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These soft and fluffy options will keep you cozy. Trail Running Backpack
We updated this article in November 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.
When it’s time to snuggle up into bed, there’s nothing worse than pulling up a comforter that just isn’t comfortable. And though a down comforter tends to be the go-to pick for many, these often come with allergy complications and a high price point. Instead, many opt for down alternative comforters that offer a cozy feel at a better price. We chatted with experts to determine the best down alternative comforters to try for every kind of sleeper.
“Down comforters are soft, warm, and fluffy. They are also lightweight yet thick, so you feel comfortable but don’t feel too weighed down or hot. This makes it a pricy option, which is why down alternatives were invented,” says McKenzie Hyde, a certified sleep science coach with Amerisleep. Beyond price, one of the main benefits of down alternative comforters is that they’re allergy-friendly. Hyde explains that down feathers can trap dust mites, pollen, skin cells, and other allergens that can trigger reactions. Down alternative options are typically made with hypoallergenic materials that are less likely to trap these allergens. And especially for people who tend to run warm and opt for cooler blankets (may we recommend the best comforters for hot sleepers, cooling blankets, and our selection of the best sheets on Amazon?), down alternative options typically run cooler than traditional down. Of course, you can always add one of the best fleece blankets for some extra warmth in the winter months.
Meet the Experts: McKenzie Hyde, a certified sleep science coach with Amerisleep, Taylor Beckstead, senior vice president of marketing at Serta Simmons Bedding, and Randi Sedmak, bedding expert, designer, and creative director at Molecule.
Ready to get shopping? Read on to find our top picks for down alternative comforters.
With nearly 100,000 reviews and a 4.5+-star rating, this is an Amazon shopper favorite. This comforter is made with microfiber to create a soft, cozy filling and is designed with box-style stitching and piped edges to keep filling in place while you sleep and improve durability. It also comes in 12 colors, includes corner loops to keep it in place under a duvet cover, and is machine washable. The company claims the comforter works well year-round. One reviewer said, “I have been quite happy with my purchase after using it for a month or so! The comforter is light, but that also makes it breathable and warm! I have been impressed with the temperature regulation of the comforter as I’ve neither woken up from cold nor heat. It’s easy to wash and looks and feels great. I think for the price, it’s a fantastic choice.”
This comforter has a lightweight and fluffy siliconized polyester fiber filling for an extra-cozy feel. It even comes with extra corner and side tabs to ensure it won’t slide inside a duvet cover. It’s machine washable, designed with a baffle box design, and you can snag it in three colors and multiple sizes. Users love it so much, it has over 3,000 reviews and an average 4.7-star rating. One wrote, “Good quality and low price. OMG. Such a magical quilt. Feels soft. It’s very comfortable to lie on the bed. Cozy and warm. Just right.”
The light and airy filling provides a luxurious comforter to snuggle with at night. It includes a box stitch design to keep filling consistent throughout and includes three reversible colors and multiple size options for the perfect fit. The comforter also has sewn-in loops to prevent shifting under a duvet cover and it’s machine washable for easy cleaning. Reviewers rave about how comfortable the comforter is. One wrote, “This comforter is better than I expected! Especially for the low price compared to most other down comforters! I have been sleeping so much better since getting this blanket!” Another added, “This is an ideal comforter. Not heavy and not bulky. Easy to handle when making up the bed.”
Made from a web of individual fibers instead of clusters—and a uniquely stitched pattern to avoid compressing the layers—this down alternative comforter is recommended by experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute. This construction allows for minimal clumping so the comforter stays soft and fluffy. Plus, the polyester fill has a Global Recycling Standard certification because it is made from plastic bottles while the outer Tencel lyocell helps minimize crinkling sounds and keeps the comforter lightweight. One reviewer raved, “Really does feel like a cloud! Feels very unique, like the material is very smooth. Plus, it gets pretty warm.” Though there aren’t other density/warmth levels to choose from, the brand claims the comforter is made for all seasons and testers agree.
Made from hypoallergenic materials, this soft comforter has a 100% polyester microfiber filling that creates an extra-fluffy feel. It is designed with box stitching technology to avoid filling leakage or loose threads, plus it snaps in to hold in place under a duvet cover. The comforter is also machine washable and comes in six color options. Plus, the brand claims it is comfortable enough to use year-round. With over 700 5-star reviews, real users can’t get enough of the cozy comforter. “This comforter surpassed my expectations. It’s light but still extremely soft and comfortable! And washing it was so easy. Just threw it in the washer, then the dryer and it came out looking brand new,” one reviewer raved.
The textile experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute found this duvet to be a great value—and reviewers can’t help but rave about the comforter. With over 100,000 reviews and an average 4.5-star rating, one reviewer wrote, “Possibly the best deal on Amazon. Seriously this comforter is nicer than the ones I've paid $150 for. At this price, I’d buy two. I couldn’t be happier. Absolutely love them.” Did we mention you can buy it in eight sizes and multiple colors and designs to fit your aesthetic?
This best-selling comforter has nearly 1,400 user reviews and an average 4.5-star review. It comes in three weight options of light, medium, and extra, comes in multiple size options, and is available in 18 color options to fit your room and preferences perfectly. It also includes corner loops to hold onto a duvet and is made with the unique LoftAIRE down alternative fill from microfiber and a 295-thread count cotton exterior. One reviewer wrote, “Love this down alternative blanket. We have two of them. The lightweight is better for summertime. The medium weight is great for Georgia winters.”
Designed with box construction to avoid clumping, this is a great down-alternative comforter option. The comforter is filled with shaved microfiber made from recycled PET fibers and recycled plastic bottles to mimic the feeling of down. It also comes in three weight options of lightweight, all-season, and ultra-warm so you can choose the best pick for you. One reviewer who opted for the all-season option said, “So comfortable! I was debating between this one and the extra-warm duvet insert because I get really cold at night. This one feels insulated but breathable and I’d say it’s the perfect mix if you are debating between the all-season and the extra warm.”
Filled with fluffy polyester microfiber and covered with super-soft 400-thread-count cotton, this hypoallergenic comforter proves to be extra luxurious without the down. It’s designed with a baffle-box construction that Good Housekeeping Institute bedding analysts found kept evenly distributed, and testers also gave it high ratings for comfort. It includes corner tie loops to attach to duvet covers to avoid slippage and was called out as an upscale down alternative for Good Housekeeping’s Best Bedding Awards in 2022. Plus, you can choose from three weight options including all-year, lightweight, and super lightweight for those who find they experience night sweats.
Down alternative comforters are fluffy, comfortable bedding designed to mimic traditional goose down blankets but are made with alternative materials, Hyde says.
Down alternative comforters tend to be cheaper than traditional down, but still maintain the soft, warm, and fluffy feel you’re looking for, Hyde says. They feel very similar but are often made with fill materials like polyester and cover materials like cotton, rayon, or synthetic materials that allow the price to drop. Though many down alternative comforters are great, Hyde notes that traditional down filling tends to last longer and is of higher quality.
Though how often you should wash your sheets varies, Hyde says you should wash your down alternative comforter every one to two years if used with a duvet cover. Check the individual care instructions, but typically you can machine wash them and then dry them on a fluff setting or on the lowest dryer heat setting, checking every 30 minutes. She recommends using tennis/dryer balls as well.
Down alternative comforters tend to be cheaper compared to down comforters, and offer a vegan and cruelty-free option for those who are concerned about using an animal-derived product, Hyde says.
We consulted McKenzie Hyde, a certified sleep science coach with Amerisleep, Taylor Beckstead, senior vice president of marketing at Serta Simmons Bedding, and Randi Sedmak, bedding expert, designer, and creative director at Molecule. We also referenced the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Paper & Apparel Lab’s coverage of the best down alternative comforters to choose the Buffy Cloud Comforter, Linenspa Comforter Duvet Insert, and Crane & Canopy Ultimate Luxe Down Alternative Comforter on our list.
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