Nothing's better than sliding under a soft, fluffy comforter when you climb into bed. But with so many options to choose from when shopping for a comforter – and such a wide range of prices – it's hard to know which ones are actually worth the splurge. On top of feeling plush and cozy, you'll want your comforter to be durable, easy to clean, and well-constructed to keep the fill evenly spread out, night after night.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has evaluated dozens of down and down-alternative comforters to find ones that will keep you warm and last for years. Our last test included 28 different styles and consisted of over 220 Lab and consumer tests to find the best options on the market. We most recently reviewed this article in June 2022 and still stand behind our recommendations based on our thorough evaluation process. The picks ahead are winners from our test along with newer styles from brands we love with rave reviews.
If you're looking for real down, this one uses a unique gate system to stop the fill from shifting around inside. Users love its fluffiness and it has all the key components you should look for in a comforter like a downproof cover and 600 fill-power down that's responsibly sourced and repeatedly cleaned during production. The style also includes built-in loops so you can easily attach a duvet cover. Just note that it's one of the more expensive comforters you'll find; the king size costs a whopping $589.
Synthetic fill for those that prefer down alternative
Available in six sizes
Box stitching doesn't typically prevent shifting as well
Cuddledown's Level 1 down alternative comforter was a top performer in our test thanks to the fact that it's both lightweight and warm, which is difficult for a synthetic fill to achieve. It also comes in both a heavier ("Level 2") weight and a lighter option ("Summer") for warmer weather. Testers loved the soft feel of the 100% cotton outer fabric, which is certified by Oeko-Tex to make sure there are no unsafe levels of harmful chemicals. It has a box-stitched construction, which doesn't always keep the fill separated as well as a baffle box, but it washed well in our tests without much change in appearance.
It's hard to find a real down comforter that doesn't cost several hundred dollars, but this one from Home Depot is under $150. The fill is a blend of down and feathers which helps lower the cost, but the features check off the boxes for a good down comforter, including RDS-certified down, a 100% cotton cover, machine wash capabilities, and corner loops to tie on a duvet cover.
Not only is this one Amazon's Choice for comforters, it's a total steal compared to other prices. Don't let the low cost fool you: It has over 75,000 five-star ratings from users who call it both lightweight and fluffy. It doesn't use the most luxurious materials (polyester fill and cover) and there's a quilted construction instead of baffle boxes, but between its top-rated feedback, variety of options (12 colors and patterns plus eight sizes), and unbeatable price, it's worth buying if you're looking for an affordable comforter — Plus, it's machine washable in a large capacity machine
Brooklinen's online-only shopping platform makes it easy to buy quality bedding at a good price (we're big fans of the brand's sheets!), and when it comes to comforters you get to choose between six choices: Down and down-alternative as the fill and three weights for each. The weights include lightweight, all-season and ultra-warm, offering something for everyone depending on how cold (or hot) you get at night. Both fills are dry clean only, but they have great features like a soft, cotton cover, baffle box constructions, and corner loops to tie on duvets.
A standout design, this comforter has a down-alternative fill that's a web of individual fibers instead of clusters and there's no box stitching to compress the layers, meaning you don't have to worry about it clumping or creating cold spots. It has the ultimate fluffy feel that users say is like sleeping in a cloud. Buffy also offers a free 30-day trial so you can make sure you love it. Just note that it's dry clean only and the brand goes a bit overboard with its environmental claims – i.e. it says it uses eucalyptus fabric, but that doesn't exist. The fabric is made of lyocell, which means tree pulp is chemically processed to create a partially synthetic fiber. Still, lyocell is considered sustainable and feels incredibly soft.
This temperature-regulating duvet might not feel cool to the touch, but it's made with 37.5 technology that stores and releases heat all night long to keep you at a comfortable body temperature. The fill is a down alternative and it's machine washable, plus it's made with corner loops to tie on the duvet cover. Just note that it's only available in two sizes: Full/Queen and King/California King.
If you prefer natural materials, this one uses an organic cotton shell and ethically sourced down fill. It also comes packaged in a reusable cloth bag to cut out plastic packaging. The 600 fill power is lightweight and ideal for year round use, but it also comes in a winter-weight version with extra filling for more warmth.
If you're looking to skip the duvet cover (let's face it, they can be a pain to get on), this comforter comes in five different colors so you can use it by itself. On top of that, you get to choose between three different warmth levels and four sizes to find the best fit for your bed. It also impressed our analysts with its durable stay-in-place stitching and other standout features, including a cotton cover that's combed for extra softness and a down fill that's both RDS-certified and thoroughly cleaned during production. Testers loved how warm and comfortable it was and appreciated how the fill didn't shift or shed at all.
How to find the best comforter for you
After you decide between down and down alternative, you'll want to consider both the construction and care instructions when picking out a high quality comforter:
✔️ Construction: Check the specifications to see if the comforter uses a baffle box construction, which means there are vertical walls of fabric on the inside to help keep the fill in place.
✔️ Downproof: The outer fabric's thread count can sometimes be an indicator that it's downproof – i.e. tightly woven keep the fill from poking through. If the cover is cotton and the thread count is listed, look for one that's around 300.
✔️ Fill power: You'll usually see a fill power listed with products that use down (even winter coats). The higher the fill power, the more space the down clusters take up, meaning more air gets trapped to give you warmth without adding weight. If you're looking for good warmth in winter weather, we recommend a fill power of 600 or higher.
✔️ Machine washability: Some comforters are dry clean only, but most in our roundup are machine washable. Just keep in mind: there needs to be room for the comforter to move around while it's washing and drying, so most of the time you'll have to use a large capacity washing machine and dryer. It's also a good idea to use dryer balls and pause the drying cycle to manually fluff the comforter, which will help prevent clumps.
Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping InstituteExecutive Director, Textiles, Paper & Apparel LabWith over 15 years of experience in the textiles industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University, Lexie Sachs researches, tests and reports on all fabric-based products ranging from sheets, mattresses and towels to bras, fitness apparel and other clothing.
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