The 7 Best Cooling Comforters of 2023

Best Cooling Comforters, Tested and Reviewed — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

For hot sleepers and those who frequently suffer from night sweats, a cooling comforter is a must-have for quality sleep. It's also a good way to beat the heat anytime.

“The huge benefit of having a comforter or duvet that is cooling is that it allows you to sleep cool and comfortable throughout the night,” says Parima Ijaz, founder of bedding company Pure Parima. “Having good airflow and breathability within your comforter will allow you to stay cool without sacrificing your cozy comfort.”

We tested 34 cooling comforters and duvet inserts, both in our Lab and at home, and assessed them on quality, texture, durability, breathability, and value. We also consulted Ijaz for expert advice on how to find a cooling comforter that’s right for you.

Based on our testing and research, we found that the best cooling comforters are typically made of breathable materials such as cotton, bamboo, and eucalyptus, which help regulate body temperature and wick away moisture.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall Cooling Comforter:

Buffy Cloud Comforter at Amazon

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Best Budget Cooling Comforter:

Utopia Bedding Comforter at Amazon

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Best Splurge Cooling Comforter:

Cozy Earth Comforter at Cozy Earth

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Best Temperature-Regulating Cooling Comforter:

Sijo TempTune Comforter at Amazon

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Best Down Cooling Comforter:

Brooklinen Down Comforter at Amazon

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Best Down-Alternative Cooling Comforter:

Coyuchi Wool Duvet Insert at Coyuchi.com

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Best All-Season Cooling Comforter:

Riley White Goose Down Comforter at Rileyhome.com

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4.6

Buffy

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Our Ratings

Quality

4/5
Texture

5/5
Durability

4/5
Breathability

5/5
Value

5/5

What Stands Out

This is a premium comforter that’s super soft, lightweight, and machine-washable.

What Could Be Improved

Even though it's machine-washable, it can’t go in the dryer.

The Buffy Cloud Comforter made it to the top of our list because it's extremely comfortable and designed to keep you cool and dry on humid nights. In our testing, we liked how soft and silky this comforter felt. Despite its marshmallow-like fluffiness, it’s still one of the best lightweight comforters we tested, making it ideal for hot sleepers. It was extremely breathable during our evaluations, never hot or stuffy. For this reason, we think the Buffy Cloud is a great summer comforter.

We also appreciate that it’s made with sustainable materials. This comforter’s fluffy filling is made from BPA-free recycled plastic, and the cover is Tencel lyocell, which comes from eucalyptus and is known to wick away moisture.

While the Buffy Cloud Comforter is machine-washable, you should avoid tossing it in the dryer as it may damage it. Also, our tests found that the material is not really stain resistant, so you might want to be careful of accidentally spilling something on it (especially if you’re not using a duvet cover). The sweet part is that not only do you get a seven-day free trial, but you can also receive a full refund if you don't like it after 50 nights.

Price at time of publish: $200 for full/queen

Cover Material: Tencel lyocell | Fill Material: Recycled BPA-free PET (plastic) | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/California king | Care: Machine wash, hang to dry

Buffy Cloud Comforter at Buffy — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

Utopia Bedding All Season 250 GSM Comforter

Amazon

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Our Ratings

Quality

5/5
Texture

5/5
Durability

5/5
Breathability

5/5
Value

5/5

What Stands Out

It’s an extremely affordable comforter that comes in multiple colors.

What Could Be Improved

It’s not quite as breathable as comforters made of natural materials.

For a cooling comforter that won’t break the bank, consider the Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Comforter. In our testing, we found this comforter to be of good quality despite its low price (which is just a fraction of how much our best overall pick costs). It felt lightweight and comfortable, so much so that we didn’t feel the need to kick the blanket off in the middle of the night. It kept our body temperature just right, no matter the weather.

Unlike many of the other comforters on our list, this one is made of microfiber and filled with siliconized hollow fibers instead of real down. You’ll be able to use it year-round, and it has details like sturdy box stitching to maintain quality and keep the fill in place—making it an easy bedroom essential to mark off a first apartment checklist. Plus, it comes in many colors so you can use it without a duvet cover to avoid adding extra weight to your blanket.

Care is easy, too. It’s machine-washable and can be thrown in the dryer as long as you select a low heat setting. Overall, we found this affordable comforter to be super soft and cooling—even if it’s not the most breathable or fluffiest comforter around.

Price at time of publish: $30 for queen

Cover Material: Microfiber | Fill Material: Siliconized hollow fiber | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Care: Machine wash, air dry or tumble dry

Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Comforter — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

4.2

Nordstrom Rack

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Our Ratings

Quality

3/5
Texture

4/5
Durability

4/5
Breathability

4/5
Value

5/5

What Stands Out

This luxurious cooling comforter feels like it belongs in a hotel.

What Could Be Improved

The care instructions are a bit complicated.

For hot sleepers who desire luxurious bedding that won’t make them feel sweaty, a cooling comforter like this one from Cozy Earth will be a game changer. In our testing, this bamboo option stood out for its comfort, coolness, and breathability. It felt so high quality that we thought it could easily be found in a five-star hotel.

The comforter is made of bamboo viscose, which gives it a bit of weight while still wicking away moisture and preventing you from overheating. (It also comes in a silk version.) In our tests, we found its fabric to be soft and durable, but at the same time, it has more heft than other comforters we tested. It's also worth noting that the fill shifted less than it did with thinner comforters. It even has loops all over so you could easily attach it to a duvet cover. We also love that it comes with a canvas tote for storage.

Keep in mind that this comforter is on the wrinkly side, and the care instructions for machine washing are complicated (the brand recommends spot cleaning and dry cleaning). For this reason, it may not be the best option for pet owners who need to be able to machine-wash their comforters often.

Price at time of publish: $499 for queen/full

Cover Material: Viscose from bamboo | Fill Material: Viscose from bamboo | Sizes: Twin, queen/full, king | Care: Spot clean and dry clean recommended

Cozy Earth Bamboo Comforter — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

4.2

Amazon

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Our Ratings

Quality

5/5
Texture

5/5
Durability

3/5
Value

4/5

What Stands Out

This comforter has high-tech cooling capabilities.

What Could Be Improved

It’s not as lightweight as other options, and dry cleaning is recommended.

With the Sijo Clima Tech TempTune Comforter, you can forget about long nights sweating it out under a down comforter. This comforter uses innovative technology to regulate your body's temperature by absorbing and redistributing excess heat while you sleep. In other words, it cools you down when you get too hot and warms you up when temperatures drop. It’s an insert, so it’s designed with loops on all corners and sides to keep it from slipping and bunching up inside a duvet cover.

This Sijo pick has a cover that’s made of Tencel and nylon that helps with heat absorption, and the fill is a blend of Tencel, recycled polyester, and the unique Clima cooling fibers. During testing, we found this blanket to be very soft and fluffy. We also noticed that it’s not as lightweight as we’d expect it to be.

Plus, this temperature-regulating comforter is Oeko-Tex certified, which means it’s free of harmful chemicals. It only comes in white, though it would have been nice if there were more color options. We also wish stains came out of the fabric easier. In our tests, we were unable to remove the coffee stain by blotting or using a Tide pen—and the comforter needs to be dry-cleaned, not machine-washed. Still, we think this is a great comforter for people who want to maintain a consistent body temperature in any weather.

Price at time of publish: $235 for full/queen

Cover Material: Tencel lyocell, mica nylon | Fill Material: Clima fiber fill, Tencel lyocell, recycled polyester | Sizes: Full/queen, king/California king | Care: Dry clean recommended

Sijo Clima Tech TempTune Comforter — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

4.6

Brooklinen

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Our Ratings

Quality

5/5
Texture

5/5
Durability

5/5
Breathability

5/5
Value

4/5

What Stands Out

This cozy down comforter is very soft and fluffy, so it easily fills out a duvet cover.

What Could Be Improved

It’s not machine-washable.

If you’re in the market for a down comforter you can use year-round, we recommend this one from Brooklinen. In our testing, we found this cooling comforter to be super soft and fluffy, which felt very comforting. It’s crafted with duck and geese feather clusters inside a cotton sateen shell, making it both lightweight and extremely comfortable. It also features a baffle-box construction that helps to evenly distribute the warmth through the entire comforter.

The down comforter comes in three weights, including lightweight (650 fill power), all-season (700 fill power), and ultra-warm (750 fill power) options. We tested the all-season comforter, and we think it’s phenomenal in both warm and cool temperatures. Its lofty design is another bonus—it easily fills up a duvet cover and gives your bed a fluffy appearance.

Just note that this down comforter requires extra care when cleaning. Since it’s not machine-washable, it has to be dry-cleaned or spot-cleaned. Luckily, stains came out with minimal effort in our durability tests.

Price at time of publish: $269 for full/queen

Cover Material: Cotton sateen | Fill Material: Down cluster fill | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/California king | Care: Spot clean, dry clean

Brooklinen Down Comforter — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

4.6

Coyuchi

View On Coyuchi.com

Our Ratings

Quality

5/5
Texture

5/5
Durability

4/5
Breathability

5/5
Value

5/5

What Stands Out

It’s made of an incredibly moisture-wicking material that keeps you cool.

What Could Be Improved

It’s very expensive and doesn’t have corner loops or ties to attach a cover.

You might be wondering why a wool duvet insert made our list of the best cooling comforters. The truth is, even though wool is a great insulator in the winter, it’s also a temperature-regulating material that can wick away moisture and make sure you don’t overheat in the summer.

In our testing, we found that this Coyuchi down-alternative comforter feels heavy yet is not as plush as a traditional down comforter because it has less loft. But, because it is thin, it will trap less heat and keep you cool during the night.

The duvet consists of an organic cotton shell filled with 100 percent wool sourced from a ranch in Northern California. Surprisingly, it doesn’t come with corner loops or ties to secure it to a duvet cover. This pick is machine-washable, which makes it easy to clean—but the downside is that you can’t toss it in the dryer because heat can damage the wool fibers.

Price at time of publish: $598 for full/queen

Cover Material: Organic cotton | Fill Material: Wool | Sizes: Twin, full/queen, king | Care: Machine wash, air dry

4.6

Riley Home

View On Rileyhome.com

Our Ratings

Quality

5/5
Texture

4/5
Durability

5/5
Breathability

5/5
Value

4/5

What Stands Out

This luxuriously soft down comforter is fluffy yet lightweight.

What Could Be Improved

We wish it felt more high-end to justify its expensive price.

With its cotton sateen cover, high-quality goose down, and baffle box construction to stop the down from shifting around, this Riley comforter is a cool and elegant choice for hot sleepers. It can be used any time of year and comes in all-season and extra-warm versions that have 700 and 750 fill power respectively. We tested the all-season duvet and found it very soft and comfortable, but it’s so lightweight that it will keep you cool in the summer and winter alike. It’s also very fluffy, even after a month of laying on it.

Comfort aside, we like that this duvet insert has the brand’s monogram at the bottom so we were quickly able to find the bottom edge when making the bed. It also comes with corner loops to ensure it does not fall out of your duvet cover. Plus, it can safely be tossed in the washer and dryer which is nice.

We appreciate that it comes with a five-year warranty and is Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified. Overall, this comforter is an excellent choice for those who want an all-season comforter—however, we wish it felt more premium to justify its high price.

Price at time of publish: $400 for full/queen

Cover Material: Cotton sateen | Fill Material: White goose down | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/California king | Care: Machine wash, tumble dry on low heat

Riley White Goose Down Comforter — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the Buffy Cloud Comforter because it's one of the best summer comforters we tested (although its lightweight feel can keep hot sleepers cool year-round). We especially love its soft eucalyptus shell. If you’re looking for a duvet that’s more wallet-friendly but still lightweight, we recommend the Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Comforter based on our in-depth testing.

Our Testing Process

We tested 34 comforters and duvet inserts in our Lab, evaluating them on quality, texture, durability, breathability, and value. First, we visually inspected each comforter for flaws such as loose threads and snags. Then, we weighed and measured the comforter so we could later compare the measurements post-wash. To test the quality, we ran our hands over the material and assessed whether it felt smooth or scratchy. We also took note of any clumps in the fill or feathers poking through the shell.

Next, we moved on to the breathability tests. Using an infrared thermometer, we took a surface temperature reading from underneath the comforter. After lying underneath it for five minutes, we took another reading to see if the temperature changed. In terms of breathability, we also assessed whether the comforter circulates air well or traps body heat. Some comforters have cool-to-the-touch covers, so we made sure to take note of that, too. We also evaluated the loft by noting whether the comforter felt heavy and dense or light and fluffy.

Then, we folded, pulled, and pushed the comforter a few times to see how easy it is to maneuver and whether the fill stays evenly distributed. We even laid on top of the comforter for two minutes to see how quickly it restored its loft. Finally, we poured a tablespoon of coffee on the fabric to evaluate the ease of cleaning. The comforters were spot treated and then washed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After laundering, we did another visual inspection for loose threads, pilling, and discoloration—we also measured the comforter once again and compared those numbers to our initial measurements to see if there was any shrinkage.

An individual measuring a comforter — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

How to Shop for Cooling Comforters Like a Pro

Cover Material

The best cooling comforters have covers made from bamboo, eucalyptus, cotton, and microfiber. Bamboo and eucalyptus comforters are derived from natural materials that are more breathable than other fabrics, which helps regulate your body temperature by wicking away sweat. They are notably cool to the touch and are generally softer than cotton.

In our testing, we found that Cozy Earth’s Bamboo Comforter felt luxurious and breathable, while the Buffy Cloud Comforter felt soft and silky due to its eucalyptus shell.

Fill Material

Natural fibers are much better at providing a cooling effect than synthetic fabrics, such as polyester. So, if you go the natural route, shop for comforters with fill materials like goose and duck down, or down alternative materials like silk, wool, and lyocell. In terms of comfort, not much can beat goose down because it’s extremely breathable—although it’s typically more expensive than other fill materials.

Another type of fill material that keeps you dry is lyocell, which is another name for eucalyptus wood fibers. You’ll also see it referred to as the brand name Tencel. Lastly, you can add wool to the list—it's naturally moisture-wicking, so it can prevent sweat buildup.

Fill Power

According to Parima Ijaz, founder of Pure Parima, fill power is important because it influences the weight, temperature, and overall coziness of your comforter. It measures the fluffiness or “loft” of down insulation. “If your fill power is too low, it means the weight needs to increase in order to provide more warmth,” Ijaz says. But if you’re looking for a lightweight summer comforter, then you don’t necessarily want more warmth.

Ijaz adds that the best fill power is depending on your preferences and if you would rather have a heavier or lightweight feel. “Good quality comforters and duvets usually rest at around 600–700 fill power.”

The all-season duvet inserts that we tested and found to be excellent for hot sleepers had a fill power of around 700, such as Brooklinen’s down comforter and Riley’s down comforter. But if you want something even more lightweight, opt for a comforter on the lower end of that range.

Care

“Although many people may not realize it, you can wash your comforters and duvets in the washer,” Ijaz points out. “That being said, be sure to use cold water and wash on a gentle cycle in a front load machine.” You also should keep them separate from other items you may be washing.

When it comes to drying your comforters, Ijaz recommends using a low setting and wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets to help redistribute the down inside. “Avoid using harsh liquids, [powders], or excess detergent as this can permanently damage the comforter and strip away the shell,” she says.

You also don’t want to use fabric softeners when washing comforters as they can reduce fluffiness. To ensure the best results when cleaning your comforter, you should always carefully read the care instructions provided by the manufacturer.

A woman cleaning up a mess on a white comforter — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

More Cooling Comforters to Consider

Morrow Quilted Down Duvet Insert: In a nutshell, the Morrow Quilted Down Insert is fluffy and light, but still has some weight to it. However, it’s more expensive compared to duvets with similar features.

Apsmile Down Comforter: We liked this comforter and found it soft, smooth, and extra-fluffy. But, during testing, we noticed that the filling moves around a little too much, so it could be annoying if you have to keep adjusting it while you’re sleeping.

Questions You Might Ask

Should hot sleepers avoid sleeping with comforters and duvets?

If you’re a hot sleeper, you may find that sleeping with a comforter or duvet might feel too warm at night. However, this doesn't mean you have to give up comforters and duvets altogether. Look for comforters made of breathable and moisture-wicking materials like cotton, eucalyptus, and bamboo. These materials absorb moisture better than many synthetic materials, so they feel cooler. You can also look at comforter weight, as some may simply be too heavy.

Some comforters use advanced technology to keep you dry on humid nights, like the Sijo Clima TempTune Comforter. In our testing, this blanket did not warm up after we laid on top of it for five minutes. In fact, the second surface temperature reading dropped by 3 degrees Fahrenheit.

What other types of cooling bedding are there?

In addition to cooling comforters, there are different kinds of cooling bedding you can buy to prevent overheating. Cooling bed sheets are a great place to start, but we also recommend outfitting your bed with a cooling pillow, cooling mattress topper, and cooling blanket for the best results.

Can a duvet cover be cooling?

Yes! Duvet covers that are made from materials such as cotton or bamboo can help you stay dry and cool at night. Ijaz recommends percale weave duvet covers for people who prefer cooling bedding.

“A percale weave follows a one-over, one-under tight-knit weave pattern that creates a coarser fabric,” she says. “This results in a crisp, matte, and very cool finish which is perfect for hot sleepers.”

A woman adjusting a comforter — Real Simple / Dera Burreson

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Nor’adila Hepburn, a contributing writer for Real Simple. To put together this list, we tested 34 comforters and assessed them on quality, texture, durability, breathability, and value. We also spoke to Parima Ijaz, founder of Pure Parima, for expert advice on how to pick a cooling comforter that’s right for you.

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.