Finding the warmth level you want from your bedding is one of the most important decisions to make when you choose a duvet.  Shops will mark their duvets with a ‘TOG’ number, but also may say ‘summer’ / ‘winter’ or ‘all seasons duvet’.   Here we’ve tried to explain the difference between them.

The TOG rating is a means of defining the warmth of the duvet, also known as “Thermal Resistance”. This rating is based on a calculation done in a laboratory rather than a real life scenario, so should only be taken as a guide, since there are other factors that will influence how comfortable you find your bedding, such as how the duvet drapes around your body.

As an interesting fact, if you are looking for interesting facts around duvets, is that the TOG Rating was developed by the Shirley Institute in Manchester, founded in 1920 as the British Cotton Association Research Institute.

Generally, TOG ratings increase in increments of 1.5, with the lowest TOG rating generally being 3, while the highest generally available would be 15.    Different fillings provide different levels of warmth too, so don’t just think that a light, thin duvet is always a cool duvet.  

What if he gets hot and I get cold?   

Most of us have a slightly different internal temperature gauge to our partners.  If you don’t want to put on the thermal pyjamas every night – or don’t want to suggest he does – you’ll want a better solution.  Putting an extra blanket on top of the duvet isn’t great either as it tends to slip off when you move, or make it’s way over to you partner instead.   

See our article on His and Hers Duvets and our review of the Nanu Hot or Not for a solution to this problem!   

Duvets for different seasons?

Confused about whether you need a duvet for every season?   See our advice on winter / summer / autumn / spring and all seasons duvets on our About Duvet Seasons pages