Down is a lightweight and breathable material that offers a hotel-style sleeping thanks to its insulation and overall warmth. Thanks to it's soft and yielding properties, this type of bedding is ideal for year-round use. When it comes to deciding between goose down vs. duck down, both offer long-term quality and comfort. Keep reading below to see the benefits and differences of goose down and duck down, or jump ahead to the information you need most.

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Overview:

What is Down?
Goose Down vs. Duck Down: The Basics
The Benefits of Goose Down
The Benefits of Duck Down
Caring for Duck Down & Goose Down
Additional Considerations

What is Down?

Down refers to the fluffy feather undercoat of a bird that protects its body from the elements. These feathers are typically soft and light. They generate thermal insulation to keep birds comfortable during the day and at night. Both goose down and duck down are often used as fill material for comforters and duvets.

Goose Down vs. Duck Down: The Basics

The Benefits of Goose Down

Availability

Goose down is most commonly used for down quilts due to their high-quality insulation and warmth. When it comes to bedding materials, goose down is considered the most opulent choice ahead of a restful night of sleep.

Softness & Warmth

On birds, down grows in clusters of varying sizes. The larger the cluster, the higher the fill power and insulation. In general, geese are larger than ducks and therefore produce larger down clusters. Greater in number and size, these down clusters expand more, allowing for the fibres to trap and redistribute more warmth. This trait often makes goose down softer than duck down.

Colour

Goose down is usually available in white or gray, making it a versatile choice that complements any colour palette or bedroom style. It's generally not visible in a duvet, meaning any colour can be incorporated into the bedding.

Durability

Goose down is often more resilient than duck down because of the size of its down clusters. This contributes to its long-lasting durability and suppleness.

The Benefits of Duck Down

Availability

While goose down is well-known for its warmth, duck down is often a more accessible material that offers similar levels of comfort. Duck down has grown in popularity over the years due to its widespread availability and affordability.

Softness & Warmth

Although duck down is slightly less insulated than goose down, both materials offer long-lasting pliability and warmth.

Colour

Similar to goose down, duck down is primarily available in white or gray. Typically, white down is placed in white quilted shells in order to prevent any darker colours from being seen through the set.

Durability

Duck down and goose down both have similar levels of fill power, fill warmth, and thread count, which can provide similar levels of durability, insulation, and warmth.

Caring for Duck Down & Goose Down

To optimize upkeep, avoid overwashing your down comforter or duvet. Overwashing duck or goose down strips the down of its natural fats and oils, which can lead to brittle and stiff bedding. It can also lose its overall insulation. Typically, these types of comforters only need to be washed once every three to four years.

For long-lasting durability, make sure to plump your goose down or duck down comforter by hand. This helps to evenly distribute the down and produces more air pockets, which generates consistent fluff and softness.

Additional Considerations

When picking a duvet, it's important to take a look at the fill power, fill warmth and thread count. These features all provide information about the quantity and quality of both duck and goose down in the bedding. More down means greater insulation, which usually means it will last longer.

Fill Power

Fill power measures how much space one ounce of down takes up. This helps determine how efficiently the material is able to "loft," or fluff out, and produce long-term warmth. The higher the fill power, the better the quality of insulation.

Fill Warmth

While most down duvet inserts are made to complement fluctuating temperatures, specialised bedding is also available for specific seasons. Heavier down with greater insulation is ideal for those cold winter nights, while lighter, permeable down suits warm summers. A quilt's warmth level can be found in the product description on-site.

Thread Count

When it comes to bedding material, a higher thread count reflects a tighter fabric weave. This influences how effectively a comforter or duvet can contain down fill. The higher the thread count, the softer and more durable the material is for daily use. A low thread count is often less than 200, while a high thread count is 200 – 400. With goose down and duck down, a luxury thread count is above 400. This information is also available in the product description on-site.

Tip: You might also find these bedding-related articles worth reading:

• The Best Down-Filled Duvets for a Good Night's Sleep
• What to Look for When Choosing a Duvet
• Which Bedding Suits Which Season?