Guide to Choosing Comforter Fill and Weight

When you’re choosing the right comforter to make your bed a cozy haven, fill and weight are important considerations. Here, we explain everything you need to know about fill and weight when choosing a comforter. Discover the benefits of a down comforter vs. a down alternative comforter and the differences between the two styles. These tips will help you choose the best down or down alternative bedding for a good night’s sleep, whether you’re looking for the warmest, heavy winter comforter, a cool, lightweight summer comforter, or an all-season all-star.

Which Comforter Fill Is Best?

The warmest comforter fill is our exceptional European goose down, gathered from select geese living in cold climates—cozy enough for long, frigid winter nights. But the best comforter fill material is a different question—that depends on your preferences.

Take a Peek at Our Comforter Fill Options

The two broad categories of comforter fill are down—which is produced by cold-weather birds like ducks and geese—and synthetic down alternative. When deciding between down versus down alternative, consider the differences and similarities in properties, price, care, and sustainability.

	Down Comforter Fill	Down Alternative Comforter Fill
Source	Called “nature’s best insulator,” down is produced by cold-dwelling birds that need maximum insulation at a minimum weight	PrimaLoft® and LoftAIRE™ are synthetic, 100% polyester fiber fills specifically designed to mimic down’s loft and insulation
Hypoallergenic	Our hypoallergenic down undergoes a meticulous cleaning process	Down alternative is hypoallergenic
Eco-Friendliness	We use only ethically sourced, RDS certified down—our Company Conscious™ Collection is made from recycled materials	Some of our down-free comforter shells meet STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®—our Company Conscious™ Collection is made from recycled materials
Laundering Instructions	Often machine washable—always check laundering instructions	Often machine washable—always check laundering instructions
Properties	Down is fantastically lightweight and breathable	PrimaLoft® and LoftAIRE™ are lightweight, breathable, and water-resistant
Price	With down, you’ll pay for quality—a good comforter is an investment piece	A down alternative comforter is often markedly more affordable than a down comforter
Longevity	Retains its loft and insulation for years with proper care	Benefits from proper care, but likely to lose its loft sooner than a down comforter

Down Comforter Fill	Down Alternative Comforter Fill
SourceCalled “nature’s best insulator,”down is produced bycold-dwelling birds that need maximum insulation at a minimum weight	SourcePrimaLoft® and LoftAIRE™are synthetic, 100% polyester fiber fills specifically designed mimic down’s loft and insulation
HypoallergenicOur hypoallergenic down undergoes a meticulous cleaning process	HypoallergenicDown alternative is hypoallergenic
Eco-FriendlinessWe use only ethically sourced, RDS certified down—our Company Conscious™ Collection is made from recycled materials	Eco-FriendlinessSome of our down-free comforter shells meet STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®—our Company Conscious™ Collection is made from recycled materials
Laundering InstructionsOften machine washable—always check laundering instructions	Laundering InstructionsOften machine washable—always check laundering instructions
PropertiesDown is fantastically lightweight and breathable	PropertiesPrimaLoft® and LoftAIRE™ are lightweight, breathable, and water-resistant
PriceWith down, you’ll pay for quality—a good comforter is an investment piece	PriceA down alternative comforter is often markedly more affordable than a down comforter
LongevityRetains its loft and insulation for years with the proper care	LongevityBenefits from proper care, but likely to lose its loft sooner than a down comforter

When you have an idea of which comforter fill type you’d prefer, explore each type’s subcategories. Down fill options include:

Down clusters from ducks and geese
Goose down alone, which achieves a larger cluster size than duck down
Hungarian or European goose down, which has the largest, loftiest clusters of all

For options in down alternative, we offer PrimaLoft® and LoftAIRE™. PrimaLoft® is the premier manufacturer of down alternative material for clothing, bedding, and outdoor wear. LoftAIRE™ is our exclusive down alternative fill, designed and produced to our own high standards for ultra-comfortable bedding. Both types consist of fibers about one-third the diameter of a human hair that, like down, gently loft and intertangle to form insulating pockets of air.

No matter the fill you choose, each comforter from The Company Store is carefully constructed to ensure quality and longevity. A premium shell encases either fill, and smaller chambers within the comforter keep it evenly distributed.

Comforter fill isn’t the only deciding factor, though. You also need to choose the right comforter weight.

How Do You Choose the Ideal Comforter Weight?

When it comes to comforter weight options, we have something to suit every sleeper. We offer a range of down fill powers, and our comforters are available in Super Light, Light, Medium Warmth, Extra Warmth, and Ultra Warmth.

When it comes to comforter weight options, we have something to suit every sleeper. We offer a range of down fill powers, and our comforters are available in Super Light, Light, Medium Warmth, Extra Warmth, and Ultra Warmth.

Comforter Warmth vs. Comforter Weight

If you want to get technical, comforter weight and comforter warmth are not always the same thing, because of something called fill power. Fill power measures the amount of loft—and therefore the insulating ability—of an ounce of down. A higher fill power indicates fluffier, higher-quality down that’s better at insulating, so you stay warmer with less down. A light weight comforter with a high fill power might actually provide a medium level of warmth.

We classify our comforters by warmth level for convenience. In general, you can choose your comforter’s warmth level based on your room temperature at night:

Nighttime Room Temperature, °F	Comforter Warmth
74 or above	Super Light
69-74	Light
65-69	Medium
62-65	Extra Warm
62 or below	Ultra Warm

So, which comforter weight is ideal for you? That depends on your personal preferences and sleep style.

Hot sleeper? If you kick off the covers during the night, or sleep under fewer layers than others, opt for a cooler comforter than indicated above.
Cold sleeper? If you always need that extra layer overnight, or wake up chillier than others in your home, go one level warmer.
One of each? If you and your bedmate have different warmth needs, opt for a dual weight comforter: a warmer side and a cooler side will keep you both happy.

Or, consider mid-weight comforters that keep you cool in summer and warm in winter for a year-round bedding option. Layer your comforter with additional bedding to suit the season for ideal warmth all year long.

Find your perfect comforter weight and fill, and snuggle up in a comfy haven and drift off to dreamland. For more on choosing the right bedding layers, check out our Comforter Buying Guide.