Your Shopping Cart

It appears that your cart is currently empty!

CONTINUE SHOPPING

A Guide to Buying Pillows and Duvets Online: What You Need to Know

by Mitchell Chitiz

Despite the convenience of online shopping, some products might seem more difficult to purchase than others. Bedding, for example, is something you’d typically want to feel before buying. So we’ve created an easy-to-use guide on how to buy pillows and duvets online, including where to buy pillows online in Canada.

 

How to Buy Pillows Online

Purchasing pillows online is much simpler than it seems. All you need to do is follow these tips:

 

  • Check the thread count: a higher thread count will offer a softer and lighter experience.
  • Find your sleep style: do you sleep on your stomach, back, or side?
  • Choose your firmness level: do you want your pillow to conform to your head, give slight resistance, or be supportive and dense?

 

This table will help you find the perfect fit:

 

Sleep Style

Softness Level

Support Needs

Fill Type

Stomach sleeper

Soft

Conform to your head

Natural fill: Down or Down-Alternative

Back sleeper

Soft to medium

Slight resistance but still soft

Synthetic fill

Side sleeper

Medium to firm

Supportive and dense

Memory foam fill

Side sleeper with additional support

Extra firm

Extra supportive and dense

Memory foam fill (thicker)

 

Once you’ve found the perfect pillow type that suits your sleep style and needs, buying pillows online will be much easier!

 

White bed with a laptop

 

How to Buy Down Pillows Online

Natural Down products offer a superior level of luxury and quality. Buying them online can be tricky, but we have some cardinal rules to follow when making your purchase.

If you want to buy a Down pillow online, be sure to follow these guidelines:

 

Check the fill material

White goose Down is quill-free and doesn’t produce a feather-like odor. Some Down products are made with a mixture of Down and feathers, which isn’t as luxurious as pure Down. Make sure you check what materials the pillow is made of before purchasing.

 

Look for certifications

True luxury Down products will meet specific industry standards and be certified by the Down Association. When buying pillows online in Canada, look for the DOWNMARK certification label to guarantee a high quality and ethical product.

 

Consider hypoallergenic options

If you suffer from allergies, look for hypoallergenic Down products. Hypoallergenic pillows will make a huge difference to your sleep and overall health.

 

Person holding a white and grey pillow

How to Buy Duvets Online

Buying duvets online is much like buying pillows online. As long as you follow a few simple guidelines, you’ll be sure to find the right fit for your sleep needs.

The first thing to do when buying a duvet online is to decide what material you’d like your duvet to be made of, both inside and out. For your duvet fill, there are two main options: Down or Down-Alternative.

 

Fill Type Materials Pros Buying Tips
Down Goose or Duck Down
  • Fluffier
  • More luxurious, breathable and lightweight
  • Look for Downmark certification
  • Avoid counterfeit Down products
  • Avoid "Down Fiber"
Down and Feather Blend Goose or Duck Down/Feather
  • Natural and breathable
  • More affordable than Down-only duvets
  • Mid-weight
  • Mid-warmth
  • Look for Downmark certification
  • A higher percentage of Down will be higher in price, but warmer with a lighter weight
  • Avoid counterfeit Down products
  • Avoid "Down Fiber"
Down-Alternative
  • Polyester/recycled polyester
  • Cotton
  • Wool
  • Silk
  • Bamboo
  • Better for allergies
  • Can be washed more than Down
  • Less expensive

 

  • Look for hypoallergenic materials
  • Polyester feels similar to Down 

 

When buying duvets, you will also need to check the fill power (also known as loft). This is usually listed on the packaging and is an indication of quality and thickness. The higher the fill power, the thicker and lighter weight the duvet will be. Duvet thickness will also have an effect on the level of warmth.

 

  • Lightweight/Cool: 400 or below
  • Medium/All year: 400 - 600
  • Heavy/Warm: 600 - 800
  • Heaviest/Warmest: 800 and up

 

For Down duvets, you will also see a measurement of fill weight. The fill weight will typically be listed in ounces and is an indication of how much Down is in the duvet.

 

Down duvet

The last step to buying the right duvet is to check the construction. Duvet construction is easy to decipher at a glance. There are four main construction types for duvets.

 

Baffle Box

The warmest and sturdiest duvet construction. Baffle box stitching holds the fill in place to prevent clumping and maintains an even distribution of fill throughout the duvet. It also features reinforced fabric strips to ensure that the duvet always maintains its shape. This construction is also one of the most popular, but is also more expensive.

 

Quilt Stitching

Similar to baffle box construction in appearance, but less luxurious. Quilt stitching holds the fill in place to prevent lumping but doesn’t offer reinforced fabric strips. This construction is more affordable than baffle box stitching.

 

Channel

The most common duvet construction. Channel stitching is only made of parallel seams, which means that the fill can shift within the duvet. This can be used to give one person more fill and the other less. This is the most affordable duvet construction, but is not recommended for those who want a luxurious duvet experience.

 

Gusset

The most luxurious duvet construction. Gusset duvets are often made with baffle box stitching, offering the highest level of support. They also feature fabric walls around the sides, offer more height and loft, and a superior, cozy warmth. This construction is the most expensive

 

Mug on wooden bedside table

Buying Advice for Pillows and Duvets

When purchasing any type of bedding online, we recommend keeping these specific tips in mind:

  • Research the brand: make sure the brand is reputable. Only purchase from trusted retailers and manufacturers.
  • Sustainable practices: read about the brand to see if they use sustainable practices or mention them in their mission statement. This is especially important when purchasing Down and feather products.
  • Look for warranties: if you’re purchasing from a trusted brand, they will almost always offer a warranty or return policy.
  • Read reviews: always read reviews on the product and brand before making your purchase. If you see any negative reviews, be sure to read how the brand responded and offered to help. Customer service skills are incredibly important, and you want to make sure you’ll be supported before and after your purchase.
  • Check the measurements: always double-check the product measurements before making your order. Ensure that the sizing is correct and is a good fit for you.
  • Trial and error: at the end of the day, you may have to try a few products before settling on the perfect one. This is also why you should look for products with solid return policies and customer service!

 

Teddy bear on a bed

Where to Buy Pillows Online in Canada

Online shopping in Canada hasn’t always been the easiest. Fortunately, there are a few retailers that offer quality duvets and pillows online.

We suggest starting with Amazon. Amazon offers a variety of Down and Down-Alternative pillows and duvets, as well as reasonable shipping costs. Other sites include Hudson’s Bay, Wayfair, SleepCountry, and Bed Bath and Beyond. Many of these retailers will offer sustainable options as well.

 

Duvets and Pillows by Westex

At Westex, we offer high-quality Down and Down-Alternative duvets and pillows. For recycled Down and feather options, we use Down and feather that is cleaned, processed and sterilized in Europe, and then shipped to Canada for production to create sustainable, breathable, and natural products. See our Canadian White Goose Down Luxury Duvet on Amazon.