The best duvet inserts have to meet a lot of criteria. The best duvet inserts will typically feature a channeled or baffle box construction that keeps the filling in place and come assembled with loops or ties to make it easy to attach its decorative duvet cover. From here, consider the desired weight, fill type and power, and materials. Hot sleepers or those in tropical regions may prefer a lightweight design with a lower fill, than those who seek warmth or live in a colder climate and require heavier layers. It’s not uncommon to purchase a duvet insert according to the season, either, and swap between two when the weather shifts from warm to cold. We’ve compiled together among the best places to buy bedding the very best duvet inserts available to suit a wide variety of needs, from those looking for premium down with an ethical backstory to breathable and lightweight down alternatives to suit those that find themselves kicking off a top layer at night. Our price widgets directly update to serve you the best price. And while on the topic of bedding essentials, don’t forget to upgrade any sagging pillows or stretched-out mattress protectors. Perhaps, finish off the ensemble with a fresh new set of bed sheets, too?
Best Duvet Inserts 2023
“Like sleeping on a cloud.” Cozy and comforting, while also airy and breathable. The Boll & Branch Duvet Insert is indulgence in a comforter, but its ethical credentials are that extra push we seek that does good and feels good. Filled with Down that meets the Responsible Down Standard and sourced from American farms, it’s also washed with eco-friendly, Bluesign® certified detergent, making the down two times cleaner than the government standard. The baffle box construction keeps the fill in place while corner ties securely attach to a duvet cover of your choice. It’s Available in three densities, each with a 650 fill power, depending on your warmth preferences of lightweight, midweight and ultraweight. Beyond price, the only other drawback is that there is no twin size for single beds. I’ve heard people go on and on about their Brooklinen comforter so I quite literally could not wait to get this on my bed. This mid-weight design is perfect proof that is should suit. Despite the fact that I was in the middle of a heatwave, it felt like a good time to give the all-season design a try. The all-season design feels light and not oppressive, though I do find myself kicking my feet out for air. On the nights I leave the fan running, I’m in a perfect cocoon. It’s still on my bed as the temperatures have begun to drop to just below freezing, and I’m still so comfortable to the point I don’t want to come out from under the covers. The fill is evenly distributed and I don’t find myself needing to shake it out every morning. Brooklinen the All-Season is the Goldilocks model, but if you seek a lighter or heavier version you are not forgotten. The consistencies change slightly with the lightweight featuring a 650 fill of recycled down and the heavyweight has 750 fill of Goose down, compared to the 700 duck down design of the all-season. Note: Goose-down clusters and feathers are typically larger than duck, and thus tend to insulate better. All feature the same soft 100-thread count long-staple cotton in a sateen weave. All down comforters are sustainably sourced and DOWNMARK certified by the non-profit Down Association of Canada. I will note that the All-Season design does not give off the overtly full look of a heavier fill duvet, but it fills out nicely within my duvet cover. For care, it’s recommended to spot clean or dry clean. If first impressions say it all, the Saatva All-Year Down Alternative Comforter let us know it was luxe right from the start. It arrived on our doorstep in a box tied with a blush pink ribbon. Inside the box, the duvet was wrapped in tissue paper and packaged in a reusable cotton storage bag (no plastic in sight!). Once we opened it, it was clear that our initial thoughts about the blanket were accurate. The duvet’s cover material is made of thick organic cotton percale, and the fill is bouncy, and perfectly uniform throughout the blanket. Because the duvet is called the ‘All-Year’ we tested it in the middle of June, at a time when we’re typically swapping duvets out for lighter-weight quilts. The fil, which is partly made of sustainable lyocell fiber, proved to be much more comfortable in summer temperatures than the down blanket we’d been using, but it may be too warm for hot nights if you don’t have AC. But if you do? This blanket will keep you snuggled up and sweat-free. We haven’t tested it in winter yet, but according to Saatva, it’s warm enough for mid-winter, too. A few other details we appreciate: the cotton loops at the corners that secure it to a duvet cover and the fact that it’s Fair Trade-certified. One drawback: it had a noticeable smell straight from the box, but it disappeared with a wash (something we recommend before using bedding anyway). Washing the duvet was simple enough - we washed it alone, because the queen size blanket took up almost the entire drum of our front-load washer, and transferred it to the tumble dryer immediately after. The duvet instructions say to tumble dry on a low setting, which took a while. After about an hour, we removed the blanket and fluffed it a bit, then put it back in for another 40 minute dry cycle. After that, there were still a few slightly damp spots, so we laid it flat to finish drying before putting it on the bed. While we strive to feature companies that only use responsible sourcing methods for their down, we love paying attention to extra sustainable details, like reusing recycled down, and you won’t even notice the difference. The Company Conscious Collection from The Company Store has a makeup of 75% white duck down and 25% white duck feathers, but half of the down fill was recycled. The soft sateen cover, a combination of cotton and TENCEL, is insanely soft and breathable, despite the fact you’ll likely place a duvet cover on top. The duvet stays securely in place when tied to the corner loops. The addition of TENCEL also assists with temperature regulating properties as well as being hypoallergenic and naturally dust mite resistant. Once placed on the bed, the duvet is quite lofty and the baffle box construction manages to hold the fill in place to avoid clumping. The duvet does seem to settle after prolonged use or sitting on it, but nothing a good shake can’t do to make it look like new again. If you’re prone to sleeping hot, or looking for the perfect option when it comes to summer bedding, the Slumber Cloud Lightweight Comforter is simply the coolest option, quite literally. On their own scale of warmest (traditional bedding) to coolest, this lightweight, yet lofty comforter settles in nicely, beating out bamboo and eucalyptus bedding, down and even a quilt, with its breathable design. The secret ingredient? Slumber Cloud’s exclusive ClimaDry™ by Outlast fiberfill has that down-like feel but also regulates heat and moisture as you sleep. This technology, developed by NASA, is designed to regulate the temperature, humidity, and microclimate of your bed to keep your body cool and adjusted. It’s designed to be proactive in a way that prevents your bedding from having to wick away moisture in the first place. It all stays in place with a bafflebox square construction. Because this blanket is geared toward hot sleepers, it has a thinner loft, about a quarter-inch, so it’s not for people who seek tons of loft. That doesn’t mean it’s not plush to the touch, which it totally is, but lightweight and airy when you slip underneath. I tend to gravitate toward versatile setups and the 3-in-1 construction of the Scooms All-Season Duvet, which combines two duvets of different warmths, is definitely a sensible choice. Designed in the UK, and filled with Hungarian Goose Down and Feathers, which are responsibly sourced from a single origin and a by-product of the food industry. The duvets are identified by TOG, which is a rating that measures thermal resistance and the warmth level of duvets. The higher the tog, the warmer the duvet will be. I tried the mid-weight, 11.5 TOG, which combined a 9 TOG and a 2.5 TOG. Together, they are heavenly warm; it’s delightfully lofty, and my standard US Queen duvet cover has no problem fitting the UK King size insert. It’s warm, and almost feels like a weighted blanket is on top, but once you separate them, you have a mid-weight that’s perfect for autumn weather, and a thinner lightweight that’s ideal for warmer nights. I tried this blanket when the weather had already taken a turn for the warm, so I couldn’t roast under the full 11.5 TOG for too long, but I know I will appreciate it come winter. The two duvets connect with snap fasteners. They’re small, white, and easily get lost, so you’ll want to be vigilant about any getting lost amongst the duvet, or falling onto the floor. The holes on both duvets line up perfectly, and the duvet itself is dense enough that you will not even notice the plastic fasteners as you lay in bed. Each duvet came packaged individually in a green cloth bag (easily spottable when storing, that’s ideal to hold on to for when you’re only using one. While I think the fills of the two look visually different, you can also check the tag to see which one is heavier to confirm you’ve picked the desired duvet. Be sure to check the sizing guide when choosing your size, as the sizing is currently oriented toward UK beds, but there are plans to release US bed sizes too. It doesn’t get much more sustainable than wool, especially when it can be traced to the source. Woolroom is the first to offer a washable and organic wool product, paving the way for easier care. To make the wool washable, it goes through a treatment that combines natural minerals, water, and oxygen to allow the wool fibers to flex when washing. As the wool fibers flex this removes any opportunity for the fibers to catch resulting in shrinkage or felting when the items are machine-washed. The medium-weight duvet is made of 100% organic, washable, and traceable British wool encased in an unbleached 300-thread count organic cotton cover. It’s not fluffy like down, but still breathable and insulating when you need it. Woolroom identifies the medium weight as being the most suitable for rooms that are between 60 - 70 degrees, but other weights are available too that can cater to temperatures as cool as 50 degrees, or opt for the all-season which combines two duvets together for maximum warmth and versatility. Beyond being fully organic, the wool duvet is naturally flame retardant, hypoallergenic, mold, mildew, and dust mite resistant. When we note that the wool is traceable, it means the product can be traced back to the exact farm the wool was sourced from, including collection, washing, and combing. While it is found to be machine washable, it still does have some particular care instructions, including washing on a wool cycle with a wool detergent and then to line dry only. My washer does not appear to have a wool cycle, nor do I have wool detergent or a proper line to hang a heavy comforter on, so I’ll opt for the delicate cycle. Luckily, wool doesn’t need to be cleaned often, and a stint in the sun can cure any bacteria build-up. When it comes to bedding, can you think of material more luxurious than silk? Beyond its beautiful feel, it’s also remarkably breathable and hypoallergenic, making it a wonderful choice as a duvet insert too. The Cloud Comforter uses a 200gsm/ 2.0 Kg fill of 100% Mulberry Silk, with an organic cotton sateen cover that is incredibly smooth to the touch. The silk design is airy and cool during warmer months, and sleeps lightly warm, but not in a way that overpowers during the winter. It has the typical corner loops for a duvet cover of your own, but it’s also suitable to be used on its own sans cover. For such a luxurious material, comes a little more responsibility for care, in the name of spot cleaning or dry cleaning.
How we choose the best duvet covers?
The Homes and Gardens’ review process is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties. All our reviews are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home. Some were used for 2 months, others for almost a year. The products are given to us free of charge. Due to the personal nature of bedding, we have been able to keep our samples and invite friends and family members to try out the comforters too. We came to our decisions by considering factors like the quality of construction, warmth options, breathability, and ease of care. For more insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our Homes & Gardens review guidelines. A Duvet consists of two pieces: the duvet insert and its cover, which are typically sold separately. Duvet inserts are typically white, and the most durable designs have a baffle-box or channeled construction to keep the fill in place. They should have corner loops to attach the duvet cover to. Their covers, purchased separately, can come in a range of fabrications and styles. The cover can easily be taken off to be washed or changed with the seasons without having to launder the entire duvet. Duvets will give you the most options when it comes to filling and warmth levels, and can provide the loftiest feel. However, sometimes people don’t like the feeling when the insert (inevitably) comes apart from the cover or bunches up if it doesn’t properly fit the duvet cover, and it can be an involved task to change the duvet. Comparatively, comforters are a single piece, that is typically quilted and filled with down or down alternative materials. They come in many styles, colors, patterns, and textures and are simply placed on the bed. However, you’re likely not going to change out your bedding as often, though many are machine washable, and it eventually may go flat, and you’ll have to find another design. Down: Down duvets refer to the fluffy cluster of down clusters or feathers, typically from the feathers of ducks and geese. Down products tend to offer the highest levels of warmth and are regarded for their ability to provide excellent insulation. Plus, it gives off that extra fluffy look. When choosing down products, be mindful that they have ethical production features like meeting the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), a common certification that confirms the down products derived from geese and ducks are raised in compliance with the principles and criteria of animal welfare. Most down is actually derived from animals who had been raised for food, while Live Plucking is considered harmful to animals. Down Alternative: Down alternative products mimic the look and feel of down but are typically made of a synthetic material like polyester, microfiber or rayon or natural materials like wool or bamboo. They’re typically considered a hypoallergenic option. Wool: Wool is another all-natural and sustainable design gaining market share, especially among hot sleepers, for its temperature regulating abilities, so you won’t find yourself overheating or freezing. Wool is also moisture and odor resistant, and some organic options are available too. Wool is also naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites and allergens. A drawback to wool is that it does not offer the fluffy loft of standard duvets. Silk: Silk duvets and comforters definitely fall on the luxury end of the bedding spectrum, but provide many benefits including being naturally moisture wicking and thermoregulating, long-lasting (when cared for properly they can last for decades) hypoallergenic, breathable, Note, silk tends to have a more demanding care and upkeep as it’s typically not machine washable, compared to other materials.
