Our Best 4 Down Comforters for 2024 – Reviews and Ratings

Why Should You Have a Down Comforter?

Excellent Warmth

If you live in a cold climate, staying warm is key for a good night’s rest. You could blast the heater, but it may also blow up your utility bill, which could make winter a whole lot more expensive. Down comforters are pound-for-pound the best option in bed linens to stay warm. You may not even have to turn on the space heater, after all.

Lightweight

Heavy comforters make it difficult to move around at night and reposition. They tend to get tangled up and some people feel like it makes them trapped because of the weight. You do not have to have a heavy comforter to stay warm, though.

Made from feathers, down stays lightweight while still keeping you warm at night. When the warmer weather comes around, it is easier to fold up and store, as well.

Durable

Down does not often come cheap; however, your investment should last you a long time—a good down comforter should last between 10 and 15 years if cared for properly. Using a duvet cover will make the down last longer because it is not exposed to skin and oils. We will go into more detail on how to take care of your new comforter later.

Soft

People often compare a good night’s sleep with the feeling of sleeping on a cloud. Down is probably the closest thing to that; it has a plush and cozy feel that makes you want to jump into bed at night. The fineness of down feathers minimizes clumpiness, and they usually plump right up again after washing, assuring each night is as soft as the first.

Down Comforter Buyer’s Guide – Factors to Consider

Down Types

There are really only two types of down, either those made from the feathers of ducks or from geese feathers. In general, duck down is a little cheaper than goose because full-grown geese are bigger and offer a fluffier down. Sometimes, feathers are used from geese that are not fully-grown, so goose feathers do not always mean more loft in the comforter.

Both types of down keep you warm at night and have that soft feel.

Other Fill Materials

Although true down can only come from duck and geese feathers, there are often other materials used to fill comforters for a variety of reasons. Cotton makes the construction more affordable, but it is not insulating like down is. Wool is warm, but it is heavy and expensive, while silk is usually used in comforters that are intended to be used in the summer or warmer months due to its lightness.

Down Alternatives

Alternatives use synthetic materials to mimic the softness and plush warmth of down. There are a few benefits to synthetics: Some people are allergic to down but still want the feel of down. Alternatives also tend to be cheaper than straight down, and some, such as gel fiber, can even provide a loftier feel.

View Our Guide: Best Down Alternative Comforters

Down Cluster

Down cluster, unlike alternatives, are still made of down. The cluster comes from underneath the feathers of the bird and serves as a layer of insulation. It is much loftier than feather down and has a plusher feel. If you are looking for the warmest comforter, clustered down may be your best bet.

Feathers

Sometimes manufacturers use other feathers from geese and ducks to help fill in the gaps. These feathers are more on the surface of the bird instead of on the underside, meaning they are technically not down. They are not insulating and warm; however, they are still light and airy.

Check Out Our Guide: The 4 Highest Rated Comforters

Fill Volume (Fill Power)

Not only are materials important in choosing a down blanket, but also how much filling is used; how much your comforter is filled will determine how warm the blanket will be. In order to quantify this, fill volume is used, which measures the space that 1 ounce of down fills. The higher the number, the more warmth it will provide, and the lower the number, the less plush and insulating.

Below 400

If your comforter is rated below 400, it probably will not be very warm. This fill power would be best used in the warmer months and for those who live in hotter climates but still want that feeling of the soft and plush down material.

400 – 600

The 400-600 range is also generally suited for the summer months, but if you sleep particularly warm, a blanket near the 600 range may be perfect in the winter months. If you live in an area where it does not get below freezing, this might also work well.

600 – 800

Blankets in this range are great for winter warmth. If you sleep more on the warm side, choose a comforter in the lower range. If you live in a pretty cold place or sleep averagely than one in the higher end would most likely be best.

800 +

Fill powers above 800 are the warmest and loftiest options. These blankets will fight off viciously freezing climates. You should expect to pay a little more, but you should also expect it to last for years.

Outside Shell Material Options

The outer material is called a shell, and just like the inside can be filled with alternate materials, the shell can be made with pretty much any fabric. The outside fabric comes in a variety of options, each with pros and cons. Some will alter the way you should care for your comforter, so also keep that in mind when choosing your shell material.

Silk

Silk is smooth, soft, and it combats dust mites, which is great for keeping those allergies in check. Overheating is less frequent because of its breathability. However, silk is expensive and also difficult to clean, and most manufacturers recommend to only use professional cleaners to make it last longer.

Wool

Wool wicks moisture like a champ, and many people love the warmth and softness that it brings. It is not as commonly used as a cover than other materials because of its heaviness, which negates the reason many people prefer down. Like silk, it is also expensive for quality wool.

Cotton

The most widely used material, cotton is soft, generally affordable, and durable. It is hypoallergenic, natural, and easy to care for. Many find that cotton wicks moisture unlike, say, polyester, but for some, cotton is not breathable enough, and they prefer other materials instead.

Blends of Cotton and Synthetic

Cotton is often blended with polyester or other synthetics for affordability, strength, and breathability. Polyester tends to retain moisture, and the blend helps minimize this. Premium cotton can come at a higher cost, so a blend with synthetics can keep those prices lower while providing some of the same benefits.

Stitch Design

The way a comforter is sewn together can affect the quality and durability. You definitely do not want your blanket coming apart, and you want to make sure that the down stays in place to minimize possible clumping or cold spots. Some are stitched all the way through both the top and the bottom throughout the surface of the blanket, while others are held together by sewing through added fabric layers.

Diamond Quilted

Diamond-quilted comforters look exactly how they sound. On the outside, you will see a diamond pattern sewn throughout, which most often connects the top shell to the bottom. This method should keep your down in place but may cause some restriction.

Sewn-Through

As we talked about in the previous section, diamond quilting can take the form of a sewn-through technique, where the top and bottom are connected by stitching through the comforter and creating little pockets of down. It should keep the down in place, but it might not be as fluffy.

Baffle Box

Instead of sewing all the way through the comforter, this method holds the top and bottom together by stitching both to a separate piece of fabric in the middle. Rather than making smaller, more constricted pockets, the down has more space to move around but is still held in place. This is usually the most expensive method.

Gusseted

This technique stitches the shell together only around the perimeter of the comforter, which should feel more like a traditional blanket. The down will likely have more space to move around, but this could cause some clumping and cold spots in the future.

Thread Count

Thread count is measured by the amount of thread inside one square inch of material. The higher the count, the more durable, soft, and expensive your product. Unfortunately, some manufacturers double count their 2-ply yarn, making their count look higher than it is.

Try and find thread counts between 300 and 600 to get the most out of your money.

Frequently Asked Questions about Down Comforters

What’s the best down comforter for hot sleepers?

If you sleep particularly hot, look for something with moisture-wicking technology. Fabrics like bamboo, microfiber, silk, and cotton sateen should keep you from overheating and waking up in a sweat. Down alternatives may be the best option for you due to the insulating nature of down.

A lighter weight down might do the trick, as well. This is where fill power comes into play; look for a comforter with a rating below 400 if you get extremely warm at night or possibly in the 400-600 range if you live in a colder climate.

Why can they get too hot?

Down is made from the under-layer of feathers from a goose, duck, or sometimes swan. This layer is meant to keep these birds warm during the winter months, meaning they are naturally insulating and keep their body heat in. For humans, those same insulating qualities are utilized; the heat that we emanate is trapped by the down, helping us stay warm.

The more down fill a comforter has, the warmer it should be because it is harder for the heat to escape. This can cause some overheating problems for those who sleep warm.