12 Best Down Alternative Comforter Reviews – Our Top Picks

If you are a cold sleeper, then strongly consider getting yourself a comforter for amazingly cozy nights. Particularly, we suggest down alternative comforters because of their hypoallergenic properties and eco-friendliness.

To help you choose, we will showcase our personal Top 12 of the best down alternative comforters you can find out there. We shall also provide you with a number of handy tips to give you a better understanding of down alternative hypoallergenic comforters and how to find the best one.

12 Best Down Alternative Comforters

Below are our top 12 picks – down alternative comforters that we consider the best you can find. For each comforter, we’ve deeply researched what we are dealing with, and we’ve also paid attention to buyer feedback. 

In our opinion, the best way to determine the quality of a product – including a down alternative comforter – is to read the reviews of past buyers. So though we’ll provide you with some useful insights into our picks, you should do some digging of your own as well!

Once we are done with our top, we’ll cover a few important points to help you better understand down alternative comforters. And to top it off, we’ll then move on to our comprehensive down alternative comforter buyer’s guide!

1. Utopia Bedding Comforter Duvet Insert

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Brushed microfiber.
  • Filling: Siliconized fiberfill.
  • Sizes: Full, Twin XL Twin, Queen, King, California King.
best down alternative comforters

If you are shopping on a tight budget, consider this comforter duvet from Utopia. The stitching and overall quality here aren’t the best, but they are pretty nice for the money.

The Utopia comforter features a siliconized fiberfill – this filling is soft, fluffy, and breathable. The comforter is also box-stitched, which allows the filling to stay where it’s supposed to be.

The filling here is weighted at 350 GSM, which makes this comforter a good all-season pick. If you are a hot sleeper or live in a warm area, the Utopia comforter should be a good buy.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Inexpensive.
  • Available for all bed sizes.
  • Machine-washable.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • Not the best stitching quality out there.

2. Sleep Restoration All-Season Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Microfiber.
  • Filling: Down alternative fiber.
  • Size: Full/Queen, King/Cal King, Twin/Twin XL.
lightweight comforter

The Sleep Restoration comforter is priced a little higher than the Utopia comforter but offers solid quality. With its reinforced stitching, it’s not as delicate as the Utopia comforter, so it will withstand washes and general use much better.

What we also like about this comforter is its two-sided design that allows you to easily change the feel and look of your bedroom. A few dual-tone color options are available too.

The filling here is 350GSM down alternative fiber fill. This is all-season filling that should work for most needs, and judging by buyer feedback, it’s very soft and fluffy. The box stitching also keeps the filling in place to ensure a consistent level of comfort.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Reversible two-tone design.
  • Great quality.
  • Machine-washable.
  • Several color options.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • Only comes in 3 sizes.

3. Egyptian Bedding Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Egyptian cotton.
  • Filling: Down alternative fiber.
  • Size: Full/Queen, also available in King/Cal King and Twin/Twin XL.
summer comforter

If you want something high-quality and luxurious, then strongly consider this comforter from Egyptian Bedding.

The highlight of this piece of bedding is the 100% Egyptian cotton cover. If you didn’t know, Egyptian cotton is widely considered as the softest and most durable variety of cotton. Not only that, but the particular cotton used in this comforter boasts a thread count of 600/square inch and is very smooth.

The fiber filling in this comforter is nice too – it’s perhaps not as thick and soft as in true down comforters, but it’s better than anything we’ve seen so far. For some perspective, the fill power here is about 750, which is on the higher end of what you can find in comforters.

Advertised at medium warmth, this comforter is also on the warmer side – mainly thanks to the dense filling. The comforter is box-stitched too to keep the filling in place.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Ultra-soft and smooth Egyptian cotton.
  • Plush and fluffy.
  • Can be machine-washed.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • Expensive.

4. Amrapur Overseas Medium Down Alternative Duvet Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Microfiber.
  • Filling: Polyester.
  • Size: Full, King, Twin.
king down comforter

The Amrapur down alternative duvet/comforter is one of the lightest and coolest picks on our list. 

The fill weight here seems to be around 200 GSM (vs the 350GSM weight in the Utopia comforter). The fluff here won’t be as up there, but if you usually don’t get too cold at night, then perhaps such a light fill will work better for you.

What’s also nice about this comforter is that Amrapur offers it in 17 colors (as of this review), so it’s easy to adapt to your current bedroom style.

In terms of price and quality, this box-stitched comforter is similar to the Utopia comforter, but it’s lighter and doesn’t have cover-fitting loops (which might be a big downside for some people).

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Pocket-friendly.
  • Thin, light, and cool.
  • Machine-washable.
  • Wide range of colors.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • Might be too thin for some buyer’s needs.
  • Not the best quality, but that’s fine for the money.
  • Doesn’t have cover loops.

5. Elegant Comfort All-Season Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Microfiber.
  • Filling: Polyester.
  • Size: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King.
hypoallergenic comforter

The Elegant Comfort down alternative comforter is yet another affordable pick on this top! 

This model seems to be built a little bit better than our previous pocket-friendly comforters. Judging by user feedback, the comforter holds up after washes pretty well, and it overall feels fluffy and comfy.

This comforter is also a summer comforter – although no fill weight numbers are provided, it’s light and should work for warm sleepers. One buyer even comfortably used it in the warm winters of southern Florida!

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Affordable.
  • Pretty light.
  • Nicely made.
  • Can be machine-washed.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • No cover loops.

6. Royal Hotel Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Microfiber.
  • Filling: Polyester.
  • Size: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/Cal King, Queen-Oversized, King-Oversized.
white down comforter

This down alternative comforter from Royal Hotel boasts excellent quality. On par with the Egyptian Bedding comforter, the Royal Hotel comforter is a great option if you have the budget.

This comforter is a little cheaper than the Egyptian Bedding comforter though and doesn’t have an Egyptian cotton cover. Instead, it features a soft and smooth microfiber cover that should be fine for most people’s needs.

The box-stitched filling in the Royal Hotel comforter is made of polyester fiber and is on the lighter side too. Providing medium warmth, this comforter isn’t as thick and fluffy as some people may want, but it’s a great option for warm sleepers or not so cold areas.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Excellent quality.
  • Machine-washable.
  • A good variety of sizes.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • High price.

7. Royal Hotel Overfilled Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: 100% cotton.
  • Filling: Polyester.
  • Size: Twin/Twin XL, Queen, King, King-Oversized.
best down alternative comforters

This Royal Hotel comforter is a little different from the previous one. 

Most notably, it has much more fluff and filling. If we compare the two Royal Hotel comforters size-to-size, you get about 1.5-1.6 times more filling here. The fill power in this comforter is 750 as well, which is among the highest on this top. This comforter isn’t the thickest out there, but it’s quite up there.

The second important difference is the cover – here, it’s made from cotton. If you like cotton bedding, then this comforter should be ideal for you. With 300 threads/square inch, the cover is a little coarse, but it will be fine for most people, and it still boasts the softness and breathability of cotton that many people love.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Very fluffy and thick.
  • Great for cold sleepers and low temperatures.
  • Machine-washable.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • Very expensive.

8. Chezmoi Collection Light Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Microfiber.
  • Filling: Polyester.
  • Size: Twin, Twin XL, Full/Queen, Queen, Oversized Queen, King, California King, Oversized King.
best down alternative comforters

This down alternative comforter from Chezmoi Collection is a nice option if you want something light. The Chezmoi comforter is available in 3 variants – light (180 GSM), medium (250 GSM), and ultra (320 GSM). 

The ultra size is pretty warm, but definitely not the warmest on our list. All in all, this is one of the lightest down alternative comforters on the top. This is great for people who don’t need much additional warmth, as well as for buyers in warmer regions.

What we also like about this comforter very much is that it’s available in a wide range of sizes for all kinds of needs. Most other comforters on this top only offer 3 sizes, unfortunately.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Very light and cool.
  • Available in 3 light variants.
  • May be machine-washed.
  • Many size options.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • Definitely not for low temps or people who get cold in sleep.

9. KASENTEX All-Season Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Microfiber.
  • Filling: Hydrophilic fiber.
  • Size: Twin, Queen, King.
down alternative comforter

The KASENTEX all-season down alternative comforter is a nice buy if you want a high-quality lightweight comforter. At 250 GSM, this comforter offers balanced warmth that should work for most people.

Being one of the pricier comforters on this list, the KASENTEX comforter also offers a quality box-stitched construction with tough seams. The filling is remarkable as well – hydrophilic and moisture-absorbent, it keeps you comfortable in sleep and withstands washes more easily.

The double-side reversible design is nice as well in that it allows you to quickly alter the look of your bedroom.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Can be machine-washed.
  • Cool and light.
  • Moisture-absorbent, comfortable material
  • Double-side reversible design

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • May be insufficient for some people.
  • Colors might be slightly off.
  • Pricey.

10. GrayEagle Bedding Co. All-Season Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Microfiber.
  • Filling: Down alternative fiber.
  • Size: Super King & Supreme King.
king down comforter

This one is an ideal option if you have a large bed or want your comforter to hang down the sides of your bed. Available in two sizes – Supreme King (118 x 114 inches) and Super King (120 x 98 inches) – the GrayEagle comforter is the largest on our list. 

Both sizes are generously filled as well – Supreme King has 130 ounces of fill, while Super King has 116 ounces. So even though this comforter is marketed as all-season, it’s very warm and will probably work the best from late fall to early spring.

The overall quality of this comforter is great too. This is no surprise because the GrayEagle comforter is quite steeply priced. But note that the cover with its thread count of 250 may be a little coarse.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Great quality.
  • Excellent for huge beds.
  • Warm and thick.
  • Machine-washable.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • Very expensive.

11. Sleep Philosophy Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Cotton sateen.
  • Filling: 3M Thinsulate.
  • Size: Twin, King, Full/Queen.
lightweight comforter

Thanks to its moisture-wicking properties, the Sleep Philosophy comforter offers remarkable sleeping comfort – perhaps the best on the list. 

The cotton sateen cover is notable as well. Although this cotton variety isn’t as luxurious as Egyptian cotton, it offers softness, smoothness, and durability far superior to regular cotton.

The most unique feature in this comforter, however, is the Thinsulate insulation from 3M. This insulation offers excellent warmth while keeping the comforter lightweight.

Speaking of warmth, Sleep Philosophy offers this comforter in 3 warmth options – Year-Round Warmth, Warmer for fall and spring, and Maximum Warmth for winters. So no matter what your needs are, this comforter is likely to meet them.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Soft and durable cotton cover.
  • Moisture-wicking.
  • 3 warmth options.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • Rather expensive.

12. HIG Down Alternative Comforter

QUICK SUMMARY

  • Cover material: Double brushed microfiber.
  • Filling: Polyester.
  • Size: Twin, Queen, King.
best down alternative comforters

Finally, we have the HIG down alternative comforter. This is yet another inexpensive comforter, so it’s a good option if you didn’t like any of our previous budget picks.

The HIG down alternative comforter doesn’t really have anything new or amazing to offer. However, it has all the basics you should be looking for in a down alternative comforter, including corner loops for easy covering, box-stitched construction, pretty decent (but not great) build quality, and a few size options.

What catches the eye is that HIG includes a pair of pillow shams. This is nice if you happen to be looking for pillow shams, but otherwise, we wouldn’t say that it’s a huge buying point for this comforter.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Rather affordable.
  • Can be machine-washed.
  • Includes 2 pillow shams.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE

  • Not the greatest quality.

What Is Down Alternative?

Down alternative is an alternative to natural down feather fillings. Down, if you didn’t know, is the fine feathers found under the tough exterior feathers of birds. These feathers are a popular filling for pillows, comforters, and other beddings.

The purpose of down alternative in comforters is to simulate the feel and warmth delivered by natural down. Manufacturers of comforters and other bed products use a wide range of both synthetic and natural materials to deliver a feel that’s close to what you’re getting with down.

All in all, down alternative fillings are made for two categories of buyers:

  • Those who have allergies to natural down.

  • Those who think down feather fillings are unethical.

Down alternative comforters and other bed products are also usually cheaper than their natural down counterparts, so they are also a good choice for buyers on a budget. Additionally, down alternative is actually much easier to wash and take care of than down – mainly because down alternative is often machine-washable.

With that said, down alternative has a number of downsides that you should know about:

  • Down alternative isn’t as breathable as down. You are more likely to get hot and sweaty with a down alternative comforter.

  • Down alternative comforters offer less fluff and comfort.

  • The down alternative filling is heavier than down. This is an especially big problem with comforters that have a lot of filling.

  • After machine-washing, down alternatives tend to shrink, so they aren’t as durable as natural down comforters.

  • Generally, down alternative comforters have a shorter lifespan than down comforters.

If you are looking for fluff and comfort, then a down comforter would be an ideal choice for you. On the other hand, you should get a down alternative comforter if any of these points applies to you:

  • Your budget is tight.

  • You consider down fillings unethical.

  • You are allergic to natural down.

If you don’t care about any of these points, then a down comforter would be a better buy for the money. It would last longer and be more comfortable.

What’s The Differences Between A Comforter And Duvet?

Before moving to our buyer’s guide, we feel that we should also make a distinction between duvets and comforters. 

The two beddings are similar and similar purposes. However, they aren’t exactly the same, which often confuses buyers.

Let’s quickly define what duvets and comforters are:

  • A duvet consists of a bag filled with a filler made of down, feathers, wool, or synthetic materials. Duvets are designed to be tucked into a duvet cover – however, duvets and duvet covers are usually sold separately. Duvets are often called comforters, which confuses people even more.

  • Comforters are built like duvets, but they do not require any additional covers. You could insert your comforter into a cover, but this isn’t a must.

So essentially, a duvet is a type of bedding that is designed to be covered, while a comforter doesn’t need any covers.

If you are still confused, then here are a few more distinctions:

  • Duvets are often used instead of a top bed sheet, allowing for quicker and more convenient bed-making.

  • Duvets are usually cheaper than comforters, but if you add the cost of a duvet cover, the difference may not be that big.

  • Because duvets are to be covered, they allow you to play around with the style of your bed and bedroom.

  • Duvets are usually sized like the beds they are intended for. In contrast, comforters are larger, often hanging down the bed’s sides.

  • Comforters are usually placed over the top sheet. But you may use a comforter just like a duvet. 

  • Comforters are typically not as thick as duvets.

  • Because comforters don’t require covers, they aren’t as easy to keep clean as duvets. With a duvet, you can toss the cover into a washing machine, and your cleaning job is mostly done.

The points above should give you an idea of which bedding would work the best for you. But generally, comforters are great for homeowners who don’t want to deal with any covers, while duvets would be ideal if you want to be able to alter the appearance of your bedroom.

Note that in practice, “duvet” and “comforter” are very often used interchangeably. You can get a duvet and use it like a comforter, and vice versa. But we still think that telling the two types of bedding apart is important.

What To Look For When Shopping For The Best Down Alternative Comforter

Now, we can proceed to our buyer’s guide. Since you already have an understanding what a comforter is, catching our points will be easier for you.

  • Filling– 

    Down alternative may be made from a variety of materials, each with very different qualities. Although these synthetic fillings are all called “down alternative”, they are very distinct, and it’s important that you know what you are dealing with.

    There are 3 main types of down alternatives you will see in comforters:

    • Synthetic polyester fiber. Polyester fibers do a pretty good job of simulating the feel of down. Comforters with polyester fillings are among the cheapest out there, and they boast hypoallergenic properties along with easy washing.

    • Gel fiber. This kind of filling is basically crushed polyester fibers. Feeling like gel, this filling is light, cushy, and rather breathable. Gel fillings probably get the closest to natural down, but they are also pricier than synthetic polyester. Plus, not every gel fiber-filled comforter is machine-washable.

    • Natural alternatives to down. Technically, any natural filler other than down can be considered a down alternative. Among natural fills that you may see in comforters are bamboo, silk, or buckwheat fills. These offers dramatically different properties than down, but they work for some people.

  • Warmth- 

    The purpose of a comforter is to keep you warm, so needless to say, you may want to pay attention to warmth as well.

    When it comes to warmth, down alternative comforters are available in the following styles:

    • Warm. If you don’t tend to shiver in the night, then a comforter advertised as warm should be sufficient for your needs. It will keep you comfortably warm without overheating. These comforters work pretty nicely in summer and milder winters, but they will probably be inadequate for extra cold weather.

    • Extra warm. Extra warm works pretty nicely year-round – it doesn’t make you toast in the summer, and it keeps you warm in the low temperatures of winter.

    • Toasty. Down alternative comforters advertised as toasty tend to work the best from late fall to early spring.

    • Extra toasty. Finally, extra toasty comforters are for those people who get really cold when they fall asleep. Apart from that, extra toasty comforters are ideal for extreme cold and cool bedrooms.

    Note that some comforter manufacturers may measure the warmth of their comforters differently. Some may not provide any warmth grades at all.

    Additionally, if your budget is tight, know that you could purchase a lighter, less warm comforter and when necessary add an extra blanket or two to make your bed warmer.

  • Construction​​​

    Comforters are available in baffle box, box stitch, gusset, diamond quilt, and karo step styles. 

    These days, baffle box and box stitch comforters are the most common because they keep the filling in place and don’t allow it to spread out. They also allow for an even distribution of the filling. So we’d say that baffle box or box stich are preferable in any comforter.

    Most of our picks have a box-stitched construction, and a few have a baffle box design.

  • Cover fabric- 

    Down alternative comforter covers are typically made from either microfiber or cotton. Cotton is breathable, gentle, and soft, while microfiber is hypoallergenic (because it doesn’t harbor bacteria), absorbent, very durable, and light.

    If you don’t have any preferences, then microfiber should work just fine. Cotton, in contrast, is a great choice if you want some extra softness and breathability.

  • Fabric thread count
    Thread count quite simply measures the number of fabric threads per square inch. This spec can be important in comforters and duvets, but only to a certain extent.

    Generally, higher thread counts produce a finer, smoother, and a more tightly woven fabric. Typically, 100-180 threads is considered low-quality, 200-400 is considered high-quality, while from 400 to 600 is considered luxury.

    For most people, thread count of 300-400 is probably going to be more than enough. Thread counts over 400 likely won’t deliver noticeable differences while costing much more. Unless you know that low thread counts won’t work for you, don’t pursue high numbers.

  • Fill power & fill weight-
    Fill power measures the fluffiness of a comforter. More specifically, fill power measures the amount of space 1 ounce of down (or down alternative) occupies in the comforter. The more space the down takes up, the higher the fill power is and along with it the fluffiness.

    Fill power of about 400 offers light warmth, while comforters with fill power of 800 deliver the best warmth and thermal insulation.

    Fill power isn’t the only spec that determines warmth in comforter. Fill weight measures the weight of the down/down alternative filler in the comforter. Typically, fill weight is measured in GSM (grams per square meter).

    The higher the fill weight, the warmer the comforter will be. So if you want a warm comforter, then look for one with high fill weight and fill power.

  • Care methods- 
    Down alternative comforters can typically be machine-washed, but whether your comforter can be machine-washed depends on its filler. Some fillers don’t survive washing – to make sure that you know what you are getting, check in the product description whether machine-washing is recommended

    Machine-washing is preferable because it makes keeping comforters clean easy. But it’s not a must – if the right comforter for your needs can only be dry-washed, then the washing method won’t matter.

    You will need to clean your comforter just a few times per month, so the inconvenience of dry cleaning won’t be that noticeable. But if opt for a wrong comforter that can be machine-washed, you will be reminded of your choice every night, and the convenience of machine-washing won’t really compensate for it.

  • Size- 
    Size is the last thing for you to consider. Comforters are available in various sizes, so you shouldn’t have any issues here.

    In the US, comforters typically hang down the sides of the bed. What this means is that, for example, a king down comforter won’t fit the bed flush – instead, it will overhang. For many people, this is going to be alright though.

    If you don’t want your comforter to hang down much, then you should check the comforter’s dimensions in inches. In fact, you should check dimensions anyway because there is no size industry standard – a queen-size comforter from one manufacturer may differ from a same-size comforter from another brand. To avoid disappointment, be sure you know what you are getting.

Final Words

Picking the right comforter isn’t as easy as picking a kitchen appliance or furniture – there are many subjective factors that should be kept in mind. And worst of all, when shopping online, understanding what you are dealing with can be challenging.

With our top picks and buyer’s guide, you should be pretty safe. But still, you should make an effort to gather as much information as you can on down alternative comforters in general and the comforter that specifically interests you. The more information you have, the less you will have to struggle when looking for the best down alternative comforter.

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