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glossary

Percale Weave

Entity: percale weave

Close view of a plush velvet headboard and matching upholstered bed
Many bed words describe fabric, shape or storage — this is how they look in a room.

In short

Percale is a plain-weave sheet structure. Yarns cross one-over-one-under for a crisp, matte hand. Compared with sateen, percale usually feels airier and less lustrous. Fibre still matters. Cotton percale differs from linen or blended percale. Thread count alone does not define percale quality.

Definition. Percale is a plain one-over-one-under weave used in bed sheets. It feels crisp and matte, with a cooler hand than sateen of the same fibre.

Full materials guide: Bed sheet materials and thread count. Compare: Percale vs sateen.