The Utopia Bedding All Season Comforter is the winner
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When it comes to getting a good night's sleep, bedding is a critical part of the equation. Your duvet or comforter, in particular, keeps you cozy while helping you maintain a comfy body temperature.
So, what makes a high-quality comforter? Sleep expert Nicole Shallow, M.Ed., BCBA, recommends looking for "something that will absorb body heat without causing you to get too warm." As for material, she says, "Down and feather are the most popular," though there are some excellent vegan-friendly options, too.
We tested over 30 comforters and inserts to find the snuggliest, softest, fluffiest, and most breathable designs.
Scroll down for the best comforters that PEOPLE Tested.
100% microfiber material feels super soft to the touch
Excellent breathability kept us sweat-free during testing
One of the best values for a high-quality comforter that we've tested
May not regulate temperature as well as natural down
After trying 34 bed covers, the Utopia Bedding All Season Comforter was an all-around favorite. It felt light and smooth right out of the packaging, with no loose threads or other visible imperfections. The down-alternative design is filled with siliconized hollow fibers. Sourced from recycled plastic, the material mimics not only the loftiness of real down but also the cozy insulation.
The All Season Comforter has box stitching to prevent the fill from bunching up or shifting around. As for the cover, you're looking at super-soft microfiber. Since this comforter comes in seven colors, you don't necessarily need a duvet cover. But if you do use one, it has handy tabs to secure the corners.
We were impressed by the quality, especially considering the very reasonable price. Our tester said it's pleasantly lightweight with excellent breathability. It's also conveniently machine-washable and dryer-friendly. And the coffee we spilled during our tests came out with minimal effort.
Price at time of publish: $32.99
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king | Fill Material: Down-alternative siliconized hollow fiber | Shell Material: Microfiber | Fill Weight: 250 GSM
Down-alternative is extra soft and fluffy, with soft quilted microfiber shell
Machine-washable, which makes cleaning a breeze
Not be as breathable or insulating as natural materials
If you have feather allergies or just want a vegan-friendly design, the Linenspa Down-Alternative Duvet Insert might be your best bet. Inside the extra-soft, quilted microfiber shell are light and lofty poly fibers. While the synthetic materials may not be as breathable or insulating as their natural counterparts, this duvet is undoubtedly comfortable.
Though it's notably fluffy, our tester said it's easy to lift and doesn't make noise when it moves around. Available in six hues, including some reversible colorways, this duvet can be used without a cover. But if you do opt for a cover, the corner and side tabs will hold it in place. We also appreciate that it can be machine-washed and tumble-dried.
Price at time of publish: $35.99
Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, oversized queen, king, oversized king, Cal king | Fill Material: Down-alternative poly fibers | Shell Material: Microfiber | Fill Weight: 300 GSM
Extra-fluffy down filling is insulating yet breathable
Natural moisture-wicking properties helped keep us sweat-free during testing
Spot-clean or dry-clean only, so we can't just toss it in the washing machine
At first glance, the Luxurious Feathers & Down Comforter was soft, smooth, and extra-fluffy with no loose threads. While it looks ultra-plush, it folds easily like a standard throw blanket. The cotton-poly blend shell is filled with white goose feathers and down fibers. Brandon Palmer, marketing communications chair for the American Down and Feather Council (ADFC), explains that naturally breathable down wicks away moisture and prevents hot air from getting trapped. "This can lead to a more comfortable night's sleep."
Indeed, our tester said this comforter helped prevent her from overheating. Bear in mind it's slightly noisy when it moves around but not so much that it'll disrupt sleep. And since it's not machine-washable, you'll definitely want to get a duvet cover.
Price at time of publish: $165
Sizes: Twin, queen, oversized queen, king, oversized king, Cal king, super king | Fill Material: Goose down, feathers | Shell Material: Egyptian cotton-poly blend | Fill Power: 750
Natural down fill is fluffy with impressive fullness
Cotton sateen shell is soft and cooling
Maintained it's shape through all of our testing
Sizes are inexact, and make not be exactly as listed on the website
Not machine-washable, which makes cleaning more of a hassle
Brooklinen's Down Comforter takes the cake for comfort. Though we noticed a few loose threads, the premium quality was apparent right out of the packaging. Our tester said the cotton sateen shell is soft and cool to the touch, and the natural down fill has a nice fullness that maintains its shape.
According to Palmer, down "offers the sleep-inducing benefits of warmth without weight." Sure enough, our tester said this comfortably breathable comforter didn't trap heat or feel heavy. It's not machine-washable, but we had no problem cleaning up the coffee stain during our tests. The only other thing to note is that the sizes are inexact, so you might have a few inches of slack on your duvet cover.
Price at time of publish: $269
Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/Cal king | Fill Material: Down clusters | Shell Material: Cotton sateen | Fill Power: 650–750
Super fluffy lyocell and poly fibers keep their shape and are evenly districuted
Sweat-wicking lyocell shell helps maintain comfy body temperature
Sizes are inexact and may vary from measurements listed on website
Difficult to remove coffee stains in our testing because of highly absorbent materials
If you run hot or are prone to night sweats, the Buffy Cloud Comforter has your name on it. We noticed a couple of loose threads upon taking it out of the packaging, but it felt soft and smooth. Our tester said the fill was evenly distributed, and according to the brand, the lyocell and poly fibers are fluffier than real down.
The shell is also lyocell, a naturally temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking material. Our tester said it helped her maintain a comfy body temp and didn't feel hot or stuffy. We should note that although this comforter is machine-washable, we weren't able to remove the coffee stain — likely due to the highly absorbent materials. All things considered, we think the price is right on point and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this comforter.
Price at time of publish: $209
Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/Cal king | Fill Material: Lyocell and recycled poly fibers | Shell Material: Tencel lyocell sateen | Fill power: Not listed
Filled with lightweight, ethically sourced down and is also machine washable (which most other down comforters are not.)
Filling is soft yet lightweight, and we felt totally cool while lying under it
Breathable shell is made from a soft cotton weave
Only available in three inexact bedding sizes
One of the more expensive comforter options on our list
Casper's Down Duvet is another great option for hot sleepers and summertime use. With no loose threads, a durable cotton weave, and a silky-soft texture, the high-quality design was evident out of the box. Our tester said it looks lovely as-is, though you're supposed to use it with a duvet cover. Since the sizes are inexact, it might be a couple of inches short of filling your duvet cover.
This comforter is filled with ethically sourced down, so you can count on lightweight breathability that prevents you from overheating. Our tester didn't feel hot whatsoever while lying under it. We couldn't get the coffee stain out, but unlike many down-filled designs, this one is machine-washable. And while the price tag is steep, we think it's worth the investment.
Price at time of publish: $299
Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/Cal king | Fill Material: Down | Shell Material: Cotton sateen | Fill Power: 600
Polyfill comforter helps you keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer
Soft, microfiber cover comes in a variety of colors
Machine-washable design means cleaning is a breeze
Synthetic materials may not be as breathable as real down
We had to fluff up this comforter after removing it from it's packaging
Want something you can sleep with year-round? We recommend the Tekamon All Season Comforter. Though it needed to be fluffed up out of the box, our tester was impressed with the quality. She said it had a soft, cool-to-the-touch feel and no loose threads.
Designed to keep you cozy in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer, this cloud-like duvet is the best of both worlds. In addition to plain white, it comes in three reversible colorways, giving you the option to forgo a duvet cover. Not only that, but it's super easy to get stains out, and you can toss it in your washing machine as needed.
Price at time of publish: $48.90
Sizes: Twin, full, queen, oversized queen, king, oversized king, Cal king | Fill Material: Down-alternative poly fibers | Shell Material: Brushed microfiber | Fill power: Not listed
Comforter feels luxurious and slightly heavy and contours to the body without trapping heat
Cooling viscose fiber is naturally sweat-wicking and breathable
One of the more expensive comforters on our list
Bamboo's natural absorbency means this is more prone to stains, and it's spot-clean or dry clean only
Cozy Earth has Oprah's stamp of approval, and we're here for it. The brand's luxurious bamboo comforter is made of naturally cooling bamboo-derived viscose. While it's easy to fold, it's slightly heavier than average, which makes it a little harder to situate when you're in bed. Still, it has a unique drapiness that contours your body, and thanks to the breathable material, it won't trap heat.
Bamboo is also moisture-wicking, so it can help draw sweat away from your body. But this absorbency also means it's prone to soaking up stains. Keep this in mind, as Cozy Earth recommends spot-cleaning or dry cleaning only. Though this is one of the most expensive duvets we tested, the high-quality design is backed by a 10-year warranty.
Price at time of publish: $455.20
Sizes: Twin, full/queen, king | Fill Material: Bamboo fibers | Shell Material: Bamboo-derived viscose | Fill power: Not listed
When buying a comforter, pay attention to the material. Most are filled with real down (from the undercoat of ducks and geese) or down-alternative, which usually consists of lightweight polyester fibers.
According to Palmer, naturally insulating down is tough to beat when it comes to temperature control and breathability. "It offers the sleep-inducing benefits of warmth without weight," he says. "Its breathability can contribute to sounder, more comfortable sleep because it wicks away body moisture rather than trapping it." However, some synthetic fills, such as siliconized hollow fibers, can mimic the qualities of real down.
The shell matters too. Skin-friendly cotton is a go-to material, though bamboo-derived viscose bedding is gaining popularity. Our best overall pick, the Utopia Bedding All Season comforter, has a microfiber shell. Microfiber is a type of polyester, and while it's generally not as breathable as natural fabrics, it's exceptionally soft.
You should also look out for fill power and fill weight. Fill power measures the volume of a comforter. Ranging from about 400 to 900, this number tells you how many cubic inches of space one ounce of fill takes up. The higher the number, the lighter and loftier the duvet.
Fill weight is — yep — how much the comforter fill weighs. Measured in grams per square meter (GSM), duvets are usually between 200 and 700 GSM. A higher number likely means the duvet is warmer, though it may also be on the heavier side.
Many comforters are meant to be used with a duvet cover. As such, they should ideally have tabs on the corners (and potentially the sides) where you can secure the cover ties to prevent the insert from sliding around inside the duvet cover.
January is often a great time to buy all types of bedding, including comforters and duvets. Brands may offer discounts in an attempt to get last year's products off the shelves and may have new designs available. Beyond that, you can usually find sales on Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Prime Day.
Many people use the terms interchangeably, and these days, they're basically the same thing. However, some comforters can be used as-is (without a cover), in which case they'll often feature a color or pattern. Duvet inserts, on the other hand, are traditionally meant to go inside a duvet cover.
Cotton is the best material for a comforter or duvet insert's shell. Cotton is breathable, soft to the touch, and easy to clean. The best fill material is down or a down alternative that is breathable and moisture-wicking.
Comforters can cost anywhere from $30 to over $500. Down comforters are usually more expensive than their alternatives, but that doesn't mean they are better. From our research, we found that many quality comforters are under $200.
We selected 34 comforters and duvet inserts to try first-hand. After taking them out of the packaging, our testers assessed the feel of the shell, examined the fill distribution, evaluated the loft, and noted any defects. Then we measured, weighed, and recorded the temperature of each cover.
Our testers spilled a small amount of coffee on the surface to check for stain resistance. They also laundered the machine-washable designs and noted whether washing affected the integrity or fluffiness. We scored each comforter for quality, texture, durability, temperature regulation, breathability, and value. Those with the highest average ratings were selected for this story.
Based on our testers' experiences, freelance home and leisure writer Theresa Holland compared some of the most popular comforters based on features like price, weight, feel, fill material and distribution, ease of cleaning, and spill resistance. For additional insight into selecting the best comforters for individual sleep preferences, we also spoke to Nicole Shallow, M.Ed., BCBA sleep expert and behavior coach, and Brandon Palmer, marketing communications chair for the American Down and Feather Council (ADFC).
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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Gao J, et al. (2007). Structures and Properties of the Goose Down as a Material for Thermal Insulation. Textile Research Journal. 77. 617-626. 10.1177/0040517507079408.
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Gericke A & van der Pol J. (2010). A comparative study of regenerated bamboo, cotton and viscose rayon fabrics. Part 1: selected comfort properties. Journal of Consumer Sciences. Vol. 38.
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