Written by Tony Klespis, Staff Writer
There are two main weave styles used for sheets: percale and sateen. The sateen weave makes sheets feel very soft, while the percale weave makes sheets feel crisp. If you prefer smooth and silky bedding, you may want to consider getting one of the best percale sheets.
I’ve tested hundreds of bedding products, and for this list, I considered over 20 different percale sheets. Ultimately, only six made the cut. Whether you’re looking for something made from bamboo or cotton, I’ve got some great options for you.
Our Top Picks for the Best Sateen Sheets
- Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets – Editor’s Pick
- LUXOME Luxury Sheet Set – Softest Sateen Sheets
- Peacock Alley Soprano Sateen Sheets – Best Luxury Sateen Sheets
- Puffy Bamboo Sheets – Best Bamboo Sateen Sheets
- Brooklinen Luxe Core Set – Best Cotton Sateen Sheets
- Birch Organic Sheets – Best Organic Sateen Sheets
Our Verdict: What’s the Best Set of Sateen Sheets?
I named the Saatva Organic Sateen sheets the best sateen sheets on the market. These sheets feel soft, smooth, and lightweight. They should be a good, year-round pick and should last several years with good care. Saatva also uses 100% certified organic cotton, making them appeal to eco-conscious shoppers, too.
How We Choose our Products
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed hundreds of bed sheets with the sateen wave, using proprietary methodology and hands-on testing. When it came to creating the list of the best sateen sheets, I paid close attention to durability and the quality of the materials.
Because the sateen weave feels much different than the percale weave, it’s important to learn the difference between the two. While percale sheets are usually only made with cotton, sateen sheets can be made with both cotton and bamboo. Be sure to check out the buyer’s guide after the list to learn more about what to consider when shopping for a set of percale sheets.
The Best Sateen Sheets 2024: Our Video Review
Editor’s Pick – Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets
Saatva Organic Sateen Sheet Set
If you’re looking for a five-star luxury hotel look and feel to your sheets, the Saatva Organic Sateen sheets will do the trick. They feel ultra soft because of the sateen weave.
Mattress Clarity Score
5.00 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
If you want your sheets to luxurious and high-end, then our editor’s pick should do the trick. Saatva’s Organic Sateen sheets are a super soft set of cotton sheets. They come in three colors, but the white set will make your bed look like it came right out of a hotel.
The cotton used to make these sheets is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified. This means that cotton is harvested responsibly and is grown in a way that is ecologically safe and sustainable. This is the gold standard for organic products.
They feel super breathable, too. Sateen sheets can have a tendency to trap heat, but with a lower thread count of 300, these sheets have lots of room for airflow.
What We Love About the Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets
- They work well for hot sleepers, because they’re made with breathable cotton and have a lower thread count.
- The sateen weave makes these sheets feel very soft, and with long-staple cotton, the sheets are also quite durable.
- These sheets are GOTS certified, so they’re a good choice for those who are looking for an eco-friendly set of sheets.
What to Keep In Mind About the Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets
- These are a pricey set of sheets. A queen-size set costs around $275 at full price. Saatva does offer financing, but these might not fit every budget.
- They’re only offered in white, gray, or ivory color options. Not the widest variety for those who prefer a splash of color in their bedding.
Read my full Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets review.
Softest Sateen Sheets – LUXOME
LUXOME Luxury Sheet Set
The LUXOME Luxury Sheet Set offers 400 thread count bamboo for sleepers who want soft, cool bedding.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.90 / 5
Our Expert’s Take
Some of the softest sateen sheets I’ve encountered are the LUXOME Luxury sheets. Made with 100% bamboo viscose, the LUXOME Luxury sheets have a soft, silk-like feel. Bamboo sheets have a soft feel to begin with, so when you couple that with the smooth sateen weave, you get some of the softest sheets out there.
I love LUXOME because of this soft feeling, but bamboo sheets are also great for hot sleepers like myself because they’re breathable and moisture-wicking. They also feel fairly lightweight.
What We Love About the LUXOME Luxury Sheet Set
- These sheets feel luxuriously soft.
- There are a variety of solid color options available.
- Bamboo is a fairly durable material. So, with good care, these sheets should last several years.
What to Keep In Mind About the LUXOME Luxury Sheet Set
- Because of how soft and smooth these sheets are, some customers reported that they felt very slick on the bed. This could mean that they shift around a bit too much or become loose after being tucked in. Or some might just feel like they’re sliding around on the sheets to much.
Read the full LUXOME Luxury sheets review.
Best Luxury – Peacock Alley
Peacock Alley Soprano Sateen Sheet Set
The Peacock Alley Soprano Sateen sheets are a set of luxury cotton sheets, perfect for cotton lovers who love smooth sheets.
Our Expert’s Take
Peacock Alley makes a number of sheets, but if you prefer a cotton set with the sateen weave, the Soprano Sateen set is a good choice — especially if you’re willing to splurge.
These sheets have a lightweight feel, but they’re good for year-round use. The sateen weave retains heat a bit better than other weave styles, so they’ll feel nice and cozy in cold months, but they should still feel breathable during hot months.
Peacock Alley uses 100% long-staple cotton. This means the cotton fibers are made into long threads, which actually helps the fibers last longer than other types of cotton. So while these are a luxury pick, they should last a long time.
What We Love About the Peacock Alley Soprano Sateen Sheets
- These sheets are offered in seven colors.
- The fitted sheet has pockets that are 17″ deep. This can help the sheet fit taller beds and help the fitted sheet stay secure on the bed.
- It’s good for year-round use. Cotton is a breathable material, so it should work well for hot months. But the sateen weave gives it a slightly cozy feel, helping you stay warm in cold months.
What to keep In Mind About the Peacock Alley Soprano Sateen Sheets.
- A queen-size set costs $555, so they’re not very budget-friendly.
Read the full Peacock Alley Soprano Sateen sheets review.
Best Bamboo Sateen – Puffy
Puffy Signature Sheets
Puffy is known for their cloud-like beds, and the company’s bamboo sheets will really make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. These bamboo sheets are cooling, have deep pockets, and will help give you a great night of sleep!
Mattress Clarity Score
4.90 / 5
Read Full Review
Our Expert’s Take
My favorite set of bamboo sheets with the sateen weave just so happens to be the set of sheets I sleep on every night: the Puffy Bamboo sheets. Here’s why I chose them as my personal set.
These sheets prevent me from overheating and keep me cool throughout the night. Bamboo is naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, which is a combo that hot sleepers should always be on the lookout for.
Bamboo is softer than cotton, and when combined with the sateen weave, these feel very soft and satin-like. If you’re anything like me and don’t like that crispness cotton can have, check out bamboo.
These sheets should also last a long time! Bamboo is very durable and can last up to five years with good care. But if you purchase a set from Puffy, you get a lifetime warranty.
What We Love About the Puffy Bamboo Sheets
- They are some of the best sateen sheets for hot sleepers due to bamboo’s breathability and moisture-wicking properties.
- Bamboo is a durable material. With Puffy’s lifetime warranty, these sheets should last a long time.
- They don’t feel as crisp as cotton sheets. If you prefer that satin-like feeling to your sheets, this is a great choice.
What to Keep In Mind About the Puffy Bamboo Sheets
- Puffy only offers these sheets in white or gray color options. Some might want bamboo sheets to come in different color options.
Read my Puffy Bamboo Sheets review.
Best Cotton Sateen Sheets – Brooklinen Luxe Core
Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheets
The Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheets are a great luxury pick and also help with temperature regulation.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.60 / 5
Read Full ReviewOur Expert’s Take
If you’re a big fan of cotton sheets and want to use them year-round, check out Brooklinen’s Luxe core sheet set.
One of my favorite things about these sheets is found in the fitted sheet. Brooklinen put in “long” and “short” side labels to take the guesswork out of putting on your fitted sheet. So, if you’re anything like me, you’ll enjoy getting that sheet on the bed the right way every time.
Brooklinen sells the Luxe set in black, white, and black and white design options. However, the company does sell this sheet set in some limited edition colors and design options. If you’re looking for something more vibrant, be sure to nab a set before they’re gone.
What We Love About the Brooklinen Luxe Core Set
- No more turning the fitted sheet 90 degrees when you realize you have the wrong side — the “long” and “short” labels take out the guesswork.
- Brooklinen offers black and white color options to match any scheme, but there’s also a variety of limited edition colors.
- They’re quite durable, thanks to the long-staple cotton.
What to Keep In Mind About the Brooklinen Luxe Core Set
- These sheets should be good for year-round use, but they’re thicker than some other choices on this list. Because of this, they may not be the best for exceptionally hot sleepers.
Read my full Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set review.
Best Organic – Birch
Birch Organic Sheets
The Birch Organic Sheets features eco-friendly materials and is a great match for hot sleepers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.10 / 5
Read Full Review
Our Expert’s Take
It’s nice knowing a company has gone above and beyond to make something certified organic. Birch makes great organic mattresses, and the company’s sheets are equally eco-friendly.
The Birch organic sheets are made from GOTS-certified cotton. As mentioned, this is the gold standard for organic products. Birch also has a Fair Trade certification, meaning these sheets are produced with the social and economic well-being of the craftspeople involved in the production process.
These sheets feel buttery smooth. With a lower thread count, they should be a great option for hot sleepers, and they have some moisture-wicking properties, too!
What We Love About the Birch Organic Sheets
- They’re certified organic sheets, and they have a Fair Trade certification.
- They’re great for hot sleepers, because they’re breathable and moisture-wicking.
- You have five color options to choose from.
What to Keep In Mind About the Birch Organic Sheets
- At full price, these sheets cost around $225, which isn’t the most budget-friendly. They should, however, last several years with good care. Plus, Birch includes these sheets in seasonal discounts.
Read my full Birch Organic Sheets review.
What are Sateen Sheets?
There are two main weave styles used for sheets: percale and sateen. Percale weave sheets tend to feel much crisper than sateen sheets. And if you think about it, sateen sounds like satin, which is what sateen sheets tend to feel like.
Sateen sheets are made with thicker threads and a looser weave, which is what makes them feel much softer than percale sheets. If you’re not a big fan of that crisp, fresh pressed shirt feel that percale sheets have, consider looking into a set of sheets with a sateen weave.
If you’d like to learn about all the differences between percale and sateen sheets, I have a full article for you to check out.
What to Look for in Sateen Sheets
Here are a few key categories to consider when shopping for the best sateen sheets.
Feel
As I mentioned, sateen sheets feel soft, smooth, and similar to satin. Most sateen sheets can be made from cotton, so sometimes they’ll have that crispness associated with cotton. But they won’t have that crisp, pressed shirt feel to them.
Sateen is a popular weave for bamboo sheets. In fact, many of the bamboo sheets I’ve reviewed feature this weave style. Bamboo on its own feels softer than cotton, so coupled with this weave, they will feel luxuriously soft.
Thread Count
If our list is any indicator, thread count varies significantly. However, with sateen weaves, thread count has its place. The higher the thread count, the softer a set of sheets will feel.
While there’s no “one size fits all” answer to the question of “what’s the best thread count for sheets,” a general range for the best sateen sheets is 300 to 600.
Care
The best sateen sheets have very simple and easy care instructions. All of the sheets on this list are machine-washable! This ease of care makes them very accessible to most sheet shoppers.
However, care instructions can vary, so it’s important that you fully read what the manufacturer recommends.
Durability
With good care, the best sateen sheets can last a good while. Most of the sheets I put on this list have a one-year warranty or more. So they should last at least that long, if not more.
However, sateen sheets tend to pill more than percale sheets. This can limit a set’s lifespan depending on how quickly the pilling happens.
RELATED: Best Sheets for the Money
Breathability
Sateen sheets trap heat more than percale sheets. Even with a looser weave, the fact that these sheets use thicker threads mean they aren’t as breathable.
This is also where thread count comes into play. The lower the thread count, the more opportunity there is for air to flow through the sheets with ease. Sheets with higher thread counts tend to trap more heat.
Materials
You’ll often see best sateen sheets made with some type of cotton, but bamboo is also a popular material for this weave style. In fact, these are the only two materials you’ll see in sateen sheets.
The weave style makes them feel soft and smooth, but cotton and bamboo feel quite different from one another. Take a look at our bamboo vs cotton article to read all the differences.
Sateen Sheets Pros & Cons
Here’s a quick reference to the pros and cons of sateen sheets.
| Pros | Cons |
| They are much softer and smoother than crisp sheets. | They often retain more heat than percale sheets. |
| They are more wrinkle-resistant than percale sheets. | They are prone to pilling more often. |
| Sateen sheets feel very cozy. | They might lose their sheen after multiple washes. |
Summary
| Sheets | Best For |
| Saatva Organic Sateen Sheets | Editor’s Pick |
| LUXOME Luxury Sheet Set | Softest Sateen Sheets |
| Peacock Alley Soprano Sateen Sheets | Best Luxury Sateen Sheets |
| Puffy Bamboo Sheets | Best Bamboo Sateen Sheets |
| Brooklinen Luxe Core Set | Best Cotton Sateen Sheets |
| Birch Organic Sheets | Best Organic Sateen Sheets |
The Best Sateen Sheets FAQs
How long do sateen sheets last?
All of the sheets on this list have a minimum warranty of one year. More durable materials like long-staple cotton should last you at least two years. Bamboo sheets are very durable and should last you at least five.
These sheets also have relatively simple and easy care instructions, so with good care, they should last you a while!
Do sateen sheets wrinkle?
Sateen sheets are a great option if you’re not a fan of visually unappealing wrinkles. These sheets are more resistant to wrinkling over percale sheets. However, they tend to pill more often than percale sheets.
Are sateen sheets good quality?
The short answer is yes!
All the sheets on our list are made with high-quality materials. I’ve tested all of them and can attest to that. Sateen sheets are a great option if you don’t love that crisp feel to sheets and are looking for something similar to softer, satin-like sheets.
