The 11 Best Peacoats for Quality, Functionality, and Durability — Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

L.L.Bean Classic Lambswool Peacoat

View On L.L.Bean $199

This coat runs true to size if not a little large — and we love how many sizing options there are, in plus and petite. It's a "classic" style, meaning boxy and not tailored close to the body, which makes it excellent for its layering potential (for a tighter fit, size down). It might not be for the trend-focused among us, but for those of us who want a low price-per-wear, this is an ideal choice.

Like a lot of L.L.Bean options, this feels high-quality and long-lasting (Shirley notes that their coats last "forever" and Cole likes that the brand is size-inclusive); it's definitely a step up from some of our less-expensive peacoats. The Thinsulate insulation plus wool shell (thick, soft lambswool that's not scratchy) gives it a nice warmth for a non-puffer coat. If you live in a colder climate, this would potentially be ideal for spring and fall, in other words. There are a number of pockets and thick, heavy anchor buttons. With the boxier fit, the coat can feel a little "loose" in the body when you're not layering with sweaters or cardigans underneath, so think about how you want to wear the coat before you pick your size — or, like us, order two sizes to see which one fits better.

So, if you like buying a single, timeless item that'll last you years, this is the pick — and, if you like your coats to be on the warmer side, this is also a solid choice.

Material: Italian lambswool, Thinsulate insulation, polyester lining | Colors: 4 | Size: 4–20; Petite 4–20; and 1X–3X

Best Budget

Uniqlo Padded Short Peacoat

View On Uniqlo.com

If you like the look of this, you're not alone: Shirley explains, "Christophe Lemaire brings his chic Parisian stylings to the Uniqlo U collection." This is quite boxy and oversized, and we felt it particularly in the sleeve width and length (when you're on the edge between two sizes, pick the smaller one — and don't pay attention to Mysize Assist, which may steer you towards an even larger size). With that said, though, and in keeping with a lot of UNIQLO's offerings, this is a well-made coat, particularly for the price. The shorter style is a nice throw-on coat option, and there's tons of room for layering.

Construction-wise, there’s an extra neck flap that can help protect from the cold, and the coat felt breathable without being stuffy. We also loved the hidden pocket (inside, left breast), which is perfect for glove storage and isn't something you always see on women's coats. The fact that it's lined with "square quilted flannel fabric," as described on the website, means there's added warmth without added bulk.

Our final take: this is a good transitional coat or travel coat depending on your needs, but it's perhaps not a coat for the cold months. Pay close attention to sizing, and know that it might take a few tries before you find your perfect fit.

Material: Cotton, polyester, nylon | Colors: 2 | Size: XXS–XL

Best for Cold Weather

Mango Oversize Wool Coat

View On Mango.com

When Mango describes this as "oversized," there’s no exaggeration. It felt huge in length and dimensions, even after ordering one size smaller than our normal size. Order one size down and two sizes down if you want to do a comparison; also, know that you might need to do some tailoring even after you buy. It's long, which means that on shorter folks, it might feel very, very long (and the buttons and pockets might not hit the right spot on your body).

The coat itself is nicely heavyweight, particularly for the cost — it's not terribly breathable, but it's warmer than your average peacoat. It's lined, too, and we felt warm and toasty when we tested the coat in a variety of environments. It might not be for heavy layering, per se, but if you need a coat that keeps the cold out without being bulky, this is your pick. The fabric is soft, and the wool is thick without being scratchy — so this works nicely as an occasion coat, too, since it looks and feels luxe. In other words: you could throw this over a dress or nice outfit and feel great in the colder months.

Material: Polyester, recycled wool,  polyamide,  acrylic, cotton, viscose | Colors: 2 | Size: XXS–XXL

Best Short

Banana Republic Classic Peacoat

View On Gapfactory.com

This runs true to size but is slim, so just bear that in mind when you pick your size. We loved the shorter length — which hit right at the hips for us — and the coat is incredibly warm despite not feeling terribly thick. It's probably not ideal for layering, and we couldn't get super thick sweaters under it, but it works perfectly with a thin sweater. With that in mind, we recommend this for fall and spring, and in any transitional weather.

What's nice about this option is its chicness, and we felt like we could throw on the coat and head out the door looking polished (even when our outfit underneath was supremely casual). The buttons are large and substantial, and the pockets are deep and slanted — perfect for putting in your essential items and not having to worry about them falling out. The lining is silky and luxurious, which is a nice touch. In our opinion, this is an ideal city coat: it helped us feel a bit dressy and put-together without a whole lot of effort, and it would have taken us to work meetings, dinners, and sightseeing without looking out of place. It looks high-maintenance, but is actually low-maintenance — the dream!

Material: Polyester | Colors: 1 | Size: XS–XL

Best Long

Reformation Paley Double Breasted Coat

View On Reformation $398

We wore this in a number of different contexts and with a bunch of outfits, and this coat looked great no matter what. The coat is roomy, meaning you can still layer with bigger sweaters, but the structured design meant we didn't feel like we were drowning in it (and the sleeves were actually the perfect length). Get your regular size, despite the site calling the style "roomy." It looks fabulous closed or open, if you want to show off your outfit on your commute.

The flap pockets are high quality and deep enough that you can hide the flap inside the pocket if you prefer a sleeker look. The lining's high-quality too and feels luxe. Even for those of us who are short, the jacket fits well and hits a nice spot at the bottom (mid-shin). We felt this would be perfect for fall and mild winter days, although it might be a bit too heavy for spring. It’s a nice "one and done" coat: Take it with you on a work trip or for a cold-weather vacation, and it'll suit your aesthetic no matter what you're doing. And, even though it's designed to look big, it's actually tailored to perfection. "If you're looking to add a statement coat to your wardrobe, this is the one to add," says Singla.

Material:  Recycled MWool, recycled polyamide, and polyamide | Colors: 2 | Size: XS–XL

Best Oversized

Zara Soft Oversized Coat

View On Zara.com

We loved wearing this for a full day's worth of activities — it was just that comfy-cozy (if you're unfamiliar, Zara usually nails their coat design and construction). If you don't want oversized, size down, which is what we did to great effect. For those of us on the shorter side, it hit about mid-shin and looks good open or closed. It's warm (meaning heavyweight) and snuggly, even though it's polyester, and worked well in wind, rain, and generally inclement weather. It's not waterproof, but it's still durable.

We particularly loved the v-neck, double-breasted design — meaning, it's easy to close over any manner of outfits, and can accommodate a scarf nicely — and we'd choose it as one step lighter than a down or puffer jacket. What we really loved, though, was the value for money. We didn't expect the weight and quality to be this good for the price. The buttons do feel a bit flimsy and not terribly well-secured, but that's fixable with some tailoring (or some DIY if you know how). Ultimately, this is a nice “starter peacoat” — if you'd prefer not to splurge because you're just trying out the style, in other words, this is a great (and not too expensive) way to get in on the style.

Material: Polyester | Colors: 3 | Size: XXS–XXL

Best Puffy

J. Crew Peacoat Puffer Jacket

View On Jcrew.com

This runs true to size but fits over bulky sweaters with no problem. It's a lovely length for a puffer jacket (while still having the structure of a peacoat — which is a cool, unique look, by the way). As such, we found it perfectly warm — it keeps out the wind and traps in some heat but doesn't feel overly stuffy and remains breathable. Perhaps most importantly, the coat doesn't feel bulky despite its official puffer status.

The jacket is soft to the touch and comes in two nice neutral colors. It has buttonholes on the left and right, meaning you can button it on either side, and is an especially cool feature. The lining feels silky, which is especially nice when you only have a T-shirt underneath. We felt the coat looked “fancy,” meaning it could dress up a casual look and pair nicely with a dressy look, but perhaps wouldn't be the pick for an active hike or other sporting activity.

This isn't the cheapest option on the list, which means it's an investment, but the classic shape and structure — with just a hint of cool factor — means the price-per-wear is low.

Material: Recycled polyamide | Colors: 2 | Size: XXXS–XXL

Best Belted

Avec Les Filles Wool Blend Belted Peacoat

View On Aveclesfilles.com

This was an amazing commute coat (which was about 40 minutes one way, if you're wondering) because it functioned well as a wrap coat with a highly adjustable waist. This ran true to size, if a little long in the sleeves and loose in the ribcage, and was warm without being too hot. It's a great transitional, everyday piece, and works well with layering. We wore it in rain and inclement weather, but we wouldn't recommend it for when the elements are really intense.

The jacket material was our favorite part (soft and luxurious), although we needed to work a little harder than usual to keep the lighter color clean. The larger collar and tie belt can feel a little bathrobe-y, so we sometimes put the tie in the pockets of the jacket and wore it open (although, alternatively, this coat would work well if you replaced the belt with something more structured). Wrinkles can be a bit tough to get out, but dry cleaning is recommended, anyway. In short, this is one of those pieces that works well if you're hoping for something versatile, but it might require some tweaks to make it look perfect for your outfit and body type. With that said, though, it's a comfy and multifunctional piece, and Singla notes that it gives a “quiet luxury feel.” Lloyd likes Avec Les Filles’ peacoat options as “wardrobe builders,” since they are versatile and can be worn with items you already own for a variety of occasions.”

Material: Polyester, wool | Colors: 2 | Size: XS–XL

Best Plaid

Anthropologie Maeve Plaid Peacoat

View On Anthropologie $120

This coat works beautifully for a multitude of everyday activities, from our commute to dinners to grocery shopping and walks. It runs true to size (the coat, particularly in the arms, gets tight with bulkier layers, so be mindful of that) and remains breathable. It's a longer length and hits right at the knee for us, so is perfect for the cold. It may not be the most practical for intense activities — shoveling snow, for example. But this stood up well against previous puffer coats we've owned that were much heavier.

The plaid pattern was one of our favorite parts — it felt very luxe and was a true knit — and the lining was soft on our skin. The pockets are large, which is always a nice plus, and it's a nice balance between dressy and casual, depending on what you wear underneath (generally, this coat helped us obtain professional/Parisian/librarian outfit vibes, which is always a treat). In other words, this is a great “fashion” peacoat that, despite a little bit of tightness in the arms when we layer, remains incredibly versatile for this type of item. Cole adds, "This screams, 'I'm standing on business — classy business.”

Material: Polyester, viscose, elastane | Colors: 1 | Size: XXS–XL