Snuggle Up With The 6 Best Down Comforters, Tested By Editors
Down comforters can shine all year long, whether in the heat of summer or below zero temperatures. While it's also good at retaining heat, the material is also incredibly breathable, and the comforters listed below come in multiple weight levels so you can customize the fill to your liking. Also consider the best down pillows for even more fluffy comfort while you sleep.
Our score: 9.8 | Cover material: 430 thread count cotton | Fill power: 700 to 750 | Certification: Responsible Down Standard (RDS) | Weight: Light, medium, extra or ultra
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The Company Store's Legends Luxury Luxe Royal Down Comforter claims our top choice with a 5-star hotel-quality down comforter that's thick, plush and cozy, offering four weight options to suit almost any sleeper. The cotton comforter is filled with responsibly sourced Hungarian white goose down, a premium material that offers maximum warmth. With a baffle-box construction and inner loops, this pick doesn't slide around inside a duvet cover (if you decide to put it in one). It's also slightly oversized, so it drapes nicely over the edge of your bed and helps minimize blanket hogging.
Our tester, Bridget Chapman, senior mattress and sleep editor at Forbes Vetted, tested the lightest-weight option and found she slept great in the summer heat with it. According to Chapman, it feels more lightweight than most comforters we've tested besides one from Brooklinen. 'At first I wondered if it'd be substantial enough for a comforter, but it surprised me with how much comfort it provides," she says. At the same time, she notes it has a very fluffy, luxurious look and feel that immediately makes you want to jump into bed. With that said, her husband felt it slept warmer than the Saatva Comforter (even though it's thinner than that one), likely because of its extra-warm Hungarian down filling.
Our score: 7 | Cover material: 233 thread count cotton | Fill power: 600 | Certification: Oeko-Tex Standard 100 | Weight: Medium warmth
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The Puredown All-Season Duvet offers the soft feel of down without the high price tag. The trick is in the materials; it's not entirely filled with down—it's 90% goose feathers and 10% goose down. While this might be a downside to some, it's not a deal-breaker for those looking for a lower-priced option that also values more sustainable designs. Plus, goose down is known for its ultra fluffy feel and insulation powers, so you get a similar feel without all the heat retention. The shell is 100% cotton and, like others on our list, has a baffle-box construction for even fill distribution. In a nutshell, it's a true steal for anyone looking for something that feels high quality that is still affordable.
During testing, our team found that it's a solid and comfortable choice, but we wouldn't call it a fluffy, luxe pick compared to the others. 'It's overall a nice comforter and keeps you warm and cozy," says our tester. "However, I did find that it lies a bit flat compared to the Bavarian comforter,' she says. With that in mind, we do think this is a solid option for a guest bed or someone on a budget. The comforter is fairly lightweight, so consider a heavier comforter if you want a fluffy, warm pick.
Our score: 9 | Cover material: 400 thread count organic Cambric cotton | Fill power: 700-plus | Certification: RDS, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 | Weight: Summer, light, medium or Arctic
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If you're searching for a comforter with a cloudlike feel, Feathered Friends Bavarian 700 Down Comforter is a luxurious option. Our tester, who slept with the comforter for 20 nights, says, 'It's so soft and fluffy. It reminded me of the cloudlike comforters I spotted and used in hotels all over Japan. I tried hunting for a similar comforter during our trip to take back home, but had little luck (until now).' Its cotton shell is filled with 100% European goose down (an ultra premium material), and it comes in four different weights—summer, light, medium and Arctic—to accommodate hot sleepers, cold sleepers and everyone in-between. Our tester says she tried the medium weight and doesn't recommend it for peak summertime. 'But it works really well for mildly cool weather. And though it keeps you cozy, I didn't find it to be overbearingly hot or heavy,' she says. Feathered Friends' down is also Responsible Down Standard certified, plus you get a tracker tag with your purchase, so you can see exactly where the down came from and its full composition. If you're a hot sleeper or looking for a lightweight comforter, consider the summer model.
Our score: 9.2 | Cover material: 200-thread-count organic cotton | Fill power: Not listed | Certification: None | Weight: Lightweight, all-year and heavyweight
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Saatva is an online mattress and bedding brand that offers luxury-premium products with competitive price tags, which is why they're referred to as affordable luxury. The All-Year Down Alternative Comforter has a 200 thread count cotton shell with a percale weave that gives it a more breathable feel than comforters with a higher thread count and sateen weave. After testing this comforter for a month, Chapman says the fabric felt high-quality, and the fill is box-stitched in well, so it doesn't clump. 'It also has a substantial, plush feel to it without being too heavy,' says Chapman.
The filling is made with a light and airy blend of down-alternative fibers and natural lyocell. At 340 GSM, it offers a comfortable balance between soft and fluffy, while remaining breathable and cool. And its puffy baffle-box construction gives it an extra-plush look and feel that resembles the beds on the covers of home style magazines. Our testers recommend that you go with a lighter option (like the Saatva Lightweight Down Alternative Comforter) if you live in an area that tends to see hotter temperatures more often than not.
Our score: 8.8 | Cover material: Organic cotton | Fill power: 750 | Certification: International Down Standard (IDS), Oeko-Tex Standard 100 | Weight: Lightweight, midweight or ultraweight
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Boll & Branch is synonymous with luxury, which is what you can expect from the comfy, eco-friendly Boll & Branch Down Duvet Insert. Available in three fill weights, the lightweight option is a soft and airy choice that's relatively plush with the perfect amount of heft, according to our tester. We tested the lightweight option for a week and found it had a lovely, gentle plushness to it that felt comfortable—even in the dead of summer.
The soft down-proof shell that keeps feathers from poking out is made with organic cotton, while the inside is stuffed with IDS-certified responsibly sourced down—a combination we found to be incredibly cozy during testing. Cleaning is made easy, as it's machine washable (on cold through a gentle cycle). To connect to a duvet cover, simply tie the cover's ends to the insert's corner loops and stuff the insert inside. While some reviewers have complained about it being crinkly or loud, we don't share these gripes after trying it. One downside we experienced when testing this comforter is its off-gassing smell. Our tester claims that when she removed the comforter from its packaging, it almost smelled like standing water. However, the odor disappeared after a week and a half.
Our score: 8.5 | Cover material: 100% cotton | Fill power: 650 | Certifications: RDS, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Downmark and more | Weight: Lightweight or all-season
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The Avocado Down Duvet Insert doubles as a comforter and as an insert, as most of the picks on our list do. And aside from its soft and pillowy comfort, it also has a stack of green certifications behind it that speak to its environmentally friendly construction. The most notable is its Responsible Down Standard certification, which promises that the down was ethically sourced from a third party-certified farm that treats its animals humanely. It's made with a sateen weave 100% cotton cover with a 400-thread count, while the inside (of the all-season choice) has a 650-fill power and cozy 24-ounce fill weight.
I tested the all-season model for over a month in the spring and found it was perfectly warm and cozy. I was wary, though, that I would sleep a little hot during summer, as my husband and I tend to do when temperatures rise. I handed the comforter off to my sister who was in need of a nice duvet insert, and she has been sleeping comfortably with it ever since. For sleepers who are prone to hot-sleeping during the night, opt for the lightweight version, which is a noticeable four ounces lighter. For more details on my month-long testing experience, see my full Avocado Down Duvet Insert review.
We've published over 100 mattress and bedding stories over the years that include thoroughly researched and tested products from brands we know and love.
When picking the best down comforters, we included a wide variety of options to accommodate different comfort preferences and budgets.
Down is one of the most popular materials for bedding. According to Parima Ijaz, textile expert and founder of Pure Parima, 'Comforters, duvets and pillows that are filled with down feathers are excellent at providing insulation which results in a warm, toasty bed. They also offer light, medium and heavyweight options depending on your preference and can accommodate any and every season.' Their versatility, comfort and plush fluffiness make them appealing to everyone from hot sleepers to those in frigid temperatures.
From weight to warmth to certifications, these are the most important factors to consider when shopping for a down comforter. Or for more animal- and allergy-friendly options, check out our recommendations for the best down-alternative comforters instead.
Most comforters come in standard mattress sizes, including twin, full, queen, king and California king. However, some comforters, like our top choice from The Company Store, come slightly oversized for a more luxurious, draping look. To avoid wrestling for blanket real estate during the night, some people prefer to size up their comforter—for example, putting a king-size comforter on a queen-size bed.
This refers to the number of fibers used to create a single square inch of fabric. The higher the thread count, the denser, smoother and more durable the fabric is. Some brands list the thread count of their comforter shells, which gives you a better idea of its surface texture. Note that a higher thread count doesn't always necessarily mean better, as lower thread count bedding is often more breathable.
'The fill power determines the heaviness and warmth, which is important to consider when choosing a comfortable duvet,' says Ijaz. 'We recommend looking for a fill power of 600-plus for a decent amount of warmth and comfort.' If you often wake up hot, live in a warm climate or simply want something lightweight and breathable, look for a fill power of 400 or lower. If you're in the market for an all-season comforter that's slightly more insulating, aim for a fill power between 400 and 600.
To accommodate different seasons, comforters come in all different weights, from lightweight to heavy. 'Down is measured by the fill power or weight, which determines how lofty and fluffy it is,' says Ijaz. 'Fill weight measures how much down is used inside the comforter which is measured in grams or ounces. This is important in determining how warm the comforter will be.' All-season models are the most optimal for year-round use, but hot sleepers should consider lightweight models while those who live in regularly cold temperatures could go for heavyweight options.
Check the care tag for instructions on how to properly wash and care for your comforter or duvet insert. Improperly washing it (especially if it isn't machine washable) can lead to irreperable damage. If you're dealing with a comforter that isn't machine washable, consider using a duvet cover to help with its longevity.
According to Ijaz, 'High-quality down is determined by the size of the clusters, durability and fill power.' She says European White Goose Down is among the most luxurious, as it 'contains large clusters of down feathers and typically a higher fill power which results in a fluffy, warm, long-lasting duvet or comforter.'
Goose down is known as a more luxurious material, because it's more lightweight, better at heat insulation and feels much softer. Feathers are still soft and warm, but they aren't as dense or voluminous as down clusters, which result in a heavier or bulkier feel.
An expensive down comforter is worth the money if you're looking to invest in your rest and it's able to address a sleep concern of yours. A comforter made from down can be particularly beneficial for people in cold regions who need to stay bundled up during the fall and winter, but lightweight down comforters are ideal for hot sleepers who still want a soft and fluffy comforter to finish their mattress.
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