The 11 Best Down-Alternative Comforters of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Buffy Cloud Comforter

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Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Breathability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Of all the options we tested, our number-one pick is the Buffy Cloud Comforter. It earned high marks during our lab tests, as we were huge fans of its soft and smooth texture, top-notch temperature regulation properties, and lofty construction.

Ideal for year-round use, this down-alternative comforter has the Goldilocks touch of being just right thanks to the fact it's breathable and airy, while still being plenty plush and cozy. We also loved how easy this comforter was to move around and fold, as making the bed each morning was a breeze. Plus, the down alternative appeared smooth and even throughout with no pesky lumps.

We're huge fans of the buttery-smooth shell and lightweight yet substantial fill. The fill is a synthetic polyester, which is sourced from upcycled plastic bottles. The lyocell shell comes from the pulp of eucalyptus trees, and the 300-thread count sateen weave gives it that ultra-smooth texture.

Compared to other comforters that tested similarly in the lab and at home, this product is value-packed considering its impressive quality and high-end construction. Rather than a baffle-box or sewn-through design, the Cloud Comforter is made using Buffy’s unique stitching pattern that claims to keep the fill in its place. We also like that it's machine-washable, but bear in mind that hang-drying is recommended.

How It Performed Long-Term

We've tested this duvet cover in our homes for six months, and we're happy to report that it continues to impress. This soft and silky pick has proved to be suitable for year-round use, as it's not overly thick but traps in enough warmth to keep us comfortable on colder nights. And even during the spring and summer months, we've had no issues with overheating. After numerous rounds in the wash, we've found that its texture, appearance, and performance haven't changed at all. What's more, Buffy's proprietary stitching design has kept the fill perfectly in place throughout the testing period.

Price at time of publish: $169 for Full/Queen

_{Material: Lyocell shell, recycled polyester fill | Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Care: Machine wash cold, hang dry | Weight: Light}

Best Budget

Utopia Bedding Quilted Comforter

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Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Breathability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

The Quilted Comforter from Utopia Bedding earned perfect scores across the board, making it our favorite budget-friendly pick. We appreciated its breathability, cozy warmth, machine-washable design, handy corner loops, and impressive value. This baffle box comforter comes in six exact sizes, so you won't have to worry about excess fabric hanging off your duvet cover. Many of our other picks straddle the line between a Twin and a Twin XL, or are the same size for a Full and a Queen. 

In addition to white, it comes in eight other pretty color options, so if you're not a fan of duvet covers, you can go without one and just rock one of these chic hues. Just be aware that the colors may slightly vary from how they appear online.

While this isn't the loftiest comforter on the market, it's an excellent lightweight option that's exceptionally breathable and suitable for those who tend to sleep warm. We really enjoyed its airy feel, which kept us from overheating and made the comforter easy to fold and move—it would be great for a college dorm given all the moves your student might have to do while keeping them plenty cool in air condition-less dorm rooms. Additionally, we found it was exceptionally simple to wipe away any stains with just a damp towel.

How It Performed Long-Term

After months of real-world testing, we can't recommend this product enough. We used this product consistently in our homes for six months, and it's still performing up to our standards with no signs of wear and tear. This pick might not be the heftiest option on our list, but we've found that it still does a great job of keeping us warm on cooler nights.

Price at time of publish: $42 for Queen

_{Material: Microfiber shell, polyester fill | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry | Weight: Light}

Best Splurge

Cozy Earth Bamboo Comforter

View On Cozy Earth View On Nordstromrack.com

Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Breathability
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

If you're open to splurging on a truly opulent bed cover, Cozy Earth won't let you down. This entire comforter, including both the shell and fill, is made of bamboo-sourced viscose. In our tests, we found the material to be exceptionally breathable and luxuriously soft.

What's more, we loved the shell's temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking abilities, which make it perfect for people who run hot or experience night sweats, though it's also plenty warm. And if you prefer a little more weight, upgrade to the "extra" fill level. Though heavy, the shell still felt breathable, and we had no issues in terms of overheating. However, it can be a bit hard to maneuver because of the extra weight.

How It Performed Long-Term

Breathable, durable, and ultra-soft, we're happy with the general performance of this comforter over the span of six months. Even during the summertime (and 90 degree-plus nights), we’ve appreciated how cool it kept us throughout the night, which can be especially helpful if you tend to sleep warm. We also love that the fill hasn't shifted and has stayed fluffy throughout the testing period.

While this comforter has impressed us on almost all fronts, we don't love how tedious the care instructions are, as you won't be able to simply toss this comforter in the wash if it gets dirty. And, it’s the most expensive pick on our list. That being said, if you're willing to put in the extra effort to maintain this high-end product, we think it's definitely worth purchasing.

Price at time of publish: $729 for Full/Queen

_{Material: Bamboo shell, viscose (bamboo) fill | Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King | Care: Spot or dry clean | Weight: Choice of medium or heavy}

Best Size and Color Selection

Cohome 2100 Series Down Alternative Quilted Duvet Insert

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Our Ratings

• Quality
  4.5/5
• Texture
  4.5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Breathability
  3/5
• Value
  5/5

Finding the right comforter is hard enough, but finding the perfect size and color can feel impossible. For a great selection of sizes and colors, we recommend the Cohome Down Alternative Comforter, which also works as a duvet insert. It comes in seven sizes, including oversized king and queen, and five colors.

Aside from the notable size and color selection, we loved its high-quality and thick material, which is especially impressive given its affordable price tag. The cozy polyester fill is designed to be evenly distributed and noiseless thanks to its baffle-box construction, which is especially ideal for restless sleepers.

We also love that this comforter is machine washable and dryer safe. During our tests, we did find that it's not as thick or lofty compared to some other options we tested, so this may not work if you prefer a heavier comforter. However, if you're looking for a more lightweight option to sleep with, this could be perfect.

How It Performed Long-Term

The Cohome Down Alternative Comforter has held up well during the course of our three-month testing, ranging from cool November weather to frigid temperatures in January. We’ve found that it does lack a little bit of heft that you may need during the winter, but you can just add a quilt or blanket to your bed to boost that warmth. It’s a great option for spring and summer months as its lighter weight prevents it from feeling too stifling at night, which we appreciate. The fill has also stayed even throughout the testing period.

Price at time of publish: $50 for Queen

_{Material: Polyester fill | Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Oversized Queen, Oversized King | Care: Machine wash, tumble dry low | Weight: Light}

Best Cooling

Pottery Barn Hydrocool Moisture Wicking Down Alternative Duvet Insert

View On Pottery Barn

Our Ratings

• Quality
  4.8/5
• Texture
  4.5/5
• Durability
  4.5/5
• Breathability
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

Calling all hot sleepers! The HydroCool Duvet Insert from Pottery Barn boasts an incredibly soft shell, lightweight yet cozy feel, and machine-washable design. We were thoroughly impressed with its temperature-regulating abilities when testing the down-alternative comforter at home and in the lab. 

The comforter has proved to be exceptionally versatile, as it feels relatively cool in the summer while keeping us toasty in the winter. In our experience, it delivers the perfect amount of warmth no matter the temperature—making it suitable even in chillier climates. However, if temperatures get extremely cold, you may have to supplement the comforter with an additional blanket. But on most nights, the HydroCool Duvet Insert kept us at a comfortable temperature all night long.

Upon first inspection, we were impressed with how luxuriously soft the material felt. Plus, the comforter was easy to maneuver and move around since it wasn't too heavy. This down-alternative comforter has a breathable cotton shell with a 300 thread count to ensure adequate airflow. The fill is 60 percent recycled polyester sourced from plastic bottles and 40 percent HydroCool performance polyester. According to the manufacturer, the high-tech fibers also draw sweat away from your skin so you stay cool throughout the night.

Price at time of publish: $249 for Full/Queen

_{Material: Cotton shell, recycled/performance polyester fill | Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Care: Machine wash cold | Weight: Light}

Best All-Season

Coyuchi Climate Beneficial Wool Duvet Insert

View On Coyuchi.com

Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Breathability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Down-alternative duvets are suitable for year-round use, as long as you make sure that you're not purchasing one that is on either end of the weight scale. With this in mind, we recommend Coyuchi's Climate Beneficial Wool Duvet, which is both cool to the touch and insulating. Unlike other options we tested, this pick is more dense than it is lofty, but we found the weighty construction to be exceptionally comfortable. Despite its density, we found this comforter to be very breathable and temperature-regulating, making it the optimal great all-season pick.

In terms of construction, this duvet has a 100 percent GOTS Certified organic cotton shell and wool fill. Upon inspection, we found it to be very well made with a luxuriously soft texture. When testing for durability, we stained the comforter with coffee and treated it with a wet towel and Tide Pen to see how easy it was to clean. While the stain was not completely removed during spot treatment, you can easily refresh this comforter by tossing it in the washing machine and letting it air dry.

Price at time of publish: $598 for Full/Queen

_{Material: Organic cotton, wool | Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King | Care: Machine wash cold, air dry | Weight: Medium}

Best Lightweight

TEKAMON All Season Queen Comforter

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Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Breathability
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

Prefer something a bit lighter than our previous pick? Your best bet is Tekamon's All-Season Comforter. Upon initial inspection, we were impressed with the product's brushed microfiber shell, which felt exceptionally soft. In our testing, we also found the material to be very breathable and cooling.

The super-fine polyfill is designed to mimic the natural fluffiness of real down, and it was quite insulating despite not being the loftiest pick we tested. We appreciate that this duvet insert is available in plenty of sizes as well as several color options. We also love its easy care instructions, as you can simply throw the comforter in the washer and dryer when it's time to clean it. In the lab, we found that the coffee stain was removed without much effort, using just a wet cloth to spot clean.

Price at time of publish: $29 for Queen

_{Material: Microfiber, poly fill | Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, Oversized Queen, King, Oversized King, California King | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Weight: Light}

Best Medium-Weight

Sijo Clima Tech TempTune Comforter

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Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Durability
  3/5
• Value
  4/5

Not too warm but still plenty cozy, Sijo's Temptune Comforter is ideal for year-round use. The fill fibers are made of the company's patented Clima fiber blend that aims to regulate your body temperature. In the lab, we found the construction quality of this comforter to be quite high-end, with a medium weight, a smooth and soft fabric, and no signs of imperfections throughout.

The shell is made of Tencel lyocell that's sourced from the pulpy cellulose fibers of wood and mica nylon. Because of the Tencel's natural temperature-regulating properties, it offers the perfect amount of warmth without causing you to overheat. When laying underneath the comforter, we liked that it provided a substantial and even weight, trapping in warmth without causing us to overheat. Although this comforter impressed us with its performance overall, we think it's worth noting that we had a bit of trouble spot-cleaning the coffee stain in the lab. Additionally, this comforter is dry-clean recommended, which may pose an issue in mess-prone households.

Price at time of publish: $230 for Full/Queen

_{Material: Lyocell, mica nylon, recycled polyester, Clima fibers | Sizes: Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Care: Dry clean recommended | Weight: Medium}

Best Heavyweight

Boll & Branch Down Alternative Duvet Insert

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The Boll & Branch Down Alternative Duvet Insert comes in three densities, and the ultraweight level is one of the warmest, coziest options you'll find. It's filled with PrimaLoft microfiber, a hypoallergenic material that boasts thermal qualities and down-like loftiness—you’ve likely seen PrimaLoft in winter jackets, pillows, and even footwear. As for the shell, you're looking at 100 percent organic cotton. 

Thanks to the baffle-box construction, the comforter is extra lofty and airy. We also appreciate that there are corner tabs to keep your duvet cover in place.

Price at time of publish: $399 for Full/Queen

_{Material: Organic cotton shell, PrimaLoft (polyester) fill | Sizes: Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry | Weight: Heavy}

Softest Down-Alternative Comforter

Linenspa All-Season Down Alternative Quilted Comforter

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Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Texture
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Breathability
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

Supremely soft, lightweight, and stylish, you'll love Linenspa's All-Season Down Alternative Comforter. It earned a perfect score in terms of quality during our lab test, as we found no imperfections throughout and were impressed with its overall construction. Made with a polyester fill and microfiber shell, we love its buttery-smooth and soft texture. While it's not as lofty as some other options we tried, we found it exceptionally comfortable, noiseless, and easy to maneuver around the bed. Additionally, we loved how cool it was when laying underneath it, making it a great option if you tend to sleep warm.

It's available in six color options, meaning it still looks great even if you don't want to use a duvet cover. In fact, it even boasts a reversible design with different colors on either side to add more dimension to your bedscape. And no worries if you get your comforter dirty—simply toss it in the washer and dryer when it needs a refresh.

Price at time of publish: $150 for Queen

_{Material: Polyester, microfiber | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Oversized Queen, King, Oversized King, California King | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Weight: Light}