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And they’re less costly than their traditional counterparts.

Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.

Comforters are at the center of any bed, and owning a high-quality, cozy option really goes the distance in transforming your sleeping setup to match that of a luxurious hotel bed, night after night. You’re probably familiar (or have slept under) duck or goose down, but we’re talking about its more hypoallergenic cousin, the best down alternative comforters. For Malorie Goldberg, interior designer of Noa Blake Design, it’s their unique mix of fibers that makes them a catch. “It’s so important to consider reputable brands that have developed and perfected a fiber blend, which usually involve cotton and some form of a synthetic material to make down alternative comforters. Many, if not all, are more allergen-repellent,” she explains. And if you’re like us, we’ll take any possible chance at less dust mites and pollen getting trapped in our bedding.

For a bed addition that is animal-friendly (no feathers found here) you can check off those needs all while saving a dime with down alternative comforters as they tend to be less costly than their traditional counterparts. From our favorite all season to the softest sateen with a baffle box construction, consider swapping out your current comforter for one of the eight picks, below.

Fill material: 100% Hypoallergenic recycled PET microfiber | Weight: Lightweight, all season, ultra-warm | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, Full/queen, king/California king | Care instructions: Spot clean or dry clean if needed

Why we chose it: Not all down alternative comforters are meant to be super-warm—this one comes in a lightweight option that’s great for staying cool overnight.

While many down alternative comforters offer a lightweight option, this one feels truly airy with its 100% cotton sateen shell, baffle box construction (a type of stitching that allows for a more consistent temperature all over), and plushness that feels good but doesn’t overpower to the point that you’re kicking off your bedding in the middle of the night. Anastasia Casey, Founder and CEO of IDCO Studio and Co-Founder of Design Camp has had this pick for some time and it’s a true favorite. She loves that the fill is made from recycled PET bottles but still “retains all its coziness.”

Fill material: 100% Hypoallergenic microfiber fill | Weight: Lightweight, all season | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, full/queen, king/California king | Care instructions: Dry clean or machine wash cool

Why we chose it: If you’d rather just buy one down alternative comforter that works in winter and summer, here you go.

Parachute is a tried-and-true bedding brand, so it should come as no surprise that they excel when it comes to their down alternative duvet insert, available in lightweight and one for all seasons. Thanks to its sateen shell, it can let your body breathe better all while the baffle box construction will keep everything evenly distributed, translation: it won’t be warm in some spots and cool in others. Our tester prefers the ‘all season’ fill over the ‘lightweight’ fill, but that’s only because winters get very cold where they are.

Fill material: 100% PrimaLoft Fiberfill | Weight: Light, medium, heavy | Sizes: Twin, full/queen, king/California king | Care instructions: Machine wash cold on gentle cycle

Why we chose it: Sure, baffle box construction is already a major bonus, but baffle box construction and piping? Sign us up.

When shopping for a down alternative comforter, it’s highly recommended to purchase one that features baffle box construction, also known as those stitched square shapes you see on the comforter. As Casey points out, a baffle box construction ensures even distribution and avoids awkward bunching in any one spot. It also ensures a level temperature throughout. But this down alternative comforter is even better because it has sewn piping along the sides, making it a well-made, durable pick.

Fill material: Primaloft a soft, hypoallergenic fiber | Weight: Lightweight, midweight, ultraweight | Sizes: full/queen, king/California ing | Care instructions: Machine wash cold

Why we chose it: While most down alternative comforters come in two weight options, this one has three, perfect for those sleepers who like it not too cool, and not too warm.

To some, a lightweight down alternative comforter just doesn’t provide enough warmth, while sleeping under an ultraweight comforter feels is only a true fit for chilly sleepers, or very cold climates. Split the difference with this down alternative duvet insert that offers a handy “midweight” option.

Fill material: 100% Climate Beneficial wool | Weight: Heavy | Sizes: Twin, full/queen, king | Care instructions: Machine wash cold 

Why we chose it: If you find yourself often saying, “I’m always cold,” or if you’re never warm enough in the winter, this is the down alternative comforter for you.

While the majority of down alternative comforters are filled with synthetic fibers, they may still not keep you warm enough, especially if you’re someone who likes to get really cozy for bed. In this case, we’ll direct you to this Coyuchi creation, brimming with wool sourced in California for the utmost in warmth. But since it takes less material to keep you warm (wool is amazing for that), this comforter won’t feel as heavy as some down alternative comforters with synthetic fill.

Fill material: 100% Microfiber | Weight: Lightweight, all season | Sizes: Full/queen, king | Care instructions: Machine wash cold

Why we chose it: Maybe you’re looking for something you can sink down into and feel your coziest—for snugness, this comforter fits the bill.

With its 100% allergen-free microfiber, Snowe strived to make this down alternative comforter feel all kinds of plush. In fact, they call it the “plushest hypoallergenic microfiber.” The all season version feels especially sumptuous, since it packs 40% more fill weight than the lightweight version. “I sleep warm (very warm) so when I wanted to try a new comforter, I gravitated towards Snowe’s lightweight version. As a fan of their percale sheets, I knew I’d love their other bedding. I love the quilted shell, which keeps the fill in place, and it’s made with soft sateen that allows me to sleep even without a duvet cover comfortably. I’d say that the lightweight is still a little warm/weighty for me, but it’s perfect for cold nights and even the end of fall and beginning of spring.”

Fill material: Hypoallergenic Comforel fiber | Weight: Light | Sizes: Twin, full/queen, king | Care instructions: Machine wash cold

Why we chose it: If you’ve had it with down alternative comforters that shift around inside a too-big duvet cover (or can’t fit a too-small one), consider this one that’s designed to perfectly fit the company’s duvet cover.

Sometimes, even when you match your king alternative down comforter with a king duvet cover, the fit still isn’t just right. That’s where this insert comes in, which is made to fill all Hill House Home duvet covers. As a plus, it comes with corner loops: meaning it’ll never shift around or fit incorrectly.

Fill material: Premium whole-piece polyfill filling | Weight: all season | Sizes: Twin/twin XL, queen, oversized queen, full, king, California king | Care instructions: Machine wash cold

Why we chose it: Not all down alternative comforters need to be expensive to be high-quality, and this one is proof.

Perhaps your bottom line is top of mind when searching for a down alternative comforter. Here, we’ll suggest this one with all the bells and whistles, but it’s priced under $50 for a king. With a brushed fabric cover, baffle box construction, all season weight, and corner loops, it really has it all.

There are thousands of down alternative comforters out in the world, but we sifted through them all to narrow them down to tip-top construction, warmest or most breathable fill, and eco-friendly aspects as well. Several designers weighed in on their personal favorites, and Domino Deputy Editor Samantha Weiss-Hills tested the Snowe comforter herself.

The shells of down alternative comforters tend to only fall into a couple fabric categories. More often than not, they’re made of 100% cotton, or for extra-smooth softness, 100% cotton sateen. This will make the comforter feel more breathable, and not heavy.

When it comes to down alternative comforters, the fiber fill inside can run the gamut. It’s almost always a synthetic material (except for wool, in some cases), which is why it’s important to look for a fill that’s organic and eco-friendly—who wants to sleep in a comforter that’s brimming with synthetic chemicals?

Anne Sage, interior designer and content creator, has generally been partial to PrimaLoft, a premium synthetic microfiber that was originally developed for the U.S. Army back in the 1980s.

“Until recently, I’ve always thought of PrimaLoft as the gold standard for down alternative comforters—it was developed and patented specifically to mimic most closely the attributes of down while also being hypoallergenic,” she says. “But I’m also intrigued by a lot of the new alternatives that have recently entered the market, such as microfibers made from recycled PET bottles, eucalyptus, bamboo, and alpaca. Each has its own unique benefits, and it really does seem like there’s something for everyone when it comes to down alternatives these days.”

A down alternative comforter’s warmth is measured by its height or thickness, otherwise known as loft height. This loft height can come in lightweight, medium weight, and heavyweight thicknesses, and it’s up to how fluffy and warm you want to sleep at night. “The fill of your down alternative comforter really comes down to personal preference and the climate where you live,” Casey says. “I like to use a light fill during the hot summer months here in Austin and swap it out for an all-season down alternative in the relatively mild winters.” Goldberg says that some of her clients prefer a very flat comforter, while others want something that looks and feels substantial. “We tend to look for a loft level of 500-700, which ensures the quality and functionality is high but allows some room in the look,” she says. “If you’re purchasing one for a beach house or something that will live in warmer weather, you’ll want to be on the lower end of loft levels, or the opposite if you want something ultra-warm and cozy.”   

While you can skip a duvet cover entirely if you prefer (maybe you love the look of an all-white bed), a down alternative comforter will last longer and be better protected if you have a duvet cover. Look for a comforter with corner loops that will attach to the corners inside a duvet cover—that way, it won’t slip around. Duvet covers can come with buttons or a zipper on the side, and it’s up to your preference which type of opening you choose.

You don’t want to end up with comforter that doesn’t match your personal preferences. For comfort, Sage says that you can ask yourself, “Do I tend to run hot or cold?” and “Do I like the feeling of weight on me when I’m sleeping?” That will help you narrow down your choices between lightweight, all season, and heavy down alternative comforters. And you’re looking for a down alternative comforter that’s incredibly versatile (meaning, it won’t be too warm or too cool), aim for an all-season variety, or a mid-weight version. That way, it will take you through the whole year.

While most down alternative comforters can be placed right in the washer, it’s important to check their care labels before doing so. When it comes to washing, most need a little extra care as they require mild detergent and a gentle cycle. Tumble dry them low, preferably with dryer balls to keep the fill even-looking. Just be sure to check the care tag or product description for any further instructions. Some down alternative comforters need to be spot-treated or should be dry-cleaned so, align on that with your lifestyle before hitting “purchase.” 

In general, synthetic fibers aren’t as warming as traditional down, so a down alternative comforter is already a cooler choice. Eucalyptus is a material that can be quite cooling, or look for something called HydroCool polyester, which is featured in West Elm’s down alternative comforter. A cotton shell will continue the feeling of coolness as well.

Absolutely. A baffle box, or quilted square, construction will allow the temperature to even out, meaning you won’t feel those cool and warm spots.  

Sage says, “When styling a room for photos, my favorite way to style a comforter is to place it in a pretty duvet cover, then fold it in thirds at the bottom of the bed. This way, I get to show off a textured coverlet on the bed beneath the comforter, and I also like how the fluffy folded comforter balances the mass of pillows at the head of the bed. But in my personal life, I prefer to leave my comforter out of a cover altogether and layer a quilt overtop of it. Making the bed is quick and easy this way, and I can always push the top quilt off while I’m sleeping if I need less warmth and just want the comforter.”

Anna Franklin, Founder of Stone House Collective, urges people to choose a duvet based on the look you want to achieve. “Linen is more relaxed, while cotton can look crisp and clean,” she observes.

When it comes down to it, buying a down alternative comforter is almost totally based on personal preference, but in general. they’re the perfect blend of hypoallergenic materials to help leave those allergies behind.

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