The 9 Best Duvet Inserts, According to Our In-Depth Testing

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter because it's made with high-quality materials, including genuine down and a breathable cotton shell. It has a baffle-box construction, which gives the fill more room to expand for better thermoregulation. We also like that you can choose from one of three different levels of warmth depending on your sleep preferences.

For a more budget-friendly option, the Utopia Bedding Down-Alternative Comforter is made from a siliconized down-alternative fiber that we found to be breathable and lightweight. Plus, it's entirely machine-washable and can be used as a duvet insert or stand-alone comforter thanks to its many color options.

Our Testing Process

We tested 34 duvet inserts and comforters in our Lab and scored them based on quality, texture, durability, breathability, and value. We began by spreading the duvets out on a bed and performing a visual check for any loose threads or other flaws. Then, we measured the length, width, and weight of each comforter. Our testers ran their hands over each duvet insert to assess its feel and evaluate how evenly the fill was distributed. For down duvet inserts, we checked for any feathers poking through the shell and for any obvious odor coming from the product.

For our next test, we used an infrared thermometer to take the surface temperature from underneath the duvet insert. After laying under the duvet for five minutes, our testers took another surface temperature reading and compared it to the original. While under the duvet, testers also took note of its comfort, loft, and breathability.

To evaluate how easy it is to maneuver the duvet, testers pushed it off the bed and pulled it back up, noting whether the fill shifted around or not. Our testers then lied on top of the comforter for two minutes to compress the loft, taking note of how quickly it restored its original loft. (We found the Feathered Friends Bavarian 700 Down Comforter to be exceptionally lofty and quick to go back to its original loft after being compressed.) We then put covers on the duvet inserts (when applicable) and repeated the above tests, noting whether there was any bunching.

Finally, our testers evaluated the cleanup process for each duvet by pouring one tablespoon of coffee on it and letting it sit for 30 seconds. We then spot-treated the stain and ran the machine-washable duvets through a wash and dry cycle, according to the manufacturer's instructions. After laundering, we inspected the duvets for any change in loft, threading, snags, and pilling. We measured each duvet again and compared it to the original numbers to check for any shrinkage. Once finished, testers received the retail price of the product and scored its value based on its price and performance in our tests. We plan to long-term these duvet inserts and will follow up with new insights once we have them.

How to Shop for Duvet Inserts Like a Pro

Material

Down: Down duvet inserts and comforters are made from the soft, quill-less feathers that come from the underbelly of a goose or duck. Down is prized for its light and plush feel as well as its insulation. "Down feathers expand, allowing air to circulate, which helps with thermoregulation—and it's also very cozy and comfy," says Murray.

You can also find down-and-feather combos (such as the Apsmile Luxurious Goose Duck Feathers and Down Comforter) that contain down feathers and the feathers from the back and wings of the bird, which contain quills. This combination makes for a less-expensive duvet, although down-and-feather duvets are more prone to flattening and the quills may poke through the cover.

Should you choose to go with a down duvet insert or comforter, be sure it comes with a certification for quality and ethical animal practices. Common certifications include the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), Downmark, and the IDFL Down Standard (IDS). You should also be aware that for some people, real down may trigger an allergic reaction.

Down Alternatives: Down-alternative duvets, such as those made from polyester and other synthetic materials, are designed to mimic the feel of real down—making them a great option for allergy sufferers or those who want to avoid animal-sourced materials. They're also less expensive than genuine down. However, down alternatives often require more fill to attain similar insulation to that of real down. This means that some down-alternative duvets can be less breathable, so keep this in mind if you typically sleep warm.

Wool and Silk: Silk is a great lightweight material for warmer months, while wool provides warmth, but is denser and less lofty than down. Both of these materials are natural fibers and make great alternatives to down. Murray says wool is "naturally moisture-wicking, fire-resistant, mold-resistant, and dust mite-resistant," while silk—long-strand mulberry silk, to be specific— is "naturally hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking, breathable, non-irritating, mold-resistant, and mite-resistant."

Shell Material: Even though your duvet insert will be enclosed in a cover, the shell material is still crucial to its feel and performance. "It's important to take note of what the duvet insert is actually covered in," says Murray. Cotton and polyester are the most common. Cotton tends to be more breathable, while polyester is more durable. However, you can find other breathable alternatives, such as those made from eucalyptus-derived Tencel lyocell, bamboo viscose, linen, and more.

Fill Power

A down duvet's "fill power" simply refers to the amount of space that the filling takes up—aka how fluffy it is. A higher fill power (700 and above) will be lighter in weight because a fluffier fill takes up more space and requires less down to fill the same amount of space. Down with a higher fill power will also have superior insulation, making it well-suited for the winter months, too. Note that this measurement is only used for genuine down products, not down-alternative materials.

Box Construction

Duvet inserts and comforters are stitched in ways that keep the filling in place, and the most common styles are baffle-box and box-stitch (aka sewn-through). A baffle-box duvet insert groups wads of the filling into squares, creating a checkerboard design. To do this, strips of fabric are inserted between the top and bottom layers of the shell, which help keep the filling in place. A box stitch duvet insert also creates boxes to contain the fill, however, it doesn't feature the strip of fabric between the top and bottom layers of the shell. Instead, the layers are sewn directly together to create a chamber for the filling.

A baffle-box construction (like that of our best overall pick, the Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter) is generally considered to be superior because it gives the filling more room to expand, which helps with thermoregulation. The roomier construction provided by baffle-box stitching also ensures that the loft will be higher, creating a fluffier look and feel. The only downside is that baffle-box comforters tend to be more expensive than their box-stitch counterparts.

Care

The fill and shell materials used in your duvet insert will determine how you should wash it, so be sure to always refer to the manufacturer's instructions. According to Murray, down comforters and duvets only need to be washed once every one to two years, barring any spills. Some down comforters are spot-clean or dry-clean only, but for machine-washable down, you can use a gentle detergent or down-specific wash. Just keep in mind that washing both down and down-alternative duvet inserts will likely require a large-capacity machine. And when it comes to drying, using wool dryer balls can help fluff the interior filling as long as your blanket is dryer-safe.

More Duvet Inserts to Consider

Morrow Quilted Down Duvet Insert: This is another buttery-soft duvet insert made from RDS-certified down and a cotton sateen shell. It came in just shy of the competition, mainly because it's priced higher than many similar products.

Bedsure All-Season Down-Alternative Comforter: This pick from Bedsure is another budget-friendly, down-alternative comforter with classic box stitching. At 300 GSM, it's slightly more dense than our best budget pick, which may make it better suited for those who prefer a warmer duvet. We also like that it comes in several different colors, so it can be used as a duvet insert or stand-alone comforter.

Coyuchi Climate Beneficial Wool Duvet Insert: This wool comforter from Coyuchi was very breathable and comfortable in our testing. Wool makes a great alternative to down because, like down, it's a natural fiber, but unlike down, it's fire-, mold-, and dust-mite resistant. Wool is also denser and less lofty than down—but it requires careful attention when washing.

Questions You Might Ask

What's the difference between a duvet insert and a comforter?

Even though you'll find the terms used interchangeably, duvet inserts and comforters technically refer to different products. The major distinction between the two is that a duvet insert is designed to be used with a cover, which means you can go longer between washes. Murray says duvet inserts also tend to be thinner than comforters and more customizable since you can choose both the duvet insert and the cover to your liking. But you can easily use a duvet cover with a comforter, too—in fact, many products marketed as "comforters" are designed to be used with duvet covers.

How do you keep a duvet insert in place?

Anyone with experience using a duvet insert knows that keeping it from bunching up or shifting within its cover can be quite difficult. The first step is looking for duvet inserts that come with ties or button loops to secure them to a cover. "If you don't see them on your duvet insert or cover, you can add them yourself pretty easily going the DIY route," says Murray. "A little needle and thread plus some fabric ribbon [go] a long way."

From there, make sure you know how to properly put on a duvet cover for the most secure fit. And if your duvet insert has ties or buttons that simply aren't cutting it, there's still hope. "A hack I'm currently using on my duvet is to use large safety pins in the corners, as my duvet cover only has ties in two of the four corners," says Derby. "Works like a charm, and I don't feel or notice them at all."

How often should you wash a duvet insert?

Since they have covers, duvet inserts don't need to be washed as often as other types of bedding. You should wash your duvet cover according to the manufacturer's instructions once every one to two weeks. The duvet insert should be washed (or spot- or dry-cleaned) around once a year, assuming there aren't any major messes. For small spills and stains, you can spot-treat your duvet insert as needed.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Melanie Fincher, associate commerce editor for Real Simple with over three years of experience writing product reviews and lifestyle content. To come up with this list, we tested 34 duvet inserts and comforters in our Lab and rated them based on quality, texture, durability, breathability, and value. Additionally, we received expert tips on what to look for in a duvet insert from Kelly Murray, a certified pediatric and adult sleep coach, as well as Toussaint Derby, lead designer at Havenly.

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.