When trying to find yourself the perfect duvet there are a variety of things to consider, such as your sleeping habits and the current season.

To make finding the right one easier for you we have compiled this duvet buying guide. We cover the three basic tips on what you need to consider when making the decision: the duvet filling, the tog rating and fill power.

We have also included some of the accreditations you should watch out for. This will provide you with the extra guarantee that you are getting your hands on the right duvet.

 

1. Duvet Filling

A duvet is only as good as its filling, as this is what makes a duvet absolutely heavenly or utterly appalling. You have two options when it comes to choosing: natural or synthetic.

Natural filling

Natural fillings are a great option as they’re soft, warm, long-lasting and tend to be more breathable than synthetic materials. They’re also machine washable, durable and biodegradable.

Down and feather fillings are the most popular choices, which includes both goose and duck, and have better insulation than synthetic duvets.

Down: Down is the fluffy layer under the exterior of the bird’s feather. Compared to feather, it is lighter and typically longer-lasting. This is the best option if you’re after a duvet that’s a great natural insulator as it provides three times more warmth than synthetic versions.  Down duvets are soft, fluffy and provide a lot of warmth.

Feather: These duvets are filled using the flatter, larger and heavier outer-layer of bird feathers, which means that more feathers are required to achieve the same insulation as down. It’s often a cheaper version but they can be spiky if the duvet cover isn’t thick enough.

Down and feather: A lot of companies use a combination of the two so as to provide a good amount of weight and warmth.

Silk: Although this isn’t a widely available option, because it’s lightweight and durable it’s a great choice. Other benefits of a silk duvet include the fact that it’s hypoallergenic, has good temperature regulation and can be both hand and machine washed.

Wool: This is another hypoallergenic and durable option and it’s also recyclable. Due to the nature of the wool it means it regulates temperature well and works to take away moisture from the skin.

Natural filled duvets using goose or duck feathers have better thermal insulation than synthetic duvets. This means you don’t need as much filling to achieve the same tog rating, often making them lighter. We always suggest encasing your duvet in 100% cotton to ensure breathability, durability and moisture absorbency.

 

Synthetic filling

Synthetic fillings are light, cheap and durable; they’re a great choice if you want an easy-care option. They provide the same warmth as natural fillings and are a great option for those who suffer from allergies as they’re able to be washed frequently.

The only problem with synthetic filing is that they also trap heat and can’t absorb moisture, which could lead to sweat. This means it’s harder for the duvet to regulate your temperature and could result in you needing to kick it off in the middle of the night.

 

2. Tog Rating

The tog rating is important to consider when making your decision as this is what relates to the duvet’s warmth. To make it simple, the higher the tog rating the warmer the duvet.

Fillings up to seven tog are lighter and airier, making them ideal for the summer months. Higher togs are more suitable for the colder months.

We recommend you buy a higher tog if your bedroom is not well-insulated or if you prefer to keep the windows open at night. Retailers often recommend buying a higher tog for the winter months but a 4.5 tog can work equally well if you live in a well-insulated space.

 

3. Fill Power

Fill Power is the universal rating system for goose and duck down that is displayed in the form of a number. It measures the volume taken up by the filling in the duvet and is an indicator of how fluffy the duvet is going to be.

The higher the fill power the warmer, lighter, airier and more breathable a duvet can be. A high fill power rating also indicates the insulating ability the down will have.

Fill power can range from 450 to 900 with good fill power being 700 and above.