If duvet tog ratings leave you puzzled and wondering what it all means, then you’re far from alone. Hence this duvet tog guide! Duvet togs are explained in simple, clear terms right here, so you’ll know what to look for when you need to invest in a new duvet.
Duvet Tog Ratings Explained
Are you baffled by what duvet tog sizes mean? As well as whether you should be going for the lowest or highest tog rating duvet? Then read on to find out all you should know in this quilt tog guide!
What duvet tog ratings mean
So what is the tog rating meaning? Is it a measure of quality, weight, thickness or something else? In a nutshell, quilt tog sizes give you some idea about the level of warmth you can expect. So if you read the duvet tog sizes while you’re shopping, you’ll know whether each specific quilt is suitable for summer or winter use.
What is a tog rating?
So what is a tog? Bedding items that are made to keep you warm - namely duvets - are labelled with a to rating. In short, this shows you how warm the quilt will keep you while you’re sleeping.
The higher the duvet tog ratings, the better the level of heat retention you can expect. This means different tog duvets will keep you warmer - or cooler. In a nutshell, you’ll be a lot warmer in bed when you opt for a higher rating.
Seasonal tog ratings
All seasons
10.5: A good all-rounder that can be used all year round
Summer
1 - 4.5: A summer duvet tog rating for the hot, sultry nights of the warmer months
Spring and autumn
7 - 10.5: An in-between duvet heat rating that works well in autumn and spring
Winter
12 - 15: These duvet tog values are ideal for chilly winters - or in locations where overnight temperatures are lower
The duvet tog scale
So what’s the best winter quilt tog rating, and what’s the best tog rating for a summer duvet? Most duvets sold in the UK will have a rating of between 4.5 and 13.5. Though this can be as low as 1, or as high as 15.
On the duvet tog rating chart, a lower tog means a cooler duvet. Conversely, if you want a winter duvet tog rating, look out for a higher number. Here are the main options you have when choosing duvets to suit all seasons.
Summer and winter duvets
Most duvets are sold as a simple, stand-alone quilt with a tog rating. This gives you some indication about the warmth. So you might want to buy, say, something that scores highly on the duvet tog chart for winter in northern Scotland.
On the other hand, you won’t want the highest tog rating duvet for summer in the south of England. In that case, a low tog count duvet will be more suitable. Having two - or even more - duvets to suit the changing seasons therefore works for a lot of people.
The middle of the scale
You could also use a quilt with a duvet heat rating somewhere between the two, all year round. For example, a tog rating of around 10.5, which is roughly in the middle of the scale. Or for the fairly chilly UK climate, you might want something more like 12.5.
A tog rating of 10.5 is popular, and duvets with a rating of close to this are commonly sold. Many people simply sleep under this sort of quilt all year round.
An all-seasons duvet
A third option is to shop for a duvet that suits all seasons. The way these usually work is that two duvets can be joined together. You can use the duvet with the lowest rating in high summer, use both together for a cold winter, and sleep under the quilt with the higher rating alone for spring or autumn when temperatures are mild.
Layer it up
A fourth and final option is to use your duvet together with other bed linen to suit each season. So for winter you could use a warm bedspread or blanket over the top to ramp up the heat level.
This can save you buying more than one duvet, but bear in mind that you’ll probably spend that money on a bedspread instead. Of course, how it looks may also come into play here, if it’s all about the bedroom aesthetics for you.
Se our post about how to make the creating the cosiest sleep environment.
Children’s duvets
When it comes to tog ratings for duvets, different tog ratings can apply. Small kids can overheat more easily than adults, making a lower tog rating ideal for them.
For babies and toddlers, a sleeping bag such as the Grobag (now owned by Tommee Tippee) range is best. This is safer than a duvet that could smother the child, and the tog ratings are specially designed for little ones.
Duvet fillings
What’s used to fill each duvet will affect the weight, thickness and the single, double or King size duvet tog ratings. The most lightweight filling is natural down, so you don’t necessarily need a thick quilt for winter in this case.
Feather or synthetic fillings are heavier than down. So a winter duvet that’s filled with synthetic fibres or feathers will be heavier than a down one. You may also come across quilts filled with a man-made version of down, but again this tends to be more weighty than real down.
If you are looking or a summer/spring duvet with a natural filling you could try a silk filled duvet. Silk is a natural material and exellent at letting moisture out while keeping you warm.
Some quilt manufacturers use a combination of feathers and down. This generally lowers the cost as compared to an all-down duvet. But a down and feather duvet will be heavier than one containing only pure down.
Duvet casings
This duvet tog rating guide would not be complete without some mention of the casing. The fabric that contains the filling can also affect duvet tog ratings in the UK. Some materials are thicker, or more insulating, than others.
Casings made from natural fabrics such as cotton may be cooler to sleep under in summer. Man-made materials, meanwhile, may be less breathable and also less effective at wicking away moisture. So do check the label if you don’t want to wake up all hot and sweaty during the warmer months!