Down vs. feathers – the filling of duvets & pillows | A detailed comparison

Where are down and feathers found?

Both down and feathers usually come from geese or ducks. Basically, down forms the inner layer of the plumage and feathers the outer layer. Down protects the animals from cold or heat and helps regulate their temperature. Feathers, by contrast, have the more practical task of protecting the animal from its environment.

What are the differences in structure?

Down looks similar to a snowflake and is essentially very airy, loose and soft. Feathers, with their long, hard quill in the middle, are considerably heavier. Feathers are also much larger than down, which means they add more volume and weight.
The individual filaments of down are usually longer and more branched than those of a feather. This has positive effects on heat retention and insulation. Down also has only a small three-dimensional core, similar to a ball, which is why down is not as hard.

What are the differences in quality?

With duvets in particular, there are clear differences in quality. A distinction is made between a feather duvet, a mixed down/feather duvet and a pure down duvet. The rule of thumb is: the higher the proportion of down, the higher the quality of the duvet.

Thanks to its loose structure, down holds a great deal of air while remaining light, fluffy and voluminous. This makes a pure down duvet a good insulator that still balances temperature remarkably well: warm in winter and not too warm in summer.

Another advantage of duvets with 100% down is that the cotton casing does not need to be as thick, as there are no prickly feathers. The thinner casing in turn has a positive effect on the breathability of the duvet.

Which material is cosier?

Down is considerably softer and more flexible than feathers. You notice this especially if you scrunch up a duvet with a certain proportion of feathers and then do the same with a down duvet. The latter not only adapts better to your body at night, but also fills the air gaps that form while you sleep more effectively. This is why a duvet with 100% down feels particularly soft.

Which material is more expensive?

Down is the more exclusive, higher-quality but also more expensive material. However, the exact price difference between down and feathers is not easy to quantify, as several parameters come into play:

• Which animal? (goose or duck)
• Which breed? (e.g. eider duck or mallard)
• Which colour? (brown or white)
• Are the down/feathers new or old?
• What is the proportion of feathers or down?
• Where and how were the animals kept?

Duvets and pillows with feathers also need a thicker casing, as the hard quills of the feathers can otherwise prick uncomfortably. Down manages with a thinner casing.

We therefore recommend that you always read the description of duvets and pillows carefully and contact customer support if you have any further questions.

Conclusion: is down generally better than feathers?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. For a duvet, the answer is usually yes; for a pillow, it tends to be no.

An example: if you fill a pillow with 100% down, you would sink very deep into it, which many people find less comfortable. That's why a certain proportion of feathers is always needed, as their harder quills provide support. In pillows using 3-chamber technology, however, the feathers are usually limited to one chamber.

When buying a duvet or pillow, make sure that the proportion of down, the fill weight and the type of chambers are clearly stated. For online purchases, the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal also applies.