Looking to upgrade your bedding game? Who isn't? The best duvet can provide you with everything you need for the best sleep ever. But it’s not all about our nighttime slumber – what about those much-needed afternoon naps, mid-morning siestas, or planned (or not-so planned) duvet days? Whenever you’re needing a moment of shut-eye, your duvet can be key to satisfactory sleep.
Whilst it may feel like something of small luxury, owning a good quality duvet doesn't have to be costly. We’ve searched high and low (tog ratings that is) to bring you our top affordable duvet choices, tried and tested by members of the Real Homes team. From the best all-season duvet to anti-allergy and dual tog options, and even the best duvet for cold sleepers, over-heaters and everything in between, we’ve got you covered. There’s even a coverless duvet that's practical enough to take away on holiday or bring outside to sit beneath the stars.
And if you’re wondering how to keep your duvet in the best condition, we’ve spoken to industry experts to find out how to care for your duvet, whether it’s made from wool, microfibre, feather or “feels like down” fabric.
Remember us saying there’s a duvet for every type of sleeper - well there are mattresses, duvet covers and pillows to consider, too. Take your sleep game one step further by finding the best mattress for you in our buying guide.
The best duvets: tried and tested
The Simba Hybrid Duvet is the dream solution to getting the best sleep ever. If struggling to maintain a comfortable temperature in bed, or having to swap and change your duvet as the weather adjusts is what’s keeping you up at night, then look to this best overall duvet for answers. At an RRP of £169 for a double-sized duvet, this technology-induced option doesn't come cheap though. Although, you may save on buying multiple duvets with different tog ratings by opting for this all-season solution.
Simba has done away with tog ratings, instead utilising what it calls temperature regulating technology to keep the duvet snug in the winter yet cool in summer. How? With reversible sides suited to each season. On one side, the impressively titled Stratos Active Temperature Regulation layer uses Phase Change technology (also used in space travel for temperature regulation) to absorb, store and release heat when you need it. Although a quick note, we did find this side to be stiffer (almost like a mattress protector) and more constructed than other duvets on this list.
Though, teamed with a breathable cotton layer on the other, and wadding in between made from recycled PET bottles, this duvet soon regains its softness.
You’ll have peace of mind you’re investing in a brand that takes sustainability seriously too, with the use of recycled Global Recycled Standard certified PET fibres for the duvet inner and cotton approved by the Better Cotton Initiative. For an eco-friendly alternative that’ll work to improve your sleep, it’s a worthy bedtime buy in our opinion.
Real Homes Rated: 5/5 stars
- Bag a bargain at Simba with our Simba discount codes
This Fogarty Duck Feather and Down duvet is the top contender for the best value duvet. Available in both high, low and all-season tog ratings and filled with 100% natural materials this duvet doesn't snooze on quality. Not to mention, it’s made from 100% cotton with a 230 thread count. And with a more than reasonable price tag, at just £60 for a king size, this Dunelm duvet is an affordable luxury, like no other. Plus, manufactured in the UK cuts out shipping miles for a reduced carbon footprint.
We tested the 10.5 TOG and were instantly impressed by its lightweight feel. Made from natural materials, a weight to it would have been expected. But working to regulate body temperature with an all-seasons tog rating and a breathable and cool fabric such as cotton, means it’s the perfect middle ground. Remember that weekend break where you slept so soundly? Ever wondered what duvets that luxury hotel used? Well, with its natural down-filling and crisp cotton outer, you might just get that hotel standard all year round. Plus, it's machine washable at your convenience, to keep your duvet feeling fresher, for longer.
So, if you’ve been forever searching for hotel-standard bedding within your budget, then this duvet will offer the best value for money.
Real Homes Rated: 5/5 stars
This best sustainable duvet is crafted from bamboo both inside and out. Sustainably managed and organically grown, bamboo is a fast-growing, low-maintenance fibre that is heralded as a great eco-friendly alternative to cotton. Whether bamboo remains sustainable once it is turned into the fibre necessary for producing bedding isn't something we can be sure of. Nevertheless, the duvet's OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification means that the Cloud duvet has been tested to an environmental standard. And just as much as Panda’s do, we love bamboo.
Our first impressions were good, with the duvet arriving in a handy reusable fabric drawstring bag carefully packaged in branded recyclable cardboard. It looks smart, with black piping and the Panda logo embroidered onto one corner. There’s no forgetting this duvet’s eco-conscious focus. As for sleeping, its bamboo’s moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating qualities were duly noted. Along with a lightweight, cloud-like feel it worked great for our tester, whose partner suffers from night sweats. Due to a 10.5 TOG they both endured a great night's sleep without losing warmth.
Since it is on the thinner side, you can wash and air dry in half the time it takes other duvets of this TOG rating. But it’s good to know you won’t have to wash this duvet regularly either since bamboo is both antibacterial and hypoallergenic. With a five year guarantee, this Panda cloud duvet provides the premium feel of a natural duvet in a more ethical package. You really wouldn't feel guilty about spending money here.
Real Homes Rated: 5/5
If you’re someone who feels the change in seasons, having to fill up the hot water bottle in winter or sleep without anything in summer, then this all-season duvet from Eve will feel like a dream. It's a split tog duvet that features one side in a cosy 10.5 tog and the other a lightweight 4.5, working to keep you at the optimum temperature all year round. The clue is in its name: you can be cool or warm, adapting to the changes in weather without compromising on great sleep.
When testing, we found this duvet works best for a guest bed. Whilst recommended for couples who find themselves having middle of the night duvet fights, its price and practicality make it an easy option to dress the bed when someone comes to stay. It even has labels for the seasons, one sunshine and the other a snowflake, which we love, so there’s no confusion over selecting which side.
With hypoallergenic hollow fibre filling, it’s easy to plump, wash and dry. And since each duvet is separate, you only have to wash whichever is necessary. A good thing since we couldn't fit both duvets in our small-medium sized machine. You’ll also have to store either duvet away whilst not in use. So if you have limited storage space, and aren't wanting the double tog level during the summer heat, then maybe a single duvet is a better option for you.
Real Homes Rated: 4/5 stars
Do you find putting on a duvet cover hard work? Yep – it seems we all battle with the fortnightly change of the sheets ordeal. We’re either out of breath at the end of it, or we put it on the wrong way a couple of times before getting it right. There’s no surprise many of us are turning to coverless duvets, then. Convenient, practical and easy to care for, coverless duvets are trending for their simplistic approach to bed making.
With over 3,000 great reviews on why people rate the Night Owl’s coverless duvet, it easily takes the top spot for the best coverless duvet. It’s a re-imagination of the traditional duvet, coming complete with its own super soft sewn-in cover, and made of 100% polyester. Though this may be handy, we did find its built-in cover to not be the most stylish. There is a choice of five colours, but where pattern, print and texture are concerned, the options are limited.
Best for travelling, for students to take to university, or as a spare duvet to take with you as an extra layer when laying under the stars, there are other great uses for a coverless duvet other than dressing the master bedroom. In fact, most customers either take this duvet on staycations or use it for their guest or kids' bedrooms. Plus, it washes great and dries in just 90 minutes for when you’re regularly keeping it fresh. We have called this in to test and will be updating here with our first-hand experience in the upcoming months. But for now, we think it’s a great practical option for when style isn't necessarily at the forefront.
Real Homes Rated: 4/5 stars
Ever heard of home fever? No, it’s not another name for FOMO, ‘or fear of missing out’ after you’ve said no to leaving the house. It’s actually an out of season hay fever. So, if you’re ever sniffling, itching or suffering from asthma at night, then you may need an anti-allergy duvet. Slumberdown's allergy protection range is specifically made with synthetic filling and treated to help reduce the build-up of dust mites and bacteria that cause home fever reactions.
Tested by one of our team who is often susceptible to home fever, we found symptoms subsided almost straight away, making it our best anti-allergy duvet. Not just tested by us, it’s also Allergy UK approved. So you can trust it works for many. Great for keeping allergies at bay, but perhaps not the cold, we did find this duvet to be on the thinner side. Its hollow fibre filling makes it lightweight in feel, probably best kept for the summer months and hot sleepers. But at a surprisingly affordable price, at 10.5 TOG it’s a great synthetic alternative to keep allergies away, even if it is just for half of the year.
Real Homes Rated: 4/5 stars
Woolroom's organic washable duvet is, yes you’ve guessed it, our best winter duvet for cold sleepers. Woolroom are experts in their field, hand-selecting the most appropriate wool for product use. They use 100% British wool from UK farms, fully traceable from the field through to the finished product, carrying out checks and ensuring the welfare of sheep, so you can rest easy. Being entirely organic though does mean these duvets come at a higher price and are to be handled with care. Make sure to only wash on a wool cycle with recommended wool detergent and line-dry only for a quality that lasts.
With a weighty feel, this wool duvet may be heavier than what you’re used to if you’ve previously slept under synthetic fillings. Though not puffy like a feather or down duvets either, it has a flat, thin profile the same as a bedspread or weighted blanket. Our tester, who often finds herself cold at night, loved this thickness as she felt reassured when resting beneath it. She also thought its quilt-like appearance meant it draped beautifully over the bed. For a variation on other natural filled duvets, this wool duvet is perfect for cold cosy nights, with a cup of hot chocolate and a fire flickering in the background.
Real Homes Rated 4/5
Keeping you and the planet cool, this eco-friendly duvet from Eve, is extremely lightweight so you can sleep blissfully in the summer heat. Upon testing, its fluffy feel made this stand out from usual thin, flat duvets that are often tailored to warm weather. As you’d expect from its name, its 4.5 TOG is ultra light, providing a light layer of comfort for when you can’t sleep without something over you, but don’t want to overheat.
Mimicking natural down and feather-filled duvets in appearance and feel, it’s also impressive to know this duvet is cleverly made with recycled plastic bottles. 30 of them to be exact. Better for the environment, and also for your allergies, this animal-free inner pleases all-round. As long as you don’t mind swapping annually to a thicker, high TOG duvet, and potentially leaving the washing to the professionals (you wouldn't want to flatten its fluffy feel), then this is a great duvet you’ll wake up fresh in.
Real Homes Rated: 4/5 stars
This best duvet for couples is the best solution if you and your partner are different types of sleepers. Silentnight’s unique dual-tog design features a high 7.5 rating for warmth on one side and a lower 4.5 rating for coolness on the other. There’s also a weightier version in a 10.5:13.5 tog team to swap out for the colder months. Made from 100% polyester both inside and out, it’s also super soft. Though we would have liked to see a more sustainable fabric option from Silentnight. Nonetheless, without having to overspend for a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, we’ll take it.
Suitably enough, two sleepers who can't regulate their body temperatures at night tested this dual duvet. Both agreed the split-tog design helped them sleep soundly through the night, without one needing an extra layer or wanting to throw the duvet off for air. So if you and your bed-sharer are far from harmonising, then this duvet may be best for you. Though only if you have a double, or king size bed unfortunately.
Real Homes Rated: 3/5
What to consider when buying a new duvet
Duvet tog ratings
What is a TOG rating?
A duvet’s filling will determine how light or heavy it is, but its tog rating indicates how effectively a duvet insultes heat. The higher the tog rating, the warmer it will be.
And which TOG rating is best?
Summer duvets fall between 1 and 4.5 togs; spring/autumn duvets between 7 and 10.5 togs; and winter duvets between 12 and 13.5 togs.
Since having three separate duvets to transition over the seasons seems a bit much, not to mention how much space having to store two away would take up, an all-season duvet is usually the best way to go. Typically, these come in the form of two lighter duvets attached together to form a duvet suitable for the harshest of weathers.
Couples who prefer different levels of night-time warmth can be catered to with split tog duvets that have different ratings on either side. Or, do it Dutch with two single duvets on the same double bed.
Duvet fillings
There are many duvet fillings to choose from: synthetic, microfibre, feather, down, cotton, silk and wool, and each feels different to sleep beneath. Here's a rundown:
Natural duvet fillings are an investment but feel luxurious to sleep beneath. With a high feather content, natural duvets such as wool, feather or down, can feel warm, heavy and enveloping, but are breathable, so you won't overheat. You can check the feather content levels (it's called ‘fill power’) on the label: the higher the fill power, the warmer it will be.
Synthetic duvet fillings are usually more affordable than feather or down-filled duvets and have a lighter feel. Whether they're made from hollowfibre or microfibre, synthetic duvets are anti-allergy or hypoallergenic - perhaps their most important quality. Another tick in the box for allergy sufferers, is that synthetic duvets can be machine washed and tumbles dried, so you can subside symptoms with ease.
Size
You need to shop for a duvet with your mattress measurements to hand, or your sleeping-surface if it's a sofa bed or tent. Too small and you're at risk of not being completely covered; too big and you might feel swamped under layers of material.
Remember that some companies to have duvets for costs and European sizes along with the standard single, double, king and super king sizes. Make sure you check the dimensions before you browse for new bedding for the best bed-time set up.
How to care for your duvet
Machine washable? Most manufacturers say duvets should be laundered every few months. If you don't want to lug yours to a dry cleaner or leave it to the professionals then choose a duvet that's machine washable and tumble-dryer tolerant. Our guide to how to wash a duvet has plenty more advice.
How we tested these duvets
You'll know that your understanding of what makes the perfect bed will be different from your friend, family member's or neighbours. That's why it made sense for a few members our team, with alternative sleeping needs, to test these duvets. Some of them overheat at night, others often need a hot water bottle to get to sleep. Either way, we've tried these duvets so you can find one that works just as well for you. They've been slept under for several nights and over various weather changes for every sleeping scenario. We've also put them in the washing machine and tumble dried, where recommended, to see whether they're the best value for money.
This is an updated review and some longstanding duvet favourites will have kept their place in the guide. But a duvet is slept it, more nights than most, so we'll make sure to come back and update again based on longevity.
Here's a more from our reviewers on their top duvet choices:
Bringing her knowledge in the bedding industry, Louise knows how to source a great night sleep. While Louise is currently looking to test Owl's coverless duvet, she has felt the effects of Slumberdown's Allergy Protection range. “As a ‘home fever’ sufferer, synthetic fibres and breathability are key when it comes to choosing a duvet. As should fabric be for anyone. On a budget too mind, this affordable anti-allergy duvet is best for me, ticking all boxes for a uninterrupted sleep."
Overseeing sleep content, Jaclyn can spot a great duvet when she sees one, or sleeps under one. She tested Woolrooms organic wool duvet, and loved it's completely organic material that serves for a more sustainable option. Though 'washable' by name, Jaclyn finds it's Line Dry Only and recommendations to wool-wash, wool-detergent recommendations to be a little fussy.
With two bedrooms in her London flat, Annie has tested two of these duvets, both of which are perfect for year-round use. The first duvet she tested was the Panda Cloud Duvet. “It’s eco-friendly and super lightweight whilst being great for temperature-regulation." The other split duvet is the Eve warm:cool duvet that can either be two lightweight duvets or a cosy 15 TOG when both pieces are buttoned together. "It’s the best of both worlds and super convenient in terms of storage, especially if you prefer a thicker duvet in winter and a thinner duvet in summer”.
Lindsey reviewed our best-rated duvet. Since she often struggles to regulate her body temperature, the Simba hybrid duvet, whilst an investment provided a great middle-ground between lightweight and warm. “Whilst leads to a rather structured feeling duvet, which some claim to be a bit on the heavy side, but as someone who uses a 13.5 TOG duvet in winter and doesn’t like the overwhelming ‘flump’ of down, I think this is the perfect feel”.
Tamara tested Eve's eco light duvet amongst a full review of Eve bedding. Rating it
4 out of 5 stars Tamara says "The Eve Light Eco duvet is padded out with a clever filling made from recycled plastic bottles. It has all the fluffiness you'd expect from a feather and down duvet, only it's focused on doing its bit for the planet."
How to source even better sleep?
Investing in the best duvet isn't the only thing you can do to increase your chances of a good night's sleep.
Finding a duvet cover set that also offers good temperature regulation so you don't wake up too hot or too cold can make a big difference to sleeping through the night. Having duvet covers that also work with your bedroom aesthetic. From percale to linen, luxurious Egyptian cottons to polycotton patterned covers, you'll find our tried and tested favourites in our best duvet covers and sets buying guide.
And don't worry, you don't need to spend a fortune to get a better night's sleep. Our edit of the best bedding brands will point you in the right direction for finding options to suit your budget, whilst our monthly round-up of the best bedding sales can save you some money on the best bed sheets.
