The Duvet Tog Buying Guide

We all strive for good quality sleep. No one goes to bed hoping for anything less. And in order for us to maximise the likelihood of us achieving this quality of sleep, we should put a considerable amount of thought into our bedrooms and the items we use.

Bed frames, mattresses, pillows and duvets all play a vital part in creating the perfect environment for us to sleep in.

Get it wrong and the quality level of our sleep may decrease.

In this particular guide, we’ll aim to help you get clued up when it comes to all things duvets.

From tog ratings, filings and the size that you’ll need - you’ll find it all right here in our duvet tog guide.

What Is Tog On a Duvet?

A very important consideration for duvets is their tog rating. But this information is not exactly common knowledge and may leave you wondering which rating is best for you.

The tog labelled on a duvet is the measure of thermal insulance of a unit area. This tog rating states the degree to which the duvet will retain heat. Simply, the higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet should keep you.

Tog ratings have a range from 1 to 15. The most common tog rating found in Europe is the 10.5 tog. The 10.5 tog rating is considered an all-season duvet and is used all year round by many people.

However, there are people who like to switch out their tog depending on a range of factors such as season, temperature, bed size and the age of the person using the duvet.

Duvet Tog Ratings Explained

It’s best to look at tog ratings from a seasonal perspective. Since the tog rating is the measure of thermal insulance, it makes sense to line this up with the general temperature of our seasons.

Here’s which togs you should consider using for each season:

1 - 4.5 tog - Ideal for warm summer nights
7 - 10.5 tog - Perfect for the middle seasons such as autumn and spring
12 - 15 tog - Excellent for those chillier nights in winter
10.5 tog - An all-rounder which can be comfortable in every season

This is a guideline and is not written in stone. Some people are quite sensitive to heat or cold and may find themselves needing a different tog rating based on their preferences. It’s not uncommon for people to add more than one duvet to their sheet should they need that added warmth and haven’t got a winter duvet tog at hand.

Tog Values of Duvets vs. Temperature

An alternative way of deciding which duvet tog is best for you is to base it on how warm your bedroom is. Our UK climate is quite unpredictable at times and the season we’re in may not be the best indicator as to which duvet tog you’ll need.

A more ‘precise’ guide is to determine your duvet tog rating by room temperature.

But ultimately, there’s a lot of flexibility when it comes to tog ratings and over time you’ll work out what really works best for you.

Duvet Tog Ratings For Different Ages

Duvet tog ratings are largely a subjective matter for adults. Personal preference alongside seasonal changes will help dictate what duvet tog rating you will require. But for children, a lower tog rating should always be considered.

Young children can easily become overwhelmed by a large thick duvet and this can lead to them overheating. For young children, any tog rating under 10.5 should be aimed for.

Toddlers and babies do not regulate their heat on their own very well and it’s always recommended that they sleep in the cot with something light. A duvet tog rating for 4 or less will be sufficient.

Duvet Fillings

When it comes to duvet fillings, you’ll have a choice between natural and synthetic. These materials both have their own unique benefits so choosing between these two will depend on your specific needs.

Synthetic Duvet Fillings

An alternative to natural duvet fillings is synthetic fillings. These are typically chosen for those people that are allergenic to natural fillings or are looking for a duvet that is easier to care for.

Synthetic fillings tend to be hypoallergenic which will less likely trigger or aggravate allergies.

You can wash and dry your synthetic duvet more easily compared to natural duvets which is a huge plus for some people.

Do note that synthetic duvets may feel heavier than their natural duvet equivalent tog rating counterpart.

What Duvet Size Should I Get?

The most common answer to this is to get the same size duvet as your bed. But some people prefer to have an extra duvet to wrap up in on a cold winter’s night. No one likes a ‘duvet hog’, so a duvet larger than your bed is perfect for those couples where duvet hogging will be a thing of the past.

Other couples actually enjoy sleeping in separate duvets while on the same bed. For example, two single duvets can be used on a double bed. Whether this choice is for duvet hogs or one person likes a different filling in their duvet compared to their partner.