Every bed needs some kind of top layer, and down comforters are one of the most coveted options around. Why? They’re super soft, lofty, and easy to layer. Plus, they come in an array of different weights—so you can snag a down comforter that’s as breathable or as cozy as you want it to be.
“Down comforters are truly a great solution for holding in the body heat of the sleeper, yet they are lightweight and easy to layer,” Betsy Moyer, interior designer and co-founder of Retreat, says. And sure, down comforters can get a little expensive, but you get what you pay for. “Temperature control—and that luxe feeling of sinking into a soft down comforter—can't be topped by the synthetic alternatives,” Moyer notes.
When shopping for a down comforter, you’ll want to keep an eye out for a few things. First, you’ll want to make sure the down filling inside the comforter was responsibly sourced. Keep an eye out for certifications, like the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and the IDFL Down Standard (IDS). You’ll also want to pay attention to things like fill power, weight, and filling.
To help you understand—and sift through—all your down comforter options, we’ve researched and rounded up the best snuggle-worthy down comforters for you to consider.
Best Overall
Parachute Down Duvet Insert
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Parachute
Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: 750 | Weight: Lightweight, All Season | Material: European white down fill, cotton sateen shell | Care: Dry clean or machine wash cool on a delicate cycle | Certifications: RDS, OEKO-TEX
Plush, cozy, and high quality, Parachute’s Down Duvet Insert ticks all the boxes. This comforter is filled with European white down, and a fill power of 750, so you can be sure it's both insulating and lofty. And since all of Parachute’s down products are RDS-certified, you can rest easy knowing the down in your comforter was responsibly-sourced.
Score this snuggly comforter in one of three different sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/Cal King. Then, choose between two different weights: lightweight and all-season. Lightweight is best for hot sleepers or those who live in a warmer climate, while all-season is a great option for year-round use. Each comforter comes with an impressive five-year warranty, and the sturdy double-stitched seams mean this comforter is sure to last you quite a long time.
Best Budget
Pacific Coast Feather Company Classic Down Comforter
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Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King | Fill Power: 550 | Weight: One weight (mid) | Material: Hyperclean down fill, cotton shell | Care: Dry clean only | Certifications: RDS
Down comforters that are also RDS-certified typically cost at least $200, so it's difficult to find a truly budget-friendly option that has the right qualifications. Pacific Coast’s Classic Down Comforter is one of the most affordable options out there, with a filling made from down and feathers that has been put through a rigorous washing process. This helps cut down on dust, debris, and other common allergens, making this comforter a great pick for those worried about down-induced sniffles.
Since it's designed to hold up year-round, it only comes in one weight: all-season. But it does come in three classic sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, and King. The only downside is that it's dry clean only, so you'll definitely want to use a duvet cover to keep it fresh between washes.
Best Splurge
L.L. Bean Baffle-Box Stitch Goose Down Comforter, Warmer
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Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King | Fill Power: 600 | Weight: Warm, Warmer | Material: White goose down fill, cotton shell | Care: Machine wash separately on cold | Certifications: RDS
L.L. Bean's Goose Down Comforter is filled with premium white goose down in both "warm" and "warmer" options—although with a fill power of 600, you can expect both weights to be breathable and comfortable. Plus, the fill is cleaned thoroughly before it ends up inside your comforter, and is RDS-certified, so you can trust that it's superior quality.
Unlike similar comforters, this one is available in four standard sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, and King. For your convenience, the comforter is also machine-washable and dryer-friendly—a huge perk that you don't always get with down comforters. It's more expensive than others on the market, but it has features that make it well worth the higher price.
Best Organic
Boll & Branch Down Duvet Insert
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Courtesy of Boll & Branch
Sizes: Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: 650 | Weight: Lightweight, Midweight, Ultraweight | Material: Down fill, organic cotton shell | Care: Not listed | Certifications: RDS, IDS, OEKO-TEX
Boll & Branch’s Down Duvet Insert isn’t just filled with quality white down. It also comes inside a soft organic cotton shell—meaning, yes, it’s incredibly cozy and clean both inside and out.
Let’s start with the inside: The comforter is filled with fluffy white down clusters. And since it boasts a fill power of 650, you can trust that the filling is lofty and cozy, although not as warm as some other options. The comforter is also RDS- and IDS-certified—and to ensure the comforter arrives on your doorstep extra-clean, Boll & Branch washes all its down filling with an eco-friendly detergent.
On the outside of the comforter, you’ll find an organic cotton shell, which is designed to keep the down filling from poking through the comforter as you move around at night. The comforter is currently available in three different weights (lightweight, midweight, and ultraweight) and two different sizes, so you’ll have plenty of options to consider as you shop for a new duvet.
Best Lightweight
Snowe Lightweight Down Comforter
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Snowe Home
Sizes: Full/Queen, King | Fill Power: 750 | Weight: Lightweight, All-Season | Material: White duck down fill, cotton sateen shell | Care: Machine wash cold separately | Certifications: RDS, OEKO-TEX
Snuggling up with a down comforter in the middle of summer may sound like a nightmare waiting to happen. But Snowe’s Down Comforter makes it both doable and dream-worthy—so long as you score the lightweight option.
This comforter is filled with white duck down, with the amount of filling varying based on the weight. The lightweight option boasts 40 percent less filling than its all-season counterpart, although both options have a fill power of 750 and RDS certification. Snowe sells its Down Comforter in two different sizes, as well as the two weights we mentioned before. But if you love the comforter, you’ll have to act fast. Snowe’s down comforters and pillows tend to sell out quickly, but have a waitlist you can join for when they're back in stock.
Best All-Season
Brooklinen Down Comforter
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Brooklinen
Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: 650, 700, or 750 | Weight: Lightweight, All-season, Ultra-Warm | Material: Down cluster fill, cotton sateen shell | Care: Spot clean, dry clean if needed | Certifications: Downmark, OEKO-TEX
Brooklinen's comforter is available in three different weights (lightweight, all-season, and ultra-warm), and the precise filling inside your comforter will vary based on the density you select. Snag the lightweight option, and your comforter will be filled with recycled goose and duck down. Choose the all-season, and it’ll be filled with Canadian duck down. Pick the ultra-warm option, and your comforter will be filled with Canadian goose down. All three options, though, are hypoallergenic—which can actually be tough to find when shopping for a down comforter.
The all-season weight is unsurprisingly the most versatile option, and it's a real standout if you're looking for something you can use comfortably any time of year. It's not RDS-certified, but it is Downmark-certified for quality, and it's been treated with Ultra-Fresh Antimicrobial Additives to help keep it fresh and clean.
Best Heavy
Riley White Goose Down Comforter
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Riley Home
Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: 700, 750 | Weight: All Season, Extra Warm | Material: White goose down fill, cotton sateen shell | Care: Machine wash cold | Certifications: RDS
Riley Home’s White Goose Down Comforter is widely beloved by just about everyone who’s tried it. This fluffy comforter is filled with high-quality European white goose down—the all season version of the comforter boasts a fill power of 700, while the extra warm version has a fill power of 750. That makes the comforter’s filling pretty darn premium—and since it’s RDS-certified, it’s also responsibly sourced.
As we noted earlier, the comforter is available in two different weights (all season and extra warm), and it comes in three standard sizes. As if that weren’t enough, this luxurious comforter is also conveniently machine-washable and dryer-friendly.
What Editors Say
"I'm a hot sleeper, but still use my Riley Home comforter all year round—it's that good! The higher fill power means that it's extra lofty and inviting, perfect for snuggling up in. I've had this comforter for two years and it feels just as cozy as the day I got it."—Nicole Lund, senior commerce editor
Best Colorful
The Company Store LaCrosse Down Comforter
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The Company Store
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: 500, 550 | Weight: Light, Medium, Extra, Ultra | Material: Down fiber and feathers fill, cotton twill shell | Care: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle | Certifications: RDS
Most down comforters come in a crisp shade of white that's meant to be concealed by a duvet cover. But if you have your heart set on a more colorful option, rest assured knowing you’re not out of luck. The Company Store’s LaCrosse Down Comforter is available in a whopping 17 colors—some subtle, some striking, and some decidedly vibrant. So you can snag a comforter in a color that’s as soft, as sophisticated, or as statement-making as you want it to be.
Of course, color probably isn’t the only thing you care about—and it’s definitely not the only thing the LaCrosse Down Comforter has going for it. The comforter is filled with a fluffy blend of down and feathers that's both RDS-certified and hypoallergenic. The fill power is on the lower side, so it won't be quite as lofty and insulating as other options, but it's still a high quality piece.
Best for Couples
The Company Store LaCrosse Dual Down Comforter
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Sizes: Queen, King/Cal King | Fill Power: 500, 550 | Weight: Light/medium, medium/extra | Material: Down fiber and feathers fill, cotton twill shell | Care: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle | Certifications: RDS
Sharing the bed with a loved one can be great—unless you have different sleeping temperature preferences. Then, you’re left arguing over the thermostat and searching for a blanket that’s somehow not too cold for one of you and not too hot for the other. If only you could split your comforter in half! The thing is, with The Company Store’s LaCrosse Dual Down Comforter, you genuinely can.
The LaCrosse Dual Down Comforter is available in two weights: light/medium and medium/extra. And they’re exactly what they sound like—lighter on one side and heavier on the other. No matter which option you pick, though, you can expect a fluffy comforter full of plush down clusters. You can also expect that down filling to be RDS-certified, hypoallergenic, and incredibly easy to clean. (Yup—this lovely hybrid comforter is both machine-washable and dryer-friendly.)
Of course, this delightful innovation does have its limitations. Instead of customizing the weight of each side, you have to stick with preset options. (So if you were hoping for a light/extra combo, you’re out of luck—at least, for now.) Still, the LaCrosse Dual Down Comforter gives you a more custom experience than you’re likely to find elsewhere. And if it helps you cut down on restless nights—or temperature-induced arguments—it’s probably worth a shot.
Final Verdict
There are several reasons Parachute’s Down Duvet Insert (view at Parachute) earned our top spot. It has an impressive 750 fill power, is RDS-certified, and is even machine-washable and dryer-friendly. It's also available in three different sizes and two different weights, so you shouldn't have trouble finding a version that suits your bed and your sleeping habits.
If you’d prefer something more affordable, though, Pacific Coast Feather Company's Classic Down Comforter (view at Pacific Coast) is a great pick. It's RDS-certified, has a comfortable 550 fill power, and is filled with Hyperclean down that's recommended for those with allergies.
What to Look for in a Down Comforter
Fill
Down comforters are typically filled with either goose down or duck down. Since geese are much larger than ducks, goose down is generally recognized as bigger and more insulating than duck down—and therefore more desirable. That said, not all high-quality comforters are made from goose down, and not all low-quality comforters are made from duck down. So consider a comforter’s filling and its fill power as you shop.
Down comforters can also be filled with a mix of down clusters and feathers. The difference? Down clusters are found on the bird's undercoat, and they tend to compress more easily than feathers. Since down clusters are softer and fluffier, they tend to be more desirable than feathers, although many down comforters contain a blend of both.
Fill Power
Want to ensure your down comforter is lofty, insulating, and high quality? Keep an eye out for fill power. The higher the fill power, the fluffier your comforter will be, so it's a good indication of quality and weight. A good range is between 500-800, so double check that the comforter you want falls in that range.
Weight
While down comforters are known for their squishy-soft feel and their inherent coziness, they can actually vary a lot in terms of weight. Many down comforters come in multiple weights—typically, lightweight; medium, mid-weight, or all-season; and heavy. (Sometimes, you’ll even see extra-heavy or extra-warm.) Unsurprisingly, lightweight comforters are best for hot sleepers and those in warmer climates, while heavy comforters will probably only be comfortable during the winter.
Certifications
If you want to ensure the down filling in your comforter has been responsibly sourced—meaning, no animals were harmed in the sourcing of the down filling—you should keep an eye out for three certifications: the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), Downmark, or IDFL Down Standard (IDS). If a down comforter has any of these certifications, its filling is high-quality and sourced responsibly.
FAQs
What's the difference between down and down alternative comforters?
Down comforters are filled with a blend of down clusters and feathers—both of which are sourced from ducks and geese. Down alternative comforters, on the other hand, are filled with polyester fibers. Down alternative pillows are considered to be much better than down pillows if you have allergies, since the polyester fibers don't trap allergens as easily as down does. And, since synthetic fibers are typically easier to source than animal fibers, it also explains why down alternative comforters are less expensive than down comforters.
How do you wash a down comforter?
Many down comforters are machine-washable and dryer-friendly. (As always, though, you’ll want to double-check the care instructions for your comforter before tossing it in the laundry.) Typically, you’ll want to wash the comforter on its own, and on a gentle cycle with cool water. Then, you’ll want to dry it by itself—either tumble drying it on low or running it on an air dry cycle. Many brands recommend drying down comforters alongside a few dryer balls, as these can speed up the drying process and keep the down filling evenly dispersed.
“Down comforters are actually super easy to maintain, as you can toss [many of] them into the wash,” Moyer says. “But be careful not to wash them too often, as it does decrease the lifespan of the fiber content inside.” She notes that you may have to run multiple dry cycles before your comforter is completely dry. “Err on the side of getting it right, [rather] than taking the shortcut,” she adds.
How long do down comforters last?
Down comforters may be expensive, but they tend to last a while. “A well-maintained down comforter could last you as long as 15-20 years—easily 10,” Moyer says. She recommends keeping your comforter inside a duvet cover, as this can help it last longer. She also notes that washing your comforter too frequently can decrease its lifespan.
Why Trust MyDomaine?
There are tons of great down comforters out there. So when selecting products for this story, MyDomaine writer Lindsey Lanquist considered a few things. First, she prioritized down comforters that were responsibly-sourced. Then, she narrowed her selection to include comforters that were remarkable in some way—high-quality (based on fill power), hypoallergenic, machine-washable and dryer-friendly, or available in a range of colors. Finally, she favored comforters that were available in a range of different weights and sizes.