What is Sateen?

Sateen is a cotton fabric that looks and feels a lot like satin.  But satin and sateen are two very different things.  Sateen is a type of weave and satin is a type of fabric.   If you like the look and feel of satin, who will probably like sateen because it also has a soft, smooth feel and a luster or shine resembling satin.

In bedding, sateen is usually made from cotton and then soaked in acidic baths to make the fiber stronger and add luster.  Additionally, a good sateen fabric uses a weave so that the threads are generally arranged to give a smooth look.   Unlike most satin products, sateen is usually machine washable and are usually cheaper than satin sheets.

You should also check out our sheet buying guide for information about other fabrics and weaves, as well as tips to help you choose the right bedding.