What Duvet Tog Do I Need? A Simple Guide for Every Season

Tog is one of those words everyone sees on a duvet label and nobody quite explains. So here's the short version: tog is simply how warm a duvet is. The higher the number, the warmer it feels. That's it. The tricky bit is picking the right number for your bedroom, the time of year and whether you're a "duvet off by 2am" sort of sleeper.

What does tog mean?

Tog is a measure of how well a duvet holds onto warmth. A low tog duvet lets more heat escape, so it feels light and cool. A high tog duvet traps more heat, so it feels cosy and snug. It isn't a measure of weight or thickness, although warmer duvets often feel a little fuller.

What tog duvet do I need? A quick guide

Not sure? 10.5 tog is a sensible place to start for most people.

What tog duvet is best for summer?

For warm nights, most people are comfiest under a 4.5 tog duvet. It keeps you covered without trapping too much heat. If you really struggle in the heat, have a look at our cooling duvets or our bedding for hot sleepers.

What tog duvet is best for winter?

Once the heating starts going on, a 13.5 tog duvet is the classic choice. If your bedroom is chilly, or you're the one who always wants an extra blanket, go for a 15 tog duvet. Both live in our winter duvets range.

Is 10.5 tog a good all-year-round choice?

Yes. For lots of homes, 10.5 tog is warm enough for cooler nights and light enough for milder ones, so it's the one we'd suggest if you only want one duvet. You might still want something lighter for a heatwave.

What about an all seasons duvet?

An all seasons duvet is two lighter duvets that you can use separately or together. Use the light one in summer, the medium one in spring and autumn, and put them together when winter arrives. One buy, every season sorted.

Sharing a bed with someone who runs hotter (or colder) than you?

You're not alone. Our Made For You Two duvet has a 4.5 tog side and a 10.5 tog side, so you can each get the warmth you want without the nightly tug of war.

Wool duvets and tog

Wool duvets are usually sold by weight rather than tog. As a rough guide, our Wonderful Wool duvets compare like this: lightweight is similar to a 3 to 4.5 tog, mediumweight is similar to 7 to 9 tog, and heavyweight is similar to 10 to 12 tog.

What tog duvet for a child?

Children generally need a lighter tog than adults, and babies under 12 months shouldn't have a duvet at all. We've put together a separate guide: what tog duvet for a child.

How to choose the right tog for you

• Do you wake up hot? Go a tog lower than you think.
• Is your bedroom cold or draughty? Go a tog higher.
• Want one duvet all year? 10.5 tog or an all seasons duvet.
• Like a cosy, tucked-in feel? 13.5 or 15 tog in winter.

Ready to choose? Shop all duvets by tog and size.

FAQs

What is the best tog for all year round?

For most people a 10.5 tog duvet works well for most of the year. If your bedroom swings between hot and cold, an all seasons duvet gives you more flexibility.

Is 4.5 tog too thin for winter?

For most people, yes. 4.5 tog is designed for warm weather. In winter you'll usually want 13.5 or 15 tog, unless your bedroom stays very warm.

Is 13.5 or 15 tog better for winter?

13.5 tog suits most people in winter. Choose 15 tog if your bedroom is cold or you always feel the chill.

Does a higher tog mean a heavier duvet?

Not necessarily. Tog measures warmth, not weight. Hollowfibre duvets stay fairly light even at higher togs.