Duvet tog ratings explained: which tog do you need?

A duvet with the right tog rating keeps you cosy in winter and stops you kicking the covers off in summer. Tog sounds technical, but it's really just a number that tells you how warm a duvet is. Here's a plain-English guide to picking the right one for your bedroom and the time of year.

What does tog mean?

Tog is a measure of how well a duvet holds in warmth. The higher the number, the warmer the duvet. A low tog duvet lets heat escape, which is what you want on a warm night. A high tog duvet traps more heat, which is perfect when there's frost on the car.

One thing tog doesn't tell you is how heavy or thick a duvet is. A good down duvet can be very warm and still feel light, while a budget synthetic duvet with the same tog might feel bulkier. So tog is all about warmth, not weight.

Tog ratings at a glance

All of our feather and down duvets come in these four tog ratings, so you can pick the warmth that suits you in any filling you like.

How to choose your tog

Think about your bedroom

A bedroom in a well-insulated new build stays warmer than one in an older house with big windows. If your room holds the heat, you'll likely be comfy with a lower tog. If it gets draughty, go higher.

Think about you

Some people run hot and some people are always cold. If you're the one who sticks a foot out from under the covers every night, go for a lower tog than you'd expect. If you sleep in socks, go higher.

Think about who you share with

Couples don't always agree on temperature. If one of you is warm and the other is chilly, a medium tog like 10.5 is a fair compromise. Some couples simply use two single duvets on one bed, which is an easy fix with no catch.

One duvet or two?

Lots of people in the UK keep two duvets: a light one for summer and a warmer one for winter. A handy combination is a 4.5 tog for the warmer months and a 13.5 tog for the colder ones. If you only want one duvet all year, a 10.5 tog is a sensible middle ground for most bedrooms.

You may also see all-season duvets for sale. These are usually two duvets, often a 4.5 and a 9 tog, that fasten together to make a 13.5 tog for winter. You use the lighter one alone in summer and the middle one in spring and autumn.

Does the filling change the warmth?

The tog rating is the tog rating, whatever the filling. A 10.5 tog duck feather duvet and a 10.5 tog goose down duvet should keep you about as warm as each other. The difference is in how they feel.

• Duck feather and down duvets (85:15 blend) are a great value option with a reassuring weight to them.
• European goose down duvets (85% down) feel lighter and fluffier for the same warmth.
• A 100% Siberian goose down duvet feels wonderfully light and airy, so you get the warmth without feeling weighed down.

Natural fillings like feather and down are also good at letting moisture escape, which helps you stay comfy rather than clammy through the night.

Tog for children

Children often sleep warmer than adults, so a lower tog is usually best. Many parents choose a 4.5 or a 9 tog for a child's bed and add a blanket on colder nights. Duvets and pillows aren't recommended for babies under 12 months, so follow NHS safe sleep advice for little ones and save the duvet for when they're older.

Duvet tog FAQs

What tog duvet is best for summer?

A 4.5 tog is the go-to choice for summer. It's light enough to stop you overheating on warm nights while still giving you something cosy to pull over you.

What tog is best for winter?

For most UK homes, a 13.5 tog is warm and cosy for winter. If your bedroom is very warm, a 10.5 tog might be plenty.

Is a 10.5 tog duvet good all year round?

For many people, yes. It sits between the summer and winter weights, so it works in spring and autumn and won't leave you shivering in a cool spell. Very warm or very cold sleepers might still want a second duvet.

Does a higher tog duvet feel heavier?

Not always. Tog measures warmth, not weight. A down-rich duvet can have a high tog and still feel light, while a feather-rich one will feel a bit heavier at the same tog.

Found your number? Take a look at our full range of duvets in 4.5, 9, 10.5 and 13.5 tog, with free delivery to England, Wales and most of Scotland.