Duvets: A Buying Guide

What Does ‘Duvet Tog’ Mean?

‘Tog’ stands for thermal overall grade. In plain English, it measures how well a duvet traps heat. The higher the tog, the warmer the duvet. 

A low-tog duvet will feel much lighter and cooler, making it better for warm summer nights or for those hot sleepers. A higher-tog duvet retains more heat, making it much better for cooler nights or for anyone who likes to feel more properly cocooned. 

All duvets use the same term ‘tog’, regardless of what materials are put inside the duvet. That's why, as with most things, it's not as simple as it might seem.  The filling matters greatly, and its weight and density will vary depending on the materials used, which may not meet your preferences. A 4.5 tog wool duvet, for example, won’t weigh or feel the same as a 4.5 tog synthetic duvet.

Duvet Tog Ratings Explained

Most duvets sit somewhere between 1 and 15 tog. With a lot of tog choices available, you could be forgiven for thinking you should buy a different duvet for every season, but as long as your duvet is well-made and breathable, you’ll be able to use it across a number of temperatures.

Here is the tog rating breakdown: 

The usual good ‘all-rounder’ often seen is a 10.5 tog duvet. This would suit most people if your bedroom temperature stays fairly consistent year-round. If your home gets too hot in summer or too cold in winter, one duvet might not be the perfect answer for every month.

What Tog is Best?

We recommend having a duvet for each season, as they will last for years with proper care. In the peak of summer, it's best to stay cool, so opt for something in the 1-4.5 tog range. In the midst of winter, you’ll likely need something a bit more substantial, so opt for a tog rating between 12 and 15. At Rise & Fall, we believe comfort should feel natural, not stuffy. Our premium Wool Duvet is made with 100% british wool and is naturally breathable, helping to regulate temperature year-round.

Duvet Fillings Explained

Choosing the right tog for the season isn’t always the answer if you don’t take its filling into account. You might still find that your 4.5 Tog feather duvet is too hot, and that's because it's designed to retain heat.

The best all-round duvet filling is wool, as it's naturally breathable, moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic. Here’s our duvet filling guide:

What Duvet Filling is Best?

There is no single ‘best duvet filling’ for everyone, as the choice really depends on how you like to sleep. If you like something gently weighted, you might opt for a British Wool Duvet; if you prefer something warmer, you might opt for a premium Recycled Down Duvet.

Synthetic duvets can be practical and easy to care for, but they don’t often share the same breathability and longevity as their natural counterparts. 

At Rise & Fall, we believe better sleep starts with better materials. That’s why we recommend choosing a high-quality duvet made with natural, breathable fibres, which help to regulate your temperature year-round.

Other Bedding To Consider

If you’re struggling to get a good night's sleep in the peak of summer, then a simple duvet switch could well be the answer, but there are other factors that might be affecting temperature regulation. 

1. Pillows

One of the most important parts of your bedding is your pillow. It's worth spending the time to find the right one as it offers head support and helps to regulate your temperature throughout the night. If you tend to sleep warm, our Luxury British Wool Pillow is naturally moisture-wicking and breathable, available in soft, medium or firm. If you prefer something lighter and loftier, our Recycled Down Pillow offers cloud-like comfort with a 230 thread count cotton shell — de-dusted, sterilised and made in Scotland.

2. Mattress Topper

It's also worth considering your mattress topper. A poor topper can trap heat and disrupt airflow no matter how good everything else is. Our premium British Wool Mattress Topper is filled with 1,000 GSM of traceable British wool — weighty enough to add real cushioning and pressure relief, breathable enough to sleep comfortably year-round. It sits 5cm deep, secured with elasticated corner straps, and is wrapped in a soft organic cotton shell. OEKO-TEX® certified and fully traceable back to the source farm.

3. Mattress Protector

A good mattress is a long-term investment, and a protector is what keeps it that way. Most protectors do the bare minimum — ours does rather more. Our British Wool Mattress Protector is filled with 300 GSM of traceable British wool, naturally moisture-wicking to guard against sweat build-up and temperature fluctuations through the night. The organic cotton shell is soft against the skin, the elasticated corner straps keep it firmly in place, and it's dust mite resistant — making it a particularly good choice for allergy sufferers. British Wool and OEKO-TEX® certified, and priced at £90 — significantly less than comparable products elsewhere.

4. Bed Sheets

If you find your bed feels a bit stuffy or your sheets stick to you at night, you might consider opting for higher-quality cotton bed sheets to get that hotel-style feel. Or try our cool flax linen sheets for a more relaxed style.

5. Duvet Sets: Pillowcases and Duvet Covers

Like bed sheets, if you’re not using high-quality materials for your pillowcases or duvet covers, you’ll trap heat and prevent air from flowing. We recommend using a natural cotton duvet set or a linen set. It will keep you cool in summer and warm in winter.

Explore Rise & Fall Duvets

At Rise & Fall, we pride ourselves on making products built to last, using all-natural, sustainable materials. That’s why we only offer two duvet types. A wool duvet and a recycled down duvet.

Our Wool Duvet

Our Luxury British Wool Duvet comes in 4.5 tog and 10.5 tog, so you can switch out your duvet in the summer months. 

Being filled with wool, it’s naturally hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating. The shell is made with organic cotton, so the whole thing is 100% biodegradable. It’s a great natural alternative for anyone allergic to down, and it’s incredibly comfortable to sleep in. Curious about how a wool duvet works and its benefits? Read our wool duvet guide.

Our Recycled Down Duvet

Our Recycled Down Duvet is made with 100% origin controlled, recycled down. It comes in 10.5 tog for cosy nights and is wrapped in a soft cotton shell. It’s temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking, and 100% biodegradable. Our recycled down is de-dusted and sterilised using the latest technologies to keep any dust mites at bay.

It’s a cosy duvet of medium softness, great for cold sleepers without being too heavy.

Now that you know the right duvet tog for you, check out our pillow guide, pillowcase guide, and bed linen guide.