When you’re shopping for a bed, salespeople will tell you not to skimp on quality. After all, you’re in bed eight hours per day – maybe more if you’re lucky. That’s equal to one-third of your life.

And with so much of your time spent in bed, you might as well be warm while you’re there, which is why investing in a high-quality comforter is key. A wide variety of comforters are available in a spectrum of price points, depending on the type of fill, the color options, the insulation level, and the size.

Understanding terms for comforters

When shopping for a comforter, you will encounter a few different pieces of terminology, according to The Wirecutter. Understanding each of these terms will help you find a comforter to meet your needs.

  • Baffle box vs. sewn-through: A baffle box comforter is sewn with flexible boxes that create pockets. The idea is that the fill inside the comforter cannot shift too far out of its box, ensuring the fill remains properly spread throughout the entire area of the comforter. Meanwhile, a sewn-through comforter has sewing through both the top and bottom layers of the comforter, creating patterns such as diamonds, channels, or curved rectangles. The fill does not shift at all with a sewn-through comforter, performing slightly better than a baffle box comforter in terms of evenly distributing warmth.
  • Duvet vs. comforter: For most comforters and duvets sold in North America, the terms are used interchangeably, as the bedding company Crane & Canopy explains. Technically, a duvet is very similar to a comforter but doesn’t have an outer shell, meaning it’s usually placed inside a duvet cover. Duvets often are not used with other types of bed linen, such as sheets or blankets, while a comforter is used with those types of bed linen. Some of our picks can also be used with duvet covers.
  • Fill power: This measures the amount of volume that one ounce of down occupies. A larger fill power number equals a comforter that provides a greater level of insulation. In other words, the comforter with the higher fill power number offers greater warmth without being heavier. A fill power of around 600 provides average warmth and durability, according to Good Housekeeping. Higher fill power numbers have greater durability and insulation; lower numbers won’t provide as much warmth, which may be desirable in warmer climates or in the summer.
  • Thread count: Similar to a bedsheet, the thread count in a comforter indicates the number of yarns within an inch of the fabric. Higher thread counts equal finer yarns, which are more comfortable and softer than larger yarns. Because a comforter probably won’t be touching your skin, thread count for softness isn’t quite as important as with a bedsheet. More importantly for a comforter though, a higher thread count ensures the fill will remain inside, rather than leaking out through gaps between yarns.

Types of fills for comforters

The fill used inside the comforter plays a key role in your enjoyment of it, as explained in Sleepedia, Good Housekeeping, and The Wirecutter.

  • Down alternative: If the comforter doesn't use goose down or duck down as a filler, you may see down alternative listed in the specifications. This can include cotton fibers, cotton-polyester blend fibers, and gel fibers. Gel fiber is the most expensive type of down alternative, as it provides the most softness.
  • Down cluster: The down cluster is the fluffiest portion of a duck feather or goose feather, existing under the main part of the feather. When used in a comforter, it provides greater warmth than the main part of the feather. A comforter manufacturer may list the percentage of down cluster used in the fill in the blanket's specifications. A higher percentage of down cluster equals a higher quality comforter and a higher fill power number.
  • Duck down: In North America, duck down is a more common comforter fill material than goose down. As a general rule, duck down is not as fluffy as goose down, so it's not often found in the highest-end comforters.
  • Goose down: Goose down is the most common fill material in European-made comforters. It provides a little more fluff versus duck down on average, although exceptions do occur.

Look at the specification list for a particular comforter, and you should see the percentages of the types of fill it contains. Now onto our top picks for the best comforters.

Here are the best comforters you can buy:

Prices and links are updated as of 7/6/20. We added additional comforter options (down alternative and weighted) from Brooklinen, our pick for the best comforter from a startup. We also added a section breaking down the other comforters we considered for this guide, including Equinox, a popular Amazon brand, and Buffy, another startup.

The best comforter overall

Foto: Source: Amazon

The Topsleepy Luxurious All Size Goose Down Comforter provides just the right level of warmth at a great price point.

The Topsleepy Luxurious All Size Goose Down Comforter will keep you warm and cozy all year round with its 50% goose down filling and baffle stitching. It's not too heavy or too warm, so you can use it most of the year.

Since it's a plain white comforter and it doesn't have the highest thread count at 300, you may want to put it inside a duvet cover. A duvet cover will protect the comforter from staining and losing feathers and it'll also add some color or a fun pattern to your bed. You can check out the best duvet covers on Insider Reviews for some ideas.

Additionally, the Topsleepy Luxurious Goose Down Comforter is very easy to clean. Just use lukewarm water to spot clean the comforter and air dry it. A duvet cover will keep it even cleaner and ensure it lasts longer, though.

Should you have any problems with it, Topsleepy says it's guaranteed for 15 years. You can check the instruction book it comes with for information on how to send the comforter back for a refund or exchange. The price is also much more reasonable than most other comforters, making it a good pick for most people.

Pros: Low price point, good construction quality for the money, provides comfort in all types of weather, easy to clean, goose down fill, baffle design keeps down from shifting

Cons: Low thread count allows some fill to escape, only 50% goose down fill

The best comforter from a startup

Foto: Source: Brooklinen

The Brooklinen Down Comforter is super luxurious and well made with a 700 fill power and 400 thread count.

If you don't like buying from big-name companies and you'd much prefer checking out a startup, Brooklinen is our favorite new bedding brand. Its down comforter is a great buy.

It's hand-made in the Hutterite communities of Northwest Canada, and contains 700 fill power white down, making it extra cozy and warm. The fill is covered by a 400 thread count cotton sateen shell that's soft to the touch, just like Brooklinen's sheets, which are among our favorites.

Brooklinen has a lifetime warranty, too, so if you don't like it for whatever reason, the company offers free exchanges or replacements.

For those who experience allergies, don't worry - Brooklinen offers a down alternative version, too.

Meanwhile, if you know you like weighted blankets but don't like how they may shift or slide on your existing comforter, Brooklinen also offers a weighted comforter, which we've tested and loved for its thick, fluffy feel and built-in heft.

Pros: Made in Canada, 700 fill power, real goose down, 400 thread count cover, lifetime warranty

Cons: More pricey

The best colorful comforter

Foto: Source: The Company Store

The LaCrosse Down Comforter from The Company Store works great in all seasons and it comes in fun color choices.

If you're tired of boring white comforters, The Company Store LaCrosse Down Comforter is a smart choice. It carries a slightly above average price point, but you'll be able to find just the right shade to go with your bedroom's décor.

You can get the comforter in colors like ivory, russet, bubblegum, walnut, navy, chino, coal, guava, and silver. It has a 250-thread-count combed cotton shell that's Oeko-Tex certified, so you know it's chemical-free. It's made with a sewn-through 12-inch box construction that ensures the 100% duck down filling never spills out.

If you do want to pop it in a duvet cover, the comforter has corner loops to attach duvets with ties. You can check out the best duvet covers on Insider Reviewsfor some ideas. Additionally, the LaCrosse comforter is machine washable for easy cleaning.

In the Home Construction Improvement review of the LaCrosse comforter, the reviewer appreciated the high-quality sewn-through design, as well as its warmth in cold weather. Even though this comforter provides a good deal of warmth with its fill power of 500 to 550, one Amazon customer reviewer found it worked great in summer, too.

Pros: Large number of color options, works well in all kinds of weather, includes loops to keep comforter in place on the bed, high-quality sewn-through design

Cons: Pricey, lower thread count than some of our other picks

The best budget comforter

Foto: Source: Amazon

If you can't afford the luxury of a down comforter, the LinenSpa All-Season Down Alternative is an excellent, affordable option.

Those of you who are seeking an inexpensive comforter that will keep you cozy will love the LinenSpa All-Season Down Alternative comforter.

Although it doesn't have goose or duck down inside, the LinenSpa comforter features a down alternative, which is hypoallergenic and quite warm. It's machine washable and sports box baffle stitching to keep the fill inside where it belongs. In addition to classic white, it comes in black, navy, sand, and charcoal, as well as blue and white striped.

One Amazon customer reviewer was disappointed because the comforter's fill poked through the threads, but it seems to be a rare occurrence. The fact that it's on the thinner side (meaning you might need to pair it with an extra blanket in the winter) was another Amazon complaint.

Despite the quibbles, it's still a solid down alternative option for those who are on a budget.

Pros: Extremely low price point, multiple sizes and colors available, machine washable design, hypoallergenic materials in the fill, comfortable and soft

Cons: Fill may leak out, on the thinner side

The best luxury comforter

Foto: Source: Highland Feather

The Highland Feather Carmel Hutterite Goose Down Comforter offers well above average stitching, fill power, and comfort.

Those of you who are seeking a high-end comforter know that it's going to cost you a pretty penny to get full goose down with a high fill power. However, the Highland Feather Carmel Hutterite Goose Down Comforter is slightly less expensive than some of its competitors in the luxury space.

The comforter comes with a 15-year warranty, a 725 fill power, and 100% imported goose down fill. Highland Feather applies an anti-microbial treatment to the goose down fill to prevent problems with allergens. It's pillowy soft, warm, thick, and luxurious.

It's a plain white comforter, so you may want to add a duvet cover for protection and style. Duvet covers will add another layer of softness, a fun color or design, and durability to your pricey duvet.

This is not a lightweight comforter. The super king size of the Highland Feather Carmel Hutterite Goose Down comforter with a deluxe fill weighs 50 ounces, so it's better suited for use in the winter when you want to be cozy than for use in the summer when you get hot at night.

One Amazon customer reviewer loved the warmth of the Highland Carmel Hutterite comforter, as well as its softness and 700-ply cotton outer shell. However, the reviewer was a little disappointed in the overall size of the comforter, wishing it would hang over the sides of the bed a little farther.

Nonetheless, there's no denying that this is a well-made, high-end goose down comforter that'll keep you snuggly warm in bed for years to come. That alone makes it worth the high price tag.

Pros: High-quality construction, high fill power number, all goose down fill, anti-microbial treatment to combat allergens, extremely soft, excellent for providing warmth in winter

Cons: High price point, too heavy for summer usage

The best hypoallergenic down alternative comforter

Foto: Source: Amazon

The Superior Solid White Down Alternative Comforter has a soft poly-fill that will be more comfortable if you are allergic to feather or goose down.

Finding a comforter with just the right mix of fill that's also hypoallergenic can be a challenge, but we like the Superior Solid White Down Alternative Comforter with its warm design and affordable price tag.

The king size Superior Solid comforter includes 100 ounces of fill weight, which is sure to keep you warm during cooler months.

The soft fill makes no noise as you move the comforter around, which The Best Mattress Topper's review says will help you get a full night of sleep. NY Mag also loves everything about the Superior Solid comforter, especially its softness and its bright, white color.

Cozzy appreciates the double stitching used to make the comforter more durable. However, we did come across a few online reviews that say it doesn't hold its shape and stitching after a couple of trips through the washing machine.

Pros: Good price point, hypoallergenic poly-fiber fill, plenty of fill weight for warmth, extremely soft comforter, fill doesn't create noise as you're moving around during the night

Cons: Comforter is shorter than average, stitching and shape may show some wear after multiple trips through the washing machine

The best goose down comforter

Foto: Source: Amazon

There's something extra luxurious about a true goose down comforter, and the Puredown Goose Down Comforter fits that description perfectly.

For those who do not have any allergies to goose feathers, a down comforter is a great option for a luxurious bed covering that also looks great. Our favorite goose down comforter is the Puredown Goose Down Comforter because it's incredibly soft and warm with its 600 fill power

The comforter uses a baffle box stitching design that's subtle and attractive. The stitching also helps keep the goose down in place so there are no cold spots.

A word of warning: while most Amazon reviewers found the Puredown adequately warm, one customer said the goose down filling was thinner than expected. In other words, you may want to add an extra blanket if you're not a warm sleeper.

Pros: Good price point for a goose down comforter, works equally well in summer and winter, good stitching design to hold fill in place, high build quality that means comforter should last a while

Cons: Thin filling that won't provide enough warmth for some people, pricey compared to some of our other picks

The best 1,200 thread count comforter

Foto: Source: Egyptian Bedding

If you want a soft fabric to go with a great fill weight in your comforter, the Egyptian Bedding 1200 Thread Count Goose Down Comforter is a great buy.

Perhaps you like the idea of a high thread count in your comforter because you like to pretend you're spending the night in a five-star luxury hotel. (Trust us, your partner's dirty underwear on the floor and the snoring dog in the corner kind of ruin the illusion.)

Once you've eliminated those distractions, we'd suggest the Egyptian Bedding 1200 Thread Count Goose Down Comforter to provide luxury style and comfort in your bedroom. Thread count measures the number of threads that can be woven into a square inch of fabric, with higher numbers yielding better comfort and quality.

The Egyptian Bedding comforter includes 90% down and 10% small feather fill, which results in a lightweight, yet warm and comfortable, product. Its 750 fill power is pretty high, too.

A word of warning: we came across some online reviews that say the baffle box stitching is not of a high quality, meaning the fill doesn't stay in place well, leading to cold spots.

Pros: Excellent thread count equals high-quality fabric, looks like a luxury hotel comforter, 90% goose down fill, size of comforter has plenty of overhang for a king size bed, extra warm

Cons: Price is a little high, weak baffle box stitching may not allow fill to remain properly spread throughout comforter

Other comforters we've tested and considered

Foto: Source: Buffy/Instagram

Equinox White Quilted Comforter, $27-$43

Senior reporter Connie Chen has tried and continues to use this Amazon favorite, which was a contender for the best budget comforter. It's a down alternative comforter and hypoallergenic, not to mention soft and breathable. Plus, it has corner tabs to keep a duvet cover in place, if you choose to use one. The only issue with this comforter is that despite its overall breathability, it still runs a bit warm in the summer.

Read our full review of the Equinox comforter here

Buffy Comforters, $129-$279

We've tried both of eco-friendly startup Buffy's popular comforters, the original Cloud as well as the Breeze. They're both on the flat side, and as The Wirecutter points out, maybe not as environmentally friendly as they seem. Overall, we like the silky and comfortable feel and the 7-day free trial.

Read our full review of the Buffy Cloud comforter here

Read our full review of the Buffy Breeze comforter here

Check out our other great guides for bedding

Foto: Source: Brooklinen

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