There’s a myriad of reasons why you may not be sleeping well, but one thing’s for sure – if you don’t have the right duvet, the quality of your sleep won’t be top notch. So while the easiest thing to do is click-to-buy the first duvet that you see (or grab the nearest one on the department store shelf), it’s essential to do some research into the different types available first. Read on to find out which features to look out for and our pick of the best of them. From sumptuous synthetic to divine down, we’ll have you sleeping like a baby in no time.
How to choose the best duvet
Why does a duvet’s tog rating mean?
Tog ratings are based on a duvet’s ability to trap warm air – and the upshot is that the higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet. For a summer duvet, look for anything between 2.5 – 4.5 tog. For winter, go for 10.5 to 13.5. And for spring/autumn, 7 to 10.5 tog is ideal. For an all-year-round duvet, you should hover around 7 tog and you can also get all-season duvets, which consist of two separate duvets – generally a lightweight 4.5 tog for summer and a warmer 9 tog for autumn and spring - which you can connect together for 13.5 tog in winter.
Are heavier duvets warmer than lighter ones?
Not necessarily. Because natural duvets have better thermal properties than synthetically filled ones, they need less filling to achieve the same level of warmth, making their weight misleading. Some high-end down duvets feel practically weightless, for example, yet can keep you toastier than a cheap, heavy man-made one.
What about fill power?
Duvets also have a ‘fill power’ – which is essentially a measurement of quality. The higher the fill power, the better the duvet is, both in terms of content and how long it is likely to last. Fill power is measured in cubic centimetres per gram and ratings vary between 345gsm (grams per square metre) and 750gsm for feather and/or down duvets, and 475gsm to 750gsm for synthetic and specialist duvets.
What filling should I go for?
Your first choice is between natural and synthetic. Duvets made from natural fillings - wool, silk, feathers or down – tend to be more breathable (and therefore suitable for all seasons) and they last longer, sometimes up to 30 years. The most lightweight are those with down filling – great for insulation as they trap warm air in and keep cold air out. Meanwhile, feather fillings tend to be heavier, due to the quills. You can also get a combination of both. But while these are no good for allergy sufferers, both silk and wool fillings are naturally hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant.
While most synthetic fibre filled duvets don’t last as long (generally no more than 10 years), they are usually cheaper and, unlike many natural duvets, can often be washed in the machine. There are plenty of options, each with their own characteristics, so be sure to do your homework. Examples include classic hollowfibre (warm, springy, plump), quadfill hollowfibre (lightweight), cirrus hollowfibre (breathable) and microfibre hollowfibre (feels like down), just to name a few. And don’t assume that synthetic duvets are inevitably inferior – the Rested duvet from Outlast, for instance, is made from NASA-designed thermo regulating fabric that far exceeds the quality of many of its natural peers.
What other features should I look out for?
With natural duvets, check that the filling is contained in separate chambers to ensure even distribution. To help prevents cold spots and flattening, regularly shake the duvet from side to side. You don’t need to worry about this with synthetic duvets, however, because they are constructed so that the filling stays in its place, making it easier to maintain. Also consider the quality of the casing, which can affect softness against the skin (even with a duvet cover over it) and breathability.
The best duvets to buy
1. Ikea Sötvedel: The best duvet for summer
Price when reviewed: From £35
Ikea’s duvets are generally on the thinner side, so not much cop for those who like getting into a bed with big, plump, cloud-like bedding enveloping them while they drift off into the land of nod. But if you’re prone to overheating at night or just don’t like the feeling of a lot of bulk on top of you while you sleep, this duvet – made from a mixture of down and feathers, with soft cotton casing - is breathable, lightweight and slimline, while also being inviting and cosy. It arrives vacuum packed – so easy to get home – and we like the fact that the filling is evenly distributed and you can put it in the washing machine as often as you like.
Buy the Ikea Sötvedel duvet from Ikea
Key specs – Tog rating: 4; Filling: 60% duck down and 40% duck feathers; Casing: 100% cotton; Cleaning: machine washable at 60 degrees; Sizes: Single, double and king; Warranty: None
2. The White Company Hungarian Goose Down Duvet: The best duvet for winter
Price when reviewed: From £125
While this isn’t the cheapest of duvets, it gives you a quality and longevity akin to many of its even pricier rivals. Made from the down of Hungarian geese – known for their lightness and warmth – there’s also a smidgen of feather included in the mix so that it drapes snugly over you while you sleep. There’s an internal baffle wall to make sure you don’t get all the filling congregating by your feet or stuck in between machine-stitched pockets. The button holes – located on each corner – are handy if you want to join it to another duvet, although we think one of the warmer two tog options are perfect for the cooler months. Regularly turn it around to avoid too much wear in particular areas, as well as airing it.
Buy the Hungarian Goose Down Duvet from The White Company
Key specs – Tog rating: available in 4.5, 10.5 and 13.5 tog; Filling: 80% Hungarian goose down and 20% Hungarian goose feather; Casing: 329 thread count cotton jacquard; Cleaning: machine washable at 60 degrees (but best results from professional dry-clean); Sizes: available in single, double, king and superking; Warranty: 10-year guarantee
3. Rested Outlast: The best duvet for couples who get too hot/cold
Price when reviewed: From £160
‘I get cold at night – I need a really thick duvet.’ ‘I’ll sweat buckets under that thing – we need something much lighter!’ Sound familiar? For couples who argue over what duvet to get, this product will be a lifesaver (or at the very least, a marriage saver). Made from a NASA-designed thermo regulating fabric that’s worked into a web of hexagonal cells, it cleverly reacts to you and your partner’s differing body’s temperatures – and the results are astonishing. Available in a summer version or all-year-round, it’s got a medium loft and drape and the special lyocell casing feels silky smooth, with the added bonus of having moisture wicking capabilities.
Buy the Rested Outlast duvet from Rested
Key specs – Tog rating: available in 5 tog and 11 tog equivalents; Filling: lyocell fibres and quadfill hollowfibres; Casing: lyocell with a thermo regulating layer; Cleaning: machine washable at 60 degrees; Sizes: available in single, king and superking; Warranty: 3-year guarantee
4. John Lewis Active Anti-Allergy Duvet: The best choice for allergy sufferers
Price when reviewed: From £30
If you’re allergic to house dust, mite or mould, then this microfibre duvet – which gets approval from the British Allergy Foundation - will be your ticket for a good night’s kip. With a unique combination of microfibre and Amicor (a fibre with anti-bacterial and antifungal additives), we think it is streets above other anti-allergy bedding in terms of effectiveness – and there’s clinical proof as to its benefits. Because it’s plump and warm, yet light and fresh, non-allergy sufferers are bound to like it too. The casing, made from soft cotton, is soft against the skin and it’s reasonably breathable too.
Buy the Active Anti-Allergy Duvet from John Lewis
Key specs – Tog rating: available in 2.5, 4.5, 7, 10.5 and 13.5 tog; Filling: 80% microfibre and 20% Amicor; Casing: 200 thread count cotton; Cleaning: machine washable at 40 degrees; Sizes: available in single, double, king and superking; Warranty: 5-year guarantee
5. Fogarty Duvet: The best budget duvet to buy
Price when reviewed: From £12
You’d be a fool to expect much from a duvet that sets you back just over a tenner - or would you? We couldn’t believe our luck with this cosy non-allergic comforter, which is really all you need to keep you warm on colder nights without leaving you feeling clammy on warmer nights. We’ve rarely come across such flexibility either – with a vast number of tog options and sizes. You can bung it in the washing machine, as well as the dryer, and although the casing could be softer, but we’ve seen a lot worse.
Buy the Fogarty Duvet from Dunelm
Key specs – Tog rating: available in 1, 2, 4.5, 7, 10.5, 13.5 and 15 tog; Filling: polyester microfibre; Casing: microfibre; Cleaning: machine washable at 40 degrees; Sizes: available in single, double, king and superking, Warranty: none
6. Soak & Sleep Supreme Eiderdown Quilt: The ultimate duvet
Price when reviewed: From £2,200
For sheer indulgence, this is hard to beat. In order to understand why it’s quite so luxurious, you’ll need some context about the Eider duck, which breeds in extremely cold climates, hence its unusually warm yet lightweight down. The result is a duvet that’s like sleeping under a fluffy cloud – lofty and toasty warm, yet it feels practically weightless. As for the eye-watering price tag, remember that (a) this is a rare bird and (b) they only use down that is hand collected in Iceland once the chicks have left the nest. Not surprisingly, it’s made to order, so allow six weeks for delivery.
Buy the Supreme Eiderdown Quilt from Soak & Sleep now
Key specs – Tog rating: 9 tog; filling 100% Eiderdown; casing 320 thread count German batiste; washing not recommended; available in single, double, king, superking and emperor; 10-year guarantee
7. Nimbus Bronze All Seasons Duvet: The best all-seasons duvet
Price when reviewed: From £225
If you prefer a different duvet for each season – but don’t want to fork out on a whole bunch of different comforters – then this exceptionally soft and inviting all-seasons option, with invisible stitching, is a great one-stop-shop. For summer, the 4.5 tog is a light and airy, while in spring and autumn the 9 tog keeps you that bit more snug. And for those really chilly winter nights, simply button the two together for the ultimate in luxurious cosiness, but without that really heavy and cumbersome feeling that many other all-seasons duvets give. It’s a keeper too – we reckon it will keep you going at least a couple of decades.
Buy the Nimbus Bronze All Seasons Duvet from Wayfair
Key specs – Tog rating: 4.5 + 9 tog; Filling: 90% goose down and 10% goose feather; Casing: 280 thread count cotton; Cleaning: professional cleaning only (do not dry clean); Sizes: available in single, double, king and superking; Warranty: 10-year guarantee