The Best Queen Comforters

Buying Guide

A comforter plays an important role in your sleeping experience. Over the years, manufacturers have found innovative ways to provide a long-lasting build while still keeping you warm and comfortable while you sleep.

But another factor has entered into recent comforter designs. At one time, down feathers were popular filler for comforters, but some are allergic to down. That has led manufacturers to look for alternatives that keep you warm without causing irritation.

If you aren’t allergic to down, your options widen. You may still want to go with an alternative, but down can be both warm and lightweight. Typically, you’ll find some type of synthetic fiber or gel insert used in place of down. Both can be lightweight, but you’ll want to look at the total weight of each comforter to determine exactly which one will provide the warmth you need without making you feel constrained.

There’s another fairly big decision you’ll need to make while you’re shopping. You can buy a duvet that acts as a filler, with a cover that serves as the exterior. This keeps your duvet clean while giving you a cover that you can remove and wash as often as you want. Otherwise, you’ll need to make sure you buy a comforter that you can launder in your washing machine to avoid having to take it to a dry cleaner every time you want to wash it.

One last consideration is stitching. You’ll want to make sure the comforter is sewn in a way that it holds the filler in place, reducing the speed at which fill will flatten or become uneven. Strong stitching is also essential to prevent the filling from leaking after you’ve used it for a while — and leaking can happen whether you’ve chosen down feathers, gel or another material as a filler.

• Comforters don’t last forever. Obviously, if the color starts to fade or the material becomes stained, you’ll know it’s time to switch it out. But you can also lose a comforter’s warming benefits over time. Look for signs the filler has flattened or is inconsistent when you’re trying to decide whether it’s time for a new one.
• If you find yourself experiencing allergy symptoms during the night, your bedding may be the source of the problem. Down allergies are uncommon, but they do happen. Try sleeping without the comforter for a few nights to see if your symptoms improve. It’s more likely, though, that your allergies are caused by dust mites, which have been shown to thrive in synthetic comforters. Washing your comforter frequently can help, but dust mites completely recolonize within six weeks, making a great argument for a comforter or duvet you can toss into the washing machine.
• Those who find themselves overly warm at night, even in the wintertime, will likely find the more lightweight the comforter, the better. If you live in a cold climate, though, a heavier comforter may help you turn the heat down at night and save a little on heating costs.
• If you opt for the type of comforter that serves as filler for a duvet, look for one with loops that make it easy to stuff it into the cover. Then you’ll need to make sure you choose a cover with ties that allow you to anchor the corners before stuffing.
• Some comforters come with matching pillow shams, saving you from buying separate pillows to decorate your bed once it’s made.
• A reversible comforter will give you the choice between two different designs. You can change up the way your bedroom looks from time to time or redo your entire decor after you’ve used one side for a while.