The 12 Best Down-Alternative Comforters of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Buffy Cloud Comforter

4.6

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Our number-one pick is the Buffy Cloud Comforter. It earned high marks from our tester, who liked the soft, breathable shell and lightweight-yet-substantial fill. "It felt great, held temperature really well, and it was easy to move around and fold, as well as quiet," our tester noted.

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 doesn't sleep too hot, while still being plenty warm and cozy. Our tester also loved how easy this comforter was to fold and said making the bed each morning was a breeze. Plus, the down alternative appeared smooth and even throughout with no pesky lumps.

Though the fill is a synthetic substance (polyester), it's sourced from recycled materials. The lyocell shell comes from the pulp of renewable eucalyptus trees, making it an all-around sustainable product.

The Buffy Cloud Comforter is a winner when it comes to price, too. "I think this comforter price perfectly matches the value," said our tester. "I'd honestly pay more." We also like that it's machine-washable, but bear in mind that hang-drying is recommended.

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

_{Material: Lyocell shell, recycled polyester fill | Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine wash cold, hang dry}

Best Budget

Utopia Bedding Quilted Comforter

5

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The Quilted Comforter from Utopia Bedding earned a perfect score from our tester, making it our favorite budget-friendly pick. They appreciated its breathability, cozy warmth, machine-washable design, handy corner loops, and supremely affordable price tag. This insert comes in six exact sizes, so you won't have to worry about excess fabric hanging off your duvet cover.

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 for folks on a budget. Our tester noted the lightweight feel kept them from overheating and made the comforter easy to fold and move. Our tester also found it was super simple to wipe away stains with just a damp towel.

Price at time of publish: $42 for Queen

_{Material: Microfiber shell, polyester fill | Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry}

Best Cooling

Cozy Earth Bamboo Comforter

4.5

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If you're open to splurging on a truly amazing bed cover, Cozy Earth won't let you down. This entire comforter, including both the shell and fill, is made of bamboo-sourced viscose. The material is not only a sustainable, renewable resource, but it's also breathable and exceptionally soft.

What's more, bamboo has natural 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 cozy. And if you prefer a little more loft, upgrade to the "extra" fill level.

Our tester loved the luxurious feel of the material and said it kept warm and comfy all night. Though heavy, the material still felt breathable, and our tester wasn't worried about overheating. However, it can be a bit hard to maneuver because of the extra weight.

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

_{Material: Bamboo shell, viscose (bamboo) fill | Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine-wash, tumble or hang-dry}

Best Size and Color Selection

COHOME Queen 2100 Series Down Alternative Quilted Duvet Insert

4.4

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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 impressive size and color selection, our tester loved the high-quality and thick material. They noted it felt especially impressive for the affordable price. "At only $45, this is a great deal. For people who love warm comforters, this is perfect. It will look good with or without a duvet cover too," says our tester. The polyester fill is designed to be even and noiseless, which is especially ideal for restless sleepers.

We also love that this comforter is machine washable and dryer safe. Our tester did note that it sleeps a bit on the warm side, so this may not work as a year-long comforter. However, if you run cold or are looker for something heavy for chilly winter nights, this could be perfect.

Price at time of publish: $50 for Queen

_{Material: Polyester fill | Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Oversized Queen, Oversized King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine wash, tumble dry low}

Best for Hot Sleepers

Pottery Barn Hydrocool Down-Alternative Duvet Insert

4.9

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Calling all hot sleepers! The HydroCool Duvet Insert from Pottery Barn boasts an incredibly soft shell, lightweight yet cozy feel, and machine-washable design. Our tester was thoroughly impressed with its temperature-regulating abilities.

Our tester pointed out that this comforter kept them warm on cooler nights, but on an extremely cold night when the temperature dropped to the 20s, she found that it didn't provide quite enough warmth. Overall, though, she felt comfortable and cozy.

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 maker, the high-tech fibers 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 | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine wash cold}

Best All-Season

Brooklinen Down Alternative Comforter

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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 Brooklinen's All-Season Comforter, which the brand touts as the "Goldilocks of comforters."

In terms of construction, this duvet has a 100 percent long-staple cotton shell with a supremely smooth sateen weave. The polyester fill is sourced from recycled plastic bottles, and baffle-box construction ensures that it's evenly distributed. One thing to note is that this bed cover isn't machine-washable—Brooklinen recommends spot-cleaning or dry-cleaning if needed.

Price at time of publish: $209 for Full/Queen

_{Material: Long-staple cotton shell, recycled polyester fill | Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Spot-clean or dry-clean}

Best for Winter

The Company Store Legends Hotel Primaloft Alberta Down Alternative Comforter

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When winter rolls around, you'll be glad to have the PrimaLoft Alberta Comforter. Available in two weights—medium warmth and extra warmth—it's made to meet different needs. This duvet is filled with PrimaLoft, a type of polyester microfiber known for its down-like loftiness and thermal qualities.

As for the shell, you're looking at 300-thread-count cotton sateen finished with a combing technique to maximize softness and enhance the comforter's insulation. While this comforter is on the pricier side, you'll definitely get your money's worth in terms of warmth, comfort, and durability. We also like that it comes in a few colors, so you can forgo a duvet cover if you want to keep things simple.

Price at time of publish: $269 for Queen

_{Material: Sateen cotton shell, PrimaLoft (polyester) fill | Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry}

Best Lightweight

Parachute Down Alternative Duvet Insert

4.2

View On Parachute

Prefer something a bit lighter? Your best bet is Parachute's Down Alternative Duvet Insert. It comes in two densities: all-season and lightweight, the latter of which is just the thing for hot sleepers and summertime use.

The super-fine microfiber fill is designed to mimic the natural fluffiness of real down, only it's hypoallergenic and vegan. Woven from 100 percent cotton with a sateen weave, the shell is breathable and soft with a subtle sheen. Though this duvet insert doesn't come in exact bedding sizes, we like that it's machine-washable and dryer-safe.

Price at time of publish: $259 for Queen

_{Material: Sateen cotton shell, microfiber poly fill | Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low}

Best Medium-Weight

Casper Mid Weight Down Alternative Duvet

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Not too warm but still plenty cozy, the Casper Mid Weight Duvet is ideal for year-round use. The fill fibers are made of 100 percent recycled polyester that mimics the loftiness and lightweight insulation of real feathers. Inspired by down-filled puffer jackets, the sewn-in chambers hug your body while keeping the fill in place.

The shell is made of Tencel lyocell, a naturally breathable and temperature-regulating fabric that's sourced from the pulpy cellulose fibers of wood. While we wish this comforter was a little more affordable and available in exact sizes, overall, it's a great mid-weight option.

Price at time of publish: $199 for Full/Queen

_{Material: Lyocell shell, recycled polyester fill | Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low}

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. As for the shell, you're looking at 100 percent organic cotton.

Thanks to the baffle-box construction, the fluffiness is evenly distributed and won't shift around over time. We also appreciate that there are corner tabs to keep your duvet cover in place. This comforter is undoubtedly expensive (especially the Ultraweight option), but it's the closest you'll get if you want the same insulation as real down.

Price at time of publish: $398 for Full/Queen

_{Material: Organic cotton shell, PrimaLoft (polyester) fill | Sizes: Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry}

Best Temperature Regulating

Sheets & Giggles Eucalyptus Comforter

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Sheets & Giggles' take on the down-alternative comforter is this premium eucalyptus number. The shell is made of 100 percent lyocell sourced from the pulp of eucalyptus trees, offering a soft, cool-to-the-touch feel. Inside is a poly-lyocell blend of ultra-fine fibers that do an excellent job of keeping you at a comfortable temperature.

Lyocell has the unique ability to draw sweat away from your body and evaporate it quickly.⁴ We appreciate that this comforter is machine-washable, dryer-friendly, and available in exact sizes. And while it's not the loftiest option around, we also like that it comes in a few colors for those who don't want to use a cover.

Price at time of publish: $150 for Queen

_{Material: Eucalyptus lyocell shell, lyocell-poly fill | Sizes: Twin, Queen, King | Fill Power: Not listed | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry}