The Best Cooling Comforters, According to Our Editors

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No more kicking off the covers.

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If you’re constantly kicking off the covers or waking up sweaty in bed—or if you just love finding the cool spots on your bedding at night—you might be the perfect candidate for a cooling comforter. The idea of a cooling comforter may seem contradictory since comforters are supposed to keep you warm, but some comforters run cooler than others, so it helps to know what to look for if you sleep hot.

To find them, we tested all of these comforters in the real world, paying close attention to how cool and dry each one felt through the night. The comforters kept us warm without getting too warm, and some of them even felt downright cool against our skin. These are the comforters we’d want on our beds to stay cool as it heats up—take a look below.

The fabric is very cool and smooth.

It might be too lightweight for some sleepers.

If you’re skeptical about claims of “cool to the touch” bedding, the Slumber Cloud UltraCool Comforter might change your mind. The fabric really does feel cool against the skin—even downright chilly, if you sleep with AC or a fan—so this is our top pick for anyone who absolutely needs to stay cool for a good night’s rest. Plus, the fabric is super soft and glides smoothly over your skin, which not only feels amazing but is also ideal for sensitive skin.

The thin design kept us from overheating during testing, but it also gave a surprising amount of warmth, even on colder nights. That said, the comforter may feel too light if you’re used to comforters with some heft—in which case there’s an all-season version that’s thicker and loftier.

The comforter was easy to wash at home, and it held up really well after a few wash and dry cycles. The fill also stayed put throughout testing, so we never had to fluff the comforter.

The fabric is prone to wrinkling and we noticed it stained easily from skin oils. The stains came right off in the wash, but you may want to use a duvet cover if the wrinkles and stains become an eyesore between washes.

Cover material: Nylon and spandex | Fill material: Outlast ClimaDry polyester and polyester | Cooling features: Cooling fabric, lightweight design | Care: Machine-wash

It’s less bulky than other comforters.

It may become lumpy after washing.

When it comes to cooling, the Bedsure Cooling Comforter delivers—and for a lower price compared to other comforters we tested. The polyester-and-bamboo fill had just enough insulation to keep us warm on cooler days and cool on warmer days.

This is definitely on the thin side, so it’s a good option if you enjoy comforters that could almost pass as a blanket. If you like to snuggle with thick, fluffy comforters, this may not be a good fit.

The nylon blend shell felt cool against our skin when we slid underneath the covers, and it was soft and silky throughout testing. It also stayed smooth and quickly recovered from overnight wrinkles—unlike some comforters that stay wrinkled after they’ve been used or washed.

Care instructions were easy to follow, so this comforter is great if you prioritize low maintenance or if you sleep with pets. A dog tracked dirt onto the comforter when we tested it at home, and a single wash cleared the stains right out.

That said, the comforter became slightly lumpy after washing. It’s barely noticeable so it’s hardly a deal-breaker, but we’ll monitor the lumpiness as we continue to test the comforter.

Cover material: Nylon and elastane | Fill material: Polyester and bamboo-derived rayon | Cooling features: Moisture-wicking, breathable materials | Care: Machine-wash

It’s easy to wash in a machine.

The logo design is distracting.

When we picture all-season comforters, we usually think thick and fluffy, so we weren’t sure if the Breescape Cooling Comforter was bulky enough to be a year-round contender. After testing it out at home, though, we found the comforter was actually really great at keeping us warm without overheating—the mark of a true year-round comforter.

The first thing we noticed was the silky feel. The dual-sided design has a different fabric on each side, but both are cool and smooth. Like other picks on this list, the comforter is thinner than you might expect. But rest assured, the fill does its job.

It’s a blend of Naia acetate, which is known for breathability, and polyester, which can retain heat, so we never felt too cold or too hot. That said, we did layer a top sheet under the comforter to add a touch of warmth on cooler days.

The comforter is machine washable, and we noticed zero clumping after a wash and dry cycle. The fabric looked as crisp as it did pre-wash.

One small but not insignificant detail is that the brand’s logo is emblazoned on a corner. It doesn’t affect how the comforter feels, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you plan to use the comforter without a duvet cover.

Cover material: Nylon, polyester, Eco-Cosy viscose, spandex | Fill material: Polyester, Naia acetate | Cooling features: Cooling fabric, lightweight design | Care: Machine-wash

It has a very soft and silky feel.

Its care instructions are tricky to follow.

The Eden & Om Bamboo Comforter is luxuriously silky but also soft like cotton, which is a combo we loved. Plus, the bamboo-derived viscose had exceptional cooling that impressed hot sleepers during testing.

The comforter is thin, but the fill has some heft, like the batting you might find in a quilt. It’s perfect for summer nights when you want something heavier than a blanket but lighter than a thick, fluffy comforter. The generous dimensions also have plenty of bed coverage and nicely fill out a duvet cover.

The biggest downside of this comforter is the maintenance. The care instructions recommend skipping the spin cycle, but we found this left the comforter sopping wet and next to impossible to dry.

We decided to risk using the spin cycle and noticed lumps in the comforter afterwards, so we recommend spot-cleaning unless you have a method for wringing out large amounts of water.

Cover material: Bamboo-derived viscose | Fill material: Bamboo-derived viscose | Cooling features: Breathable fabric | Care: Spot-clean or dry-clean recommended

The fabric actually feels cool to the touch.

It wrinkles easily.

The Sijo AiryWeight Cooling Eucalyptus Comforter is another comforter that wowed us with its cool-to-the-touch design. I personally tested this comforter and found it cocoons you in warmth once your body is underneath, but if you touch the top surface of the comforter in the middle of the night, it still feels surprisingly cool.

I used a duvet cover and top sheet during part of the testing, but the comforter’s eucalyptus Tencel fabric is so soft, it made me want to ditch the cover and sheet just so I could feel the comforter against my skin. It also has a luxurious sheen that elevates your bed, though the fabric does wrinkle easily and can look rumpled.

The design is so lightweight, you barely feel it’s there, which is perfect for super hot nights. I was initially skeptical that a comforter this thin and light could keep me warm, but it actually retains heat surprisingly well—even on cooler 40°F nights when I thought I’d need an extra blanket.

I was a little disappointed to find out this comforter is dry-clean only, which makes it higher maintenance than other picks. I took my chances and washed it in my front-loading machine on a cool delicate cycle, then dried it on low heat for half an hour. After one cycle, it still looked and felt amazing, but I’ll continue to assess how well it holds up with more machine washes.

Cover material: Tencel lyocell derived from eucalyptus | Fill material: Tencel lyocell derived from eucalyptus | Cooling features: Breathable materials, cooling fabric | Care: Dry-clean recommended

Our top pick is the Slumber Cloud UltraCool Comforter, which impressed us with its super cool feel and lightweight design. We experienced zero hot, sweaty nights with this comforter. If you’re looking to spend a little less, we recommend the Bedsure Cooling Comforter. This comforter felt incredibly soft and silky, and it provided just enough insulation to keep us warm without trapping too much heat.

It’s hard to know if a comforter lives up to its cooling claims until you’ve tested it in the wild, so we put each of these comforters to the test in our beds at home. We first inspected each comforter for quality of construction, looking for red flags like loose threads or uneven stitching. If it was a duvet insert, we placed it in a duvet cover to see how well it stayed put.

Throughout testing, we took careful notes on how hot or cool we felt when underneath the comforter. If a comforter felt initially cool, we paid close attention to whether it remained cool through the night or if it eventually caused sweating.

We examined the fill to see if it stayed evenly distributed or if it clumped during the night. We also took note of how quiet the comforter was—did it make noise when we shifted, or was it soundless?

We washed each comforter at least once and looked for clumping, wrinkling, or other changes in quality. We’ll continue testing each comforter to see how they perform over time.

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Cover material plays a huge role in how cool a comforter feels. Synthetic materials like polyester and microfiber tend to trap more heat, while natural materials usually run cooler.

“Breathability is key,” says interior designer Tracy Morris. “Opt for natural, moisture-wicking fabrics like bamboo, Tencel, or percale cotton, which allow air to circulate and prevent trapped heat.”

Percale cotton and linen are especially breathable, and they’re among the more affordable cooling textiles, too—though both are prone to wrinkling, according to Morris.

Bamboo and Tencel are also great for thermoregulation, especially if you’re into soft, silky texture. Just note that bamboo tends to be more delicate and Tencel is often more expensive than other cooling fabrics.

Down is a popular fill material for comforters, but it’s not always the coolest. If you’re looking for a cool fill material, Morris recommends bamboo or wool because they excel at wicking moisture and they’re naturally breathable.

If you really love the thick, fluffy feel of down, though, Morris says your best bet is down alternative infused with cooling gel. You can also try an authentic down comforter, so long as you pick a lower fill power—Morris recommends between 400 and 600. This will ensure it’s light and airy rather than dense and heavy.

The best cooling comforter is ultimately one made with cool, breathable materials that trap as little heat as possible. Bamboo-derived fabrics, silk, and Tencel are always dependable for breathability and cooling, which is why we loved the Bedsure Cooling Comforter, Eden & Om Bamboo Comforter, and Sijo AiryWeight Cooling Eucalyptus Comforter.

Other comforters stay cool because they’re super lightweight and made with cool-to-the-touch fabric, like the Slumber Cloud UltraCool Comforter and Breescape Cooling Comforter.

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A lightweight comforter and cooling comforter may seem interchangeable, but they’re not always the same thing. A cooling comforter is made with materials that actively keep you cool or minimize heat. A lightweight comforter is thinner and lighter, but it’s not always made with the best cooling materials.

“If you tend to wake up feeling too warm, a cooling comforter is the better choice,” Morris says. “A lightweight comforter works well if you just want something less bulky but still cozy.”

Many cooling comforters can be used year-round. Cooling materials are often good at thermoregulating, which means they can keep your body at a comfortable temperature through hot and cold weather.

A good example is comforters made with bamboo or Tencel, which are great at cooling while still retaining just the right amount of warmth. You can also opt for comforters like the Breescape Cooling Comforter, which have lightweight designs but incorporate slightly warmer materials such as polyester.

Some cooling comforters might not have enough insulation for cold sleepers, especially during winter. If your cooling comforter isn’t cutting it, you can layer on a blanket or quilt or swap in a heavier comforter when temperatures dip.

Real Simple

This article was written by Mina Hochberg, a Real Simple writer who has covered bedding and sleep products for five years. For expert insights on cool bedding, Mina spoke with Virginia-based interior designer Tracy Morris of Tracy Morris Designs.