Best Duvets (2023): Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Duvets have quickly become a popular alternative to the traditional comforter. When covered, duvets require less cleaning than a standard comforter, making laundry day a more manageable task while still keeping you warm at night.

To save you time when shopping, we’ve compiled recommendations for the best duvets on the market. If you want to venture beyond our list, our buyer’s guide will make it easy to find the perfect duvet.

Best Duvets Overview

1. Recover+ Comforter

Our top recommendation is the Recover+ Comforter from Amerisleep, which is named for its breathable, cloud-like materials that can help you sleep better for more recovery.

There’s no need to save the Recover+ Comforter for winters only. Amerisleep has designed it to provide a good night’s sleep, no matter the season. The duvet’s cotton fabric wicks away moisture and heat, keeping you comfortable and dry even in the most humid weather. The fill includes breathable Lyocell, so the duvet never feels too heavy or confining.

The Recover+ Comforter feels comfortable year-round because of its infused Celliant® technology in its fabric shell and fill. Celliant® fabric contains thermoreactive minerals that safely absorb body heat and convert it into infrared energy. Your body then reabsorbs this infrared energy, which improves your local blood circulation for better recovery and a more restful night of sleep.

The Recover+ Comforter is available in twin, full/queen, and king sizes. A full/queen measures 90 inches by 94 inches and costs $290 with free shipping. The duvet insert includes a 1-year limited warranty that provides free replacements for any manufacturing or cosmetic defects, such as ripped seams.

And don’t forget to buy a plush, lightweight cover to protect your duvet. Otherwise, you risk exposing your beautiful duvet to dirt, sweat, and other stains.

Amerisleep sells a Percale Duvet Cover Set, a 300-count fabric made with long-staple percale cotton to reduce fraying, pilling, and wrinkles. The breathable cover also feels crisp yet soft and further resists wrinkling thanks to its single-pick insertion weave. Plus, the cover’s inside corners have cloth ties for your duvet insert, so it will always feel comfortable and lie smoothly instead of bunching inside the cover.

The cover is available in solid light gray, solid dark gray, light gray with stripes, and dark gray with stripes. With hidden zippers and decorative flange edges, it’s certain to look beautiful on almost any bedspread.

You can buy a queen size cover set for $140. It comes with a five-year limited warranty and two pillow shams.

2. Organic Cotton Down Comforter

This eco-friendly comforter from The Company Store is filled with European down certified under the Responsible Down Standard. The down is wrapped in a 230-thread count cotton weave, with a sewn-through box construction keeping the down in place.

You can select one of four warmth levels—light, medium warmth, extra warmth, and ultra warmth fills. The comforter has a fill power of 600 to 650 to keep away the chill of a cold winter night.

This bedding insert is available in twin, full, queen, and king/Cal king sizes. The comforter also comes in white or a beigish color called “natural.” Prices depend on how much fill you select, with the costs of queen size ranging from $279 to $369.

The comforter also includes a lifetime guarantee. The Company Store states this lifetime guarantee lets you return the comforter at any time for merchandise credit or to make an exchange.

3. The Purple Duvet

The Purple Duvet is an excellent hypoallergenic option for anyone with a down allergy. Its down alternative fill is made from polyester, while its fabric shell is 100 percent cotton for a soft, breathable duvet.

You can choose from a lightweight or an all-seasons fill. The lightweight duvet keeps you cool enough in warmer temperatures, while the all-seasons duvet helps you stay cozy and warm throughout the year.

One important thing to note is that the Purple Duvet is dry clean only. To avoid the cost of frequent cleanings, Purple recommends buying a cover to protect the duvet. Corner ties on the duvet will help keep it in place.

Purple offers its duvets in twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king/Cal king sizes. A full/queen size Purple Duvet is $129 with free shipping and a 1-year warranty. Purple also lets you bundle a duvet with a pillow, a set of sheets (your choice of color), and a mattress protector for further savings.

4. Utopia Bedding Comforter Duvet Insert

If you’re looking for an affordable way to keep warm during the winter, this budget-friendly duvet insert from Utopia Bedding is a good choice. It has a 4.6-star rating out of 5 stars on Amazon, averaged from more than 18,600 reviews.

The insert has a siliconized fiberfill and a down alternative fill that “provides a comfy and cozy feel.” Box stitching keeps the fill in place for a cloud-like feel that remains consistent across the duvet.

The Utopia Bedding insert can act as a stand-alone comforter or be paired with a duvet cover. The corner ties on the insert help it stay in place inside of a cover.

The duvet comes in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king sizes. You can choose colors such as white, beige, burgundy, black with grey, chocolate, navy, and grey. A queen size duvet is $28.99 on Amazon.

5. Buffy Cloud Comforter

Are you looking for a comforter that’s soft and sustainable? You might want to consider a Buffy Cloud Comforter, made with plush eucalyptus fabric and a fluffy recycled fill. Buffy describes its Cloud Comforter as feeling like “sinking into a tub of whipped cream” and that it makes it easy for “customers to fall asleep (but harder for them to get out of bed).”

The eucalyptus that makes up the comforter’s fabric is grown by using 10 times less water than cotton would require, according to Buffy. Buffy also states that the recycled fill in every comforter keeps 50 water bottles out of landfills and saves 12 geese.

The Buffy Cloud Comforter is available in three sizes—twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king. A full/queen size is $159. Buffy ships its products for free within the U.S. and to Canada for an extra shipping charge.

A Buffy comforter gives you 7 days to try it out at home. If you choose to return it, you must do so within 30 days of placing your order for a full refund. Returned bedding is either donated to local charities or taken to a textile recycling company.

What is a Duvet?

A duvet is essentially a flat bag filled with insulating material designed to keep you warm during the colder months. The word “duvet” originates from the French word for down, a duvet’s standard filling.

Technically speaking, a duvet has two separate parts, a duvet insert and a duvet cover. A duvet insert is the insulating fabric bag filled with warm materials, while a cover fits over the insert for decorative and protective purposes. You can use a duvet insert on its own, but it’s not recommended since you will then have to wash it far more frequently than if you slipped a cover over the insert.

A duvet is meant to replace your top sheet, blanket, or quilt, which is why it’s so thick. However, you can continue to use additional pieces of bedding if you grow cold in the night. Some people even use electric blankets underneath a duvet and a top of a regular blanket or sheet.

What is the Difference Between a Comforter and a Duvet?

Enough people use the terms “comforter” and “duvet” interchangeably that you may not even realize that there are differences between the two. Both comforters and duvets are meant to lie on top of your sheets to keep you warm during the colder seasons. However, they usually differ in their maintenance, pricing, and overall style.

First, let’s answer the question of what a comforter is. A comforter is slightly thinner than a duvet yet thicker than a normal blanket and is designed for use with a full sheet set. A comforter is essentially a fabric shell often filled with a down or down alternative fill.

Duvets and comforters often have similar prices, though a duvet may cost you more since you’re expected to buy a cover to slip over the duvet. You don’t usually keep a comforter covered, which is why they tend to be harder to clean than a duvet insert. A cover can also make a duvet a more versatile decoration since you can simply swap out its cover for another one if you get tired of the color.

That said, comforters and duvets are usually not so different that you can’t use a comforter as a duvet insert. Many comforters will slip inside a traditional duvet cover. To prevent bunching, look for a comforter with corner loops that tie to the inside of the cover.

The best comforters may last 15 to 25 years with regular washing, particularly if you protect it with a cover. A lightweight, breathable comforter is often enough to keep you warm in colder months and cool in hotter months.

What to Look For in a Duvet Insert

When choosing the right duvet insert, there are a range of factors to consider. Before you purchase a duvet, it’s good to know the materials used in the fill and fabric shell, its thread count, its fill power, and the stitching method used to construct the duvet.

Common Types of Fill

The material that fluffs up your duvet insert and keeps you warm is known as its fill. Down is the most common type of fill, but you will find duvets with other fills inside. Each has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to price, breathability, and hygiene.

Down

Down refers to the soft, fluffy undercoating ducks and geese rely on to keep warm during colder months. Down lacks sharp quills, so it’s a soft and insulated yet breathable material to fill a duvet.

Down fills usually have a mix of down clumps and feathers, with the exact ratio of fluffy down clusters to feathers varying. The more down the duvet has, the higher its price may be. More feathers may mean quills poking through the duvet, disturbing you when you’re trying to rest.

The duvet’s price is also influenced by its source. Down is harvested from geese and ducks, with goose down often fetching a higher price because it fluffs up a duvet more.

Down Alternative

Down alternative is a polyester fill designed to mimic the feeling of down. It’s usually less expensive than genuine down since it’s made from synthetic fibers. A down alternative duvet is a good hypoallergenic choice if you have a feather allergy.

The drawback of a down alternative fill is that it sometimes can’t match the durability of a true down fill. The quality of a down alternative fill can also vary wildly, with lower quality fills more likely to break down.

Cotton

Cotton is a breathable and natural fill, and a relatively inexpensive choice. Although it’s an excellent choice for a summer duvet, you may not find a cotton fill warm enough for winter.

Wool

Wool is a warmer alternative to cotton if you’re shopping for a natural filling. However, the fill’s usefulness isn’t just limited to the winter months, as wool will also wick away heat and moisture once the temperature grows warmer.

Silk

Silk is a light and soft material—an excellent choice if you want a duvet for the warmer months. However, its lightweight nature means it may not be enough to keep you warm once it’s wintertime.

Common Fabric Shells

All duvets have a fabric shell that encases the filling. Often, the fabrics are soft and breathable to balance comfort with warmth.

Cotton

Cotton is an affordable and easy-to-find option and can limit overheating during the night thanks to its breathability. The duvet can feel soft or crisp, depending on the type of cotton. Cotton also requires very little care when it comes to washing and drying.

Polyester

Polyester is a low-cost synthetic fabric and a common alternative to cotton. While polyester duvets can cost less than cotton, they can also trap heat and moisture.

Cotton-Polyester

When cotton is blended with polyester, the resulting fabric is often more elastic than cotton and more breathable than polyester. It can cost less than a pure cotton shell and is less likely to wrinkle, pill, and shrink in the wash.

Silk

Silk has a soft, sleek feeling that many owners find pleasing. The fabric is also breathable, allowing unnecessary heat to escape and limiting sleep disturbances. However, silk is an expensive choice compared to other options such as cotton or polyester.

Wool

Wool can be another pricey option, much like silk. It’s a soft and warm material that wicks away moisture and excess heat. Wool is also bacteria-resistant.

Thread Count

A duvet’s thread count describes how many threads are woven into a square inch of its cover fabric. Many people wrongly believe that a higher thread count automatically means the material is a high-quality fabric. The truth is that thread counts higher than 800 are often made with thinner, flimsier threads to reach that higher number. The resulting fabric can be so delicate that it will start to fray after two to three washes.

Duvets with higher thread count covers can also retain too much heat. The tight weave can restrict airflow, preventing body heat from being carried off. Instead, the heat builds up inside the duvet.

A 300 to 500 thread count fabric is usually the best range when it comes to duvets. The weave should be strong enough to withstand wear and tear over the years, yet breathable enough to keep you from overheating during the warmer months. A higher thread count can also prevent feather quills from poking through the fabric’s shell if you choose a traditional down duvet.

Fill Power

Fill power is a way to measure how fluffy a duvet is. It expresses how much filling the duvet contains, although it’s not the same thing as a fill’s weight. A larger fill power translates to a more insulating duvet:

• If you want a lightweight duvet suitable for the warmer months, consider a fill power that’s 400 or less.
• If you’re looking for a versatile duvet that’s comfortable no matter the weather, you might want to choose one with a 400 to 600 fill power.
• For a warmer duvet to use during the winter, look for a fill power between 600 to 800.
• Do you catch chill easily or live in a frigid climate? A fill power of 800 might be the perfect duvet for you.

Since a higher fill power puffs up the duvet for a greater loft, you might want to buy a larger size if you’re shopping for a thicker duvet. More fluff reduces how much of the duvet will hang over the side of your bed.

If you’re unsure what fill power is right for you, it’s better to err on the side of caution and choose a lighter duvet. You can always add a blanket or sheet if you grow cold, but you can’t remove the filling from a too-warm duvet.

Stitching Methods

A duvet’s stitching keeps the fill from moving and growing lumpy. The four conventional construction methods are sewn-through stitches, baffled boxes, gusseted stitches, and diamond quilt stitches.

The simplest construction is the sewn-through method when the front and back sides are sewn together. This method can create cold spots with little to no down, allowing heat to escape through the duvet.

The baffle box is when thin pieces of material are sewn between the front and back sides, with the material forming a checkered pattern. The design creates a box-like construction that keeps the duvet’s fill evenly distributed. Some consider this to be the best stitching method for duvets.

A gusseted stitch is a triangular or rhombus-shaped piece of fabric sewn on to reinforce and expand the material. In a duvet, a gusset lets the fill remain fluffy throughout the insert, instead of flattening as you get closer to the edges.

A diamond quilt design has the front and back sides sewn together in diamonds to make pockets that keep the fill from bunching up or shifting throughout the duvet.

What to Look For in a Duvet Cover

A proper duvet cover is just as important as having the right duvet insert. The cover’s fabric should be your main consideration as you shop. The material can determine how your cover feels and how cool or warm it will keep during the night.

Breathability is an important feature in your cover, particularly if you’re looking for a cover to use year-round or only in warmer weather. Cotton is one of the more breathable options, wicking away heat and moisture as you sleep. Flannel and microfiber can be good choices for the winter months, but they may leave you feeling overheated if you use them during the spring or summer months.

The texture is another feature that differs by material. Some find linen feels too rough when it’s new and it often takes too many washes to soften, while others enjoy its breathability. Cotton sateen duvet covers can feel like soft, slick silk, while percale cotton has a cool, crisp feel.

How the cover closes and keeps your insert in place is another essential feature to consider. Many duvet covers have button snaps, while others have a zipper. A zipper is more convenient when it comes to getting your duvet in and out of the cover, but some owners like the look of the traditional row of buttons, even if it takes longer to open and close the cover.

You’ll want a cover that’s easy to care for since one of the primary reasons to use a cover is to make it easier to do laundry. Check that your chosen cover is machine washable and dryer safe.

How to Put on a Duvet Cover

If you struggle with slipping a duvet cover over your insert, there’s a much simpler trick you can try.

First, turn your duvet cover inside out and lay it flat. Then place the insert on top of the cover. Roll the two up together, then once it’s rolled up, turn the cover’s opening over the bundle. Close the cover, then unroll the bundle and give it a good fluff.

Duvet Sizes Guide

While mattress sizes are standardized, duvet and comforter sizes are not. They usually extend well past the mattress’s length and width to provide adequate coverage and hang nicely over your bed’s sides.

A good rule of thumb is to look for a duvet that’s at least 12 inches longer and 16 inches wider than your mattress size. A decorative flange edge can give you an extra 3 to 4 inches on each side.

It’s also important to keep in mind the depth or thickness of your mattress. For example, if you have a 10-inch thick mattress, you’ll likely want a duvet that’s 10 inches longer and 20 inches wider than your mattress.

While researching comforters, you may discover some brands sell comforters designed to fit on two different sizes, such as twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king/California king. Our advice above can help you determine if the duvet size is the right fit for your mattress. Some, such as the full/queen size, can hang too long on the smaller size and too short on the larger size.

There are also plus-size comforters, such as jumbo queens and kings. These are intended for those with extra-thick or oversized mattresses or those who simply enjoy a larger comforter. If you prefer an overhanging duvet for more coverage, you might want to consider buying a larger size than your mattress.

We also can’t forget to talk about duvet covers when it comes to duvet sizes. Covers should always be a bit larger than your duvet insert. This larger size allows the cover to accommodate a thicker duvet and gives you some leeway if your cover shrinks when you wash it. Cotton covers are popular for their breathability, but they often shrink during their first wash.

Duvet Return Policies and Warranties

The return policies and warranties offered with a duvet can vary by brand. Some companies provide a full sleep trial, while others won’t accept returns. It’s not uncommon to have only a few days to return a duvet once you’ve bought it.

We strongly recommend buying a duvet that comes with a warranty that covers the first year of use. Otherwise, if your duvet is quick to fall apart from a manufacturing defect, you’ll be left with no other options than to purchase a new duvet. Having to buy a new one can be quite a setback since many high-quality options cost $200 or more.

Caring for Your Duvet

Routinely washing your comforter or duvet keeps it from accumulating dead skin, dirt, sweat, and dust mites. Even with a set of bed sheets acting as a barrier, these things can still penetrate through the cover and settle inside your duvet insert.

When used with a cover, a duvet can be washed as little as every two to three months. However, if you have severe allergies, it might be necessary to clean your duvet insert once a month to limit allergen build-up. The cover should be washed with your other bedding (sheets and pillowcases) once a week.

Check the included care tag before you wash your duvet for the first time. Most are machine washable, but a few require professional dry cleaning.

You might also need to check if your king or queen size duvet will fit in your washing machine. It’s best if the duvet has a slightly loose fit inside the washer. Squeezing the duvet in for a tight fit can prevent your duvet from getting a full cleaning and even wreak havoc on your washing machine.

When washing, use a mild detergent with cool water, particularly if your duvet is filled with down. A gentle detergent will allow down feathers to keep their natural oils for better insulation. You can throw in some clean tennis balls before starting the wash to provide an even cleaning.

Avoid having your duvet dry cleaned unless the care instructions specifically call for it. The chemicals used by dry cleaners can damage the duvet’s fill. If your duvet is too big for your washer, you might want to see if your local dry cleaner also offers a professional washing service.

Most duvets can go through a dryer unless the care instructions specify air drying only. You can reuse your tennis balls or throw in a set of wool dryer balls for better drying. These balls can absorb moisture and eliminate static while fluffing up the duvet.

Set the dryer on low heat to tumble dry. While it may take a while, it’s the best way to dry your duvet without damaging it. If you don’t put any dryer balls in with your duvet, it’s smart to pause your dryer every 20 to 30 minutes to take out the duvet and give it a good fluff. Fluffing helps the duvet’s fill dry more evenly.

Once you remove your duvet from the dryer, let it air dry in a sunny spot for a few hours. Air drying your duvet ensures it’s evenly dry, preventing mildew growth. The sunshine also eliminates any surviving dust mites. Give the duvet a 90-degree rotation every half hour to prevent the fill from clumping up in a few spots.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do duvets work?

There are two parts to a duvet, the insert and the cover. A duvet insert is a thick, fluffy blanket with a down or down-like filling. A cover slips over the duvet and zips or buttons closed. The cover protects the duvet from stains and dirt, along with wear and tear.

Which is warmer, a duvet or a comforter?

Duvets are usually thicker and heavier than a comforter, providing more warmth as you sleep. Part of this is by design, as the traditional duvet is meant to replace your top sheets and blankets. A comforter is intended for use with your other bedding, so it has a thinner design to prevent overheating.

How much is a duvet?

Duvets can cost as little as $20 to $30 to about $500. That’s without considering the price of a cover. We recommend budgeting between $400 to $500 for a quality queen size duvet and cover.

Can a duvet be used alone?

You can use a duvet on its own with little to no impact on its comfort. However, we can’t recommend sleeping with an uncovered duvet because it can get dirty or stained and will experience more wear and tear.

You’ll need to wash your duvet more often without a cover, at least once a month, and for best results, as often as every week. Using a cover may let you stretch out washings to only once every season.

How often should you replace a duvet?

You’ll know it’s time to replace your duvet insert when the filling feels limp, lumpy, or flat, or if there’s a rip where the filling is starting to poke through. A duvet cover should be replaced once it gets threadbare or when it rips. A decent duvet insert should last at least 5 years, while a higher quality duvet may last 10 or more years.

Does the duvet opening go on the top or bottom?

It’s up to you if you want the cover’s opening facing your bed’s head or foot. Many people choose to set it near the foot of the mattress to keep the zipper or buttons away from their faces or simply for a more beautiful look. However, it might be easier to make a last-minute adjustment to your duvet’s insert (such as fluffing it or shifting it) if the buttons or zipper reach the head of the bed.

Do hotels use comforters or duvets?

Hotels tend to use down comforters with a sheet on top. However, hotels may replace a room’s bedding as often as once a day, making a comforter easier to wash since you don’t have to slip it in and out of a cover. For home use, a covered duvet may be the better choice since it reduces the volume of laundry you’ll need to do every week.

Do you want a bed that looks as nice as the one you would find in a hotel? Then you might consider a white bedding set that includes not only sheets and a comforter or duvet, but also other items such as a coverlet, a bed skirt, and pillow shams.

Can you use a queen duvet on a king bed?

Since a duvet is a loose piece of bedding, nothing is stopping you from using a size larger or smaller than your mattress. Using a larger size gives you more overhang and can ensure full coverage if you buy a duvet with a high loft. A smaller size can be good if you’re just looking for a way to keep warm, are on a tight budget, or share a bed with a hot sleeper who doesn’t need the warmth of a duvet.

What do I do if my duvet is too big?

It’s rare for a duvet to be so big that it’s truly inconvenient, such as edges that touch the floor.

To avoid buying a duvet that is too big, it’s best to calculate the right duvet size by measuring your mattress’s thickness. Take that number and add it to your mattress’s length, then multiply your mattress’s depth by two and add the number to your mattress’s width. That should give you a rough idea of the length and width you should shop for.

Conclusion

Perhaps the most important consideration as you shop for your duvet is when you intend to use it. Will the duvet be used all year, or will you reserve it for the colder winter months? You should also consider your local climate—how chilly does your local area get in the winter, and how warm can it be in the summer?

Asking yourself these questions will help you determine how warm your duvet should be. A year-round insert should be lighter for the summer months, while a duvet solely used in winter should have a more insulating fill.