Bedspread, quilt and coverlet all describe a top layer for your bed, and shops often use the words loosely. The real differences are size, weight and construction. This guide explains each one, compares them side by side, and helps you pick the right layer for your bedroom and season.
Quick Answer
- Bedspread: the largest of the three. It drapes close to the floor on all sides and often covers the pillows too. Usually one woven layer, often a jacquard or matelassé.
- Coverlet: a smaller, lighter woven cover that sits on top of the mattress and stops a few inches below it. You see the bed skirt or frame underneath.
- Quilt: two layers of fabric with a thin filling between them, held together by stitching. It is usually a little warmer than a bedspread or coverlet and is often reversible.
What Is a Bedspread?
A bedspread is a full-coverage top layer. It is cut large enough to hang down the sides of the bed, close to the floor, so it hides the box spring and frame without a bed skirt. Many bedspreads are long enough to tuck under and over the pillows for a neat, finished look.
Most of our bedspreads are woven jacquard or matelassé, a weave that creates a raised, quilted-looking pattern without any filling. That keeps them light and breathable. Browse our bedspreads and coverlet sets, including the Basketweave matelassé bedspread set and the Fleur de Lis jacquard bedspread set.
Best for: a tailored, hotel-style bed, guest rooms, and anyone who wants one layer to cover everything.
What Is a Coverlet?
A coverlet is a lighter, shorter woven cover. It covers the top of the mattress and drops just past the edge, so it works best with a bed skirt or a frame you want to show. Because it is smaller and lighter, a coverlet is easy to layer: fold it at the foot of the bed over a duvet in winter, or use it on its own in warm months.
Try the Tanta textured circles coverlet or the Aswan chevron coverlet. Both also come in a throw size for the sofa. For layering ideas, see how to layer a duvet and coverlet together.
Best for: layering, warm climates, and beds with a frame or bed skirt you want to see.
What Is a Quilt?
A quilt is made of three parts: a top fabric, a thin layer of filling (batting), and a back fabric, all stitched together. The stitching forms the pattern and keeps the filling in place. Quilts are usually sized like a coverlet rather than a bedspread, and many are reversible, so you get two looks in one.
Shop our quilt sets, such as the Brandon reversible embroidered quilt set or the Corrington fine stitch quilt set.
Best for: a little extra warmth without the bulk of a comforter, and spring and fall nights.
Bedspread vs Quilt vs Coverlet at a Glance
| Feature | Bedspread | Coverlet | Quilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Largest, drapes near the floor | Covers the mattress top and edge | Usually coverlet-sized |
| Construction | Single woven layer (jacquard or matelassé) | Single woven layer | Top, filling and back, stitched together |
| Warmth | Light | Light | Light to medium |
| Needs a bed skirt? | No | Usually | Usually |
| Best season | All year, layered in winter | Spring and summer, or as a layer | Spring and fall |
How to Choose
- Want a clean, finished bed with one piece? Choose a bedspread.
- Like to layer, or sleep warm? Choose a coverlet and add or remove layers through the year.
- Want a bit more warmth than a woven cover? Choose a quilt.
- Check the size chart. Bedspread and coverlet sizes are not the same even when both say "Queen", because a bedspread is cut to drape lower.
Not sure what weight to pick? Our bedspread weight guide by season walks through it. Free shipping across the US on all bedspreads and coverlets.
FAQs
Is a coverlet the same as a bedspread?
No. Both are woven top layers, but a bedspread is larger and drapes close to the floor, while a coverlet covers the top of the mattress and stops just below its edge.
Is a quilt warmer than a bedspread?
Usually, yes. A quilt has a thin layer of filling between two fabrics, while most bedspreads are a single woven layer. Both are lighter than a comforter.
What is a matelassé bedspread?
Matelassé is a weave that creates a raised, padded-looking pattern in the fabric itself, without filling. It gives the look of a quilt with the lightness of a woven cover.
Do I need a bed skirt with a coverlet?
Most people use one, because a coverlet stops just below the mattress. A bedspread usually covers the box spring on its own.
Can I use a coverlet with a duvet?
Yes. Fold the coverlet at the foot of the bed or lay it over the duvet for extra texture and warmth on cold nights.
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