Having grown up with a mother who had extremely high standards for bedding, I am now very particular about the quality of my sheets. One-hundred percent cotton is a non-negotiable, whether I'm shopping for lightweight percale sheets
or a set of the best cotton sateen sheets. If you're looking for the luxurious, buttery bedding set of your dreams, it's definitely sateen. The best sateen sheets have the look and feel of sumptuous five-star hotel bedding — the kind that envelopes you in softness and sets you up for restorative rest.
When I tested this bedding, I treated it with the same critical eye as if I were buying it for myself, looking for exceptional quality, softness, and details like continuous elastic on the fitted sheet and perfect edging on the pillowcases. Sateen sheets are made from long-staple cotton with a subtle sheen and generally feel satiny, warm and durable, especially compared to breezy linen sheets
. For this story, I tested nine machine-washable sateen sheet sets over several months from brands like Lands' End and Brooklinen, washing, drying, and sleeping on them.
In this story
Best sateen sheets of 2025
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Sizes:Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Color:Vista (shown), Tempest Blue, Dusk Gray, Sand, White, Misty Rose and Driftwood | Max mattress depth:Up to 15" | Care instructions:Machine wash, tumble dry low
Why this pick won:These Silk & Snow sheets feel exceptionally soft. Their thread count is a modest 300, a good reminder that a higher thread count doesn’t always mean better . In this case, certified Egyptian cotton is likely responsible for the sheets' luxurious handfeel, and the lower thread count allows for a looser, more breathable weave.
Though they are technically sateen, these sheets have a cool feel that's closer to percale, making them an ideal hybrid, especially for hot sleepers. To that end, they also performed well in our moisture-wicking test.
I appreciated the elegant design touches, including envelope-style pillowcases that keep pillows in place during the night and a neatly hemmed border on the flat sheet. One detail that I was unpleasantly surprised by was the elastic on the fitted sheet; unlike most other fitted sheets we tested, this elastic only went around the top and bottom of the sheet, not around the sides, which leads me to wonder how well it will hold up in the long term.
Best for:Hot sleepers
- Cooler and more breathable than other sateen sheets
- Soft, lived-in feel after washing
- Certified Egyptian cotton
- Generous return policy: 100 nights from the day you receive them
- Elastic on fitted sheet does not go around the entire perimeter
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Sizes:Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Color:Brown (shown, but no longer available), white, beige, gray, dark blue | Max mattress depth:Up to 18" | Care instructions:Machine wash, tumble dry low
While Costco does not advertise that these are sateen sheets on its packaging, the satiny texture and sheen are dead giveaways. We also checked their website for more details, and it specifies that the sheets are made from pima cotton, a high-quality, long-staple fiber.
Where this Kirkland bedding really stands out is the deep-pocket fitted sheet: It includes helpful labels, indicating the top and bottom, can accommodate mattresses up to 18 inches and features an extra elastic band in the corners to keep the sheet firmly in place until you're ready to remove it from the mattress.
For a mere $80, you get a sheet set that includes the usual flat and fitted sheets, plus four pillowcases, as opposed to the standard two. There's nothing flimsy about these sheets; in fact, they feel thick, tightly woven and durable. What accompanies that is considerable warmth, which can be a plus or a minus depending on your preference. Overall, these are a solid choice and offer an excellent value.
Best for:Tall mattresses and mattresses with toppers
- Includes four pillowcases
- Affordable
- Fits mattresses up to 18" deep
- Made with pima cotton for softness and durability
- Messy stitching and loose threads
- Not suitable for hot sleepers
Kristin Granero/Yahoo
Sizes:Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Color:Fresh Moss (shown), Storm, Abyss and 16 other shades/patterns | Max mattress depth:Up to 14" | Care instructions:Machine wash cold, tumble dry low
Fellow Yahoo home writer Kristin Granero chose these as the best luxury sateen sheet pick because they hit the sweet spot for beauty, durability and affordability (within the luxury category).
The sheets, made of Oeko-Tex-certified long-staple cotton, are soft and cool to the touch. They're crisp like Brooklinen's classic core sheet set , which is made of cotton percale, but with a sheen.
She had no issues making her bed, despite having a 12-inch-thick mattress, and the bottom sheet stayed put over the course of her three-night sleep test. The pillowcases have an envelope closure in the back, which keeps them in check.
The set maintained most of its size after two wash-and-dry cycles (the pillowcases only shrank one inch), with no signs of color fading. These sheets also wrinkled the least after drying compared to any she tested in the luxury category.
Outside of these tests, Granero has owned several Luxe Sateen Core sheet sets for a few years now, and they show no signs of wear. They currently come in 19 colors, including seasonal and limited-edition shades and patterns — and they're often discounted by 20%.
Best for:Design lovers looking for a variety of colors and patterns
- Cool and crisp to the touch
- Oeko-Tex-certified
- Hardly shrank after machine-washing and -drying
- 19 color and pattern options
- Fitted sheet pockets aren't as deep as some others we tested
- Took longer than other luxury sheets to absorb water
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Sizes:Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King | Color:Shale gray (shown), Dusty Blue, Ivory, Light Fog and 8 other colors | Max mattress depth:Up to 18" | Care instructions:Machine wash, tumble dry low
When I think of dependable, quality products, Lands' End comes to mind, and its sheets are no different. These high-quality sateen sheets are truly superior in terms of softness and wrinkle-resistance. Yes, I said wrinkle-resistance ... I found that the brand's "no-wrinkle finishing process," which it claims gives the sheets a "pressed appearance right from the dryer for up to 30 launderings," is mostly accurate, as long as you remove them promptly.
The 400-thread-count sheets performed well in our moisture-wicking assessment, retaining their saturated color after each washing machine and dryer cycle. I had no trouble pulling the fitted sheet over the corners of my mattress and keeping it there. My only complaint? The stitching at the corners of the flat sheet was a bit sloppy and had a few loose threads.
Slipping into these sheets was very comforting. They're made from Supima cotton , an abbreviation for superior pima cotton, which connotes extra-long-staple fibers grown exclusively in the U.S. Known for their softness, strength, and color retention, these fibers are a hallmark of fine cotton.
Best for:Personalization — these sheets can be monogrammed
- More wrinkle-resistant than other sateen sheets we tested
- Extremely soft
- Deep pocket on fitted sheet
- Comes in a wide range of colors
- A few loose threads at the corners
- Expensive
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Sizes:Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Color:Gulf Blue (shown), White, Ivory, Spice, Ivy and 22 other colors | Max mattress depth:Up to 16" (deep fitted sheet for up to 21" mattress is also available) | Care instructions:Machine wash, tumble dry low
These lustrous sheets are made from 100% long-staple cotton that truly drapes around your body, providing the utmost warmth and coziness. Their softness and substantial thickness are remarkable. On a really cold night, these are the sheets you want to snuggle into, but if you run hot, I would say this isn't the set for you.
Cuddledown offers this bedding in a veritable rainbow of shades. Do you prefer to skip the flat sheet and buy three pillow cases plus a deep-pocket fitted sheet? That's no problem. The brand lets you purchase its sheets by the piece, so you're not stuck with a set that doesn't meet your needs.
And then there's the guarantee — Cuddledown offers a 90-day return window. That's truly generous, allowing you to sleep on the sheets and wash them repeatedly before deciding if they're a match.
Best for:Cold weather
- Sheets are available in 27 colors
- Fitted sheet is also available in a size that accommodates up to a 21" mattress
- Liberal return policy
- Oeko-Tex-certified
- These may be too warm for hot sleepers
Factors to consider when choosing sateen sheets
Sateen sheets are woven from long-staple cotton. This enhances the fabric's softness and creates its satiny texture and warmth. When shopping for sateen, here are some things to keep in mind:
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Feel:Sateen sheets are considered warm due to a satiny, more substantial feel that drapes over your body and may work best in cooler climates or during fall and winter. Some feel rougher than others at the onset, but the material does become softer with time and repeated washing and drying. If your family prefers even cozier bedding, you may want to try flannel sheets.
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Durability:Sateen's tight weave makes it quite durable. I found that only one of the nine sheet sets I tested seemed flimsy in its construction.
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Appearance:Sateen sheets should have a subtle sheen with few wrinkles, but that's generally only possible if you fold them fresh from the dryer.
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Care:You'll find that most sateen sheet care instructions are similar. Expect to wash the sheets in warm or cool water with your favorite laundry detergent and tumble dry low.
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Price:Sateen sheets vary tremendously in price. Our testing pool ranged from $50 to $500 and beyond for a queen-size set.
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Thread count:Sateen sheets tend to feature a 300 to 1,000 thread count, but a higher count does not necessarily mean better . What matters most is the quality of the long-staple fibers used to create the fabric.
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Certifications:Though any type of sheet can be certified organic or made using Fair Trade practices, you'll often see high-quality sateen sheets labeled as one or more of the following.
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Oeko-Tex: This indicates that the sheets have been tested against a list of over 1,000 harmful substances.
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GOTS: A certification given to organic sheets that meet the Global Organic Textile Standard's environmental regulations.
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Fair Trade: Products that come from companies with this certification fulfill a Trade Standard for a more responsible, sustainable way of operating.
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How we tested sateen sheets
Because we tested these sheets at home, using our own washers and dryers and sleeping on them in our own beds, we wanted to get a professional take on how to best gauge quality, durability and more without the benefit of professional equipment or a lab. We consulted three fabric experts: Kim Romine, a fabric care scientist at P&G ; Liz Eggert, a senior textile scientist at P&G Fabric Care ; and Meredith McQuerry, associate professor and director of the ThermaNOLE Comfort Lab and Textile Testing Laboratory at Florida State University . To rank on this list, the sheets had to excel in the following:
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First impressions:I carefully surveyed each set of sateen sheets upon arrival, taking note of design elements, softness and coolness, as well as excessive wrinkling, loose threads, snags and any other imperfections. I also measured the pillowcases from each set and set one aside as a control for post-laundry assessments.
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Spill test:I used a dropper to apply the same amount of water to a sheet from each set to gauge how well it might handle the occasional spill or moisture. The quicker the water is absorbed and spread, the better the indicator of moisture-wicking.
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Laundry test:After opening each set of sheets, I put it through one cycle in the washer and dryer, and another after my sleep test, following the label's care instructions. I then reassessed them for any signs of wear, as well as shrinking or color fading.
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Sleep test:I made my bed with each set to confirm that its various pieces easily and securely fit my pillows and mattress. I slept on the sheets for three nights straight (and sometimes longer) to see how well they stayed put, keeping notes regarding softness and breathability.
Other sateen sheets we tested
Target Threshold Solid Performance Sheet Set : Target often comes through with excellent budget-priced sheets ($55 for a queen set), but this set was not our favorite in that category. They're decently soft, thick, shiny and also quite warm, and have many loose threads at the corners, which I can tell you from experience prior to this round of testing only gets worse over time. Their best feature is the extra elastic band midway down the fitted sheet pocket, which helps keep it from creeping off the mattress until you're ready to change the sheets. They're available in 11 colors (from white and ivory to Wine Red and Silver Green) and twin, full, queen, king and California king sizes.
California Design Den 400 Thread Count Sateen Sheet Set : At just $50, this sateen sheet set (that you can buy on Amazon) would be great for an extra bedroom, a messy kid or anyone who wants the ability to rotate sheets frequently. They're very shiny and soft, with a midweight feel, but there were lots of loose threads at the corners. I appreciated the helpful tags on the fitted sheet, which noted the top/bottom. They're available in many sizes from twin XL to California king and even in packs of two sets; there are at least 30 colors and patterns to choose from.
Boll & Branch Reserve Sheet Set : By far the most expensive set we tested ($569 for a queen), these organic sateen sheets seem to wrinkle a bit more than others and were not the best at moisture wicking. I loved their color saturation and cool-to-the-touch feel, which reminded me of percale sheets, but with a more lustrous finish. Available in seven neutral tones and in only queen, king and California king sizes, the sheets are Oeko-Tex- and GOTS-certified. This set is a true indulgence and would make a very generous gift for newlyweds or those moving into a new home.
Pottery Barn 700-Thread Count Sateen Sheet Set : These Oeko-Tex-certified sheets from Pottery Barn were free of imperfections and felt satiny-soft yet still crisp. Unfortunately, they showed more creasing after washing and drying than others we tested. They are available in only full, queen, king and California king sizes, and in white, Classic Ivory and Smoke Gray shades.
Sateen sheet care instructions
How should I wash and dry sateen sheets to preserve softness and prevent shrinkage?
We advise following each brand's care instructions. However, we generally recommend washing sheets on a gentle cycle with cool or warm water and a mild detergent. Avoid using bleach or fabric softeners, as they can coat fibers and weaken them. Tumble dry on low to prevent shrinkage and potential damage from high heat. Remove sheets promptly to avoid wrinkles.
Sateen sheet FAQs
What is sateen?
Sateen is a term that refers to the way the cotton fibers are woven in a one-under and four-over pattern, which produces a slight sheen to the fabric and a heavier feel than cotton percale.
Are sateen sheets good quality?
Cotton sateen sheets run the gamut in terms of price and quality. Queen sets can go up to $500 and beyond, and be made from different kinds of cotton, such as extra-long-staple pima cotton , which is known for its softness. It might sound silly to invest in a set of luxury sheets, but when you consider that the average person spends about a third of their life sleeping or trying to sleep , it can be a worthwhile investment.
Sateen vs. percale sheets — which is better?
It comes down to personal preference. "Percale is crisp, smooth, and breathable. It’s great for warm sleepers who want to feel cooler. If you want something with a subtle sheen and silky feel, then sateen is for you," explains Kym Maas, chief creative officer at Lands' End .
What thread count is best for sateen sheets?
As far as the ideal thread count for sateen sheets, it falls between 300 and 600. Anything higher may feel heavy on your body and may be made from multiple-ply threads that serve to inflate the number, which does not indicate higher quality.
Do luxury hotels use percale or sateen sheets?
Luxury hotels use both percale and sateen sheets, most likely depending on the climate and location. Percale sheets tend to feel cool and crisp and make more sense in a warmer climate. Sateen sheets tend to feel warmer, softer and a bit heavier, so they make more sense in a cooler climate. Both sateen and percale sheets are available from high-end brands.
Meet our experts
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Liz Eggert, senior textile scientist, P&G Fabric Care
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Kym Maas, Chief Creative Officer at Lands' End
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Meredith McQuerry , associate professor and director, ThermaNOLE Comfort Lab and Textile Testing Laboratory, Florida State University
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Kim Romine, fabric care scientist, P&G
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
