What is Percale?

Buying bed linen can be confusing as you’ll often see words like percale, sateen and damask with no explanation as to what it means and whether it’s right for you. Percale is a favourite fabric for bed linen across the world. In this blog, we’ll dive into telling you what percale means and why so many people love it for their bedroom.

Understanding what percale is

Whilst percale is not actually a type of material it is a method of weaving used when producing fabric, commonly cotton. The percale weave is a fairly simple over-and-under pattern which means the cotton is smooth, crisp and most importantly durable, lasting for years.

What makes percale a popular choice?

When choosing bed linen, percale is a popular choice for consumers for a variety of reasons that appeal to people’s preferences.

Thread count

One popular reason for choosing percale bed linen is its high thread count which is a defining factor of its tight weave. Whilst it only needs a thread count of 180 to be called percale, our percale bed linen ranges from 200 thread count to 1000 thread count, making it super luxurious.

Breathability

Thanks to the way it's woven, percale bed linen is incredibly breathable, allowing air to circulate. It’s ideal for those who get too hot when they sleep as it's very cool and incredibly comfortable.

Crisp feel

Percale cotton has a crisp texture making it feel ultra luxurious. Its matte finish vs the silk feel of sateen feels extremely refreshing and clean so you’ll enjoy getting into bed night after night.

Durability

Thanks to its higher thread count, percale bed linen is long-lasting and durable, being able to keep its feel after regular laundering as its designed for year-round use. Typically percale bed sheets should last for around two to three years before needing to buy a new set.

The benefits of percale bed linen

Cotton percale bed linen has several benefits which prove why it’s such a popular choice for people globally.

Comfort

Percale bed linen is ultra comfortable thanks to its luxuriously crisp and cooling feel which makes it suitable for even the hottest summer nights.

Durability

Bed linen isn’t a cheap investment but percale bed linen is a great choice as its tight weave makes them last longer, maintaining their quality over the years.

Low maintenance

Unlike other fabrics, percale bed linen is simple to launder on a cool, gentle cycle and can be tumble-dried at a low heat. Whilst they don’t require ironing, we recommend it to keep its crispness. All in all, percale is a brilliant choice for bed linen for its luxurious feel, durability and year-round usability. Browse our range of percale bed linen and get free delivery when you spend £50!