A women's puffer jacket buying guide helps you navigate the important aspects of choosing the right jacket for winter. A puffer jacket is the coat you reach for on the coldest mornings, so it pays to choose one that fits your winter needs. The right choice comes down to four things: length, warmth, details like the hood and collar, and fit. This guide walks through each one, with examples from our puffer coats, so you can find a style you will wear every day.
Start with the length
Length changes both how warm a puffer feels and what you can wear it with.
Cropped: ends at the waist
A cropped puffer is easy to move in and looks best with high-rise jeans or trousers. The Zip Up Collared Neck Coat with Pockets is a short, lined puffer with a high collar, in tan, moss and cobalt blue, sizes S to XL. The Two-Tone Zip-Up Puffer Jacket adds a contrast yoke across the shoulders.
Hip length: the everyday option
A puffer that covers your hips keeps more of you warm and works over jeans, leggings or a dress. The Zip Up Collared Neck Long Sleeve Winter Coat comes in brick red, cream and taupe, sizes S to 2XL.
Shop the Zip Up Collared Neck Long Sleeve Winter Coat
Longline: extra coverage
A longline style reaches the thigh or below. The Zip Up Longline Hooded Puffer Vest Coat gives you that length without sleeves, which makes it easy to layer. It comes in ten colors, from sage to royal blue, in sizes S to XXL.
Shop the Zip Up Longline Hooded Puffer Vest Coat
Jacket or vest?
A puffer jacket covers your arms and is the warmer choice for cold days. A puffer vest keeps your core warm, leaves your arms free and layers over sweaters, shirts and even a lighter jacket. If you already own a warm coat, a vest is a good second layer for fall and early spring.
Our puffer vests range from simple to playful. The Corduroy Stand Neck Zipped Puffer Vest has a soft corduroy surface in dusty pink or gray. The Stand Neck Flutter Sleeve Snap Button Puffer Vest has ruffled shoulders and snap buttons. For a classic look, the Zip Up Puffer Vest Coat with Pockets comes in black or white.
Shop the Corduroy Stand Neck Zipped Puffer Vest
How warm does it need to be?
Every product page lists the weight and lining, and that tells you more than the look of the jacket. Two things to check:
- Weight. A jacket described as thick is built for real winter. The Plus Size Quilted Hooded Puffer Jacket and the Zip Up Collared Neck Coat with Pockets are both thick and lined. Most of the other styles here are medium weight, which suits mild winters or layering over a sweater.
- Lining. A lined puffer feels warmer and slides on more easily over knitwear.
Check the filling on the product page too. Many puffers, including ours, are filled with polyester rather than down. Synthetic filling is easy to wash at home and dries faster.
Hood, collar and closure
- Hood: the most useful detail in wind, rain or snow. The Plus Size Quilted Hooded Puffer Jacket and the Longline Hooded Puffer Vest Coat both have one.
- High or stand collar: keeps your neck warm without a scarf. Look for it on the Two-Tone and Zip Up Collared Neck styles.
- Zip or snaps: a zip seals out wind best. Snaps are quick to open indoors and give a softer, more casual look.
- Waist shape: a drawstring waist, like on the Drawstring Waist Zip-Up Puffer Jacket, lets you pull the jacket in so it looks less boxy.
Shop the Plus Size Quilted Hooded Puffer Jacket with Snap-Button Closure
Getting the fit right
A puffer should close comfortably over the thickest layer you plan to wear under it. When you try one on, or compare the size chart:
- Measure a jacket you already like across the chest, from armpit to armpit, and double it.
- Compare that number with the bust measurement on the size chart, and leave room for a sweater.
- Check the sleeves. They should reach your wrist bone when your arms hang down, since puffy sleeves bunch up when you bend your arms.
Sizes vary by style: the Plus Size Quilted Hooded Puffer Jacket runs from M to 3XL, while most other styles here run from S to XL or 2XL.
For milder days: quilted jackets
If a full puffer feels like too much, a quilted jacket gives you the same stitched look with less bulk. The Snap Down Collared Winter Coat is a quilted nylon jacket with a shirt collar and chest pockets, in seven colors from khaki to burgundy. The Quilted Lightweight Snap Down Puffer Jacket in yellow is another light layer for fall.
Shop the Snap Down Collared Winter Coat
Keep it looking new
Most puffers can be washed at home if you follow the care label and dry them slowly. Our guide How to Wash a Puffer Jacket Without Ruining It walks through machine washing, hand washing and drying step by step.
Find your puffer
Pick the length you will wear most, check the weight and lining for your climate, and size up enough for a sweater underneath. Then browse all puffer coats and puffer vests to find yours.
For a quick overview, browse our edit of puffer jackets and winter coats, sorted into jackets, vests and coats.
Delivery usually takes 9 to 17 business days, so order before the cold really sets in. Free standard shipping on eligible orders over US$60. Returns are accepted within 7 days in the US and 14 days in other countries on eligible items, as described in our Refund policy.