They are as soft as satin and as durable as cotton.
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While we have cooling sheets in the warm months and flannel sheets in the colder ones, what do we have for year-round comfort? Enter sateen sheets. The word itself may sound fancy—perhaps because it sounds like a more European pronunciation of “satin”—but it’s actually just a specific type of weave (called a satin weave) using cotton. That super tight weave is what gives it the glossy sheen that makes it both look and feel more luxe than some other types of sheets, including jersey, which is more matte and stretchy. The best sateen sheets have almost no stretch to them at all and may even feel a bit warm to the touch, so if you like to turn the air up or crack your window at night, these cozy sheets will become your new go-to.
Now, we won’t forget that we referred to them as a year-round bedding option, so we aren’t going to tell you that they’re warming because they’re not. In fact, they are pretty neutral when it comes to temperature regulation: they won’t warm or cool you down, which is why we consider them a reasonable pick for every season. So, if you are in the market for a new set of sheets, peruse our favorite options below, many of which we tested ourselves.
"I bought a lot of Quince bedding when I moved into my current apartment three months ago. Why Quince, you may ask? It is of luxurious quality but is somehow not extremely expensive. I wouldn't say it's cheap, but it's not nearly as expensive as the luxury brands that may come to mind when you think of top-notch bedding," Associate Shopping Editor Jessica Cherner says. "Anyway, these sateen sheets are one of my favorite sets to sleep on—especially in the colder months. They don't feel particularly warm, but they're definitely not cooling, which is why I like them when the temperatures start to drop from their August highs. To me, the sign of high-quality sateen sheets is an audible crispness and a slight glossy finish. This Quince set includes both. They're also just incredibly soft."
Material: 100 percent organic cotton | Thread count: 300 | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, and California king | Colors: 14 colors
Sateen may sound fancy, but it's really just a type of weave often made of cotton, a tried-and-true material we know and love. Since it's not particularly luxurious, there's no real reason you'd need to spend more than $50 on a good set of sateen sheets. Enter this set for just $42 for a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. What's more, this set comes with nearly 60,000 five-star reviews. One happy customer said, "Beautiful and high-quality product. The item is exactly as pictured and described. The sheets fit the mattress perfectly and stay in place. They're soft, warm, and very comfortable."
Material: Cotton | Thread count: 400 | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and split king | Colors: 31 colors
"I have been a Brooklinen fan for a long time. The brand launched two years before I graduated college, so when I moved into my first post-grad apartment, I got three sets of Brooklinen sheets. Since it's been nearly a decade, I have tossed my original sets and replaced them with the sateen option. I have three white sets and love them," Cherner says. "One of the main reasons I love them so much is the thinness. Sateen is usually on the thicker (and heavier) side, but these are lightweight and breathable without sacrificing that crisp feel." In case you didn't know, these are Brooklinen's best-selling sheets because they're made for year-round use with long staple cotton.
Material: Long-staple cotton | Thread count: 480 | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king | Colors: 18 colors
"I don't like to pick favorite brands, but Boll & Branch is definitely up there. I bought these sheets at a sample sale at the start of the pandemic because I figured I'd be spending more time in bed for the foreseeable future, so I may as well invest in luxury sheets. I may have gotten them for a fraction of the retail price, but I'd happily spend well over $200 on these. They're that good," Cherner notes." Here's the thing: They feel a little softer than sateen usually feels. I think sateen is crisper than silky, but these have the satiny finish that comes with sateen. In other words, you get the best of both traditional cotton and sateen. My only qualm is they feel a little warmer than my ideal preference, so if you wake up in a layer of sweat, these may not be for you."
Material: Organic long-staple cotton | Thread count: Not listed | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and split king | Colors: 28 colors
If you're unfamiliar with Ettitude, the sustainability-focused brand is known for its patented bamboo fabric. Ettitude's signature sheets were Deputy Digital Editor Katelyn Lunders's first foray into sateen fabric, and they've quickly become her favorite sheets. "Previously, I always slept on cotton sheets, but now I dread having to swap out my sateen set when laundry day comes around," she admits. "Ettitude's fabric is incredibly soft, like the softest sheets I think I've ever slept on personally. I love how lightweight and cooling they are, and they don't wrinkle as easily as my cotton sets. The only con I have is that because the fabric is on the thinner side, it slightly shows the outline of my beloved Coop pillows, as you can see in the photo, but regardless, they are my current go-to."
Material: 100 percent Bamboo Lyocell| Thread count: Not listed | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king | Colors: 10 colors
We'll be the first to say it: Saatva is more famous for its incredible mattress selection. Our editors love the Rx and Classic mattresses, but something must be said about the bedding offerings. Earlier this summer, we tested the linen sheets as our intro to Saatva's non-mattress products, and we were pretty pleased. Now, we're focusing on the sateen, which are made of sustainably sourced long-staple cotton, making them super soft. One reviewer said, "Best sheets I have ever used! Extremely soft and comfortable. They do not get too hot, and they have just the right amount of breathability. Plus, they have not shrunk, and fit on our bed perfectly. HIGHLY recommend!"
Material: Organic long-staple cotton | Thread count: 300 | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king, split California king, upper-flex queen, and upper-flex queen | Colors: Three colors
These best-selling sheets are on super-sale right now, which means lots of people are snapping them up fast. Sadly, quite a few sizes have already sold out. The only ones left are twin and full, so if either of those sizes will your bed, grab them. They're made of soft, long-staple 100 percent combed cotton, which makes these sheets silky soft with that classic sateen sheen. One customer said, "Silkiest, softest sheets EVER! I've been purchasing my linens from The Company Store almost exclusively for decades, and I have over-performed every sheet, duvet cover, comforter, and pillow." We love a piece of bedding that's doing more than what's asked of it!
Material: Long-staple combed cotton | Thread count: 350 | Sizes: Twin and full | Colors: Two colors
Wait, AllModern sells sheets? Until very recently, we were under the impression that the midcentury modern-focused outpost (that, like Perigold, is owned by Wayfair) sells only furniture, decor, and lighting, but now that we know the affordable brand also sells bedding, we are all in on AllModern. This set is pretty simple, as it comes in five neutral shades, but it's just as good as any other set on our list. Plus, the fact that it's under $100 for a queen set is pretty impressive. One reviewer said, "So far I'm loving these sheets. I get hot easily when sleeping, and these do not make me hot! They are comfortable and a lovely neutral color that goes well with my bedroom."
Material: Cotton | Thread count: 400 | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, and king | Colors: Five colors
When it came to determining the softest sateen sheets on the market, we, of course, had to test quite a few of them to decide whether or not they were genuinely of good quality. Several of my fellow House Beautiful editors and I tested a bunch of the aforementioned sheets in our homes for at least five days to give us enough time to review them properly. Some of us, however, have had our beloved sheets on our beds for more than a year, so you know they're good. It's also a real testament to their durability and longevity. For any sheets that did not pass through our hands directly, we sourced from brands we trust and read through all the reviews to ensure the sheets held up to our standards regarding durability and style.
We'll be the first to preface by saying that what is soft and cozy to us may not feel the same for you, so if you want to get a real sense of feel, read more about the material, thread count, and more, which will give you a better idea. With that in mind, we do break down all the important elements, from material to weight and breathability, so that you can make an informed decision on which sheets sound the softest and coziest for your own sleeping habits. We also did not hold back on pointing out some pros and cons to each set for shoppers to consider, as this is the most realistic way to purchase products. It's up to you if the pros outweigh the cons for you and vice versa. Luckily, we just so happened to love all of the sheets we tested and plan on keeping them in our rotation for, well, as long as they'll last.
People tend to think that thread count is fully responsible for a sheet's softness, and while it does play a part, it's not the deciding factor. The material should also be taken into account. For instance, silk will always be softer than cotton regardless of the tread count. That said, thread count is definitely important—especially for cotton sheets. According to Brooklinen, thread counts tend to max out at 800—and when you see larger numbers than that, it's often because of a factor called ply (refers to the number of threads). Single-ply means it's comprised of single strands of thread. Still, according to Brooklinen, manufacturers will often weave multiple strands together to create one thread, then beef up the thread count number as a result, which doesn't give you a better sheet. An ideal number to look for when it comes to thread count on sateen sheets is around 400. Anywhere in that range, plus or minus a few, will get you super soft, cozy sheets.
Because sateen has a tighter weave than percale, it wrinkles less. This means you can spend less time (or no time at all) standing at the ironing board, trying to attack any tiny crease you may see. Feel free to just take your sheets out of the dryer and pop them on your bed. You may see some wrinkles if you keep your sheets folded for an extended period in the linen closet, but if you go from dryer to bed, you're good to go.
When it comes to picking out the best (and most affordable) pieces for any bedroom, including my own, I have been reviewing bedding for nearly eight years. I have eight sets of sheets, so who better to write about sateen ones than me? I'd also say that I'm on a never-ending quest to maximize the comfort and look of my bedroom, so you can trust that I have done my homework to find the best sets on the market. Not to mention, I have covered the best linen sheets, my favorite bamboo sheets, sustainable sheets, and more. For this story, I and several other House Beautiful editors spent weeks, and even years, sleeping on dozens of top-rated bedding brands to determine the best sateen options to purchase right now.
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