Tested by HGTV Editors

If you're looking for comfortable cloud-like bedding, a duvet is a great choice for many reasons. Duvets, also referred to as comforters with loops, are typically thinner than a regular comforter with a box-stitched and sometimes baffle-box construction that helps keep the soft down or down-alternative fiber filling evenly distributed. Loops stitched on the corners hold duvet covers in place, meaning it's easy to change up your bedding look by just replacing the cover instead of the whole duvet. Though some people do use duvets without covers for a minimalist look, it's best to use a cover to extend the life of your purchase, especially since most duvets are not machine-washable. If you take care of a duvet, it can last 10 years or more. Using a duvet with a duvet cover also means you can change up the fabric style and warmth as the seasons and your style preferences change without needing to replace the duvet. And finally, using a cover to protect a duvet means you don't have to wash the duvet nearly as often, which most manufacturers recommend doing by spot-cleaning or dry cleaning.

How We Tested

To find the best duvets, we researched top-rated bedding brands, read customer reviews and compared specifications to select the duvets we purchased to test. Six different HGTV editors tested a total of nine duvets in their own homes over several weeks. If the duvets were machine-washable, we washed them before use, noting any loose threads or difficulty with washing and drying. Once dry, we inserted the duvets into duvet covers, evaluating how easy the installation process was. We slept with the duvets for several weeks to observe how heavy and warm they felt throughout the night. We also noted how plush the duvets felt and if they stayed put inside the cover.

What to Consider When Shopping for a Duvet

Fill and Cover Materials: Duvets are typically filled with goose or duck down or down-alternative fibers, like polyester or eucalyptus. In response to animal welfare concerns, many companies follow specific sourcing criteria to meet the Responsible Down Standards (RDS). Down-alternative fibers are cheaper and a better fit for anyone looking to minimize the use of animal products. Down-alternative options are usually better for people who have allergies, too. The outer shell is typically made of cotton with a sateen weave, but there are a few popular alternatives like eucalyptus marketed as more breathable.

Fill Power: Most of our recommendations are suitable for year-round use, which means they have medium fill power. Fill power refers to the volume of one ounce of down measured in cubic inches. Higher fill power means the duvet will be fluffier and lightweight but still give warmth. For an entry-level down comforter, 600 to 700 fill power is a popular range. Some direct-to-consumer bedding brands like Brooklinen and Parachute offer multiple weight options for both their down and down-alternative comforters, from lightweight to all-season to ultra-warm.

Care and Maintenance: Most manufacturers recommend spot cleaning or dry cleaning at a cleaner that doesn't use the chemical perchloroethylene, which is considered hazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency. If you want to use a duvet without a cover or you have young kids or pets and don't think a cover will suffice to keep your investment clean, you may want to purchase a duvet that is machine washable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a duvet and a comforter?

The two terms are often used interchangeably. Duvets and comforters are both bed coverings that contain some sort of soft, fluffy fill like down feathers or down-alternative fills like microfiber fill or TENCEL eucalyptus lyocell fibers with stitching that helps keep the fill evenly dispersed inside. While comforters have a similar construction, they often do not include corner loops or ties that allow for a duvet cover to be added. Comforters often feature a decorative fabric that's meant to be used as is. On the other hand, duvets feature loops or ties at the corners, and sometimes the sides also, that allow a duvet cover to be added. Using a duvet cover protects the duvet itself from wear and tear, dust, spills and more. Plus, you can machine wash most duvet covers at the same time you wash sheets and other bedding on a more regular basis, which is helpful since most duvets and comforters can't easily fit in standard washing machines and dryers.

How do you keep a duvet in place?

To keep a duvet insert in place within its cover, be sure you know the best method for inserting a duvet in the duvet cover. Make sure to tie all of the loops and corresponding ties securely inside the cover. Purchasing a duvet with multiple loops will also increase the chance that the duvet stays securely in place. Some duvets come with only loops in the four corners and some come with more on the sides as well. If the duvet you have only has corner loops or if any of the loops break, you can add more loops yourself with a needle, thread and fabric ribbon.

How often do you need to wash a duvet?

Since duvets are intended to be used with a duvet cover, you don't need to wash the duvet itself very often at all, assuming you don't encounter major spills or messes. While a duvet cover should be washed according to the manufacturer's instructions every one to two weeks, the duvet itself can be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions about once per year. For small stains or spills, they can be spot-cleaned as needed.