Transform your bed into something hotel-worthy with the right duvet. Whether you choose to sleep with a luxurious goose down duvet or a hypoallergenic polyester-filled option, make sure you snuggle up in a high-quality duvet that works perfectly for you. In this duvet buying guide, we take a deep dive into the many duvet material types, constructions, thread counts, tog ratings and more.

What is a Duvet?

A duvet is a bedding element made up of two pieces: a duvet cover and a duvet insert.

At its simplest, a duvet cover is the fabric covering that protects a duvet insert. Think of it as a giant 'pillowcase' for a duvet insert. However, unlike a pillowcase, a duvet cover usually has built-in ties and buttons specifically meant to keep the duvet securely in place.

What is a Duvet Insert?

A duvet insert is the large, puffy piece of bedding that goes inside the duvet cover, aka the 'giant pillowcase'. There to keep you warm and cosy while you sleep, a duvet is thicker and heavier than the average blanket or bedspread. Duvet inserts can be filled with soft down feathers, cotton, wool or synthetic filling.

The term 'duvet insert' is often used interchangeably with 'down comforter' (or 'down-alternative comforter' if filled with synthetic filling), and can be sold with either label. The main difference between a duvet and a comforter is that 'duvet' refers to both the duvet cover and duvet insert while 'comforter' only refers to one piece of bedding.

Since their covers can be removed and replaced with covers of different insulation levels and designs, duvets are perfect if you live in a location with fluctuating temperatures or if you like to switch up your bedroom decor quite often.

How to Choose a Duvet

When choosing you next duvet, there are a two key elements to consider – the fill material and duvet tog rating.

Duvet Fill Materials

Down Types

Down is the undercoat of a bird and is often used for its super soft and lightweight qualities. Unlike actual feathers, down does not have a hard quill or flat, stiff shape.

Goose

Goose down is the most commonly used type of down for duvets. It's available in both white and grey goose down. The colour has no effect on the quality of the duvet insert – white goose down is usually used as it doesn't show through white duvet shells. Goose down is odourless, however it isn't hypoallergenic so if you do suffer from allergies, this won't be the best filling option for you.

Duck

Duck down duvets are just as durable and soft as goose down duvets, though they tend to be less expensive. This is because duck down is slightly less insulating and can have more of an odour than goose down. Again, these natural filling types are not hypoallergenic.

Alternative Duvet Fill Materials

Get the luxury of down without the allergies with down-alternative fills. These duvets can be filled with a mix of synthetic fibers or natural fibers for quality loft (fluffiness) that's also hypoallergenic.

Hollowfibre

Hollowfibre duvets are lightweight, breathable and more affordable than down-filled duvets. Each fibre in a hollowfibre duvets is constructed in a specific way so that a hole runs through the middle, which in turn helps to trap air and insulate more effectively than a traditional solid fibre duvet would.

Polyester

This synthetic filling is both budget-friendly and hypoallergenic, making it the ideal duvet filling material for allergy sufferers.

Cotton

Lightweight, breathable, hypoallergenic and washable, cotton-filled duvets are great for staying cool during the warmer months. Cotton is not as thick as other fillings, so it isn't optimal for colder nights, though it is more affordable than most other options.

Tip: Keep in mind that it can take up to 72 hours after unpacking your new duvet for it to expand and achieve maximum loft.

Tog Rating: What to Know

Tog ratings are used to indicate a duvet's ability to trap warm air and apply to the efficiency of its thermal insulation. Choosing the right tog is vital to a good night's sleep because if you’re too hot or too cold in bed, the chance is you won't get any.

Tog Rating: 7.5

During summer, a duvet with a tog rating of up to 7.5 should be enough to keep you from getting hot and sweaty as you sleep.

Tip: If you're still struggling to sleep at night during summer, then why not check out our Too Hot to Sleep? Here's How to Stay Cool at Night guide?

Tog Rating: 7.5 - 13

When temperatures dip in spring and autumn, it pays to use for a duvet with a slightly higher tog rating. Anywhere between a tog rating of 7.5 and 13 should be sufficient.

Tog Rating: 13.5+

In winter, heavier duvets with a tog rating of 13.5 will allow you to have a warmer, much more toastier night's sleep.

Combination Duvets

Combination duvets are a great option for all seasons. Consisting of two duvets, these duvet types can be used together during winter and then separated during summer. Usually, one duvet will have a tog rating of around 4.5 while the other will come with a tog rating of around 9.

Duvet Fill Power

Down fill power is the measure for the amount of space one ounce of down takes up. You can typically find fill power listed on higher end duvets. The higher the fill power, the better the insulating ability and loft (fluffiness) a duvet will have. Fill power is a good indicator of warmth and quality.

High-Quality Duvet Insert Fill-Power Options

600–799: High-quality duvet inserts tend to have a fill power of 600–799.

Over 800: The highest-quality duvet inserts have fill powers over 800. These are typically the most insulating and fluffiest as well as the most expensive duvet inserts available.

Duvet Thread Count

Think thread count is only important for your sheets? Think again. Just as with other bedding, a higher thread count means a tighter weave to the fabric, which makes it softer. In a duvet, a higher thread count and a tighter weave will determine how well it contains the down fill, which indicates its durability. The key to quality is having a balance between the weave and the thread count, since a high thread count could still mean a low-quality fabric and weave construction.

Types of Duvet Construction

When choosing a duvet, there are several types of construction and stitching styles available. See the illustrations above for the most common designs and each of their benefits.

Box-Baffled Stitch: Strips of fabric called 'baffles' are sewn between the top and bottom layers of the duvet to create compartments for the fill. Baffle walls enable down to expand fully to get the highest loft providing maximum cushion.

Diamond Quilted: Top and bottom layers of the duvet are sewn together in a diamond pattern to eliminate shifting of the fill.

Gusset: Walls are created around the outer edge of the duvet to connect the top and bottom layers. The edges add height to maximise loft. Gusseted duvets can either have baffle-box or sewn-through construction. Gusseted duvets usually come in box-stitch or baffle-box.

Karo-Stitch: Cross-stitches restrict the movement of the duvet fill creating open compartments, therefore still allowing for some movement of the duvet fill. Karo-Step duvets can be sewn-through or baffled.

Ring-Stitch: The top and bottom layers of the duvet are sewn together using small circles. This construction type, like the karo-step above, allows the fill to move around.

Sewn-Through Box Stitch:Top and bottom layers of the duvet are sewn together in a box pattern to eliminate shifting of the fill.

Sewn-Through Channel Stitch: The top and bottom layers of the duvet are sewn together in horizontal or vertical rows. This type of construction allows for more movement of the fill than a box stitch.

How to Clean and Care for a Duvet

When opening a new duvet or taking one out of storage, restore the loft by shaking it out for a few minutes or fluffing it in the dryer on low for five minutes. Always check the cleaning instructions for your duvet, as some are dry-clean only

Aside from regular spot cleaning, it's recommended to wash your duvet two or three times a year. For washing duvets at home, use warm water and mild detergent on the delicate cycle of a large machine washer. You may need to do another rinse cycle to ensure all of the soap gets washed out.

To dry your duvet, you will need to run the duvet on low in the dryer for a couple hours. Consider adding a few tennis balls to prevent clumps and ensure the down is evenly dried. If the shell fabric is wrinkled after the duvet is dry, gently steam the fabric (do not iron).

Tip: Enjoyed this article? Then why not check out these related topics:

• Which is Better? Goose Down or Duck Down?
• Choosing the Perfect Pillow Types
• Best Mattress Pad and Toppers for a Good Night’s Sleep