Best Duvets UK (2021)

A duvet is an essential part of any bed setup, creating that perfect cocoon feeling that makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning - in a good way! 🤗

Duvets generally consist of a soft outer shell, often made of cotton, and an inner filling of down, feather, bamboo, or synthetic materials.

In contrast to blankets, which are often thin & heavy, duvets are light and fluffy.

They allow you to move more freely. 💃

They're also warm and comfortable, keeping you snug at the ideal temperature, regardless of whether it's summer or winter.

Having a good duvet virtually guarantees that you'll get a good night's sleep at the right temperature.

Choosing the right duvet will depend on factors such as ambient room temperature and the duvet's weight, materials, and size.

Let's look at some of those factors in more detail. 👇

Duvets can be made from a wide range of different materials.

Generally, though, these are divided into two groups:

• Natural duvets
• Synthetic duvets

Both types are equally popular, with both hollowfibre duvets and feather & down duvets ranking as the most common ones.

Which duvet you'll choose ultimately depends on the feel you're going for - and your budget. 💰

Natural duvet fillings

Traditional duvets will contain natural fillings.

Some of the most common natural duvet filling materials include:

• Duck or goose feathers
• Down
• Cotton
• Silk
• Wool
• Bamboo

Natural materials are the obvious choice for anyone looking for organic and eco-friendly materials. 🌱

These fillings are also antibacterial, lighter, and more thermal-insulating.

They often offer better temperature regulation as natural materials absorb moisture more effectively without becoming clammy, making them a good choice for hot sleepers or those who sweat easily. 💧

Feather and down duvets

Feather and down duvets are among the most popular duvets on the market, with materials sourced from duck or geese. 🦆

These are very luxurious duvets that retain heat well but are unlikely to cause overheating.

There are two things to consider with feather & duck duvets:

• Feather to down ratio: If your duvet has more down than feathers, it'll be more lightweight, squisher, and airier. If it has more feathers, it'll be denser and weightier.
• Fill power: The higher the fill power, the larger each piece of down will be, resulting in a fluffier duvet with better insulation.

Of course, you also need to consider the tog rating, which will give you an indication of overall warmth.

We look at tog ratings in more detail further down. 👇

While feather and down duvets offer exceptional quality, these are definitely not vegan and they're not always produced in a humane way.

You need to check with each brand to ensure materials are ethically sourced.

On the downside, home-washing of feather & down duvets isn't recommended. 🧺

This is because these duvets take a very long time to dry and the filling can be damaged in the process.

If you need to have a down or feather duvet washed, it's best to bring it to a professional laundry.

Wool duvets

Wool duvets are less common but they're an excellent anti-allergy choice that's similarly priced to feather and down duvets.

These duvets are often chunkier and denser.

Wool is a naturally hypoallergenic material that's resistant to dust mites.

This is great for allergy sufferers. 🤧

Often, duvet allergies are not caused by the material itself but by dust mites that accumulate in the filling.

A dust-mite-resistant filling is a perfect solution.

On the downside, wool cannot be washed at high temperatures.

Wool is thermo-regulating and adjusts to your body temperature.

This keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Additionally, wool is renewable, sustainable, and recyclable, so it's much better for the environment. ♻️

Wool is also often more ethically sourced than feathers and down.

Silk duvets

Silk duvets are beautifully lightweight, luxurious, and indulgent.

They offer good warmth but have excellent breathability and are great at wicking away moisture, making them an excellent choice for people prone to overheating. 💨

Silk is also naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.

This makes silk duvets ideal for people with sensitive skin or eczema, and people struggling with allergies or asthma.

Synthetic duvet fillings

Synthetic duvet fillings are becoming more and more popular.

They're often available at a much lower price point than natural duvets. 🥳

Common synthetic duvet materials include polyester, hollowfibre, and microfibre.

Unfortunately, many synthetic duvets consist of microplastics, which can have a devasting environmental impact. 🌎

They're also not as breathable as natural duvets, so you could feel hot and clammy if you're a heavy sweater.

Synthetic duvets also aren't as thermal insulating as natural duvets, so you'll often need heavier weights for the same warmth.

On the plus side, synthetic duvets are hypoallergenic and can easily be popped into the washing machine at home. 🛀

This makes them a great choice for people prone to allergies.

Hollowfibre duvets

Hollowfibre duvets are very popular.

This is a hypoallergenic, synthetic material that's great for people prone to allergies.

Unlike feather duvets, hollowfibre duvets can also be machine-washed.

Unfortunately, they don't last as long as natural duvets and are likely to lose their tog value relatively quickly.

If properly cared for, though, a good hollowfibre duvet should last at least five years. 🗓

Microfibre duvets

Microfibre is relatively new on the market.

It has been designed as a synthetic equivalent to down with extra-fine fibres that are light, soft, and cuddly.

Microfibre feels very similar to down but it's often lighter and much cheaper.

A tog is a measure of thermal insurance of a unit area. 🌡

It is commonly used in the textile industry to give the warmth levels of duvets.

Tog rating refers to the warmth or thermal resistance of a duvet.

It measures the ability of a duvet (without a cover) to trap air.

The higher the tog, the more air it can trap, and the warmer the duvet will be.

In the UK, the tog scale runs from 1 to 15.

• The higher the tog number, the warmer the duvet will be.
• The lower the tog number, the cooler the duvet will be.

But how do you know which tog rating is right for you?

Choosing the right tog rating

Unless you're sleeping in a fully temperature-controlled room, your bedroom temperature will undoubtedly be influenced by the seasons.

• If your room is cooler (below 18°C), you'll need to opt for a warmer duvet.
• If your room is warmer (above 22°C), you should be fine with a lighter duvet.

But, you also need to consider your personal preferences.

If you easily feel cold at night, you'll fare better with a warmer duvet. ❄️

In contrast, if you sweat easily or sleep quite warm, then a lighter duvet should be fine.

Choose according to the season

You'd generally select different tog ratings according to the season.

• For the summer months, duvets with a tog rating of under 5 are common. We'd recommend a 3 - 4.5 tog rating for summer, warmer homes, or people who easily feel hot at night.
• For spring and autumn, duvets with a tog rating of 7 - 10.5 are comfortable.
• For the winter months, duvets with a tog rating of between 12 and 15 will keep you warm and toasty. Choose 13.5 or higher if your house gets very cold or if you easily feel cold. If you're a hot sleeper, though, you may be more comfortable with a 10.5 tog duvet.

Most duvets come in a range of togs, so you can choose the one best for you.

With the rise of central heating, many people have also begun opting for all-seasons duvets. 🍁

There are two main types of all-season duvets:

• Some brands offer mid-range togs that will work for both summer and winter.
• Other brands offer two separate duvets (one with a lower tog and one with a higher tog) with poppers or buttons. This allows you to put the two together to keep you warm on those cold winter nights.

If you don't want to purchase a range of duvets, an all-season duvet is a convenient solution for year-round comfort.

Consider other influences

But, there are also some other factors that could influence your choice of duvet.

If you're sharing your bed with a partner, for example, it's often better to opt for a lower tog rating as the second person will add warmth. 👩‍❤️‍👨

Similarly, your duvet cover can have an effect.

Tog ratings refer to the naked duvet, but your duvet cover can make it feel much warmer. 🔥

The largest additional factor to consider, though, is your mattress.

The best mattresses will keep you at a comfortable temperature, but mattress material does matter.

Conventionally, pocket sprung mattresses are considered the coolest and memory foam mattresses the warmest.

As memory foam retains more heat than other types of foam, you're likely to sleep much warmer overall. 🥵

If you easily feel warm at night, it would make sense to use a duvet with a lower tog rating if you're sleeping on a memory foam mattress or a memory foam mattress topper.

This will prevent overheating.

What about tog ratings for children?

Most children will be comfortable with a lighter-weight duvet of about 4.5 togs.

This should be warm enough unless your child's bedroom is very cold.

As children are smaller, duvets automatically trap more air and feel warmer overall.

As a general guideline:

• Children above the age of 6 can comfortably use adult duvets with lower tog ratings.
• Children sleeping in cots should use smaller duvets specifically designed for cot beds.

Children under the age of 1 should not be sleeping with a duvet.

Our favourite cot bed duvet:

Have you ever spent a night under a duvet that just felt a bit too heavy?

With the emergency of weighted blankets and evidence that extra weight can decrease anxiety, you may think that this is a good thing.

But heavy duvets (and weighted blankets, for that matter) don't work for everyone.

The weight of a duvet will generally range from 180 grams and 500 grams per m², but this is quite heavily influenced by whether the duvet is natural or synthetic. ⚖️

Contrary to popular belief, heavier duvets are not necessarily warmer than lighter ones.

So why are some so much heavier?

Synthetic duvets aren't as thermally insulating as natural duvets and will often require more bulk to be as warm.

This means they're generally heavier than natural duvets. 🏋️‍♀️

Natural duvets can achieve a higher degree of thermal insulation with much less bulk.

Here's a guideline:

• The average weight of a natural winter duvet will be 270 grams per m².
• The average weight of a synthetic winter duvet will be between 300 grams and 450 grams per m².
• The average weight of a natural summer duvet will be 180 grams per m².
• The average weight of a synthetic summer duvet will be 230 grams per m².

There is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing duvet weight, and you can go for whatever feels the most comfortable.

That said, more petite builds, restless sleepers, or those who struggle with claustrophobia will generally prefer lighter duvets.

The perfect duvet should look great on your bed.

Choosing the right size duvet is quite easy - it should match the size of your bed.

Standard duvet sizes are slightly larger than their corresponding mattress sizes. 🇬🇧

The standard UK duvet sizes are:

• Cot bed duvets: 120 x 150cm
• Single duvets: 135 x 200cm
• Double duvets: 200 x 200cm
• King duvets: 230 x 220cm
• Super-king duvets: 260 x 220cm
• Emperor duvets: 290 x 235cm

But, there are certain instances where you might choose to purchase a larger duvet.

If you're sharing your bed with a duvet-hogging partner, for example, you may want a larger size duvet for a more comfortable (and warmer) sleep.

Though, if you still find yourself fighting for the covers it may be worth investing in individual duvets.

You may also wish to purchase a larger duvet if you easily feel cold at night. 🥶

This will ensure that the duvet wraps around the mattress, which keeps out any excess air.

Conveniently, larger duvets also look quite chic as they drape over the edge of the bed.

Bedding matters.

Your duvet cover should always match the size of your duvet.

If you want to create a luxurious sleep hub that's cosy and comfortable, it's also best to go for bedding or a duvet cover set that matches the mood you want to create.

You can add in a weighted blanket or luxury bed throw for some extra ambience.

We recommend a few of our favourite weighted blankets and bedding sets below.

Our favourite bedding:

There are many factors to consider when choosing a new duvet.

You need to think about tog ratings, duvet weights, materials, and sizes.

The perfect duvet will enhance your sleeping comfort.

You'll do well with any of the ones we've recommended.

Our favourite budget-friendly option is the Panda Cloud Duvet. 👇