Which comforter to buy

It also has less of an environmental footprint, as eucalyptus is a renewable resource. Cotton: Cotton is a breathable, natural fiber that feels soft and lightweight. It is less insulating than down, so it is often used in lighter comforters intended for summer use.

Organic cotton is more expensive, but some shoppers may prefer it as it is grown and processed without harsh chemicals. Wool: Wool, which is sheared from sheep, is another fill option for comforters. Wool acts as natural insulation, so it stays warm in colder climates, and cooler in warm environments.

This makes it ideal for all-season comforters. In addition to materials, construction is important. Shoppers should consider the stitching used to secure the fill, in addition to the weave used for the fabric shell.

These can prevent shifting and clumping, in addition to fill poking through. Quality materials and durable construction methods will ensure the comforter lasts for many years. This is the entry-level price range, and there are budget and luxury options available. Less expensive comforters will likely be made with synthetic materials and have limited features. Setting a budget beforehand can help shoppers find the best fit. Always follow the guidelines set forth by the manufacturer when cleaning a comforter.

Some may require professional cleaning or dry cleaning, especially if delicate fabrics or natural down are used. Some comforters are machine washable, but may be too large to fit comfortably in standard washing machines and dryers.

A duvet cover used over the comforter can prevent damage to the comforter, and make it easier to keep the comforter clean. Comforters can be purchased online and in stores. Many mattress companies have expanded product lines that include bedding and other sleep accessories. Department and home goods stores also carry comforters and bedding. Comforters are sometimes sold in sets with shams, pillowcases, and other bedding.

A high-quality comforter can last 10 to 15 years or longer with proper care, but the lifespan of a comforter is determined by the construction, materials, and usage. Low-quality materials are more likely to deteriorate sooner, and can be prone to flattening or clumping up over time. Taking proper care of your comforter extends its lifespan. Select a comforter size that matches the size of your mattress.

Double-checking measurements can let you know what to expect, and a thicker mattress allows for additional fabric to hang over the edges of the bed. When used along, a comforter can simply be placed on top of sheets.

When paired with a duvet cover, turn the duvet cover inside out and connect the top corner ties to the comforter loops, if present. Then you can turn the duvet cover right side out over the comforter, secure the bottom corner ties and loops, and zip or button the duvet before placing it on the bed. Danny is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with an in-depth knowledge of sleep health. He has tested hundreds of mattresses and sleep products.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies.

It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity.

Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias. Updated October 5, Written by Daniel Noyed. Best Comforters of What Types of Comforters are Available? Frequently Asked Questions About Comforters.

Product Details. Best Overall Brooklinen Down Comforter. Who it's best for: Shoppers who are looking for a lightweight down comforter Those who want a generous sleep trial and warranty Hot sleepers. Highlights: Baffle box construction maintains even distribution of down fill Choice of three weights to fit all seasons Breathable and temperature-regulating.

Who it's best for: People who are allergic to down Those who need extra insulation while they sleep Shoppers on a budget. Use this SleepFoundation. Who it's best for: Sleepers who tend to overheat Those seeking a comforter with easy care Vegan shoppers.

Highlights: Lofty down alternative fill Breathable cotton cover Backed by a 5-year warranty. Most Comfortable Buffy Breeze.

Who it's best for: Hot sleepers Eco-conscious and vegan shoppers Shoppers with pets and kids. Highlights: Soft eucalyptus shell is cool to the touch Eco-friendly materials Eucalyptus fiber fill offers excellent breathability. Read our Full Buffy Breeze Review to learn more.

Who it's best for: Hot sleepers People who are allergic to down Shoppers looking for a comforter with a long sleep trial. Highlights: Down-alternative microfiber fill is well suited to sleepers with allergies Lightweight and breathable Generous day return policy.

Who it's best for: Fair trade shoppers Those who run hot Sleepers who prefer an alternative to down. Highlights: Lyocell and cotton materials enhance airflow Down alternative fill feels plush day sleep trial and 1-year warranty. Who it's best for: Eco-conscious shoppers Hot sleepers Shoppers looking for an all-season option.

Highlights: Cover and fill made entirely of viscose from bamboo Breathable and moisture-wicking Sustainably sourced materials. Take note: The warranty requires that you use a duvet cover to maintain coverage, which we recommend for most comforters anyway to protect them from damage. But one of our editors owns and loves the Bavarian Light for her Los Angeles home, and she found it to be ideal for a warmer climate. The Bavarian also comes in a warmer, Arctic weight. Flaws but not dealbreakers: Due to pandemic-related supply problems and increased demand, this comforter has had stock issues over the past couple of winters.

But we recently spoke with company representatives who told us that the company opened a second manufacturing facility in Seattle in December to help meet the demand. The representatives told us, however, that each time, the company has managed to restock within a week or two. If the sells out and you need a comforter before the company can restock, a couple of Wirecutter editors own the more-expensive version and are happy with it.

The version has a higher fill power which we explain here and comes in Light , Medium , and Arctic weights. Long-term test notes: One of our editors has been using our original test model since February and says it looks and feels new. Other weights: Light , Arctic. And the whole comforter is simple to wash at home which makes it easier for grownups to shove everything in the wash at once, a bonus when kids get sick.

No feathers escaped during our initial shake tests or during the three or four washes since then. If your children are allergic to down, or you simply prefer a down alternative, you can opt for the Essential Core-Loft Comforter , which has the same fill-power and durable percale shell but costs nearly four times the price of the Utopia down-alternative comforter. All are excellent, depending on the warmth you need and the fill you prefer.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Essential Down has the lowest fill power of any comforter we recommend. Also, our kid tester strongly recommends washing the comforter before using it to soften up the crinkly percale fabric, which is stiff out of the packaging she much preferred the texture after a wash. Long-term test notes: After about a year of long-term use, the Garnet Hill has held up perfectly through three or four washes, many playroom fort campouts, and a lot of dragging around the house.

The color we tested Faded Rose has also stayed vibrant. The Utopia is a warm yet relatively breathable down-alternative comforter. We know real down is hard to beat for comfort, loft, and breathability. It was better at regulating heat than several higher-priced down-alternative comforters we tried, including those from Brooklinen and Snowe , and the outer shell was softer than those of many competitors. Like the Garnet Hill Essential Down Comforter , the Utopia does come in several colors, which implies it may be fine to use without a cover.

Not so with the Utopia: It has sturdy stitching with piped edges and lofty, siliconized, fiber-filled boxes. With competing down-alternative comforters, we often woke up halfway through the night, sweaty and eager to toss off the covers. The shell feels solid yet soft and smooth.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: One of our editors purchased three of these for her kids and notes that the corner loops are small, which makes threading through duvet cover ties a challenge.

Anyone who lives anywhere other than the tropics likely already has a comforter. The real question is: Do you need a new one? Though many high-quality comforters will last 10 years or longer, down can clump and shift, leaving cold pockets. Eventually, down clusters may even fully disintegrate. See the graphic below on how to choose the appropriate weight. Before you make a purchase, though, give your existing comforter a wash and dry—you may see it magically return to its former fluffy glory.

See our care and maintenance section for more details about cleaning. In , , and , we tested a total of 22 comforters in down, down alternative, and wool, including retests of four existing picks from Riley , L. Bean , Feathered Friends , and Utopia. We inspected each one to gauge the feel, the stitching, and the weight and loft, and in our tests we washed them to check for feather leaks and shell durability. We shook each one 10 times to see whether down clusters or feathers escaped.

We paid attention to how noisy the shells were. And we spent time under each one to gauge warmth. Then we sleep-tested the most promising a total of about 16 comforters. We focused on employing the comforters as most people would in their own homes, spending a night or two under each and using five sleep testers—including an 8-year-old child—over the course of two years. Two of our testers were hot sleepers, and three were average-warmth sleepers.

We wanted to see whether lower fill power and less expensive materials would still keep us warm when the temperature dropped. Many comforters, including three of our picks, are available in multiple weights, so you can choose one based on the amount of warmth you need.

You can also fine-tune the warmth of any comforter by changing the type of cover you use see our duvet cover picks here. To make a comforter warmer in the fall and winter, add a flannel cover, and for spring and summer, opt for a lightweight linen or percale cover. With the exception of the Garnet Hill Essential Down Comforter which is ready to use as is out of the bag , we recommend using a duvet cover on any comforter you choose.

Contact with skin oils can make both cotton and down degrade more quickly over time than they otherwise would. All comforters consist of two outer layers of fabric with an insulating material like down sandwiched between them. Most are stuffed with clumps of fill like down, feathers, or polyfil that are evenly distributed in channels throughout the entire comforter. There are two ways to do this: the sewn-through method and the baffle-box method, illustrated by the comforter cross-sections below.

What it means: Sewn-through comforters may have boxes, channels, or other patterns; these sew together the top and bottom of the comforter and prevent the fill from shifting. The drawback to sewn-through comforters is that some cold air may seep through the sewn-through seams, and the comforter may be slightly less lofty overall.

What it means: Baffle-box comforters are constructed with vertical strips of fabric that separate the top and bottom layers of the outer shell, creating three-dimensional walls.

The baffles help keep the down lofty and therefore trap and retain more heat. Though it's marketed as a mid-weight, all-season comforter, I think it works best for warm or mild seasons. It provided comfortable, breathable insulation for spring nights in California, but I don't see it being warm enough for a winter's night in the Midwest. We'll continue to monitor this model for long-term durability to see whether the quality matches the price. So far, I'm impressed with how well it performs for the price.

The Company Store's comforter is thoughtfully constructed from a mix of traditional and environmentally conscious materials, resulting in a piece of bedding that's both comfortable and ethical. The fill is made from polyester spun from recycled plastic bottles plus Tencel lyocell, a naturally breathable and cool material made from wood fibers.

Meanwhile, the shell is half cotton, half Tencel lyocell that's been woven into a smooth, silky sateen weave.

The comforter has a box construction, which keeps the fill in place throughout the night. It's a good middle-of-the-road option that's neither too warm nor cool. All together, the comforter feels very similar to down: fluffy, soft, and compressible. The main difference I noticed is that the shell is a little stiffer and crinkly. Another significant difference is there's no down smell. Whether you prefer not to buy animal products or want to be more environmentally friendly, this comforter lets you shop with your values without compromising comfort and warmth.

Pros: Responsible Down Standard certified, still has some fluff and compression to it. Those who sleep hot should look for a comforter with a lower fill power. The Lands' End comforter has a fill power of , which makes it less insulating.

At the same time, it's cushion-y and fluffy enough that you won't miss out on the luxury of sleeping with a down comforter. It also compresses well, but again, less so than a product with a high fill power. Of all the down models I tested, the Lands' End has the least down smell. That's because the down and feather filling is washed a couple times to get rid of odor and dust.

It's labeled "hypoallergenic" by the International Down and Feather Lab. My testers who regularly sleep hot found this lightweight comforter the least stifling of all the contenders. It acts as a soft cover-up layer, but it doesn't trap heat. In addition to being a great year-round option for warm sleepers, it's suitable to put on your summer bedding rotation along with a set of airy linen sheets.

Riley All-Season Down Comforter : Aa high-quality goose down comforter, this model felt as fluffy and airy as Brooklinen's. For the same feel, Brooklinen's is more affordable, which is why it ultimately won out. But if you prefer goose down, which also has a lighter smell than duck down, you might like Riley's more. Riley also has a better warranty period of five years. It's lightweight, warm, and slightly plush. Read our full review here. Buffy Breeze Comforter : The Breeze has some unique qualities, including a eucalyptus fiber construction and a wavy stitched pattern.

A baffle box construction — like that found in three out of four of our top picks — ultimately offers better filling distribution and the Breeze isn't as fluffy as our top picks, but the comfort and softness are still there.

The Company Store LaCrosse Down Comforter Light : The brand's most popular comforter comes in many eye-catching colors and we loved the look of the deep, rusty Russet color. Sadly, the shell is loud and stiff. I'm not a particularly light sleeper, but the constant crinkling was a disturbance I couldn't ignore. Layla Down Alternative Comforter : I recently started testing the new down alternative comforter from mattress startup Layla.

Instead of regular rectangular or square baffle boxes, it has hexagonal boxes. So far, the comforter is soft and comfortable, and the filling stays evenly distributed. Its other specs are similar to the Riley comforter, down to the baffle box construction and generous five-year warranty. Sunday Citizen Snug Comforter : This down alternative option, with a polyester fill made of recycled bottles, looks best for people who want a cozy appearance and feel without overheating.

One side is soft, snug microfiber while the other side is a cool bamboo fabric. Linenspa Down Alternative Comforter : One of the most popular budget comforters on Amazon, the Linenspa has a microfiber fill and reversible color design.

It also comes in more patterns than most competitors. A comforter and duvet are similar and the terms are used interchangeably today. Technically speaking, a duvet is just the insert and doesn't have a fabric shell over it.

It requires a duvet cover for both protection and aesthetic purposes. A comforter contains both the insert and a fabric shell, so you can lay it directly on your body, if you want. Yes, and we recommend it! Most comforters these days also come with corner loops or tabs so you can put a duvet cover over it. A duvet cover protects your comforter from your body oils and is easier to wash. Couples may want a King-sized comforter, even if you sleep on a smaller bed.

Both are typically filled with down, feathers, or synthetic fibers, both will keep you warm, and both can be used with our duvet covers. We use three types of premium feathers in our down products: regular down, European down, and Hungarian goose down. Our cleaning process removes odor from our down fill. Always make sure your comforter is clean and completely dry before storing it away to avoid odors that may result.

Yes, our down is hypoallergenic. We have a variety of luxury hypoallergenic comforters you can choose from using the highest quality, responsibly sourced down. The bigger the down clusters the higher the fill power, resulting in exceptional fluff and insulating abilities. Our premium comforters range from to fill power in a variety of warmth levels light to ultra-warmth to provide the perfect amount of insulation you need to achieve a great night's sleep.

It is an ultra-fine, polyester microfiber that traps heat, wicks away moisture, and insulates against the cold. In sewn-through box construction, the stitching that creates the pockets for the down, goes through the top and bottom layer of fabric, creating a puffy, pillow-like look from the top. For Machine Wash Only comforters. Purchasing a quality comforter is an investment that you will enjoy for years.

With proper TLC, our premium down comforters should keep you comfy for at least 20 years. The synthetic fibers in down alternative fill will break down eventually, so be prepared to replace your down alternative comforter every four years or so. It indicates that a product carries a Lifetime Guarantee. Got this down comforter in the mail today. I couldn't be happier. No crunchy crackle when I opened the bag.

I just had to lay it on the bed and it was so fluffy. I can't explain how much I love this comforter. Perfect fit. The only reason I gave it 5 stars is because there wasn't a higher star. I bought a queen size, medium warmth comforter. I live in Connecticut and sleep in the bedroom facing the north side no sun of the house. The room can get cold! In fact, we just hit 7 degrees a few nights ago and it was a good test for the comforter.

The heat is usually at degrees, toss in the window drafts and the room can get chilly on a cold night. The comforter does the job of keeping your body heat in and the outside cold out. I also bought some flannels sheets to cut down on the cold spots when you first get in the bed. I can definitely recommend this comforter.