Heavy vs. Medium Down Comforter

Durability

• Both heavy and medium down comforters vary in durability depending on how they are made and the materials used. Cover materials include cotton, polyester, silk, bamboo cotton or a combination of different types of fibers. The fill may include one main type of feather from Siberian white geese, gray duck feathers, and feathers from other species. Sometimes feathers are mixed with fillers such as as micro-fiber, plant-based fiber filling and soy filling.

Warmth

• A heavy down comforter provides a lot more warmth when compared to a medium down comforter. A medium down comforter still provides plenty of warmth, but a heavy down comforter is best in a very cold environment with harsh winters. You may want a medium or light comforter if you live in a state with mild winters such as Florida or Arizona. Other materials within the comforter help determine how breathable it is. A medium down comforter with mostly cotton padding is more breathable than a comforter with both cotton and memory foam. Memory foam is more dense, so it holds onto heat, and some comforters have strips of memory foam built in to make the blanket even warmer.

Size

• Both heavy and medium down comforters come in twin, full, queen and king size. The thickness of the padding greatly varies depending on the materials used. Padding ranges from 2 to 6 inches thick, with heavy comforters being more on the dense side.

Price

• Price varies depending on the overall quality, regardless of whether it's a medium or heavy comforter. The materials used along with the thread count of the cotton and thickness of each layer affects the price. The price also depends on the size of the comforter, since both heavy and medium are made to fit different-sized beds. Additional details such as embroidery and boxed stitching may affect the cost. Buying a duvet cover to go over your comforter also may increase the cost.