There are two common weave styles for sheets: percale and sateen. The biggest difference between these two styles is the way they feel. The best percale sheet sets tend to feel crisp and look matte on a bed. If this sounds like your ideal sheet, then you’re in luck. I’ve compiled a list of the best percale sheets! I’ll go over what makes these sheets stand out from their features, color options, and more.
Keep reading to see our best percale sheets!
Our Top Picks for the Best Percale Sheets
- Brooklinen Classic Core Set – Editor’s Pick
- Tuft & Needle Percale Sheets – Best Cotton
- Parachute Percale – Best Egyptian Cotton
- Boll & Branch Hemmed Percale – Best Luxury
- American Blossom Linens Sheets – Best Percale Sheets made in the USA
Editor’s Pick- Brooklinen Classic Core Set
Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set
Brooklinen's high-quality set of percale sheets are the brand's classic sheet set. They feel soft and crisp at the same time, perfect for cotton lovers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.50 / 5
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Who is it for?
If you’re a big fan of that classic, fresh pressed cotton shirt feel to your sheets, then look no further than Brooklinen’s Classic Core set.
These sheets are made from 100% long-staple cotton that has been OEKO-Tex certified, meaning no harmful chemicals went into the production of these sheets.
As this list suggests, they’re made with the percale weave, so they will feel quite crisp. But this weave, in addition to cotton’s natural breathability, is a great option for hot sleepers. It should have plenty of room for air to flow through.
RELATED: Percale vs Sateen
Brooklinen sells these sheets in a variety of color and design options, though some are only limited edition designs or colors, so act fast to get them. The fitted sheet has long and short labels in it to take the guesswork out of dressing your bed.
Before a discount, they’re an upper range option, but Brooklinen has deals year round that can make the price fit budgets better.
What Makes the Brooklinen Classic Core Set Stand Out?
- They’re a breathable set of sheets with room for airflow, so hot sleepers shouldn’t overheat.
- There are a number of color and design options to pick from.
- The fitted sheet has long and short labels to help you out when dressing your bed.
Read our full Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set review!
Best Cotton- Tuft & Needle Percale Sheets
Tuft & Needle Percale Sheet Set
The Tuft & Needle Percale sheets are some of the softest, lightest cotton sheets on the market. These sheets also have a crisp finish and fit snug against the mattress.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.40 / 5
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Who is it for?
Supima cotton is a more durable, softer version of cotton, and it’s grown here in the US. Tuft & Needle uses this type of cotton in its percale sheets.
These sheets have an OEKO-Tex certification, which again just means no harmful chemicals or toxins went into the production of these sheets. This makes them a good eco-friendly option.
They have a 100-night sleep trial and if you keep them, you get a 2-year limited warranty. With Supima cotton’s durability, they should last you at least that long with good care!
Tuft & Needle also sells this set in a variety of colors, so you’re not stuck with white or other neutral shades.
What Makes the Tuft & Needle Sheets Stand Out?
- Supima cotton is a durable material, and the percale weave is a durable material. These sheets should last you a while!
- They sell these sheets in a variety of neutral colors
- They feel much softer than traditional cotton does.
Read our full Tuft & Needle Percale sheets review.
Best Egyptian Cotton- Parachute Percale
Parachute Percale Sheet Set
The Parachute Percale sheets are some of the softest cotton sheets on the market. They also are crisp and light, providing a durable and cool sleeping experience for many nights to come.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.40 / 5
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Who is it for?
One other type of cotton is Egyptian cotton. This type of cotton is grown in Egypt, and can be spun into thinner threads. Sheets made with Egyptian cotton are often much softer and more durable than traditional cotton.
Parachute sources this cotton for its percale sheets, and these sheets do feel much softer than other cotton percale sheets on this list. They still feel crisp because of the percale weave.
Parachute sells these sheets in a variety of neutral shades for people looking for options. And you don’t have to worry about corners popping up! The fitted sheet can fit mattresses up to 16” tall.
What Makes the Parachute Percale Sheets Stand Out?
- Egyptian cotton is softer and more durable than traditional cotton, making these a great option for cotton lovers.
- There are a variety of neutral shades to pick from to match many color schemes.
- Deep pockets mean that the fitted sheet will stay on your bed.
Read our full Parachute Percale sheets review.
Best Luxury- Boll & Branch Hemmed Percale
Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheet Set
The Boll and Branch sheets combine a crisp, light feel with the softness of high-quality cotton. These are some of the best cotton sheets on the market.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.80 / 5
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Who is it for?
Sometimes you get to a point where you just want to pay for luxury. The Boll & Branch percale hemmed sheet set is definitely a luxurious set of sheets. Boll & Branch uses long-staple cotton threads, which are longer and more durable than traditional cotton threads.
The company uses a proprietary cooling percale weave to make its sheets feel very crisp, and super breathable. Boll & Branch also fairly and ethically sources the cotton for these sheets. It’s grown without herbicides or pesticides, and is fairly eco-friendly, too.
Hot sleepers should enjoy the Boll & Branch percale sheets because of the cooling weave used to construct them. Plus, with cotton’s natural breathability, these sheets won’t trap heat.
What Makes the Boll & Branch Sheets Stand Out?
- They’re a luxury pick! With good care, they should last at least the duration of their one year warranty, if not longer.
- You have seven neutral shades to choose from.
- They’re eco-friendly, and ethically sourced and produced.
Read our full Boll and Branch Hemmed Percale sheets review.
Best Percale Sheets Made in the USA- American Blossom Linens Sheets
American Blossom Linens Organic Cotton Sheets
These sheets are made from 100% USA Organic Cotton. Environmentally friendly, they're free of chemicals, dyes, and will only get softer and more comfortable the more you use them.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.90 / 5
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Who is it for?
Residents of the United States, listen up! You can rest easy knowing you have a product that’s made right where you live. American Blossom Linens produces its sheets in Thomaston, GA.
The company uses 100% organic West Texas cotton to make its sheets. American Blossom found that some companies artificially inflate thread counts, so these sheets feature a custom thread count of 180. This is on the lower end, but that doesn’t mean these sheets are low quality! If anything, it makes them super breathable.
These are an organic set of sheets, and American Blossom avoids using dyes for its sheets, which means only white or natural color options are available.
As part of the company’s Happiness Guarantee, you have two years to test these sheets out!
What Makes the American Blossom Linens Sheets Stand Out?
- American Blossom uses 100% organic cotton grown right here in the US.
- They’re an organic pick for any eco-minded shoppers.
- This set is designed to get softer the more you use the sheets.
Read our full American Blossom Linens sheets review.
Casper Percale
Casper Percale Sheets
The Casper Percale sheets are a classic, crisp feeling set of cotton sheets! They feel lightweight and are very breathable. They're made from 100% organic cotton, and have a 300 thread count
Who is it for?
The Casper percale sheets are made with 100% organic cotton, but out of all the percale sheets on this list, none are more breathable and lightweight than this set.
The fitted sheet can fit mattresses up to 18” tall. And for reference, most mattresses range from 8” to 14” tall, so the fitted sheet is staying on your mattress! No need to worry about corners popping up here.
Casper sells this set in a number of colors, and will discount select colors throughout the year. So, if you’re on the lookout, you can get a great deal!
What Makes the Casper Percale Sheets Stand Out?
- They have a breathable weave and are very lightweight. They won’t trap heat so hot sleepers can rest easily.
- Deep pockets in the fitted sheet means it’ll stay in place.
- They come in nine different colors for anyone looking for options other than plain white.
Full review to come!
What are Percale Sheets?
Percale refers to the type of weave used to construct a set of sheets. This is one of two weave styles, the other being sateen.
Also known as the “plain weave,” percale sheets will look matte, and feel crisp. The best way to describe percale sheets is like a fresh pressed button-up shirt. They don’t feel as soft when compared to sheets with the sateen weave, but they are often designed to get softer the more you use and wash them.
This is a tighter weave, but despite that, these sheets are great for hot sleepers because they’re very breathable. And this tighter weave makes them durable and resistant to pilling.
What to consider when looking for percale sheets?
Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when shopping for percale sheets.
Feel
This weave style leaves sheets feeling very crisp. The best way to describe it is like a fresh pressed button up shirt. They won’t have a sheen to them, so they’ll look matte on your bed as well.
Thread Count
Percale sheets tend to have lower thread counts than sateen weave sheets. Most of the time, you’ll see percale sheets with thread counts that range from 200 to 300, if the company decides to list a thread count at all.
Thread count isn’t always an indicator of high-quality sheets. Marketing might have you believe that high-thread counts mean high-quality, but that’s not the case. Percale sheets are great for hot sleepers because of their breathability, and that is partly because they feature lower thread counts.
To get the full details on the best thread count for sheets, be sure to read our article!
Care
The good news is that percale sheets have easy care instructions. All the sheets on this list are machine-washable. Instructions will vary, so be sure to read through them thoroughly before throwing them in the wash.
While percale sheets feel crisp, the more you use and wash them, the softer they will get. Many sheets on this list are designed this way, too.
Durability
The percale weave is a fairly tight knit weave style. Because of this, percale sheets are more durable than sateen sheets. With good care, all the sheets on this list should last you around two years, and companies will have warranties to reflect that.
Because it’s a tighter weave style, percale sheets are not prone to pilling as much as sateen sheets are. However, the trade off is that they tend to wrinkle more than sateen sheets.
Breathability
As I’ve mentioned, percale sheets are very breathable. Sateen weave sheets tend to trap heat more, so if you’re prone to overheating, look at a percale weave sheet.
These types of sheets are also more lightweight than sateen sheets. This makes them great for summer months, but still are a good option for year round use if you live in warmer climates.
Materials
The most common material you’ll see in percale sheets is cotton. In fact, all the sheets on this list are made of cotton. Materials like rayon from bamboo, bamboo viscose, or microfibers can be constructed into this weave, but it’s less common.
Pros & Cons to Percale Sheets
Here’s a handy chart to briefly describe the pros and cons of percale sheets.
| Pros | Cons |
| These are a fairly breathable option for hot sleepers. | They aren’t the best for year round use in colder climates. |
| They’re durable and are resistant to pilling. | They wrinkle easily. |
| They get softer with more use and washes. | They don’t feel as soft as sateen weave sheets. |
FAQs
Let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions about percale sheets.
Are percale sheets better than sateen?
Truth be told, there are pros and cons to both weave styles. One isn’t necessarily better than the other. It boils down to personal preference!
But, if you’re a hot sleeper who likes crisp feeling cotton sheets, then percale sheets are the way to go. These are also more durable and don’t pill as easily as sateen sheets do.
Are percale sheets soft?
Percale sheets tend to feel very crisp right out of the box. This might not feel the softest to some. The best way to describe the feeling of percale sheets is like a fresh pressed button-up shirt. However, most percale sheets are designed to feel much softer the more you use and wash them.
Are percale sheets good for hot sleepers?
Yes! Percale sheets are known for their breathability. This is because they’re often made from cotton, which has some natural breathability on its own. And with percale sheets having lower thread counts, air can flow through very easily. And they’re often more lightweight than sateen sheets, so they won’t trap heat either.