Sometimes confused with comforters and duvet covers, a duvet insert — or simply “duvet” — is a type of bedding designed to be protected by a removable cover, known as a duvet cover. By comparison, a comforter is a blanket that is typically meant to function as a single unit without requiring a separate casing.
However, both comforters and duvets ultimately perform the same function: to cover and keep you warm during the night.
In this guide, we will explore duvet inserts specifically. When choosing a duvet insert, there are a number of factors to consider, including filling and shell materials, construction, and size. Read on for expert guidance on how to choose the best duvet insert, including reviews on top models for 2019 and buying advice on selecting the duvet with the best features for your needs.
Our Editor’s Pick, the Brooklinen Down Comforter uses down that is ethically sourced from Hutterite farms Northwestern Canada. The fill is made of white down clusters, which offer softness while allowing breathability. The down is treated with Ultra-Fresh antimicrobial additives that prevent the build-up of bacteria, mold, mildew, and fungi.
Featuring a sturdy baffle-box construction to keep the fill in place, the shell of the Brooklinen Down Comforter is made from a soft, 400 thread count cotton shell with a sateen weave. The blanket also features a loop on each corner to allow for secure and easy attachment to a duvet cover.
The Brooklinen Down Comforter comes in a choice of two fill powers: a 700 fill power that provides extra warmth, and a 600 fill power that is light enough for year-round use. The duvet insert is available in Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California King. The Brooklinen Down Comforter is dry-clean only.
Down is probably the warmest and most high-class material for a duvet insert, and the Casper Down Duvet is a quintessential example of this. This luxury duvet is filled with ethically sourced down at a fill power of 600, ensuring duvet that’s warm during all seasons yet not too hot. The shell is made of 100% cotton, a material known for its softness and decent breathability. Simple and effective, the Casper Down Duvet is a perfect insert for those looking for reliable quality and seasonal versatility
This Casper Duvet falls at around an average price point for down duvets. The 100-night sleep trial allows you to try the duvet out before committing to it financially. Plus, it comes with a 1 year limited warranty.
From the creators of the critically acclaimed Tuft & Needle Mattress, the Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Duvet Insert holds up the company’s standards with its quality materials and thoughtful construction.
The duvet is filled with a polyester down alternative designed to avoid clumping. On the outside is a 100% Cambric cotton cover with corner duvet loops for easy, secure attachment.
The Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Duvet Insert is available in a choice of light or medium weights. The lightweight version features a sewn-through construction, while the medium version is stitched in a sturdy baffle box pattern.
The Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Duvet is available in the following sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/Cal King.
With its low price point and quality design, the WhatsBedding Down Duvet Insert made our pick for Best Value. The insert is filled with goose down and feathers that have been treated to be odor-free and hypoallergenic.
Similarly, the 100%, 233-thread-count cotton shell is also hypoallergenic, in addition to being breathable. The shell is quilted with box stitching and includes corner loops that allow the WhatsBedding Down Duvet to be used with or without a cover.
The insert is available in a choice of Twin, Queen, and King sizes. Color choices include white, purple, pink, grey, and blue.
Designed to be fluffy and comfortable in any season, the Boll & Branch Duvet Insert made our choice for Best Luxury duvet insert. The duvet is available with a choice of either a genuine down or down alternative fill.
The genuine down version features an “all-weather” down that is responsibly sourced from American farms and triple-washed to make it hypoallergenic. The down alternative version is filled with a fluffy, all-season PrimaLoft® Luxury Down Alternative® fiber that was engineered by the U.S. army to replicate the feel of down.
Both the genuine and synthetic versions of the Boll & Branch duvet insert are covered in an organic, pure cotton shell and are designed and manufactured in the U.S. The shell is stitched using a sturdy baffle-box construction method to keep the fill in place, and is tested to ensure that it’s free of chemicals and coatings.
The duvet is available in a choice of two sizes: Full/Queen or King/Cal King.
Designed with hot sleepers in mind, the Buffy Breeze made our pick for Best Cooling duvet insert. The unique duvet features a polyester fill made from 100% recycled BPA-free PET plastic water bottles transformed into a soft, fluffy fiber.
Meanwhile, the shell of the Buffy Breeze is crafted from eucalyptus-based lyocell, which is a type of rayon. The fiber comes from the wood pulp of eucalyptus trees, a fiber that uses ten times less water than cotton to produce. The shell features a 300 single-ply thread count and is naturally soft, breathable, and temperature-regulating.
The Buffy Breeze is available in a choice of three sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California King. For best results, Buffy recommends dry cleaning your Buffy Comforter.
Duvet inserts come with many benefits, including the ease of cleaning and style variety afforded by their removable cover. Duvets also come in a variety of warmths, allowing you to choose one that suits your climate and personal preferences. If you are considering purchasing a duvet insert for your bed, our buying guide will help you select the best duvet insert for your needs.
We’ll walk you through how to choose a duvet insert based on fill material, fill power, and shell material. Then, we’ll discuss the different types of stitching typically seen in duvet inserts, in addition to the different sizes and their pricing. Finally, we’ll touch on the process of cleaning your duvet insert before weighing the benefits of choosing a duvet insert over a comforter.
Frequently confused with comforters, duvet inserts feature slight — but important — differences from their comforter cousins. Originating in Europe, duvet inserts or simply “duvets” were traditionally stuffed with down. Today, you’ll find down duvet inserts stuffed with down along with those stuffed with feathers and synthetic fibers. Duvets are typically white or off white in color.
Comforters are also similarly often filled with down, feathers, and synthetic fibers. The key difference between the two types of bedding lies in the necessity — or lack thereof — for a protective cover. Duvets are designed to be used with a removable casing or “duvet cover” to protect them from body oil, spills, and damage.
Comforters, on the other hand, are designed to be used without a cover and may require a top sheet to act as a hygienic barrier between your body and the bedding. Even though it is not required, some sleepers may opt to use a duvet cover with their comforter to protect it as they would a duvet.
When it comes to choosing a duvet insert, there are several principal factors to consider, including fill material, fill power, shell material, and construction. The following sections will help you with selecting each one.
The fill material is the “stuffing” inside the duvet insert. Below, we explore the most common fill materials.
When searching for a duvet insert, you will likely encounter the term “fill power, or the measurement of the amount of space one ounce of filling will occupy. Fill power essentially tells you the duvet’s fluffiness; a higher fill power indicates a thicker and more insulating product with a higher loft. It’s also worth noting that in addition to providing more warmth, higher fill power means larger, more durable down clusters that tend to maintain their loft and firmness for longer.
We’ve included a general guide to duvet insert fill power options below:
Although duvet inserts are kept beneath protective covers, their shell material is still worth considering. Here are some of the most common shell materials and their benefits and drawbacks:
Construction or stitch design may play a part in your decision to choose a duvet insert. Read on to learn the pros and cons of common stitching:
Duvet inserts typically come in sizes that correspond to bed sizes, including Twin/Twin XL, Double/Full, Queen, King, California King. If you don’t have a bedskirt or prefer some overhang, however, consider ordering a duvet that is one size above your mattress size.
Duvet inserts should be washed every two to three months. Before washing, be sure to check the label: many materials, including down and feather, may require dry cleaning.
When machine-washing your duvet, treat stains first by shaking the filling away from the dirty spot and hand washing the stain. If you are having trouble fitting a larger duvet into a conventional machine, ensure there is sufficient room surrounding the drum, then fold the duvet in half before spreading it out in your machine. You may need to take your duvet to a laundromat with commercial-sized machines.
Let your duvet air dry if possible.
Duvets can vary vastly in pricing depending on material, design, and size. Pricing can start below $85 and exceed $1,000. Materials like humanely harvested goose down or wool tend to fetch a premium, as does silk. Meanwhile, down alternative and blended materials tend to be cheaper.
As with pricing, return policies and warranties on duvets can vary vastly depending on manufacturer. We’ve seen everything from 100-night sleep trials and lifetime warranties to no-return policies. Keep in mind that a reputable manufacturer should offer a multi-week return policy, at least a one year warranty, or both.
There are many benefits to both duvets and comforters. That said, the following are reasons why you may prefer a duvet insert for your home:
For more information about duvet inserts, comforters, and other types of bedding, please visit the Tuck.com guides listed below.