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There are a lot of things you might describe as fluffy: A bunny’s tail, a dandelion when it goes to seed, or a pile of luscious pancakes. But a down comforter’s fluffiness comes from the puffs of wispy insulation found under the feathers of ducks and geese.

Filled with tiny clusters of these pillowy, quill-free feathers (aka no pointy edges), down comforters provide warmth without weighing you down — so basically peak coziness.

There’s a lot that goes into choosing a good one, too — including whether the down was ethically sourced. Below, we cover down basics and give you the deets on how to shop for your next down comforter.

Best down comforters for 2022

Truth be told, what feels dreamy to you might be someone else’s nightmare. Still, we use the following criteria to make our down comforter recs:

  • Customer reviews. The people know what they like, and we’re here to listen. When selecting our down comforter shortlist, we went with top-rated options with rave reviews from buyers.
  • Materials. You’ll notice a variety of down comforters listed below. You want options? We got ’em. In addition to plain ol’ down, we also selected down alternatives and organic options.
  • Certifications. Our picks only feature brands that clearly state their use of ethical down. Other certifications we looked for include OEKO-TEK Standard 100, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and Responsible Down Standard (RDS).
  • Price. And, obvi, the comforters featured sit at a variety of price points to fit all kinds of budgets.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $100
  • $$ = $100–$300
  • $$$ = over $300

Turn yourself into a luxurious sleep time burrito with one of these fluffy down comforters.

Best overall down comforter

  • Price: $$
  • Cover material: 100% cotton sateen
  • Fill material: white goose down
  • Fill power: 700–750
  • Bonuses: Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified, machine washable

This premium goose down comforter is the chef’s kiss of fluffy comforters. It’s handcrafted, so expect a delay between ordering and shipping. You can choose between two warmth options — all season and extra warm, depending on how toasty you want to feel. On top of quality construction, the comforter also comes with a 5-year warranty and is machine washable.

Reviewers call it super cozy, light, and fluffy. A few people say the all-season is a touch too warm for their liking — so hot sleepers take note.

Best hypoallergenic down comforter

  • Price: $$–$$$
  • Cover material: 100% cotton sateen
  • Fill material: down cluster fill
  • Fill power: 650–750
  • Bonuses: hypoallergenic, RDS certified, 365 days to return

Brooklinen’s hypoallergenic down comforter is treated with antimicrobials to keep the allergy baddies away and prevent you from waking up with puffy, swollen eyes and an itchy nose. It comes in three fill levels: lightweight, all-season, and ultra-warm. You can snuggle up with the comforter for up to a year and return it if it’s not your jam.

Reviewers say it’s comfy and regulates temps with ease. Some people note that the sizing is slightly on the small side — not ideal for maximum snuggliness — so you might want to up a size if you share your bed with a partner. Buyer beware: Brooklinen ain’t playin’ with its ultra-warm option. That sh*t is HAWT. 🔥🔥🔥

Best comforter for hot sleepers

  • Price: $$$
  • Cover material: 100% cotton shell and a layer of merino wool
  • Fill material: down
  • Fill power: 750
  • Bonuses: RDS certified, 30-night risk-free trial, machine washable

This comforter is perf for those who tend to sleep hot thanks to a layer of temperature regulating, moisture-wicking merino wool. It’s available in lightweight and mid-weight options — both ultra-puffy. The comforter is also machine washable and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.

Reviewers say the comforter does exactly what it promises and even helps limit under-the-cover clamminess. Light sleepers might want to pop in some earplugs, though. This comforter rustles audibly whenever you move it. FYI: some people love this noise. ASMR anyone?

Best all-season comforter

  • Price: $$
  • Cover material: 100% organic cotton
  • Fill material: white down and feather fibers
  • Fill power: 650
  • Bonuses: hypoallergenic, Organic Cotton Standard (OCS), OEKO-TEX Standard 100, responsibly harvested down, Downpass certified

Hotel vibes for under $150? Yes, please! This inexpensive all-season comforter is available in two weights: medium warmth and winter weight. The baffle-box construction (which basically means the comforter is stitched into separate little boxes) prevents the fill from bunching up, so you stay warm from your neck to your tippy toes.

The company claims that the fill is a combo of feather and down. But some customers disagree, saying it only contains feathers. Reviewers say it feels like a hotel-quality comforter but for a much more affordable price. The downside? It’s a bit too warm for actual all-season use. Also, don’t expect it to be as lofty as a higher priced comforter.

Best down comforter under $100

  • Price: $$
  • Cover material: 100% Egyptian cotton
  • Fill material: 20% down and 80% feathers
  • Fill power: 750
  • Bonuses: Downpass and OEKO-TEX certified, machine washable

When paying under $100 for a down comforter, you can’t expect the height of luxury. Still, Royoliving’s comforter is a comfy option for those on a tight budget. The comforter is available in multiple colors and three weights.

Reviewers say the bedding is warm and full-looking — a sweet surprise considering the price. It also has that signature crinkling sound, which people either love or hate. It’s a solid option for topping off a guest bed or dorm mattress.

Best hotel quality down comforter

  • Price: $$$
  • Cover material: cotton sateen
  • Fill material: European white down
  • Fill power: 600–650
  • Bonuses: RDS certified, hypoallergenic, machine washable

Remember the last time you slept in a hotel? (OK, maybe not because we’ve been in pandemic hell for over a year now…) Think back to that moment when you fell asleep after a day of work or sightseeing in a faraway town. How great does that hotel comforter feel? Turn your bedroom into a sleeping oasis with this hotel-quality comforter. It’s available in super light, light, medium, and extra warm options and five different colors. It also comes with a hella generous lifetime guarantee.

Most people love the lightweight yet warm feel of the White Bay down comforter. A few people, though, find the material a bit too thin. A quick word of warning: these comforters are slightly oversized and won’t fill all duvet covers.

Best down alternative comforter

  • Price: $$–$$$
  • Cover material: 100% cotton sateen
  • Fill material: 100% hypoallergenic microfiber fill
  • Fill power: N/A
  • Bonuses: OEKO-TEX certified, machine washable

This down alternative duvet insert comes in lightweight or all-season options, both with a fluffy down-like fill. The fill is evenly distributed thanks to a double-stitched baffle box construction. The duvet comes with a 5-year warranty. It’s machine washable but make sure to read the care instructions carefully. 👀

Customers say the Parachute duvet is as cozy as a cloud. Many customers also describe it as soft and lightweight. You might even say it’s heavenly ~puff-fection~. The few negative reviews mention some concerns about durability and some people complain that it sleeps too hot.

Best organic down comforter

  • Price: $$–$$$
  • Cover material: 100% organic cotton
  • Fill material: 100% Canadian white down
  • Fill power: 600–700
  • Bonuses: hypoallergenic, Canadian-made 🇨🇦, GOTS certified, Downmark certified, Fairtrade certified, RDS certified, 30-night trial, machine washable

You don’t need to be a flower child to care about the materials you bring into your home. If you’re concerned about harmful chemicals, opt for an organic comforter like this one from Sol Organics. Outside, you get a hypoallergenic, organic cotton cover. Inside, there’s 100% responsibly grown and harvested down fill. You can machine wash it, but TBH we’d probably stick with spot cleaning and the occasional dry clean to preserve this glorious fluff-stravaganza of a comforter.

So what do customers think? Reviewers say the comforter is well worth the investment. They love that it has some heft to it but isn’t overly warm.

Best lightweight down comforter

  • Price: $
  • Cover material: 100% cotton
  • Fill material: 80% feather fiber, 15% waterfowl feather, 5% down
  • Fill power: not specified
  • Bonuses: RDS certified

Down sounds like a great idea for snuggling up in the freezing winter, but what if you live somewhere warm and still want to enjoy the fluffy feel of down? Enter lightweight comforters like this one from Puredown. Because it’s ultra-lightweight, it doesn’t have the same heft as other comforters. But for the price, we can’t complain.

Reviewers say it’s cool, comfortable, and cozy. The three C’s you want to hear when buying bedding! We should mention that one reviewer had issues with threads coming loose. Another was unable to get in touch with customer service.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of a down comforter:

Pros

  • Natural and eco-friendly. According to the Down & Feather Council, down produces a wayyyy lower carbon footprint than synthetic fill materials.
  • Ultra-warm. Down is a top-notch insulator. It’s why you see so many people wearing oversized puffy down jackets in subzero temps.
  • Lightweight and breathable. Down delivers warmth, but it’s not hot and heavy (feel free to get hot and heavy under the covers, though 😉)
  • Durable. Unlike synthetic fill, down is long-lasting.

Cons

  • Not always easy to clean. You can’t toss all down products in the washer. Triple check that label before you make a horrible mistake.
  • Not vegan. Unfortunately, down is an animal product, so it’s not for everyone. Thankfully, there are plenty of down alternative options on the market. PHEWF!
  • $$$. Down is spendy, but it’s also an investment because you’ll need to replace your comforter way less often.
  • Not all down is ethically sourced. It’s not always easy to find info about how down is sourced. While you can totally find and buy ethically sourced down, not all down products carry that seal of approval.

How do you know a down comforter is worth shelling out money for? Here are some tips to help you shop.

Type

Duvet? Comforter? Same difference? Short answer: kinda.

People often use these terms interchangeably, but there’s a slight difference. A duvet is designed to go inside of a duvet cover and usually has loops to help secure the two together. A comforter is designed to be a standalone piece of bedding. You can use a duvet cover to protect (or spice up) your comforter, but it’s not a must.

Duvets are sometimes smaller than comforters, so peep the measurements if you want a bit of an overhang.

Because down bedding is harder to clean, it’s usually meant to fit inside a duvet cover. The cover keeps the bedding clean and minimizes how often you’ll need to toss it in the wash or take it to your local dry cleaner.

Materials

Most down comforters have a cotton cover. Some have a linen-like appearance, while others have a satiny slippery feel. It’s up to you which you prefer.

As for the fill, down comforters can contain either goose or duck down. Goose down is slightly warmer and it also comes with a premium price tag. CHA-CHING.

Down bedding can contain a combo of feathers and down. Often, manufacturers provide the exact ratio of down and feathers on the label. You’ll see something like “80% down, 20% feather.” Usually, high quality, luxury down products have more down than feathers. More down = $$$$

Fill power

This measures the fluffiness of a down product. The higher the number, the puffier. Something that at first seems entirely abstract. But yes, there’s a number that corresponds to fluffiness — or loft as they call it in the biz.

A higher fill also translates to better insulation and increased durability. A lower number doesn’t necessarily mean a comforter is trash — it may just sleep cooler.

Construction

Most down comforters feature what’s called a baffle box construction. Small strips of material are sewn in between the layers of the comforter to create little boxes. This keeps the fill material evenly dispersed throughout the comforter but also allows it to fluff up in all its glory once the comforter is sewn shut.

Sewn-through stitching uses simple stitches to separate fill into quilt-like pockets. Sewn-through comforters are usually less fluffy than their baffle-box bros.

Certifications and ethically-sourced down

Which certifications should you keep an eye out for? Here are a few important ones:

RDS is the most common ethical-down certification. The certification body works to ensure that birds used for down are treated humanely, and that sourcing is done responsibly. Most companies that are RDS certified will wear that badge loud and proud.

If the info isn’t obvious at first glance, check the FAQ page. Can’t find it anywhere? That’s a red flag, honey. Look for companies that are transparent about their practices. There are lots of companies using ethically-sourced down, so don’t be shy to look elsewhere.

Speaking of transparency. Did you know that there are laws regarding down product labeling? Yep! Legally, a company can’t market a product as 100 percent down unless it really contains only down. The rules can vary slightly from state to state, but the Federal Trade Commish (FTC) can come down on companies making false claims or doing shady sh*t.

Care

Some down products are dry-clean only. But if heading down to the local dry cleaner sounds like an annoying task, opt for a comforter that’s machine washable. Just be sure to read the care label before you throw it in the washer.

You’ve got the perfect mattress, but what’s a good night’s sleep without a pillowy comforter to snuggle under?

Add a luxurious down comforter to your bed and turn your basic bedroom into a sleep oasis fit for royalty — YAAS QUEEN!