---
title: "Sateen Weave"
description: "What sateen weave is for bed sheets and how float yarns create a smoother surface than percale."
url: "https://bedguide.co.uk/glossary/sateen/"
category: "glossary"
primary_entity: "sateen weave"
date_published: 2026-08-03
date_modified: 2026-08-03
---

# Sateen Weave

> Sateen uses float yarns in the weave so more fibre sits on the surface. That creates a smoother, more lustrous hand than percale. It can feel slightly warmer and silkier against the skin. Sateen describes structure, not fibre. Cotton sateen and blended sateen behave differently in wash and breathability.

**Definition.** Sateen is a weave with floating yarns that create a smoother, more lustrous sheet surface than plain-weave percale of similar fibre.

Also called: sateen sheets.

See [bed sheet materials](/bedding/bed-sheets-materials) and
[Percale vs sateen](/compare/percale-vs-sateen).

---

Source: https://bedguide.co.uk/glossary/sateen/ · BedGuide — educational encyclopedia, no affiliate commission. Facts checked against official sources where possible; see https://bedguide.co.uk/editorial-policy. Report an error: https://bedguide.co.uk/corrections.