other hand are noticeably different when comfort is in question. Their silky sleek texture is often for acquired tastes only – sliding and slipping is a big issue for many, as is the lack of breathability that can make these sheets feel clingy and damp in the summer months.

Price

High-quality, pure silk satin can be very pricey and unattainable to many. Sateen sheets are an affordable substitute that gives you the same look of satin without the need to break the bank to get that fancy feel. For many, satin is all about that luxurious, shiny look, and sateen copies exactly this, while utilizing the beneficial aspects of cotton in order to offer a solution that is both attractive and practical.

Features to Look for in the Best Sateen Sheets

The best sateen sheets are sleek, thick, and softer than you could imagine, but they’re also breathable. You should be able to use them year-round, but they still may be warmer than other sheets. The tight weave should resist snags, tears, and pilling, but lesser quality items may still show early signs of wear.

Thread count isn’t a big deal when it comes to sheets anymore because many manufacturers have goofed the thread count by counting triple- or double-ply threads as being the same as single-play threads, when in fact, they are not. A good thread count to aim for would be somewhere between 300 and 600. Finally, it’s important to read through the best sateen sheets reviews to get an idea of how others felt about the sheets before you add anything to your cart.

Conclusion

You might expect the best sateen sheets to be those classic cotton sheets that are thick and heavy, but times are changing and so is technology. Manufacturers have the ability to create some of the softest fabrics out of other natural fabrics and make them even more eco-friendly than the fabrics you’re accustomed to. While all the sheets reviewed here are the best sateen sheets in their own way, there’s one set that sets itself apart from the rest.

The Cariloha Resort Bamboo Sheets by 4 Piece Bed Sheet Set are a much more expensive choice compared to other sheet sets, but it could be worth the price to you if you treasure a silky soft feel to your sheets. They’re easy to care for, and they stay soft wash after wash. They’re also much lighter in weight compared to cotton, which makes them comfortable even in the heat of summer. It also helps that bamboo is naturally breathable and wicks moisture away, which keeps you dry and either warm in the winter or cool in the summer. It’s hard to find a better set of sateen sheets than these.