Best cooling comforter 2024 – 6 tried and tested duvets for sweat-free sleep

If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, or you simply tend to run a little warm, then you're what's known as a hot sleeper. You've likely developed your own strategies to cope with the heat. In the summer months, you might crank up the AC before bed or kick off your duvet in the night to keep cool. As the long nights creep in, you'll need to find a comforter to keep you just the right side of cool and dry without leaving you out in the cold.

Before we begin, it always helps to define our terms. The difference between a comforter and a duvet insert is that a duvet insert needs a duvet cover, while a comforter comes stitched inside a shell. When you're shopping for a cooling comforter, you need to consider the thermoregulating properties of the internal fill as well as the external fabric shell.

As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the best duvet inserts. For the sake of a fair fight, we assess them all against the same criteria: comfort; cooling; and ease of care. I've combed through our back catalog to pick out the six best cooling comforters to suit every bedroom, budget, and style of sleeper. Our reigning champion is the LaCrosse Premium Down Light Warmth Comforter for its careful balance of weight and warmth, but you might find another one of these comforters better meets your needs.

Best cooling comforters 2024 − 6 tested options at a glance

Below, you'll find a bite-size summary of each comforter, highlighting what it costs, who it suits, and the most important pros and cons. To find out more about a particular comforter, keep scrolling, or hit 'read more below' to skip to that section. There, I've listed the need-to-know specs, including fill type and thickness, and outlined the details of our testing experience.

The best cooling comforter overall

The LaCrosse Premium Down Comforter comes in four warmth weights to suit every style of sleeper and sort of climate. Our expert tester, Alex Temblador, tried the Light Warmth Comforter and found it suited her needs as a hot sleeper in a hundred-year-old house with terrible insulation in North Texas.

'Although I struggle to sleep in the heat, I find that I still need a layer to apply some gentle pressure,' says Alex. 'The LaCrosse Premium Down Light Warmth Comforter weighed just enough to keep me comfortable without trapping any excess heat'.

A lot of the cooling comforters on this list only come in classic white. Luckily, The Company Store stocks the LaCrosse Premium Down Light Warmth Comforter in all sorts of shades, from thyme green to smoke blue, to complement every color palette.

I like pretty much everything about the LaCrosse Premium Down Light Warmth Comforter. Sure, it's on the more expensive side, but that's the price you pay for premium down, ethically sourced and certified to meet the Responsible Down Standard. It's worth flagging, though, that even the best down comforter is unsuitable for vegan shoppers or anyone with a feather allergy. You'd be better off with a down alternative duvet insert, such as the Buffy Cloud Comforter.

LaCrosse Premium Down Light Warmth Comforter | Was $309.00, now $216.30 at The Company Store

You could save more than $120 on the world's best cooling comforter when you use the code BFDEALS24.

The best down cooling comforter

If you're looking for a cooling comforter to form the base of a beautiful bedspread, then you've come to the right place. Down creates natural loft for a light and fluffy bedspread, the sort you find in high-end hotels.

A lot of down comforters are filled with individual feathers, which can poke through the comforter case to scratch your skin. By contrast, the Brooklinen Down Comforter is filled with down clusters (just the fluffy, feathery bits at the end of each filament) for cooling comfort.

The Brooklinen Down Comforter comes in three weights: Lightweight; All-Season; and Ultra-warm. I started testing the All-Season as the weather turned from winter to spring. Normally, I sleep under thick, heavy duvets in the colder months, so it took me a few nights to get used to the lighter feel of the Brooklinen Down Comforter. Still, it really came into its own over summer: I never once woke up in a sweat.

Retailing for a little less than $400 for a Queen-sized All-Season weight, the Brooklinen Down Comforter is on the more expensive side, though you might be able to save some money when you shop the best Brooklinen deals. If you're vegan, or you prefer not to purchase animal products, you should steer clear of down in favor of a down alternative duvet insert: I recommend the Buffy Cloud Comforter.

Brooklinen Down Comforter | Was $379.00, now $322.15 at Brooklinen

Save 15% on my favorite fluffy comforter in the Brooklinen Black Friday deals.

The best down alternative cooling comforter

The Buffy Cloud Comforter sat at the top of my testing wish list for months before I had the chance to call it in. I got it just in time for summer, and I'm loving the cooling comfort it brings.

This is a down alternative duvet insert, filled with recycled plastic (good news for eco-conscious shoppers). That plastic is shredded and spun into super-soft fiberfill. Buffy claims that each individual strand is thinner and lighter than an eyelash. That's what gives the Buffy Cloud Comforter its signature puff, so rare for a down alternative duvet. Although it lacks a little of the natural loft of real down, it still lies nicely on my bed, especially if I give it a good shake in the mornings.

Most of the cooling comforters I've tested come encased in cotton, but the Buffy Cloud Comforter is wrapped in eucalyptus lyocell. It feels cool to the touch and soft against my skin.

I like almost everything about the Buffy Cloud Comforter, aside from the length of the sleep trial. You get just 7 days to test the fit and feel before you commit to your purchase. I'm a professional product tester, and I still don't think that's enough time to make your mind up.

Buffy Cloud Comforter | Was $195.00, now $146.25 at Buffy

You could save almost $40 on this down alternative comforter that looks and feels like the real thing.

The best all-season cooling comforter

Unless you're a seriously hot sleeper, or your AC is broken, you probably won't want to sleep with a cooling comforter all year round. You might get more use out of an adjustable comforter, like this one from Scooms.

The Scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet comes in three weights: a lightweight layer (2.5 tog), a summer duvet (4.5 tog), and a winter weather weight (9 tog). You get to pick and choose between the togs to create a bespoke bedspread that meets your sleep needs.

Each layer is attached with duvet fasteners (a simple series of poppers) As the weather warms up, I like to pull apart the layers to sleep under a lighter duvet. Just make sure you find somewhere to store the other half of your comforter and button the pieces back together for fall.

I love everything about this cooling comforter, but I'm not a huge fan of the site: the European sizes get a little confusing. If you struggle to tell the difference between US vs UK bed sizes, check out our expert explainer.

Scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet | Starts from $305 at Scooms

Sure, this luxury insert is on the more expensive side, but that's the price you pay for premium down.

The best cooling comforter for night sweats

The Woolroom Organic Washable Wool Comforter could be a game-changer for hot sleepers who suffer from night sweats. I first tried it on the Woolroom Sleep Retreat and liked it so much that I ordered one for long-term testing at home.

Wool is a miracle worker for moisture-wicking. I put it down to those porous natural fibers, which can hold up to a third of their weight in water, according to the Woolroom Clean Sleep Report 2024. That moisture should evaporate first thing in the morning, as soon as you get out of bed. Wool is one of the best materials to keep your bed and body feeling fresh.

Thermoregulating, hypoallergenic, and totally free from synthetic materials and fibers, the Woolroom Organic Washable Wool Comforter is a great option for eco-conscious shoppers and sensitive sleepers. Unlike almost any other wool product on the market, this comforter is machine-washable for quick, convenient cleaning.

One practical point: the Woolroom Organic Washable Wool Comforter only comes in sizes Twin, Full, Queen, and King. If you're shopping for a Twin XL or California King, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Woolroom Organic Washable Wool Comforter | Was $400.00, now $260.00 at Woolroom

I'd happily pay full price if I knew I'd get this elevated eco comforter at the end of it.

The best eco cooling comforter

If you love the look and feel of real down, but you're keen to shop more sustainably, I suggest the Company Conscious Down Comforter. It's breathable, buttery-soft, and filled with the finest RDS-certified down to ensure ethical practice from farm to factory.

The Company Conscious Down Comforter is filled with a blend of virgin and recycled duck down to maximize loft and minimize waste. The cooling cover is made from a mixture of cotton and TENCEL lyocell, woven into silky-smooth sateen.

The Company Conscious Down Comforter boasts a 4.9 average star rating on The Company Store site. 'LOVE this comforter,' reads one recent review. 'It replaces the 35+ year old comforter we got as a wedding gift. That one is DONE. This new one is bigger (love that it covers the bed and has about a 10" drop on each side of our queen mattress), just as warm, not as "poofy," and we like it much better than the old one. It's just perfect!'

I couldn't review the Company Conscious Down Comforter without mentioning the price. You'd have to fork out $389 to get a Queen at full price. I'd argue it's worth the money, but if you're unsure, you can bag it for 70% of its RRP in the bedding sales.

Company Conscious Down Comforter | Was $299.00, now $209.30 at The Company Store

Use the code BFDEALS24 to access all the deepest discounts at The Company Store.

How we test comforters

As H&G's Sleep Editor, I lead a team of product testers. Together, we represent a wide range of sleep styles and ages and we live all across America, from hot and humid cities in the South to cooler climes in the Midwest. We test comforters for a minimum of 30 nights in our own homes to give an accurate indication of long-term performance. To find out more about how we test at Homes & Gardens, consult our expert explainer.

We assess each comforter against the same criteria: comfort; cooling; and ease of care. To describe comfort, we consider the weight of the comforter, as well as the feeling of the fabric and fill. Running our hands over the shell, we watch out for any sharp feather filaments or clumps of fiberfill. To assess cooling, we switch off our HVAC systems before sleep, making note of any times we wake up in a sweat. We follow the care instructions to wash and dry the comforter, considering how it feels and how it looks before and after each cycle.

We also consider the practicalities of buying a comforter, from the range of sizes on offer to how it looks on the bed. We like to compare our results against verified reviews to pick out recurring customer concerns. Finally, we bring it all back to the price of the comforter to help you assess value for money.

How to choose a cooling comforter

Fill type

There are two types of comforter: natural and synthetic. Natural comforters feel lighter and fluffier, offering the best balance of weight and warmth. Still, they're less suitable for vegans or anyone who's allergic to feathers.

• Down: filled with the fluffy parts of feathers (also known as quills), a down duvet feels light and airy and makes a beautiful bedspread. Out of all the fill types, down is designed to retain heat, so it might not be the best bet for summer or seriously hot sleeper.
• Feather: filled with both quills and barbs (the filaments of feathers), a feather duvet feels heavier than down. Those barbs are more robust and less expensive than just quills, but they're still designed to retain heat.
• Silk: if you're allergic to feathers, but you still want to sleep under a natural duvet, then silk is a great alternative. It's lightweight, thermoregulating, and undeniably luxurious, but it's often more expensive than down.
• Wool: another natural down alternative, wool is highly absorbent and makes a natural moisture-wicker. It's the best option for anyone who suffers from night sweats.

Synthetic comforters are better for vegan shoppers and sleepers with sensitive skin. They don't trap as much heat as natural comforters, but they lack the loft that makes beautiful bedspreads.

• Microfiber: these comforters feel ultra-lightweight, filled with extra-fine fibers. This is a great option for seriously hot sleepers.
• Hollowfiber: these filaments feel thicker and more durable than microfiber, but they're hollow, so they're plenty breathable. Hollowfibers are often coated with a hypoallergenic treatment to soothe sensitive sleepers.

Fabric shell

Most of the cooling comforters on this list are encased in cotton sateen, a silky smooth weave that feels soft on your skin. Still, sateen is a tight weave that's known to trap a little heat. For enhanced cooling comfort, consider eucalyptus lyocell: it's naturally moisture-wicking and antimicrobial to bust the bacteria that breeds in sweaty, sticky environments, such as beds.

Tog rating

'Tog' stands for 'Thermal Overall Grade'. Tog is measured on a scale from 1 to 10 where the higher the tog, the warmer the duvet. Most cooling comforters will clock in somewhere between 1 to 7 tog, though you could buy an adjustable duvet to see you through the year. If you're wondering, 'what duvet tog do I need?', I suggest you consult our expert guide.

FAQs

Do cooling comforters really work?

The best ones do. Quality cooling comforters are stuffed with thermoregulating fills and wrapped in breathable fabrics to dissipate heat and wick moisture.

How should I clean my comforter?

Once you've invested in one of the best cooling comforters, it's important to take good care of it. It's worth learning how to wash a comforter and how to dry a comforter at home to elongate the life of your bedding.

Seriously hot sleepers could layer a set of the best cooling sheets beneath their comforter or place the best cooling mattress protector between their bed and their body. If you've tried everything, and you're still struggling to sleep in the heat, you should invest in the best cooling mattress.