8 Best Cozy Comforters for Winter Snoozing

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If you want a solid night's sleep, comfort is just as important as chilling out and limiting screen time before you turn in. A good mattress is key, and so is your bedding. Being too hot or cold while snoozing interrupts your sleep cycle and prevents you from clocking the hours of rest your body needs. That's why it's essential to have the right comforter, which means figuring out your list of must-have features before you shop. Read on for advice on how to find the best comforter for you, along with our top recommendations.

A Primer on Key Terms

Let's start with a handful of terms related to fill and construction. Fill power is the number of cubic inches an ounce of down or synthetic material occupies, and the higher the number, the better performance you'll get for warmth and loft. The fill is housed inside the shell using one of two stitching methods. Sewn-through construction is when the shell's top and bottom are stitched through to hold fill in place. With baffle-box construction, there's a thin strip of fabric sewn between covers to create three-dimensional boxes. The distinction can be confusing, because some sewn-through comforters are stitched in a box pattern. Baffle-box comforters tend to be fluffier with equal fill distribution, but they require more work to maintain (you'll need to shake it out regularly to avoid clumps).

Both down and synthetic fill can come from sustainable and ethically produced sources, with internationally-recognized certifications for each. Recycled synthetic material should have Global Recycled Standard certification (GRS); goose and duck down that's ethically sourced carries one of two sustainable down certifications: Responsible Down Standard (RDS) or Global Traceable Down Standard (Global TDS). Textiles that are Oeko-Tex certified are made with neither regulated nor non-regulated harmful substances, and there are also certified organic textiles that carry the GOTS label.

What to Consider

The first decision to make is choosing between down and synthetic fill. Generally speaking, down is warmer and fluffier than synthetic material. The best down comforters are 600 fill power and up, and goose down has more loft with larger plumes than duck down. A comforter's shell is essentially two top sheets stitched together, so you'll want to look at things like thread count and a matte or sateen finish. Also, keep in mind that dimensions vary from brand to brand.

Comforter weight is another top consideration, and one that largely depends on personal preference. Several companies make down and down-alternative comforters in lightweight, medium, and ultra-warm options. Those with severe allergies may want to consider a hypoallergenic down-alternative comforter, though down that's extremely well-cleaned may work for some, since many people are allergic to dust mites, not the feathers themselves.

How We Chose

All of the comforters covered below have an average 4-star rating or higher, and many have average ratings of 4.7 stars and up. During our research, we consulted expert sources including Good Housekeeping and Wirecutter, and drew from our knowledge and experience to make our final selections. We've selected down and down-alternative options across multiple price points, from budget-friendly to splurgeworthy, and looked for features mentioned above including fill power, thread count, and nice-to-have extras like corner loops for attaching a duvet.

Quilted Comforter

Key Specs

• Fill: 350-fill siliconized polyester fiberfill

• Shell: 100% microfiber

• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King/California King

• Corner loops: Yes
  

This affordable option topped Wirecutter's list for best alternative down comforter, and it gets high marks from more than 77,000 Amazon customers who give it an average 4.7 stars.

The soft microfiber shell's sewn-though construction prevents the siliconized polyester fiberfill from shifting around, and it comes in a choice of eight colors, plus white. There are also corner loops for attaching a duvet cover.

All-Season Down Comforter

Key Specs

• Fill: 75% white down, 25% feather

• Shell: 100% cotton

• Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, King/California King

• Corner loops: Yes

If you have more to spend, this upgrade features RDS-certified white down and feather fill and a 100 percent cotton shell that carries the Oeko-Tex label for textiles free from harsh chemicals. This all-season comforter has baffle-box construction, corner tabs so it won't bunch up if covered with a duvet, and double-stitched seams to prevent feathers from escaping.

Permabaffle Box Goose Down Comforter

Key Specs

• Fill: 600-fill white goose down

• Shell: 280-thread-count cotton

• Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King

• Corner loops: Yes

L.L.Bean’s 600-fill RDS-certified white goose down comforter is hypoallergenic, with a soft 280-thread-count cotton shell. The down won’t shift thanks to its “permabaffle” construction, with fill concentrated in the center and lighter weight fill around the perimeter. The result is a well-made comforter that’ll keep you warm on the coldest nights.

Cloud Comforter

Key Specs

• Fill: 100% recycled PET fibers

• Shell: 300-thread-count sateen weave lyocell

• Sizes: Twin/Twin XL; Full/Queen; King/California King

• Corner loops: Yes

Buffy's down-alternative Cloud Comforter is an excellent choice for eco-conscious buyers. It's filled with 100 percent GRS-certified recycled PET fibers and covered in a 300-thread-count sateen lyocell, a fabric made using sustainably sourced wood pulp.

The comforter's quilted stitching pattern locks in fill to maintain even loft and warmth, and it's perfect for all-season use. If you want to add a duvet cover, there are corner loops with which to attach the two.

Down Alternative Comforter

Key Specs

• Fill: 100% recycled PET fibers

• Shell: 400-thread-count 100% cotton sateen

• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King/California King

• Corner loops: Yes

Here's another down-alternative comforter that's filled with 100-percent recycled PET fibers repurposed from plastic bottles. It features a luxurious 400-thread-count cotton sateen shell and baffle-box construction, with corner loops to attach a duvet cover. The comforter also comes in lightweight, all-season, and ultra-warm weights and has an average 4.8-star rating from more than 500 customers.

All-Year Down Alternative Comforter

Key Specs

• Fill: Down-alternative and lyocell fibers

• Shell: Organic percale cotton

• Sizes: Twin/Twin XL; Full/Queen; King/California King

• Corner loops: Yes

This comforter is filled with naturally moisture-wicking lyocell, covered in an organic percale cotton shell that feels cool and crisp next to your skin. It's also highly durable, lightweight, and breathable, and will get softer with every wash. It's also 100 percent hypoallergenic and has corner loops to prevent it from bunching up inside a duvet cover.

Down Comforter

Key Specs

• Fill: 700-fill duck down

• Shell: 100% cotton sateen shell

• Sizes: Twin/Twin XL; Full/Queen; King/California King

• Corner loops: Yes

Ever-popular Brooklinen has one of the best all-season down comforters on the market, offering top quality at a reasonable price. It features ethically sourced 700-fill duck down and a 100 percent cotton sateen shell, and like their down-alternative comforter, it comes in lightweight, medium, and ultra-warm options. It's made in Canada and features baffle-box construction, plus it's hypoallergenic and antimicrobial-treated.

Lightweight Comforter

Key Specs

• Fill: Polyester fiberfill
  

• Shell: 300-thread-count 100% cotton

• Sizes: Twin XL; Queen; King

• Corner loops: Yes

Anyone who struggles to maintain a consistent temperature at night is sure to love this comforter from Slumber Cloud. Its lightweight polyester fiberfill helps regulate heat and moisture and it has enough loft to keep you cozy. The 300-thread-count 100 percent cotton shell meets Oeko-Tex standards, plus the comforter is hypoallergenic.

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