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Just because you sleep hot doesn’t mean you have to forgo the cozy feeling of a comforter at night. According to Dr. Colleen Ehrnstrom, a licensed clinical psychologist and a member of Amerisleep’s sleep-advisory board, certain comforters can feel more cooling, whether that’s by “supporting your body’s ability to cool down after a temperature increase” or by “keeping temperatures lower, which is ideal for healthy sleep.” As with sheets, material matters. A comforter whose shell is made with cotton or a natural fiber like bamboo will feel cool to the touch and be more breathable; pair that with the right amount of fill, whether down or down alternative, and the effect will be even more pronounced. To help you find a cooling comforter (or duvet) that won’t burn you up at night — even during the dog days of summer — I tested comforters myself and spoke to experts to bring you nine options. (A note: The terms duvet and comforter are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things. A duvet is meant to go inside a duvet cover, while a comforter can be used without one. I’m including both in this story. All comforters are queen size unless otherwise noted.)
Update on August 26, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Shell
According to the experts I spoke to, a breathable shell is one of the most important features to consider when choosing a cooling comforter. Look for shells that are made from natural and naturally derived fibers like cotton, linen, bamboo, and lyocell, which are all known to be both breathable — and some even moisture-wicking — helping you keep dry and comfortable while you sleep. In terms of how breathability contributes to a cooling effect, Dr. Chelsea Perry, founder of Sleep Solutions in Westborough, Massachusetts, explains that certain fibers “allow air to circulate and prevent heat from getting trapped, which can make a significant difference for those who tend to sleep hot.”
While I personally prefer comforters with cotton shells for their breathability feel, they will not necessarily be moisture-wicking. For that, you’ll want to check out shells made from semi-synthetic fibers like rayon (a.k.a. viscose), which is made from the pulp of trees like eucalyptus, or bamboo, which draws moisture away from your body. (Some of my favorite cooling sheets are also made of these fibers.)
Fill
What your comforter is filled with matters, with the two most common options being goose down or a down-alternative fiber, usually polyester. It might seem obvious, but whether you choose down fill or poly fill for your comforter, you’ll want to go with one that’s lightweight. “Less fill allows for additional room for airflow and does not store as much heat inside,” says Parima Ijaz, founder and CEO of bedding company Pure Parima. Looking for a lower fill power, says Shari Ajayi of Saatva, is a good place to start. Luckily, many retailers give you the option to choose from lightweight, all-season, or warm fill levels.
Best cooling comforter overall
Shell: 400-thread-count long-staple cotton-sateen shell | Fill: 700 fill power 80 percent Hutterite Farms duck down
Brooklinen’s all-season down comforter is my top choice for best cooling comforter overall for its smooth cotton shell and down fill. It’s lightweight and on the thinner side compared to other down comforters I own, which is why I prefer it during the summer. Its long-staple sateen shell is smooth and cool to the touch and feels nice against my skin. And the recycled down lends a slight loft to the blanket without being bulky. While I sleep comfortably under it in the cooler months, I usually opt for a thicker and fluffier comforter in the winter. For people who sleep particularly hot, going down a fill level to the lightweight option would make it feel even more cooling and breathable. It’s what Lauren Farrell, head of design at Pacaso, a second-home company, recommends for its combination of “ultra-soft” shell and “evenly distributed” feathers and down.
Best down-alternative cooling comforter
Shell: 155 GSM 89% Cooling Nylon 11 percent Spandex jersey outer cover | Fill: 300 GSM polyester fill
If you want a comforter with a cool-to-the-touch cover and a down-alternative fill, Farrell also recommends Slumber Cloud’s UltraCool comforter. Its shell is made with a silky nylon-and-Spandex shell that has a little stretch, while the fill is made with Outlast ClimaDry polyester, a NASA-engineered fiber that keeps you cool by absorbing and storing heat and regulating moisture as you sleep.
Best (less expensive) down-alternative cooling comforter
Shell: Polyester | Fill: 300 GSM polyester fill
While this inexpensive down-alternative comforter doesn’t have the fancy technology of the Slumber Cloud, it’s another great option for hot sleepers. It’s what Strategist junior writer Brenley Goertzen and her boyfriend — a hot sleeper — use at home. Even though they have issues keeping their apartment cool in warmer months (a lot of windows, an older AC system), they use this comforter all year long, usually with a bamboo duvet cover from Ettitude. “It’s definitely on the thin, less fluffy side compared to other comforters I’ve owned,” says Goertzen, “but I think that’s what helps with the airflow. The fill never clumps up. The shell is cool to the touch, too, and is very soft.” Because it’s lightweight, it’s also “easy to move around when underneath it” and “doesn’t ever weigh us down or feel suffocating,” she says. (Plus, it’s super-warm during freezing Minnesota winters, adds Goertzen.)
Best cooling comforter with lyocell shell
Shell: Lyocell/Tencel | Fill: 850 fill power 95 percent large-cluster Siberian white goose down
While Farrell likes the Brooklinen and Slumber Cloud comforters as more affordable options, her top choice for one that feels especially cooling is a comforter covered in Tencel, which she likes for how it “responds to body temperature” by absorbing and releasing moisture more efficiently than cotton. (That’s why Tencel is another favorite fabric for cooling sheets.) DownTown’s Willow Summer comforter is Farrell’s favorite, as it has a 100 percent Tencel cover that has the look and feel of silk — as in, it’s extremely smooth, luxurious, and cool to the touch. And its 850-fill-power large-cluster Siberian white goose down stays lofty, allowing for maximum breathability.
Best (less expensive) cooling comforter with lyocell shell
Shell: bamboo rayon, and combed cotton-sateen blend | Fill: Polyester
For a much more affordable option that’s also covered with a naturally derived fiber — this time bamboo rayon — check out this comforter from the Company Store that Devin Shaffer, Decorilla’s lead sales designer, recommends. Its shell is made with 70 percent rayon made from bamboo and 30 percent combed cotton sateen, and this combination, along with the polyester fill, “is the secret to maintaining the perfect ‘under the covers’ climate,” according to Shaffer.
Best temperature-regulating cooling duvet insert
Shell: Cotton and 37.5 polyester | Fill: 550 fill power white down and 37.5 fiber
If you’re looking for something with a more actively cooling fill, consider Pottery Barn’s Sleepsmart comforter, which is infused with down and fibers made of 37.5 technology. The special 37.5 fiber is designed to absorb moisture from your body and speed evaporation, keeping you cool and dry throughout the night. It’s what Courtney Laine, owner of Victorian bed-and-breakfast Batterby House and Cottage in Hudson, uses at her properties. “Our inn and cottage have 100-plus-year-old radiator heat, which sometimes works too well, so we switched to temperature-regulating down duvets,” she told me. “It has the nice fluff and weight of a classic down duvet, but on cold upstate nights when the radiator is really cranking, you won’t wake up sweaty.”
Best cotton cooling comforter
Shell: Organic cotton | Fill: 360 GSM organic cotton batting
For an all-cotton comforter, this one from Coyuchi is made with an organic cotton shell in a crinkled percale weave and 360-GSM organic cotton batting. It’s what Lauren Williams, founder and principal at Lauren Jayne Design, recommends for hot sleepers. “I love it for its versatility as it can be used as a lightweight duvet insert or a standalone comforter,” she says. More like a quilt than a fluffy comforter, it’s on the thinner side, making it a great lightweight option.
Best wool cooling comforter
Shell: Organic cotton sateen | Fill: Wool
Wool is another naturally temperature-regulating fiber, which makes it another good alternative for hot sleepers who may not want a comforter filled with down or polyester. Williams likes this one from Holy Lamb Organics for its organic cotton-sateen shell and wool filling, adding that “everything is sustainably sourced and of the highest quality.”
Best linen cooling comforter
Shell: Linen front and cotton back | Fill: Polyester fill
Linen sheets are lightweight and airy and are another favorite for sweaty sleepers, so a blanket made with the same material would feel similarly breathable. This quilt from Parachute has a linen front and a cotton back with a polyester fill, and it’s another favorite of Williams, who calls it “luxurious and durable.” Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens owns this quilt as well and calls it a nice, lightweight option. (She doubles it up when she wants to feel cozier.) Like the cotton and wool comforters above, this one is more like a quilt, making it ideal for sleepers who prefer a coverlet over something lofty and bulky.
More comforters we like
Our experts
• Shari Ajayi, Saatva public relations director
• Dr. Colleen Ehrnstrom, clinical psychologist and member of Amerisleep’s sleep advisory board
• Lauren Farrell, Pacaso head of design
• Brenley Goertzen, Strategist junior writer
• Parima Ijaz, Pure Parima founder and CEO
• Courtney Laine, owner of Batterby House and Cottage
• Dr. Chelsea Perry, Sleep Solutions founder
• Devin Shaffer, Decorilla lead sales designer
• Lauren Williams, Lauren Jayne Design
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
