Duvet Tog Guide: Which Tog Rating Do You Actually Need?
If you’ve ever stood in a bedding aisle (or scrolled through an online shop) staring at a number on a duvet label and wondered what it actually means, you’re not alone. Tog ratings confuse a lot of people. This guide covers everything you need to know in plain English.
What does tog actually mean?
Tog is a measure of thermal resistance – in other words, how well a duvet traps heat. The higher the number, the warmer the duvet. It’s not a measure of thickness or weight, which is where a lot of people go wrong. A thick synthetic duvet can actually have a lower tog than a thinner one filled with natural down, because the fill material matters just as much as the bulk.
The tog rating scale explained
Most duvets sold in the UK sit somewhere between 2.5 and 15 tog. Here’s what each range means in practice:
| Tog Rating | Warmth Level | Best For |
| 2.5 – 4.5 tog | Light | Summer, warm sleepers, hot bedrooms |
| 7.5 – 9 tog | Medium | Spring and autumn |
| 10.5 tog | Medium-warm | Year-round use, most UK bedrooms |
| 12 – 13.5 tog | Warm | Winter, cold sleepers, draughty rooms |
| 15 tog | Very warm | Cold bedrooms, particularly cold sleepers |
Which tog do you need?
The honest answer is that it depends on three things: how warm your bedroom gets, what time of year it is, and whether you naturally sleep warm or cold.
Summer (June to August): A 4.5 tog is the standard recommendation. If you’re someone who throws the duvet off in the night, go for a 2.5. If your bedroom stays reasonably cool even in summer, a 7.5 might still be comfortable.
Spring and Autumn: A 7.5 to 9 tog covers most people in most UK homes during the shoulder seasons. Rooms with good insulation or central heating can often stay on a lighter duvet right through spring.
Winter (November to February): This is where a 13.5 comes into its own. Most UK homes will be comfortable with 12 to 13.5 tog through the coldest months. If your bedroom is particularly cold or you’re the kind of person who needs multiple layers, go up to 15.
Year-round: A 10.5 tog is the classic compromise. It’s warm enough for most UK winters without being unbearable in warmer weather. This is the tog rating most people default to, and for good reason.
The all-seasons trick
Some duvets are sold as “all-seasons” – these are actually two duvets that clip together. Typically a 4.5 and a 9 tog, which combine to give you 13.5. Use them separately in spring and summer, clip them together for winter. It’s a practical solution if you don’t want to swap duvets out twice a year.
Does fill matter as much as tog?
Yes. Natural fills like goose down and duck down are better insulators than synthetics, which means a lower-tog natural duvet can feel just as warm as a higher-tog synthetic. Natural fills also tend to be lighter and more breathable, which suits people who sleep warm but still need some cover.
Synthetic fills are better for allergy sufferers and are generally easier to wash at home. They’re also more affordable. For most people in a typical UK home, a good-quality synthetic in the right tog does the job perfectly well.
A word on children
Children tend to sleep warmer than adults, so they generally need a lower tog. Most sleep guides suggest a 7 to 9 tog for children year-round, with a lighter 4 to 4.5 in summer. Always check current safe sleep guidance for babies and very young children, as the rules are different.
At Ooble, we stock quality bedding at prices that make sense. Browse our duvet sets and find something your bed will thank you for.