What is sateen? The silky smooth weave that's ideal for sensitive sleepers

If you know you need new sheets, and you're looking to stay warm in the winter weather, you should consider a sateen set. Plant fibers are tightly knit in a three-threads-over, one-thread-under pattern to trap heat and wick moisture, keeping you just the right side of warm and dry. 

Sateen isn't a type of fiber, but a kind of weave. You'll see sateen sheets made from all sorts of materials, from durable cotton to breathable bamboo, sold in all the major sleep stores and home retailers. 

As a sleep writer, it's my job to break down the bedding buzzwords and help you find the best bed sheets that suit your sleep needs. I can tell you that, while sateen sheets might work well for cool sleepers and colder weather, they're far less suitable for the summer months, and they might be too silky smooth for some sleepers. 

This article should tell you everything you need to know about sateen sheets, from how they're made to how they wash. If you like what you read, and you're keen to invest in a sateen set, then you should stick around until the end. I've rounded up a few of my favorite sateen sets to suit every style of room and size of budget. 

What is sateen?

Sateen sheets are so called because they're meant to mimic the premium feel of satin at a more affordable price point. Where satin sheets are made from silk, sateen sheets tend to be made from plant fibers, such as long-staple cotton or bamboo. 

To weave a sateen sheet, you need to follow a three-threads-over, one-thread-under pattern, while a satin sheet features four or more threads going over a single thread. Such a tight weave forms a thick and heavy sheet that traps heat and keeps you cozy. 

All those exposed threads should feel soft against your skin and catch the light to create an attractive sheen. Sateen might not feel quite as silky as the real thing, but it's a good deal smoother than plain old cotton or percale. 

What are the benefits of sleeping under sateen?

If you tend to sleep cool, or you live in a colder climate, you'll quickly feel the benefit of sateen sheets. This complex weave features fewer interlacings than a simple criss-cross pattern, so there are fewer gaps for cold air to sneak through. That's why sateen sheets make such good winter warmers.

I would recommend sateen sheets, in particular sateen pillowcases, for sleepers with sensitive skin. Your face should glide right over the soft fabric, which is smooth enough not to irritate eczema or aggravate acne. 

Not only do sateen sheets sleep cool and feel smooth, but they wash well, too. While you should always check the care tag before you do your first load of laundry, you should be safe to throw your sateen sheets in the washing machine, then straight into the dryer, without worrying about folds and creases. As weaves go, sateen is inherently wrinkle-resistant, but if you're uber-neat might want to iron their sheets for the smoothest possible finish.

What are the downsides of sleeping under sateen?

It should go without saying, but it bears repeating that tightly woven sheets might be less suitable for hot sleepers and warmer weather. If you live in a temperate climate, and you're shopping for all-season sheets, you might be better off with the best cotton percale bed sheets. These sheets are simply woven with more interlacings to boost breathability. 

While sateen sheets work well for sleepers with sensitive skin, they might not be quite so gentle on your hair. It all depends which material is woven into sateen. Water-wicking fibers, such as cotton and bamboo, will draw moisture from your hair and could cause it to lose its luster. If you want to start your journey towards clearer skin and cleaner hair, you should consider investing in the best silk pillowcase.

Which are the best sateen bed sheets?

As H&G's resident sleep writer, I test sheets for weeks, if not months, to monitor their performance over time. We rank each sheet set on the basis of comfort, the quality of construction, any cooling or warming properties, as well as the all-important price. After that, we strip the bed, wash the sheets, and make the bed again to give you the fullest possible picture of what it might be like to sleep under these sheets. 

I've tested all sorts of sheet sets. For cozy comfort, sateen comes out on top. I've listed a few of my favorite sateen sets below. Some are made from cotton, others from bamboo, but all feature the silky softness and sheen of top-quality sateen. 

Sateen bed sheets FAQs

Final thoughts

Even the best sateen sheets might develop a wrinkle or two over time. If you're keen to avoid creases, then it's worth learning how to fold fitted sheets to keep them neat and save space in your linen closet.

If you know you need new sheets, and you want to take stock of all your options, then you're in luck. We've listed all the bed sheet types and laid out their pros and cons to help you find the material and weave that suits your needs.