How to Choose a Duvet: Tog Ratings and Fillings Explained
A duvet is one of those quiet quality-of-life buys. Get the warmth right and you sleep better all year; get it wrong and you’re either too hot in July or shivering in January. It comes down to two things: tog rating and filling. Here’s how to choose.
Pick a tog rating for the season (lower for summer, higher for winter, or an all-seasons set). Choose natural filling for lightweight warmth or synthetic for value and easy washing. Consider sizing up to end the cover tug-of-war.
Tog ratings: warmth in a number
Tog measures warmth, not weight. As a rough guide:
- 4.5 tog or lower for summer.
- 9 to 10.5 tog for a good all-year duvet.
- 13.5 tog for a warm winter.
An all-seasons duvet is a clever option, combining a lighter and a warmer duvet you can button together for cold months and split for summer.
A lower-tog duvet keeps you comfortable through warmer months. Check price on Amazon →
Natural or synthetic filling?
Both keep you warm, but they feel and behave differently. Natural fillings like down and feather are light, breathable and cosy, though they cost more and need more care. Synthetic fillings are cheaper, usually machine washable and a better bet if you have allergies. Neither is wrong, so choose for your budget, care preferences and any allergies.
Get the size right
Match the duvet to your bed, but there’s a trick many couples swear by: sizing up. A king-size duvet on a double bed gives extra overhang and ends the nightly battle over who has the covers. It’s a small thing that makes a real difference to a shared bed.
A quick word on care
Check the washing instructions before you buy, especially for natural fillings, which may need special care. A duvet is a long-term buy, so a filling you can easily keep clean is worth considering if fuss-free is your priority.
Ready to choose?
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Related guides
- Home & Kitchen buying guide for the rest of your home.
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Frequently asked questions
What tog rating do I need?
As a rough guide, 4.5 tog or lower suits summer, 9 to 10.5 tog is good all-year, and 13.5 tog is warm for winter. All-seasons duvets combine two togs you can button together.
Natural or synthetic filling?
Natural fillings like down are light, warm and breathable but cost more, while synthetic fillings are cheaper, easy to wash and better for allergies. Both keep you warm well.
What size duvet should I buy?
Match it to your bed size, but many couples size up (for example a king duvet on a double bed) to avoid tug-of-war over the covers at night.