5 Best Quilts and Coverlets, Tested and Reviewed by Our Editors

Another option from Brooklinen, the brand’s organic cotton quilt has become a bedding staple for AD Pro editor Mel Studach. It’s become a “mainstay for every season.” She’ll layer it over her sheets during the summer or add it to her duvet when the temperature drops. “It’s snuggly soft and breathable, while offering a nicely weighted layer—light enough to move freely, but dense enough to make you want to linger in bed just a bit longer,” Mel says. It’s also got a nice visual appeal with a subtle striped quilt pattern.

Tester: Abid Haque, contributor

Need a coverlet that can double as a cozy blanket for winter movie nights? Abid Haque says the Sunday Citizen Herringbone coverlet—which also helped him finally end his relationship with duvets—can do just that. It’s double-sided, with a cotton and viscose top and soft, snuggly microfiber underside. Abid says this helps it “seamlessly transition from warmer months to colder ones,” and its minimalist color and design blends perfectly with his room.

Tester: Madeleine Luckel, contributor

This coverlet from AD-favorite bedding brand Parachute features a ribbed stitch pattern that mimics a traditional French weave—but subdued hue gives it a minimalist spin. “Its oatmeal-y color is a nice, natural neutral, but its stitched details are the true hero attribute,” says reviewer Madeleine Luckel. The cotton fabric is totally machine-washable, so anyone hooked on the duvet cover life can rest easy without any cleaning fears. Since it’s a lightweight coverlet, this would probably fit better for the warmer months or as a neutral “throw quilt” rather than a year-round bedding option.

Tester: Julia Harrison, commerce writer

“This is what you’re thinking of when you’re thinking of a quilt—thick, warm, heavy, swaddling,” says Harrison. Handcrafted in India from 100% cotton patchwork and filled with 100% cotton batting, this is a quilt as quilts were meant to be—and have been, for the better part of history. The patchwork lends this choice the vintage quality that also makes quilts such an appealing home decor element; cozy, homey, just the thing you need after a long day of work when TV is all you can manage to engage with.

Tester: Lori Keong, associate commerce director

For hot sleepers, the idea of nestling up under a quilt every night might seem oppressive. For our associate commerce director, who tends to kick off the covers in summer, Tuft & Needle’s airy cotton-linen blend was just the right balance of heft (“heavier than just a top sheet for comfort, but lightweight enough to drift off comfortably”) and breathability to get her through the worst that New York City humidity could throw her way. She tends to use the quilt in summer and swap out for a comforter in winter, and refreshes it with a wash every few weeks during warm seasons— without any discoloration or damage to speak of. Though the brand doesn’t sell her exact favorite colorway anymore (a crowd-pleasing, minimalist white color), you can still scoop it up in some neutrals and brighter hues like “cayenne” red and an out-of-stock mustard.

Tester: Rachel Fletcher, commerce director

While cotton reigns supreme as the ultimate breathable, yet hardy material for quilts, it does have a cousin of sorts called “cotton gauze” that maximizes the lightweight factor and lands it somewhere closer to linen. Fletcher owns a Morrow quilt made of the fabric and says, “If you’re thinking ‘cotton gauze’ sounds too dreamy to be true, you should definitely experience this Morrow Soft Goods quilt for yourself.” She calls out the “superior” handfeel and percale backing that gives the underside of the quilt both a heft and a cooling quality. Though it’s not a 100% gauze quilt, Fletcher says she still appreciates the craftsmanship and attention to detail. She’s only had this quilt for a few weeks and uses it layered under a duvet insert for some extra warmth in this single digit weather. Still, she sees it as being a contender for the long haul. “I’ve put it through the washing machine once—but I have a feeling it’s going to be a staple in my bedroom for a long time to come,” she adds.

Tester: Julia Harrison, commerce writer