Choosing The Right Duvet / Quilt
There is no one-size-fits-all quilt.
Given this, I’m hoping to simplify the purchasing process for you by linking product specifications with your personal needs and preferences so you know exactly what to look for.
Let’s dive in!
WARMTH
How warm do you want your quilt to be? If you sleep in tropical temperatures, it’s best to go with a light, summer weight quilt. If you’re one of those people who’s always cold or you like to turn the heat down at night, look for a down quilt in an all season or winter weight.
For a deeper look at Duvet / Quilt Warmth, click here.
WEIGHT
Do you love the feeling of sleeping under a heavy blanket? You may want to look for a feather or microfiber-filled quilt. These fill types don't have great insulating properties, so these quilts contain a lot more fill and are much heavier. Down is very warm per ounce, so less fill is required to achieve the desired warmth level. If you like a light quilt that won’t weigh you down, a down quilt is for you!
CARE
If you anticipate your quilt will require frequent cleaning, look for a synthetic fill, like microfiber. These quilts can be machine washed as needed. Quilts filled with natural down and/or feather should be dry cleaned or professionally washed.
THREAD COUNT
The higher the thread count, the softer and less noisy a quilt’s shell will be. While noise isn’t a deciding factor for most people, if you are very sensitive to sound, you may want to avoid lower thread count shells, which can rustle more loudly.
Read more about thread count here.
BUDGET
Down is the most costly fill type (more about that here). If you’re shopping on a budget, look for feather or down alternative quilts. If you want a down quilt without the hefty price tag, consider a duck down quilt or a down and feather mix. If you’re looking to splurge, treat yourself to a luxurious goose down quilt.
Before you begin shopping for a quilt, take the time to consider what’s important to you and define your budget. This will help you focus your search and find a quilt that will serve your needs and lifestyle well!
Read more about the difference between down and feather or the difference between duck down and goose down.
APPEARANCE
I would encourage you not to get too hung up on the appearance of your quilt insert. It’s important to use a quilt cover at all times, so your insert shouldn’t be visible (except on laundry day!).
Ready to start shopping?
See our Duvet / Quilt collection
Compare all duvet / quilt specs
Did we miss anything? Have additional questions? Let us know below!
Illustrations by Amanda Nguyen
65 comments
Hi Dianne, Our XL Queen duvets are 96″ × 98″. Our Queen duvets are 88″ × 90″. You can find our product dimensions on the Standard Dimensions page or by clicking Fill Weights & Dimensions on the product page. I recommend measuring your mattress before deciding – they can vary in size!
We only have one feather bed – the Down Perfect Feather Bed, so if you know you like a feather bed, I’d go with that one! It will add support, but still has some ‘give’ to it. Poly beds are more sinky.
Canadian Down & Feather Company
I have a queen, pillow top mattress that I would like to improve the firmness and plushness (not sure if that’s possible) but I stayed at a spa/resort and it was the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in (with a feather bed).
What is the size difference of your Xl queen and regular queen duvets? I prefer a duvet to hang over the sides of the bed a bit.
I would also like to order a feather bed but have never had one so I’m not sure which is best.
Please help 😁 thanks!
Dianne
Dianne Hall
Hi Patricia, We don’t currently, but there are some on the market! Hopefully in the future :)
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Hi Georgia, I would imagine you’d need a Winter Weight duvet for those cold temps. We have 2 duvets in Winter Weight – see the product comparison chart for which ones! I can’t speak to wool duvets – wool is not as powerful an insulator as down, but it’s possible that a very heavy wool duvet could work. You’re correct that down needs to be lofted fully in order to provide its maximum insulation. I don’t think that a dog lying in one area should have too much an impact, as the parts of the duvet over the body should still be lofted up.
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Hi. We don’t heat our bedroom in winter because we sleep with a window open (unless it gets below -20C outside). The bedroom usually stays above 4C but I presume it’s colder than you’d recommend for an All Season down duvet or would an All Season plus wool blanket keep me warm enough? I like to be toasty warm and am not a hot sleeper.
Second concern: would the duvet be crushed or damaged with a large dog sleeping on it? If the loft is flattened during the night would it let cold air in? Thanks.
Georgia
Do you make customized duvets? My husband is always too cold and I am too always too warm. We would need a duvet that is warmer on one side and cooler on the other.
Patricia Karman
Hi Wolfgang, we certainly do :) Click ‘Covers’ in the top menu.
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Do you sell the duvet covers, I want to purchase a duvet but also want the covers on the same purchase.
WOLFGANG SCHWANDT
Hello Commenters! We would like to update you that we do now offer duvet covers that fit our duvets! We hope you love them :)
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Hi Kirsten, A weighty Summer Weight duvet would be pretty hard to achieve! The more fill weight we add to the duvet, the warmer it becomes! All Summer Weight duvets are fairly thin and light, however, the heaviest one we offer is the White Down Duvet. The lower the loft, the heavier the duvet will be, because the down is lower performance. Therefore, more down is needed to achieve the same warmth level. However, the difference is minimal, and you’ll still find the White Down Duvet in Summer Weight to be quite light!
Canadian Down & Feather
Hi Cyndy, Yes, all of our king size duvets have the same size boxes. For a duvet that’s not too warm, we would recommend Summer Weight! However, these will not be overly fluffy, but rather thinner-style, light duvets. Fluffiness and warmth go hand-in-hand. The more fill we add to a duvet, the fluffier it becomes and the warmer it becomes! Warmer duvets will be puffier and less warm duvets will be flatter.
Canadian Down & Feather
Hi Bruce, Summer Weight duvets are recommended for room temps 22C or above (or very hot sleepers!)
Canadian Down & Feather
Hi, the best purchase of my bedding life was two twin white goose down duvets for a king bed. They are perfection as I adore the weight and manifest perfect body warmth, especially in freezing temps. I would like to transition to summer duvets as they are getting a bit too warm and we are facing heat extremes soon. However, I do like as much weight as I can get. Which duvet would you recommend for summer, with weight? Thank you
Kirsten Trost
Another question, are all baffle boxes the same size on your duvets (down), King size?
Cyndy
Hi, I have read and re-read all the comments.
I have a duvet cover that is 108×92, would like a duvet down fill to fit it without any baggy sides/ends.
I live in GA and I am a super warm person, so I tried to decifer all the info above and I still can’t figure out which one to buy, as previous people have mentioned they don’t want it to be flat, however I read, loft does not equate to temperature??? please help. I use percale sheets year round for coolness and I can always add a light blanket if were ever needed. I like to layer my bed anyways. Thank you
Cyndy
what is the recommended temperature range for sleeping with a summer weight duvet. I have seen 19 – 21 deg for a regular and 16 – 18 deg C for an all season.
Bruce Johnson
Hi Sam, Fluffiness and warmth go hand-in-hand! The more fill we add to a duvet, the fluffier and warmer it becomes. The fluffiest and warmest weight we carry is Winter Weight. The White Goose Down Duvet and 650 Loft White Goose Down Duvet come in Winter Weight – but beware – Winter Weight is way too warm for most people!
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Hey !!! I just wanted to know what duvet was the fluffiest and warmest ??
Sam
Hi Adrienne, You’ll find the difference explained on each product page in the product description. All Season Weight contains more fill and therefore is warmer than Regular Weight. All Season is best for cooler room temps (around 16-18C) and Regular is better for moderate temps (like 19-21C). You’ll find the exact difference in fill weight in the Dimensions & Fill Weights section of each product page.
Canadian Down & Feather
I am confused between the all season and regular weight Hutterite goose down duvet? Could you explain?
Adrienne
Hi Dianne, You can find our product features and specifications on every product page. All of our duvets come with corner loops to suit duvet covers with ties! You can find our product dimensions on every product page and on our Standard Dimensions page. The best size for your cover would be XL Queen. I wouldn’t recommend getting a super fluffy duvet in this case. The more fill we add to a duvet, the fluffier it becomes, but also the warmer it becomes! A very fluffy duvet will be too hot for the person who sleeps warm. It’s generally best to cater to the warmer sleeper, as it’s easier for the cooler sleeper to add an extra blanket as needed.
Canadian Down & Feather
Looking to buy a queen size duvet that will look fluffy but will also address two sleepers who sleep hot and cold. No heat on in bedroom. Also, correct size to fit a 92×96 duvet cover with insides ties for anchoring.
Dianne Hillier
Hi Anne, 1. Higher thread count doesn’t really = denser fabric. Higher thread count fabric does have more threads per sq in, but each thread is thinner. Lower thread count has thicker threads but fewer threads. So the density is roughly equivalent. All of the fabric we use is down and feather-proof, meaning it meets a minimum standard for down-proofness. However, for fabrics that meet this minimum, there is variation in how well/tightly the threads interlock. It just so happens that the thread thickness (decitex) and number of threads in 233TC fabric allows for really tight interlocking, compared to the decitex used in a higher TC. The higher TC is still meets the criteria for being down-proof and preventing leakage, but the interlocking is quite as perfect. 2. Lower thread count does contribute to noise, as does the type of weave. For example a twill weave is always noisier than a sateen weave. 3. Feathers are not as delicate as down, due to their springy, resilient quills. It’s not generally advisable to sleep on top of any duvet – they’re fairly delicate products that won’t hold up well to that kind of use. But if you do plan to sleep on one, a feather one will provide more support and cushioning…but you will be able to feel the quills beneath the fabric. Down duvets are more soft-feeling, but will flatten down completely with the weight of the body. I hope this helps! – Heather
Canadian Down & Feather Company
1. Shouldn’t duvets with feathers (due to their quills) have a higher thread count, i.e. denser fabric to keep them in? Your feather + feather-down mix duvets have lower or same thread counts as the solely-down ones.
2. Does a lower thread count automatically result in a noisier duvet or are there other factors? (Interestingly, US sources say the higher the TC, the quieter, whereas German ones say the exact opposite.)
3. Are feathers as delicate as down, as one shouldn’t sleep on down duvets? I like to sometimes sleep either completely or half-way on top of my duvet and wonder if the higher amount of feathers in a mixed or pure-feather duvet would keep it from getting too smashed.
Anne
Hi Alex, That’s a tough one! Fluffiness and warmth go hand in hand. The more fill we add to a duvet the fluffier it becomes, and the warmer it becomes! Winter Weight is our warmest and fullest/fluffiest weight, but it will be far too hot for you. You may want to go with a Regular Weight or Summer Weight duvet. These are not the fluffiest versions of our duvets, but I suppose you’ll want to think about what’s more important to you – appearance or function!
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Hi Eve, Loft is the measure of down quality. The higher the loft, the higher the quality! It will not affect the warmth or fluffiness of the duvet. For warmth level, you’ll want to check the warmth rating. If two duvets have the same warmth rating, they are the same warmth level. All Season is one of our warmth ratings. I wouldn’t recommend All Season Weight if you run hot. All Season is best for cooler sleepers or cooler room temperatures. You may want to opt for Regular Weight or Summer Weight. You can see which duvets come in which weights in the Product Comparison Chart!
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Hello, I have often been hot while sleeping and are looking for a duvet accordingly. We would like to have a duvet that is not too thin and not too light, which product do you recommend?
Alex
thank you so much for responding to my previous question- your answers were helpful. i am looking now at getting an all season weight duck down duvet and im wondering how to make the decision between a 600, 650 or 700 loft? i want it to be light feeling and pouffy/fluffy looking and i also run a bit hot when sleeping. do you think it matters which loft i pick?
Eve
Hi Eve, For a light and fluffy duvet, you’ll want to look at a down duvet! Down is very insulating per ounce so just a little bit of fill goes a long way. This is why you’ll find down duvets lightweight compared to duvets filled with microfiber or feather. Fluffiness and warmth tend to go hand in hand. The more fill we add to a duvet, the fluffier it becomes and also the warmer it becomes! You’ll find that the All Season Weight and Winter Weight down duvets are the fluffiest variants!
Canadian Down & Feather Company
I am looking for something on the lighter side as well as puffy looking.
at the moment i have a gel filled duvet that is very heavy (i tend to run hot so I take the blanket off and on during the night and it feels like I’m lifting a corpse every time!). the gel one also sits quite flat and i don’t like the look of it when the bed is made. I would like something that looks puffier and feels light and fluffy to touch. thanks in advance.
Eve
Hi Rose-Marie, If your room is warm, I recommend Regular Weight! Check out the blue image on this blog post…it shows the recommended temperature range for each weight. All Season Weight contains more fill than Regular Weight, and therefore it is warmer!
Canadian Down & Feather Company
I don’t understand very well the difference between regular weight and all season weight, so I can’t choose my duvet.
My room is warm , even in winter, and I want to use my duvet all year around.could you explain me what to choose.Thanks.
Rose-Marie Tasseroul
Hi Michelle, Queen size is 88″ × 90″, while XL Queen size is 96″ × 98″. You can find dimensions listed on our Standard Dimensions page (in the FAQ menu) or on the Specifications tab on any product page :)
Canadian Down & Feather Company
What is the difference in size for Queen and XLQueen?
Michelle
Hi Bernard, Thanks for your question! You certainly could try! Two twin duvets will make a combined width of 128", which is 40" wider than one queen duvet. I do know some customers who use two duvets and really like it! There will just be some extra overhang.
Canadian Down & Feather Company
We have a queen bed and are interested in trying out two twin duvets like we have seen travelling in Europe. Do you think that could work on a Queen or do you think we would need a king bed? Have you had other customers try this idea on a queen.
Hoping to never fight over the sheets again.
Bernard
Hi Kathleen, The All Season Weight is not much bulkier, no. You can see how the fill weight differs by clicking ‘Specifications’ on the product page. The All Season will only have a few more ounces of fill, and should compress for travel similarly to the Regular Weight. Down is very insulating per ounce, so a little bit goes a long way!
Canadian Down & Feather Company
I would like to travel with my duvet, but I am also a cold sleeper. Is the all-season much more bulky than the regular duvet?
Kathleen
Hi Jennifer,
For a year-round duvet that’s not too hot, I’d go with Regular Weight! The Hutterite Goose Down Duvet is our most popular one. Feel free to email us if you have additional questions! :)
Canadian Down and Feather Company
Hi,
Looking for recommended Duvet -
Looking to use year round. King Size. We tend to sleep hot so constantly kicking blankets on and off.
Hope this Helps.
Jennifer
Hi Aurel & Valerie,
We sell duvet inserts that are meant to be used inside of duvet covers! Duvet covers are available in many different colours, patterns and styles! :)
Canadian Down & Feather Company
I would buy one but you have them in white,Why not colours.?
Aurel.Godard@kapuskasing.ca
I would like to buy a coloured duvet……it seems you haven’t any.
Valerie Godard
Hi Joan, I guess that depends on what you’re comparing it to! You can check fill weight of a product by clicking on the ‘Specifications’ tab (next to ‘Description’ on the product page!
Canadian Down & Feather Co.
How much heavier is the gel duvet?
Joan Abernethy
Hi Lori, This is a tough one! If you like a weighty, warm duvet, I’d recommend our White Goose Feather Duvet. While the feathers do have quills, they should not poke or leak out of the shell, as the thread count is high enough to contain the fill. If you’re opposed to feather, you could opt for an All Season Weight down duvet. Down is extremely warm per ounce, though, so we don’t require as much fill to achieve the desired warmth. Down duvets will be very light compared to feather duvets. I hope this helps, but happy to continue the conversation – feel free to call/email/chat any time! :)
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Hi. I have allergies but prefer a natural fiber duvet over synthetic.(I have a synthetic comforter and it’s way too warm to use.) I don’t like feathers as they tend to poke. Weight is a must for me, otherwise I’m adding more blankets. I only use in the winter and my room is cool, which I like. What do you recommend?
Thanks!
Lori
Hi Dana, I’d recommend a down duvet (see our duvets in pink, blue, yellow-green and purple packaging) in Regular Weight. This should hit a happy medium! :)
Canadian Down & Feather Company
Hi, i will like to know which duvet to buy my husband is cold at night and i ’m always hot
Dana
Hi Mika, The higher the thread count, the less noisy the duvet will be! I recommend one of our Hutterite Duvets, which have a soft, 400 thread count shell. Choose All Season Weight for winter temperatures! :)
Canadian Down & Feather Company
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