Percale and sateen are both 100% cotton but the weave structure creates dramatically different sleeping experiences. For hot sleepers the difference matters significantly.
What Is Percale?
Percale is a plain one-over-one-under weave. This creates a crisp, matte, slightly textured surface. The open weave allows air to circulate through the fabric freely. Percale feels cool to the touch and gets softer with washing without becoming clingy or warm. It is the better choice for hot sleepers by a significant margin.
What Is Sateen?
Sateen is a four-over-one-under weave that puts more thread surface on top of the fabric. This creates the smooth, almost silky feel and slight sheen that sateen is known for. The problem is that the dense surface weave traps air close to the skin rather than allowing it to circulate. Sateen sheets tend to feel warmer than percale at the same thread count.
The Head-to-Head for Hot Sleepers
Percale wins on breathability, coolness to the touch, and airflow. Sateen wins on smoothness and drape. For hot sleepers these are not equally important tradeoffs. Breathability matters far more than smoothness when you are trying not to overheat. Percale is the clear recommendation for hot sleepers.
Thread Count for Hot Sleepers
The sweet spot for percale hot sleeper sheets is 200-400 thread count. Below 200 can feel rough. Above 400 the weave becomes dense enough that breathability starts to suffer. Higher thread count is not always better for hot sleepers. A 300 thread count percale sheet breathes better than a 600 thread count sateen.
The Bigger Picture
Sheets make a real difference but the blanket above you has more impact. Combine percale or bamboo sheets with a nylon cooling blanket for the best results. See The Cloud here.