We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products Bedding & Bath Product Reviews The 10 Best Down Alternative Comforters We’ve Ever Tested For an affordable and hypoallergenic alternative to traditional down comforters, try these top-rated blankets. By Ashley Zlatopolsky Ashley Zlatopolsky Ashley Zlatopolsky is a Detroit-based storyteller with more than 10 years of experience writing and editing. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 24, 2024 Fact checked by Rich Scherr In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Final Verdict Our Testing Process How to Shop More to Consider FAQs Take Our Word for It What Is Real Simple Selects? Photo: Real Simple / Dera Burreson If traditional down comforters leave you sneezing or sweating all night, you may want to consider using a more breathable down alternative comforter for better sleep. These comforters are naturally hypoallergenic for those with sensitive skin, asthma, or down feather allergies, plus they allow for better airflow, which can help prevent overheating while sleeping. To find the best down alternative comforters, we tested several blankets both in our lab and at home to determine their breathability, comfort, quality, and design. We also spoke to Oregon textile designer, John Smith, and weighted blanket company Sensa Calm CEO, Donna Chambers, about the pros and cons of down alternative comforters and what to look for in a high-quality product. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Riley Down Alternative Comforter at Rileyhome.com Jump to Review Best Budget: Utopia Bedding Comforter at Amazon $26 Jump to Review Best Cooling: Sijo TempTune Comforter at Amazon $235 Jump to Review Best Cotton: White Noise All-Season Down Alternative Comforter at Wayfair $129 Jump to Review Best Bamboo: Cozy Earth Comforter at Cozy Earth Jump to Review Best All-Season: Pottery Barn Hydrocool Down-Alternative Duvet Insert at Pottery Barn $199 Jump to Review Best Lightweight: Saatva Lightweight Down Alternative Comforter at Saatva $265 Jump to Review Warmest: Crane & Canopy Ultimate Luxe Down at Craneandcanopy.com Jump to Review Best Sustainable: Boll & Branch Down Alternative Duvet Insert at Amazon $359 Jump to Review Best Colorful: SALE Bedsure Duvet Insert Comforter at Amazon $42 $32 Jump to Review Best Overall Riley Down Alternative Comforter PHOTO: Riley View on Rileyhome.com What Stands Out It features even fill distribution with reinforced, double-stitched construction. What Could Be Improved It may need to be dried twice when washing. Riley Down Alternative Comforter ranks as our top choice thanks to its double-stitched durable outer edges, even fill distribution, and cooling cotton cover, which helped us stay comfortable while testing this product. Available in two warmth levels of all season or extra warm, our team found this down alternative comforter to be smooth, pleasantly fluffy, and noise-free when moving around in bed (a bonus if you bed-share with a partner). There was also no odor upon opening it, and sleeping with it. While wrestling a duvet insert into a cover isn’t always the easiest task, Riley Down Alternative Comforter was simple to get in and out of its cover. Washing the comforter was also a breeze, but it took two rounds to fully dry—plus a bit of fluffing—which may be time-consuming. Overall, we love this comforter for hot sleepers and couples due to its cooling effect and minimal noise. Fill Material: Microfiber | Shell Material: Cotton | Size Range: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California King | Machine Washable: Yes Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Budget Utopia Bedding Comforter PHOTO: Amazon $26 at Amazon $42 at Walmart View on Utopiadeals.com What Stands Out It’s lightweight and breathable for all seasons. What Could Be Improved It retains wrinkles for quite some time. Comforters can easily turn into a big investment, but that’s not the case with Utopia Bedding All-Season Down Alternative Comforter. This affordable comforter comes in nine unique color options, like Plum and Sage Green, and feels like hotel-quality for a fair price point. We noted no loose threads, a soft feel, and breathable design that traps cold air inside the comforter, helping prevent any night sweats or overheating. It was also very easy to spot clean when needed. Still, after a month of use, we found this comforter to be quite wrinkly. While most wrinkles came out on their own within the first week or two of use, some just wouldn’t budge. Although this doesn’t affect the quality or feel of the comforter, some people might find that this impacts their bedroom aesthetic and design. Fill Material: Siliconized fiber | Shell Material: Polyester | Size Range: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King | Machine Washable: Yes Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Cooling Sijo TempTune Comforter PHOTO: Sijo $235 at Amazon $235 at Nordstrom View on Sijo What Stands Out It has a temperature-regulating and breathable cooling cover. What Could Be Improved It’s dry cleaning recommended, which can be impractical for many. If you find yourself overheating all night, a cooling down alternative comforter like the Sijo Clima Tech TempTune Comforter can help regulate your body temperature. The blanket is an evenly-filled comforter that comes in a Tencel and nylon shell. As a naturally-cooling and moisture-repellent material, Tencel fibers are excellent for wicking away sweat—something we noticed during testing. While this comforter doesn’t necessarily feel cool to the touch, we found that it kept us at just the right temperature. Well-built with an even fill distribution, the comforter has just enough heft without being too heavy. It was silent when we moved around underneath it, and kept its shape without needing to be refluffed. The one drawback to this comforter, however, is that the brand recommends dry cleaning it, which may not be practical (or affordable) for many. Fill Material: CLIMA cooling tech fiber, Tencel, and recycled polyester | Shell Material: Tencel and nylon | Size Range: Full/Queen and King/California King | Machine Washable: No Real Simple / Taylor Rock Real Simple / Taylor Rock Real Simple / Taylor Rock Real Simple / Taylor Rock Real Simple / Taylor Rock Best Cotton White Noise All-Season Down Alternative Comforter PHOTO: Wayfair $129 at Wayfair What Stands Out Its moderately thick fill makes it ideal for cooler rooms and climates. What Could Be Improved It requires several rounds of drying and fluffing. With a cotton cover and fill, the White Noise All Season Cotton Down Alternative Comforter comes in a moderate thickness suitable for cooler climates. We found superior construction and quality, including double-stitched seams (which prevent fill from escaping), even fill distribution, and no odors. This comforter isn’t too heavy or too light, but if you run hot at night, you may want to opt for something lighter. Despite its thickness, the comforter was easy to get into its cover and lays smoothly on top of the bed with no clumping or bulking. The comforter also retained its pre-washed look and appeared brand new after a round in the wash. However, we did have to run it through the dryer four times to finally get it completely dried. While other customers may not necessarily run into this issue depending on the size and strength of their personal dryer, it’s still something worth mentioning in case you want a low-maintenance down alternative comforter. Fill Material: Cotton | Shell Material: Cotton | Size Range: Twin, Full/Queen, and King | Machine Washable: Yes Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Bamboo Cozy Earth Comforter PHOTO: Cozy Earth View on Cozy Earth $535 at Verishop.com $569 at Macy's What Stands Out It’s naturally breathable, and incredibly soft. What Could Be Improved Its heavier weight makes shifting under the sheets more difficult. The Cozy Earth Bamboo Comforter is a high-end, luxury down alternative comforter made with your choice of bamboo viscose or silk filling. Bamboo is naturally breathable, and our team found this comforter soft to the touch and temperature-regulating throughout the night. It’s also very quiet, which is a great feature for couples or those who bed-share (especially if you’re a light sleeper). Overall, we found Cozy Earth Bamboo Comforter well-built and noticed a significant improvement in our sleep while using it. Keep in mind, however, that this down alternative comforter is nearly twice as heavy as most comforters on our list, which can make shifting around under the sheets a challenge, especially if you turn side-to-side while sleeping. Note as well that bamboo comforters tend to be a little more pricey than their cotton counterparts. Fill Material: Bamboo or silk | Shell Material: Bamboo | Size Range: Twin, Full/Queen, and King | Machine Washable: Yes Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best All-Season Pottery Barn Hydrocool Down-Alternative Duvet Insert PHOTO: Pottery Barn $199 at Pottery Barn What Stands Out It’s cool, crisp, and light, making it suitable for warm and cold weather alike. What Could Be Improved Not all pockets had even fill distribution. Pottery Barn’s Hydrocool Moisture Wicking Down Alternative Duvet Insert works excellent for all seasons due to its versatile construct. To be more specific, the lightweight cover helps prevent overheating in the summer, but when the temperature drops, the comforter’s thick, medium fill offers plenty of heft and fluff for staying warm. We loved this duvet insert for its sturdy build and noiseless sleep, as well as its ability to help regulate our temperature when sleeping. One downside to this down alternative comforter is that not every pocket had an even fill distribution—some were thicker than others, which resulted in a few lumps. This may be due to the fluffiness of the comforter, but the lumps stood out to us. But if you don’t mind spending a little time patting and fluffing before snuggling inside of this comforter, you’re certainly in for a long-lasting piece of bedding, no matter the season. Fill Material: Polyester | Shell Material: Cotton | Size Range: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California King | Machine Washable: Yes Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Lightweight Saatva Lightweight Down Alternative Comforter PHOTO: Saatva $265 at Saatva What Stands Out It’s soft, light weight makes it perfect for hot sleepers or those living in warmer climates. What Could Be Improved It may not be warm enough for colder weather. Whether you sleep hot or live in a warmer climate, a lightweight comforter like Saatva Lightweight Down Alternative Comforter can keep you cool throughout the night. We found this comforter light but just warm enough, paired with a touch of softness for a comfortable sleep. Plus, if you struggle with figuring out which way your comforter should lay on the bed, this product comes with a nifty “foot of bed” tag to ensure your comforter is facing the right direction. We found it hard to find anything to dislike about Saatva Lightweight Down Alternative Comforter. However, if you live in a colder climate or prefer a comforter for all seasons, this comforter may probably be too light for your taste. It also has a slightly higher price point than many down alternative comforters on our list, which is something to consider as well. Fill Material: Down alternative fiber and lyocell | Shell Material: Cotton | Size Range: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California King | Machine Washable: Yes Real Simple / Ashley Craiger Real Simple / Ashley Craiger Real Simple / Ashley Craiger Real Simple / Ashley Craiger Real Simple / Ashley Craiger Warmest Crane & Canopy Ultimate Luxe Down PHOTO: Crane & Canopy View on Craneandcanopy.com What Stands Out It refluffs quickly and maintains its form with ease. What Could Be Improved It’s somewhat noisy and difficult to fit into a home washing machine. If you’re in the throes of winter, or simply looking for something snuggly to cuddle under in your bed, a warm blanket like Crane & Canopy Ultimate Luxe Down Alternative Comforter is an excellent choice. The thick, plush fill was evenly distributed which we appreciated, and despite the comforter’s heft, we didn’t feel too hot sleeping under it. Its thickness also helped give our beds some dimension, but the comforter was tough to fit into a home washing machine. One drawback that we noticed while testing this comforter was that it’s somewhat noisy when shifting under it. This especially becomes a nuisance if you bed-share, or if you’re a sensitive sleeper. However, if you’re a heavy sleeper, this slight con may prove to be a non-issue, especially if you’re in need of a comforter that provides extra warmth. Fill Material: Microfiber | Shell Material: Cotton | Size Range: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California King | Machine Washable: Yes Real Simple / Marre Schuling Real Simple / Marre Schuling Real Simple / Marre Schuling Real Simple / Marre Schuling Real Simple / Marre Schuling Best Sustainable Boll & Branch Down Alternative Duvet Insert PHOTO: Boll & Branch $359 at Amazon $309 at Nordstrom $258 at Bollandbranch.com What Stands Out It’s cozy and oversized for extra comfort. What Could Be Improved Its large construct makes it slightly difficult to get into a duvet cover. Sustainably-minded individuals may want to opt for an eco-friendly comforter like Boll & Branch Down Alternative Duvet Insert, which is made with traceable materials and in certified factories that pay and treat employees fairly. Our team enjoyed the oversized nature of this comforter, which was pleasant to snuggle with and kept us warm (but not too warm) throughout the night. It’s also well-constructed with an even fill distribution, and only produced minimal noise when moving around. However, as much as we loved its slightly oversized construct, iInserting the duvet into its cover was slightly cumbersome. This becomes even more of an issue if you have a larger duvet size like a king or california king, requiring either a lot of moving around, or the help of another individual. Due to its oversized build, you might also find that the duvet insert bunches up slightly in its cover. Fill Material: Primaloft down alternative | Shell Material: Organic cotton | Size Range: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California King | Machine Washable: Yes Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Colorful Bedsure Duvet Insert Comforter PHOTO: Amazon $32 at Amazon $45 at Bedsurehome.com What Stands Out It comes in over 10 color options, allowing for more customization compared to other comforters. What Could Be Improved It’s somewhat thin with low loft, which may not be suitable for colder sleepers. If white comforters are too uninspired, the Bedsure All-Season Down Alternative Comforter comes in a kaleidoscope of 14 colors including red, purple, green, and more. As one of our more lightweight bedding options, this comforter runs on the thin side with low loft (thickness), which may be a pro or con depending on how warm you prefer to sleep. Nonetheless, the material felt light and cool on our skin, and we appreciated that the comforter made no noise when we tossed and turned. Those sensitive to smells may want to air out this down alternative comforter for a day or two, as it had a slight plastic scent that could have been from its packaging. It didn’t bother us much, but you may want to err on the side of caution and let the comforter breathe before using it. If you find the smell to be too much, know that this comforter is machine washable, making for easy maintenance. Fill Material: Polyester | Shell Material: Microfiber | Size Range: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Oversized Queen, King, California King, and Oversized King | Machine Washable: Yes Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Final Verdict The Riley Down Alternative Comforter came in as our number one pick for a down alternative comforter because of its sturdy, double-stitched construction, cooling cotton cover, and easy-to-follow care instructions. For a more affordable pick, we also recommend the Utopia Bedding All-Season Down Alternative Comforter, which is lightweight and breathable for year-round use, just note that it does have a tendency to wrinkle. Our Testing Process To find the best down alternative comforters, we tested multiple blankets in our lab and at home for breathability, comfort, quality, and design. First, we carefully checked the construction of each comforter and duvet insert, noting the quality of the seams, even fill distribution, and plushness. Then, we laid under each comforter and duvet insert and shifted around to check for any noise (such as crinkling sounds) and odd odors. We observed each blanket for comfort, softness, and texture, determining whether it felt fluffy or flat. We also did a duvet insert test to see how easy (or challenging) it was to get inserts into their covers. Lastly, we washed and dried our blankets to see how well they held up in the wash. After evaluating all of these factors, we took into account each product’s value to determine if the cost for each comforter aligned with what it excelled at (i.e. cooling, warmth, comfort, etc.). Real Simple / Dera Burreson How to Shop for Down Alternative Comforters Like a Pro Down vs. Down Alternative Both down and down alternative comforters come with their own set of pros and cons. Smith says traditional down comforters are known for their “exceptional warmth and lightness,” but these luxury buys tend to be much more expensive than their down alternative counterparts. “Down fill also tends to clump and lose its loft over time, whereas down alternative maintains its shape and softness even after multiple washes,” he describes. Another benefit of down alternative comforters is that they’re naturally hypoallergenic and often easier to care for, since many products can be machine washed and dried. Still, Chambers says down alternative comforters “may be heavier than natural down and may not offer the same level of warmth or insulation.” Shell Material The right shell material for you will ultimately be a personal choice. Those seeking out a more breathable and cooling down alternative comforter to combat hot sleep may want to opt for cotton or bamboo shells, which will offer the best ventilation and wick away moisture. Polyester, meanwhile, may be a more affordable choice, but will be slightly less cooling than more premium materials. Weight You’ll want to select a weight, or warmth level, that suits your sleep preferences and climate. Those who live in an area that experiences all four seasons may want to opt for an all-season comforter, which will offer just enough weight balance to keep you cool through summer, but warm through winter. Still, if you sleep hot no matter the weather, a lightweight comforter may be best for you. More Down Alternative Comforters to Consider Brooklinen Down Alternative Comforter: This comforter is soft and smooth to the touch, yet maintains a good weight that we found sturdy and warm without being overpowering. Keep in mind the brand recommends dry cleaning this comforter only, which may not be practical. Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter: It has a unique contouring texture that our team noted was a cross between velvet and suede, without the heaviness. However, not everyone will be a fan of the texture, which is silky and slightly slippery due to its nylon and spandex shell. Real Simple / Dera Burreson Questions You Might Ask Is down alternative fill actually better for people with allergies? Chambers says down alternative fill is an excellent choice for people with allergies. “Traditional down comforters can harbor dust mites, which are a common allergen,” she says. “In contrast, down alternative materials are less likely to attract dust mites and other allergens.” She adds that down alternative comforters are also often treated with special products to further resist allergens, adding to their allergy-friendly appeal. Should hot sleepers avoid down alternative comforters? Hot sleepers shouldn’t necessarily avoid down alternative comforters, even if they tend to be slightly heavier than traditional down. “Some alternative comforters are designed specifically for hot sleepers,” Smith says. “These comforters use materials with enhanced moisture-wicking properties and better airflow, which can help hot sleepers stay cool and comfortable throughout the night.” It’s recommended that you look for down alternative comforters labeled as “cooling” or made from cotton or bamboo if you need to cool down at night. How much should you expect to pay for a down alternative comforter? The price range for a down alternative comforter varies greatly based on material, build, and brand. More affordable comforters can start as low as $30, while luxury buys can easily climb to $300 or more. Be sure to consider your budget and preferences before choosing a product to ensure that you buy something you know you’ll like. Real Simple / Dera Burreson Take Our Word for It This article was written by Ashley Zlatopolsky, a bedding and bath commerce writer for Real Simple. To find the best down alternative comforters, we tested several blankets at home and in our lab, evaluating factors that matter most such as breathability, comfort, quality, and design. For expert insight and advice, Ashley spoke to Oregon textile designer, John Smith, and weighted blanket company Sensa Calm CEO, Donna Chambers. What Is Real Simple Selects? Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company. Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.