Best cooling comforter 2024: tried and tested duvets for sweat-free sleep

Cooling comforters aren't just for the summer. Whether you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, or you simply tend to run a little warm, you might appreciate the thermoregulating properties of a cooling comforter. 

You'll find a wide range of cooling comforters at specialist sleep stores, though you could probably pick one up from your local home retailer if you look for it. You can choose between down and down alternative options, as suits your sleep needs, as well as every conceivable color, from classic white to cool neutrals to bold hues. With so many options, it's easy to feel spoiled for choice.

That's where I come in. As H&G's resident sleep writer, I've snuggled under some of the world's best duvet inserts and comforters. I've tried everything from lightweight layers to ultra-warm options, so I know what I'm looking for in a cooling comforter: breathable materials, expert craftsmanship, and a reasonable price point. 

I've rounded up a few of my favorite cooling comforters at the fairest prices you'll find online. Many of these pieces are tried and tested by a member of the H&G sleep team. We assess each comforter against the same criteria: comfort; quality of construction; cooling properties; and the all-important price. Where I haven't managed to get my hands on a product, I've scoured the specifications and read countless customer reviews to make sure I'm recommending the best cooling comforters.

The quick list

If you've already got your eye on a particular comforter, you can skip straight to that section using the jump menu. If you'd rather take stock of your options, browse the best cooling comforters below. 

Best cooling comforter 2024

Best cooling comforter overall

Just a quarter of an inch thick, this is a truly lightweight layer. Suitable for hot sleepers and warm climates, it's the best cooling comforter on the market. The Lightweight Comforter is filled with down alternative, so it's hypoallergenic, and vegan, too. 

This piece incorporates NASA-endorsed temperature-regulation technology to keep you cool and dry. That's not just a gimmick: our tester slept cool under this comforter in the middle of an Atlanta heatwave. She didn't even need her AC.  

The Lightweight Comforter is machine-washable and dryer-safe. Since the cover is made from 100% cotton, you shouldn't be surprised if it shrinks a little after the first few washes. It's important to note that this comforter is not iron-safe: the thermo-regulating technology would warp in such high heat. I'd recommend air-drying for best results, and fluffing after each use to retain loft. 

Retailing for just over $200, this is a relatively affordable cooling comforter. If you've ever woken up in a hot sweat, it's worth investing in the best cooling comforter money can buy, but it might be too much if you're on a budget. 

Best all-season

If you live in a temperate climate, the chances are that you sleep hot in the summer and cool in the winter. While it would be nice to have a comforter to suit each season, it just isn't practical, nor economical: that is, unless you invest in an adjustable insert, like this one from Scooms. 

The Scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet comprises multiple layers, a thick base and a thin panel, each of which comes in various weights and warmths to suit your sleep needs. These layers are connected by snaps. All you need to do is pull the panels apart to sleep under a lighter layer, and button back together to stay warm in the winter. 

This duvet insert is filled with heaped handfuls of real down: hence the fluffy feel and natural loft that makes for a beautiful bedspread. Of course, a down duvet might be less suitable for vegan shoppers, or anyone who suffer from allergies: it just goes to show that there's no such thing as one comforter to suit every sleeper.

As far as down duvets go, this one is surprisingly low-maintenance. It's machine-washable and dryer-safe for quick and convenient cleaning, though you'll only need to wash your inserts once or twice a year. For day-to-day maintenance, all you need is to give it a good fluff as you make the bed.

Best down

The best-made beds have down duvets. You just can't replicate that luxurious loft with down alternative fill. Down comforters look great, but they tend to sleep hot: all those little air pockets retain and radiate your body heat. 

If you love the look of real down, but you want to stay cool and dry, you should try this lightweight layer from Brooklinen. 

Our expert tested this Down Comforter in the middle of a Georgia heatwave and had her best sleep in weeks. It's filled with real down clusters, which are evenly distributed throughout the duvet, so you won't find any hot patches. 

This comforter is wrapped in a 100-thread count cotton sateen shell, which feels cool and soft to the touch. It's treated with ultra-fresh antimicrobials to keep bacteria at bay and finished with a baffle box construction to prevent bunching. 

The only downside is that it isn't washer-safe. You'll have to spot-clean this Down Comforter, instead, or take it to the dry cleaners. 

You can find more detail in our Brooklinen Down Duvet review.

Best down alternative

Saatva's Lightweight Down Alternative Comforter offers the same luxurious feel of their original duvet, with a lighter fill for enhanced breathability. It's ideal for hot sleepers and anyone who lives in warmer climates. 

Since down alternative fill features fewer air pockets, it tends to retain less heat, though you'll have to sacrifice the luxurious loft of real down. 

This lightweight comforter is stuffed with a unique blend of down alternative fiber and Lyocell fill. Lyocell is a semi-synthetic fabric that's naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, so it should keep you cool and dry.   

Like most down alternative duvets, Saatva's Lightweight Comforter is hypoallergenic. That means it's cool and soft to the touch, and should be suitable for sensitive sleepers. 

This comforter is machine-washable and dryer-safe for quick and convenient cleaning. The only thing we don't like about it is the price. At just over $250, this is one of the more expensive cooling comforters on the market. 

Best luxury

If you have a few hundred dollars to spare, and you're looking to splurge on one of the best cooling comforters, you'll find a lot to like at The Company Store. Their Premium Alberta Down Comforter comes in three weights, and the lightest layer is ideal for hot sleepers who don't want to sacrifice quality for cool comfort. 

This comforter is wrapped in a cotton sateen shell that's cool to the touch and expertly finished with a double needle top stitch for enhanced breathability. 

Designed with a baffled box construction for optimum loft, the Premium Alberta Down Comforter drapes over the edge of your bed for a luxurious look. 

This comforter will keep you cool, and it's kind to the planet, too. The Premium Alberta Down Comforter is filled with real duck and goose feathers that meets the Responsible Down Standard. That means each stage of production, from farm to factory, is thoroughly investigated to ensure the highest standards of quality and animal welfare. 

The Premium Alberta Down Comforter should save you from night sweats and hot flashes, though it will set you back a few hundred dollars. It's also a little tricky to clean. The Company Store recommends using a front-loading commercial machine for best results, but your comforter should cope in a standard domestic washer. 

The best colorful cooling comforter

Scrolling through this list, you might feel as if all these classic white comforters are starting to blend together. One might contain down, while another made from down alternative, but from the outside, the vast majority of comforters look pretty similar.

If you're shopping for a colorful comforter, look no further than the LaCrosse Premium Down Light Warmth Comforter. It comes in every size, from Twin through to California King: four warmth weights, from light and fluffy to ultra-warm; and no fewer than 18 colorways. 

There's a wide range of cool tones, from smoke blue to sage green, as well as warmer shades to brighten up your bedroom. If you like the look, you could shop the LaCrosse collection and pick up a quilted sham and down throw to match. 

Filled to the brim with ethically sourced down, covered in premium cotton twill, and expertly finished with a double-needle top stitch, this cooling comforter feels premium. That might explain the premium price tag: out of all the cooling comforters on this list, the LaCrosse Down Comforter is one of the most expensive. 

How we test

We put a lot of thought into how we test cooling comforters. It's more than a matter of sleeping on the job. 

We exclusively enlist hot sleepers to test cooling comforters. Our testers sleep through all four seasons, through heat waves and cold snaps, to gauge a comforter's thermoregulating abilities. The best cooling comforter should keep you just the right side of cool and dry, but not so cold that you start to shiver as the weather turns.

There's more to a comforter than its cooling capabilities. We're also looking for sustainable materials, quality construction, and a lot of natural loft to make a beautiful bedspread.

Meet the team

Jaclyn Turner

Jaclyn is one of our former sleep editors. It's her job to stay up to date on all things mattresses and bedding. In addition to Homes & Gardens, you can find her work in Real Homes, Livingetc., Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, and The Spruce. She lives in Atlanta, GA. 

Louise Oliphant

Louise is one of our former sleep editors. She started her journey to better sleep working in PR for a luxury bedding brand. She's tried, tested, and reviewed some of the top sleep products. Louise brings bags of bedding expertise to help you wind down well. 

Emilia Hitching

Emilia is our resident sleep writer at Homes & Gardens. She spends her days searching the web for the best bedding deals and spends her nights testing some of the best bed sheets, comforters, and mattresses. 

Best cooling comforter FAQs

Do cooling comforters really work?

The best ones do. A top-quality cooling comforter is filled with breathable materials, such as real down or Lyocell, which have enhanced thermo-regulating and moisture-wicking capabilities. These materials conduct heat away from your body to keep you cool and dry. 

While many of the best cooling comforters are wrapped in breathable cotton or percale shells, it's the fill that does most of the work. 

Which is the best cooling comforter?

For our money, the SlumberCloud Lightweight Comforter is the best cooling comforter you can buy. It incorporates NASA-endorsed temperature-regulating technology to keep you just the right side of cool and dry, all night long. 

If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, you might appreciate an Ultra Cool Comforter like this one by SlumberCloud. With a fill weight of 300 GSM, it feels like a traditional three-season comforter without the traditional heat buildup.

If you like to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, your best bet is an adjustable comforter, such as the Scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet. This comforter is three layers in one. Simply pull the pieces apart to sleep under a lighter layer or keep them together to stay cozy in the colder months.

How should I choose a cooling comforter?

When shopping for a cooling comforter, there are a few key points to consider.

Cooling features
Many of the best cooling comforters incorporate temperature-regulating technology to keep you cool and dry. Keep an eye out for Outlast Tech, which absorbs and releases body heat throughout the night. This is great if you suffer from hot flashes or wake up with night sweats.

Breathable fabrics
This is a non-negotiable. Look out for comforters which are cased in cotton, bamboo, wool, or other moisture-wicking materials. 

Lightweight feel
While down duvets have the most luxurious loft, all that air can trap heat. If you really want a down comforter, make sure to opt for a lightweight model.

Where can I buy the best cooling comforters?

Many of the best specialist sleep stores have a good selection of cooling comforters. SlumberCloud and Brooklinen have some of the best cooling comforters at reasonable prices. If you have a few hundred dollars to spare, it's worth splurging on a luxury cooling comforter from The Company Store. These pieces have the look of a real down duvet, but they aren't heat traps. 

Final thoughts

If you really struggle to sleep in the heat, it might be worth investing in one of the best cooling mattresses to keep you comfortable all night long. 

If you're keen to sleep cool, but you don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on a brand new mattress, you don't have to: one of the best cooling mattress and toppers can keep you cool for less.