Best Cotton Comforters in 2021: Reviews and Shopping Tips

One hundred percent cotton comforters do exist, but they are rare. For the most part, when we talk about cotton comforters, we mean a cotton cover with various kinds of fills. Cotton is a sustainable crop and considered eco-friendly, especially in an organic version. Combined with down, synthetic fill, or wool, it makes a great comforter.

Maintaining a cotton comforter is generally easy, with many of them machine washable and machine dryable. Whether you are looking for a comforter for a twin xl bed or a California king, you can find a 100% cotton version that will work for you.

Keep reading to see our top picks for the best cotton comforters and learn shopping tips!

The Best Cotton Comforters

• Best Overall Cotton Comforter – Eddie Bauer
• Best Quality Cotton Comforter – WhatsBedding
• Best Organic Cotton Comforter – APSMILE
• Best Bang for Your Buck – Ubauba
• Best Rated Cotton Comforter – Abakan

What is a Cotton Comforter? 

A cotton comforter isn’t really one thing, but rather, a category of soft, eco-friendly, easy-to-maintain bedding. Cotton comforters may be made of 100% cotton, or they might use fills or be blended with additional materials like polyester, down, or microfiber.

Basically, as long as cotton is one of the main materials, it can be considered a cotton comforter.

Related: The Difference Between Quilts and Comforters

Pros and Cons of a Cotton Comforter

There are a lot of benefits to owning a cotton comforter, but there are some disadvantages as well. Before you buy a cotton comforter, consider whether the pros or cons are more important to you.

If you are an environmentalist, cotton comforters are a great idea because cotton is a sustainable crop. Cotton comforters, especially those filled with down, are also a great option for people who want to be nice and toasty warm while they sleep. On the flip side, a down-filled cotton comforter may not be the best option for people who sleep hot. 

One of the biggest advantages to a cotton comforter is the ease of maintenance. Cotton comforters can be machine washed and dried, making them excellent options for people with pets, children, or other creatures who tend to make a lot of stains. However, because cotton is such a popular material, it can be difficult to tell which cotton comforters are high-quality and which ones are not.

What to Look for in a Cotton Comforter

Fill

Cotton lined comforters can come in a variety of fills. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Feather: Feather fill usually comes from ducks or geese. Feather fill tends to be firmer, yet warmer.
• Down: Down feathers are the softer feathers found on ducks and geese. Down comforters are soft, fluffy, and warm.
• Down Alternative: Polyester and microfiber comforters are used as cheaper, hypoallergenic alternatives to down. Down alternative comforters are often easier to care for.
• Cotton: Believe it or not 100% cotton comforters inside and out are hard to find. But when you do, they tend to be lightweight, fluffy, and comfortable.

Warmth

There is nothing quite like the feeling of soft, thick cotton to snuggle with on a cold winter’s eve or crisp, cool cotton to wrap around you on a tepid summer’s night. Luckily, cotton comforters are good for all seasons. They come in both heavy and lightweight options: heavy is great for colder environments while lightweight is better for warmer climates.

Duvet Insert

Are you planning on pairing your comforter with a duvet cover or using it by itself? This may affect the fill you choose. Duvet covers make it so that you don’t have to wash your comforter as often. If you choose a comforter with a down or feather fill, you may want to use it as a duvet insert to avoid feathers poking out from wear.

Related: Duvet vs. Comforter

Cost

The price of cotton comforters runs anywhere between $40 to $300. This all depends on the quality of the materials, high and low thread counts, and fill. Egyptian cotton and long-staple cotton, down, and high thread counts are more expensive, but they last longer. Down alternative and cotton comforters are on the cheaper side.

Cotton Comforter Care

• Read the Label: The label will tell you about any specific instructions when it comes to how to wash your comforter. Some manufacturers will suggest dry cleaning, but most comforters can be washed at home. If the item is washable, then follow any label directions to ensure the best outcome.
• Check washer size: Most residential washers can wash up to a queen-size comforter. If you have a king size comforter or a small European washer, you may need a commercial machine. Another option is to hand wash your comforter in the tub, just rinse really well and squeeze out the water, don’t ring it out as that can stress the cotton and cause undue wear. 
• Choose mild detergent: To keep the comforter intact and extend its life, use a mild natural detergent. Harsh soap, although it will kill bacteria, can break down the fibers and shorten the life of the comforter. 
• Water temperature: Cool to warm water is recommended. If you have allergies and need to do a hot water wash to kill bacteria, you can do 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 54 degrees Celsius, to kill any bugs, but it will hasten the life of the comforter. Some cotton, if not pre-shrunk, can shrink in hot water. You could also opt for a cooler wash, and then set the dryer to a higher heat to kill any germs.
• Fluff with dryer balls: To ensure a fluffy comforter without any clumped material, add clean tennis balls or dryer balls to push apart the fibers or feathers while drying. They come in felted wool, plastic, and other assorted materials.  
• Keep track of when you last washed your comforter: Your comforter only needs washing once or twice a month or even less if it is covered. If you have a good cover (duvet) you can wash that every couple of weeks, and the comforter will remain protected. If you have a comforter that is used without a duvet, then plan to wash it more regularly. Make a note of when you wash it, so you can track how long it is between cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cotton comforters good? 

As with any category of products, this largely depends on the brand you buy. Some cotton comforters are amazing, while others are lackluster. In general, a high-quality cotton comforter is good for sleep because it is soft, warm, and can be fairly inexpensive.

What is the best material for comforters? 

The best material for comforters depends on your personal sleep preferences. If you don’t have particular sensory needs, cotton is usually a safe bet because it is soft and many of us are used to the feel of cotton, since much of our clothing is made from cotton. However, some people prefer other materials like bamboo, microfiber, flannel, or silk for their bedding.

What do cotton comforters feel like? 

The feel of cotton comforters depends largely on their thread-count. In general, cotton comforters are supposed to feel soft and smooth, like a high-quality blouse. Higher thread-count comforters will feel softer than low thread-count comforters, so if scratchy or rough bedding bothers you, you may want to stick to the higher end on thread-count.

Do cotton comforters make you sweat?

The warmth of cotton comforters actually has less to do with the material of the cover and more to do with the material of the fill. Down cotton comforters will keep you nice and toasty, and if you tend to sleep hot they could make you sweat for sure. But 100% cotton comforters tend to balance warmth and breathability quite well. If you sleep very hot, they could make you sweat, but generally, they’re a good option for a wide variety of sleepers.

Summary

Here’s a summary where you can compare our top rated cotton comforters:

Comforters	Material	Best for	Rating
Eddie Bauer	100% Cotton with White Duck Down Fill	Best Overall	4.1/5
WhatsBedding	100% Cotton with Down Fill	Best Quality	4.5/5
APSMILE	100% Organic Cotton with White Goose Down Fill	Best Organic Cotton	4.6/5
Ubauba	100% Cotton with Goose Down Fill	Best Bang for Your Buck	4.4/5
Abakan	100% Cotton with Polyester Fiber Fill	Best Rated	4.7/5

Cotton comforters are an absolute favorite for good reason. Nothing feels quite like cotton on your skin. You can find regular or organic versions with all kinds of different material used for fill. 

Down is lightweight and warm, synthetics are great for their price and convenience, wool is all natural and has great properties like being naturally flame retardant. Take a look at our picks for the best cotton comforters, one of them is sure to please.