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As someone who researches, tests, and writes about bedding for a living, you may be surprised to find out that I’ve used hand-me-down comforters for most of my life. However, when I finally bit the bullet and invested in one a few years ago, it truly transformed my sleeping experience. During especially cold New York winters, a heavy-duty comforter is the first thing I reach for—although I may be more inclined to hit the snooze button a few more times before getting out of bed.
That being said, I understand how hard it can be to find one that suits your climate, preferences, and sleep habits. To help you out, we’ve tested the most popular, top-rated products to find the fluffiest, coziest, and most breathable options. Whether you prefer a classic down comforter made with real feathers or a hypoallergenic down-alternative option, we’re confident there’s something on this list for you.
We spent over 48 hours testing 58 products in The Lab and our homes, evaluating them based on their quality, texture, breathability, durability, and value. While the comforters on this list are made from a variety of fabric shells and fill—from breathable cotton to luxurious silk—we found that most of our favorite options felt pleasantly lofty, were machine washable, and didn’t need to be swapped out as the seasons changed.
During our testing process, we also paid special attention to weight, construction, material, ease of care, and temperature-regulation properties. Additionally, we slept with the comforters in our homes for up to six months, noting how they held up over time.
Buffy Breeze Comforter – Best Overall
Of all the options we’ve tested, our favorite pick is the Buffy Breeze Comforter, which impressed us on all fronts during our lab tests. Both the shell and fill are made from Tencel eucalyptus lyocell, which is a fabric derived from eucalyptus known for its silky-soft feel, natural durability, and temperature-regulation properties. This also means that while it doesn’t contain real down, it’s also not made from synthetic materials like many other down-alternative comforters on the market. Upon initial inspection, we found the comforter was well-constructed, with evenly dispersed filling, sturdy corner loops, and solid stitching throughout. As for texture, the shell was exceptionally soft and smooth while the light fill provided a pillowy feel.
This comforter has a sewn-through construction, meaning the top and bottom layers of fabric are sewn together to create the quilted squares. While this design helps keep the fill in place, sewn-through comforters tend to be less lofty and insulating than their baffle-box counterparts. This proved to be true in our lab tests, as the Buffy Breeze Comforter wasn’t the fluffiest option we tested. (If you’re looking for a lofty comforter, check out our best for winter pick, the Casaluna Premium Down Comforter!) However, we preferred the comfortable balance between warmth and breathability this design offered. Additionally, we had no issues with the fill clumping or shifting, as it stayed uniform throughout the testing process.
When lying underneath the comforter, we were impressed with how much warmth it provided without feeling stifling. The comforter strikes the perfect balance between being comfortably lightweight yet substantial and cozy. It rested lightly over the body, and we were able to readjust and manipulate it quite easily.
After two months of snuggling up with this comforter at home, we have no complaints. While it lacks slightly in the fluffiness and loft you’d normally expect from a comforter, we found that it kept us nicely warm during the frigid midwest winter temperatures. That being said, don’t let its flatter construction fool you—it’s decently heavy and weighted.
While we love almost everything about this comforter, you’ll want to note that it’s dry-clean only, which isn’t the most convenient detail. Although it’s dry-clean only, we actually machine-washed the comforter twice at home. It held up better than expected considering the tag explicitly states not to machine wash it. While the fill was a bit clumpier post-wash, it wasn’t ruined by any means with no further signs of wear. That being said, we don’t necessarily suggest ignoring the recommended care instructions, but we thought this was worth noting in case you’re in a pinch.
If you’re willing to put in a little extra care toward this high-quality product, we think it’s well worth the added effort.
Fill Material: Tencel eucalyptus lyocell (down-alternative) | Shell Material: Tencel eucalyptus lyocell | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/Cal King | Fill Power: Not applicable | Care: Dry clean only
Utopia Bedding Comforter – Best Budget
By far the best value on our list, the Utopia Bedding Comforter is a down-alternative option that earned perfect scores across the board in our testing. It’s made from 100 percent microfiber, which gives it a supremely soft texture without the steep price tag. We found it to be very well-made, with piped edges, a classic-looking quilted design, and no imperfections throughout. When lying underneath the comforter, we were impressed by its breathability and temperature-regulation properties. This comforter is definitely on the lighter end of the spectrum, which may be just what you need if you tend to overheat at night.
What’s more, we love that this comforter is machine washable and dryer-friendly for easy care. It was also easy to remove a coffee stain with just a wet towel thanks to a synthetic microfiber shell. The comforter also shows no signs of wear and tear even after consistent use over six months and multiple rounds in the washer and dryer. It does a great job at regulating our temperature and keeping us plenty warm on colder nights.
With seven color and pattern choices, it’s a stylish option if you prefer to go without a duvet cover. However, if you do choose to use one, it comes with corner loops to securely fasten the cover in place. Additionally, while we’re big fans of the available hues, you may find the colors can vary slightly from how they look online. The comforter arrives in a plastic zipped case so it will need some time to fluff up. The same is true after it goes through the wash cycle.
Fill Material: Polyester (down-alternative) | Shell Material: Microfiber | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king | Fill Power: Not applicable | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry
Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter – Best Cooling
If you tend to overheat at night, check out the Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter. We found this unique comforter delivers some of the most effective cooling and moisture-wicking properties on the market. It’s made with a 90/10 blend of nylon and spandex, which has a buttery-smooth hand that feels almost slippery. The texture is unlike any other comforter we’ve felt, but we ultimately found it to be quite comfortable. Additionally, this comforter has an irregular design with some sections larger than others, in contrast to your traditional baffle-box or sewn-through construction. Compared to other comforters, it’s not very lofty, but it feels sturdy and well-made.
When lying underneath the comforter, it remained cool to the touch throughout our tests, exhibiting impressive breathability and moisture-wicking properties. We found the comforter drapes nicely over the bed and doesn’t feel restrictive or stifling at all. It retained its original shape after washing, and the overall construction quality did not change at all. However, we noticed that some of the filling, particularly in the large sections, bunched slightly to the outside edges. This was a minor drawback, though, as the bunching can be fixed by gently shaking the comforter.
The Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter has improved our nightly routine after using it consistently for two months. Although we suspected that this comforter may only be suitable for the spring and summertime, we were pleasantly surprised by how well it kept us warm at night, even as winter approached in the midwest. Additionally, we’re happy to report that we’ve noticed no changes in quality or texture over time, despite consistent laundering.
Fill Material: Sorona fabric (down-alternative) | Shell Material: 90% nylon, 10% spandex | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/Cal king | Fill Power: Not applicable | Care: Machine wash, air dry