How many duvet sizes are available for you to purchase in the UK? Is there an optimal tog rating for all-year-round use of the duvet?
There are four main mattress sizes in the UK, single, double, king and super king, with duvets sizes to match the dimensions of the mattresses. 10.5 tog is the optimal tog rating for the UK if you have a centrally heated home. The most common duvets purchased are 10.5 and 13.5 tog.
How do you know what tog to get?
It is somewhat of a personal choice. Tog ratings may seem mysterious, but they are simple and in place to help you make the right selection based on your own sleeping habits.
Not all of your sleep at the same temperature; some of you sleep with the duvet around your waist or off your shoulder to attain the correct temperature while sleeping.
While others (including your sleeping partner) may sleep tucked up to the ears under the duvet.
So how do you select a duvet that’s right for you? Here are some pointers that you may find useful when making your choice:
- 1 to 4.5 tog. These duvets are on the cool side, with 1 being the duvet that gives the least insulation. Good for babies and young children, ideal for warm summer nights when the windows are closed because of pollen in the air.
- 7 to 10.5 tog. Considered the option for mid-season when the temperature transitions from cool to warm. 10.5 tog is considered the best all-season tog rating for your duvet
- 12 to 15 tog. A good flexible duvet that can provide warmth on those long winter nights when the central heating is set to low
What is the most popular duvet tog?
10.5 tog. In the UK and Europe where the climates are similar, the 10.5 tog is the duvet that is most commonly sold. The 10.5 is a good all-around duvet providing enough thermal insulation to keep you warm in the winter and cool enough for the infrequent hot summer months.
What tog duvet do hotels use?
10.5 tog. Boutique hotels may interchange duvet togs depending on the season as they are more specialised and customer-focused.
Chain hotels invariably opt for the all-around best duvet that clientele are used to and provide enough warmth through the cooler months. Of course, if you are hot when sleeping in a hotel, you will use the air conditioning before removing the duvet.
Familiarity in hotels is part of the strategy of making you feel comfortable and sleep well.
Do duvets lose their tog value?
Overtime yes. If your duvet keeps you warm for years, it will eventually flatten and lose its fluffy feeling. When this happens, the air trapped inside the duvet to give an insulation barrier diminishes.
Once the insulation diminishes, the duvet will lose its heat retaining properties.
How do you know what size duvet to get?
Buy a duvet cover that matches the size of your mattress. Duvet covers are manufactured to mattress sizes. For appearance and a little more tolerance when you sleep with your partner, they have a slight hangover on the sides and bottom of the mattress.
As a rule of thumb, the ideal duvet cover would be 12 inches longer than your bed and 16 inches wider. Of course, variations do prevail.
Here is a guide to help you select the correct duvet for your mattress:
| DUVET SIZE UK | MATTRESS SIZE UK | |
| SINGLE SIZE DUVET | 135 x 200cm(53 x 79in) | 90 x 190cm |
| DOUBLE SIZE DUVET | 200 x 200cm(79 x 79in) | 135 x 190cm |
| KING SIZE DUVET | 225 x 220cm(89 x 87in) | 150 x 200cm |
| SUPER KING SIZE DUVET | 260 x 220cm(102 x 87in) | 180 x 200cm |
It is perfectly acceptable to use the next duvet size up (unless you have a super king-size duvet) to gain that extra tolerance in material and duvet.
How do you measure your bed?
Remove the bedding and measure from edge to edge. You may need to measure your mattress or bed, specifically if it’s not made in the UK. Your mattress size may differ if you have purchased your bed from an international chain store.
Buying a duvet outside of the UK may not fit the duvet cover as you expected.
How to measure your bed
- Use a retractable tape measure. It makes life easy when doing this process alone. As it can be locked into a specific measurement so you can make notes
- Make notes! Have a pen and paper at hand and write down the measurements, even the brand of the mattress
- Measuring is easy; start with the width and measure from one side of the mattress to the other in a straight line
- Measure the length of the mattress on both sides; it should be square (not in shape in measurements).
Is there a difference in bed sizes on different continents?
Yes. It can be baffling why beds are not standard sizes in the west, but they are not, so some confusion can be created when buying duvets.
Here is a list of bed sizes from different continents:
| UK | US | EUROPEAN |
| Single90 x 190cm36 × 75in | Twin99 × 191cm39 × 75in | Single90 x 200cm36 × 78in |
| Double 135 x 190cm53 × 75in | Full 137 × 191cm54 × 75in | Double140 x 200cm55 × 78in |
| King150 x 200cm60 × 78in | Queen152 × 203cm60 × 80in | King160 x 200cm63 × 78in |
| Super King180 x 200cm72 × 78in | King193 × 203cm76 × 80in | Grand King180 x 200cm72 × 78in |
So, if you travel and see an outstanding duvet that would look fabulous on your bed and match your decor, it may not fit as you expect.