When looking for a new set of bed sheets, you may have trouble with choosing between many different kinds of bed sheets. In our experience, the most argued sought after and debated types are cotton and cotton percale bed sheets.
Despite both being made of cotton, the key difference between the two, is HOW they are made.
What Are Cotton Percale Sheets?
The term “percale” doesn’t refer to a type of material, but rather a weave style for the material used. In other words, a cotton percale sheet is the perfect combination of cotton’s soft texture and percale’s crisp weave. With these two put together, they become the epitome of high quality and luxury.
A cotton percale sheet better serves for hot summers where light sheets are needed the most. While cotton is already normally breathable, the tightness of the percale weave makes It even more so!
What is The Difference Between Cotton and Percale Sheets?
· Longevity: Since cotton percale sheets are woven so tightly, they are less likely to become frayed or ruined, making them far more durable and likely to last a very long time.
· Appearance: Depending on whether another weave is chosen or not, cotton sheets can have a variety of different finishes. With cotton percale sheets, they have a matte finish that is much more intricate thanks to its tight weaves.
· Breathability: As stated before, cotton percale sheets have much better air flow due to the percale weave’s tightness.
· Price: Since cotton percale sheets are much higher quality, they also tend to be higher in cost as well.
· Ease of Washing: While plain cotton sheets generally have easier instructions, cotton percale sheets tend to have much more complicated instructions.
· Thread Count: Typically, cotton percale sheets have are at their softest in the 300-400 range, though these sheets can have a thread count of 200-800. Other types of cotton sheets, depending on the weave, can have a larger variety of thread counts.
· Usability: While cotton percale sheets have a lot of advantages, because of their design, they are generally preferred in the summertime. Other weaves like sateen are much more suitable for colder climates.
Are Cotton Percale Sheets Better Than Plain Cotton Sheets?
Cotton percale sheets clearly have a lot of advantages over plain cotton sheets, but this doesn’t mean that other types of cotton sheets don’t have their own pros as well. As stated before, cotton percale sheets are generally more costly for their higher level of luxury, and while they are very comfortable during the summer time, they might not insulate heat as well as other cotton weaves during the winter.
In other words, though cotton percale sheets are definitely higher quality, there are still times you may want to consider the humble plain cotton sheet, or even a cotton sheet with a different type of weave.
What to Expect From Pioneer Linens
Our team is dedicated to providing you the best service possible. That means helping you find the brands and styles you want, for the product you are looking for. If you have any more questions, or need consultation about any of our cotton or percale sheets, call us at 800-207-5463 or email customerservice@pioneerlinens.com.