Sleeping in comfort is essential to maximize rest and recovery, and your bedding can make a huge difference in your sleep cycle. Duvet covers, in particular, don’t get much buzz but is the little things that matter.
“Getting into a comfortable, cozy bed can be one of the simple pleasures in life,” says Elina Winnel, a certified sleep coach and founder of The Sleep Expert. Bill Fish, certified sleep science expert and President of OneCare Media, agrees, saying that while duvet covers themselves may not have a big impact on sleep, the little things add up.
Aside from adding comfort, duvet covers can enhance the décor of a bedroom and help craft the perfect setup for a good night’s sleep. “A quality duvet cover not only contributes to a blissful night’s sleep, but also determines the bedroom’s aesthetic and feel,” explains Karin Sun, a textile expert and co-founder of bedding brand Crane & Canopy. We tapped the experts to find out the best duvet covers for aesthetic, sleep style and budget.
Editor-approved duvet covers
Freelance writer Katie Jackson previously reviewed this duvet cover and says she “has no regrets” about getting this option. After testing it, Jackson confessed she has turned into a microfiber convert. “The double-brushed material is lightweight and feels surprisingly soft — almost like it’s been pre-washed with premium fabric softener. The real test was seeing if it really lived up to the wrinkle-free promise. After inserting my comforter into the duvet and spreading it over my bed, I noticed some wrinkles at first. However, they disappeared when I pulled the fabric taut, leaving behind a smooth and seamless setup,” she says.
Associate market editor Audrey Ekman raved about this award-winning duvet cover for its comfort level and soft feel. “This one is easy to get on and off my insert (no more wrestling with a ton of snaps or buttons!) and is crisp, not clingy. I don’t love that the brand recommends air dry/hang dry because it’s sort of a nuisance space- and timing-wise on laundry day, but overall have been loving this one after ditching my old scratchy linen duvet cover,” she says.
“Plus, it comes in a ton of super cute and on-trend colors, from chocolate brown tones to pink and burgundy stripes.”
Writer Jannely Espinal has been testing this duvet cover for months and says it’s “as soft as a sheet” and “wrinkle-resistant”.
“I always grew up with a comforter, and this was my first time trying a duvet cover — I was beyond skeptical. However, this has been a great move into my bedding arrangement as it is super soft, breathable and drapes beautifully. It took me a while to learn how to clip onto my cover, but it truly elevates my bed,” she raves.
Your shortcut to editor approved picks
Expert-approved duvet covers
Brooklinen is considered by many (including our editors), an industry gold-standard for linens, offering high-quality sheets and duvet covers at a relatively reasonable price. With a 480-thread count and a luxe sateen finish, this best-seller is OEKO-TEX certified — meaning it’s eco-friendly, easy to wash and dry and is designed to last.
This duvet cover features extra long-corner ties and large closure buttons that are easy to fasten yet don’t fall open easily. Additionally, it is made from 100% cotton. “Duvet covers made from 100% cotton are worth the extra cost,” says Sun.
Fish loves Parachute because of its high-quality products. “The price tag of some Parachute products may scare people away, but it is important to remember that you spend roughly one-third of your life on your bedding,” he says.
Parachute’s duvet covers also come in percale, a lighter-weight, more breathable fabric than sateen, which is woven to create a silky surface. The percale option is great for warm sleepers and warm climates because of its breathability.
More duvet covers to shop
This three-piece set is made from long-staple cotton and has a 400-thread count and a silky sateen weave that has left buyers thrilled. According to Sun, long-staple cotton, or cotton that has a longer fiber, is stronger, softer and more durable. They fray, pill, wrinkle and fade less than fabrics made with their short-staple counterparts.
This all-season cotton duvet cover is breathable and temperature-regulating, won’t wrinkle or fade, and is inspected at every level of production for pilling, shrinkage and colorfastness, according to the brand.
This duvet cover is made out of 100% bamboo-derived viscose that’s OEKO-TEX 100 certified. Bamboo is a more eco-friendly and sustainable option than cotton or linen because it grows quickly and with fewer resources, according to an article from the Sleep Foundation.
The set is moisture-wicking, anti-pilling and breathable. Plus, because it’s hypoallergenic and machine-washable, this duvet set is safe for those with allergies. Reviewers also love that the duvet cover offers hotel-quality linens at a reasonable price.
This budget-friendly option does double duty as being affordable and high-quality. For starters, it’s made from 100% long-staple cotton with a 400-thread count in a sateen finish. It also comes in dozens of colors and sizes — at that price, you can get a few and change them with the season.
The cover is also easy to wash and dry, according to reviewers, and it even has a hidden button closure. It’s made with chemical-free fabric that’s easy on sensitive skin and is temperature-regulating for warm sleepers. With almost 3,000 positive reviews on Amazon, this duvet cover is a winner.
Boasting a 300-thread count, this duvet cover is made from a blend of bamboo rayon and combed cotton sateen. It’s machine-washable, comes in eight different colors and can even be customized with a monogram.
Shoppers have helped it earn close to five-star ratings in the categories of quality and value.
What to consider when buying a duvet cover
- Go natural, especially if you run hot or cold. “Natural fibers adapt more easily to temperature fluctuations and allow our skin to breathe more easily. This enables us to regulate our own body temperature more effectively,” Winnel says, adding, “Polyester traps heat, and the skin doesn’t breathe well.” Look for cotton, bamboo or a combination, which may be more durable — but avoid synthetic blends. Bamboo is a particularly great option for warm sleepers regardless of climate, according to Sun. “Bamboo has naturally temperature-regulating properties, so it can be a good choice for warm sleepers,” she explains.
- Don’t be fooled by thread count. Very high thread counts are less breathable, so higher isn’t always better for duvet covers, Winnel explains: “While a higher thread count can mean the material is softer and more durable, this isn’t always the case. It depends on the fabric. A higher-quality fabric with a lower thread count is better than a lower-quality fabric with a high thread count,” she says.
- Egyptian cotton is worth the splurge. Long-staple or Egyptian cotton is known for its durability and softness, according to Fish. While it can be pricier, he says, “We do feel like Egyptian cotton is worth spending the extra money, as it will be part of your bedroom set for years to come.”
- The weave is all about personal preference. Sateen, percale, twill — these words all describe the weave of the fabric. Sateen is smooth and sleek; percale is a plain weave and is crisper and cooler; twill has more of a robust feel. Really, it’s mostly about looks and texture preference: “Our bedrooms should be treated as a sleep sanctuary, and if the color and feel of your duvet cover make you feel calm, then you are off to a good start,” Fish says.
- Look for fasteners. “Having your duvet insert get all bunched up into a corner is more than frustrating,” Fish acknowledges. Make sure that your cover has buttons, clasps or ties to keep the duvet in place.
- Check the maintenance. What are the duvet’s washing instructions? Do you need a duvet cover that’s easy to clean regularly? Make sure it’s not dry-clean only, for example.
- Consider the type of duvet. The duvet covers we like best are made from cotton, bamboo or linen — they tend to be the highest-quality and most frequently used fabrics for duvet covers. Furthermore, premium cotton is worth the splurge for its durability and luxurious feel: “A high-quality duvet cover that’s between 300- and 430-thread count will last you many years,” Sun says. Linen, on the other hand, can be a “tad rougher” at the beginning but does get smoother over time, says Dr. Shelby Harris, a licensed clinical psychologist and specialist in behavioral sleep medicine (BSM). Like bamboo, this makes it an excellent choice for hotter climates, she adds.
Frequently asked questions
While a comforter is a warm, thick quilt that’s filled with down or synthetic filler, a duvet and duvet cover are two separate pieces that go together. The duvet is like a comforter, except it’s usually just plain white fabric. The duvet is inserted into the duvet cover and tied at the corners so it doesn’t slip.
You can put the duvet cover on in one of two ways:
The first is to grab the top two corners of the duvet, then reach inside the duvet cover and straighten the duvet into the cover, tying the corners and smoothing it out.
The second is to turn the duvet cover inside out and match the corners up, tie the corners of the duvet into the cover, then turn it right side out over the duvet.
How often you wash your duvet cover depends on the type of sleeper you are.
Some people do not use a top sheet, so those people should wash their duvet cover weekly when they wash their bottom sheet and pillowcases. If a top sheet is used, every two weeks is fine, depending on whether you have pets sleeping on top of your bed or not.
The duvet insert should be cleaned twice a year (professionally at the dry cleaner if needed). You don’t need to turn it inside out, but you can button the buttons to prevent them from coming loose.
How we chose the best duvet covers
To put together our list of the best duvet covers, we combed through ratings, interviewed textile and sleep experts, thought through the best qualities of a great duvet cover, and even polled our own Shop TODAY editors who have tested different duvet covers. We also considered fabrics and materials recommended by our pool of experts.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic. We also ensure that all expert guidance and recommendations are provided independently and without any undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Bill Fish is a certified sleep science expert and co-founder of Tuck Sleep, a sleep review website. Fish is currently President of OneCare Media LLC.
- Dr. Shelby Harris, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist. She is board-certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM) by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
- Karin Sun is a textile expert and the co-founder of bedding brand Crane & Canopy.
- Elina Winnel is a certified sleep coach and founder of The Sleep Expert.
