The 12 best winter duvets for keeping the chill away, tried and tested (original) (raw)

Best winter duvet

Soak and Sleep Soft As Down Microfibre Duvet 10.5 Tog

Pros

• Filling remained evenly distributed after wash tests
• Strikes an ideal balance in weight

Cons

• Folding the duvet is tricky

Score: 96/100

Our panel loved this 10.5 tog duvet, praising its soft, plush finish, which kept them warm but not too hot at night. It’s made with microfibre, so it’s suitable for anyone looking to avoid feathers (although it still has that classic down rustle).

It washed well, too – our experts noted that it retained its even filling and luxurious finish, and there was minimal shrinkage. It is bulky, which makes it trickier to fold away for storage, and if your house is particularly chilly, then you may want a thicker option for the very depths of winter. But at 10.5 togs, it should see you through most of the year in comfort.

Key specifications

Best 15 tog duvet

Slumberdown Perfect For Chilly Nights 15 Tog Duvet

Pros

• Retained its shape and feel after washing
• Great-quality stitching

Cons

• Plastic packaging can’t be reused for storing the duvet

Score: 94/100

As one of the highest-tog duvets on the list, this is the one for you if you frequently find yourself reaching for the electric blanket or cranking the heating up. It’s not as soft and snuggly as a down duvet, but our testers found it just as comfortable to sleep under (and it is more affordable).

For a 15-tog duvet, it wasn’t heavy or overly thick. Instead, testers liked the “puffy” appearance, which made their bedroom set-up even more inviting. In fact, everyone said they’d recommend this duvet to others.

Key specifications

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Joint best wool duvet

Rise and Fall The Luxury Wool 10.5 Tog Duvet

Pros

• Fits into a duvet cover perfectly
• Made using 100% traceable British wool

Cons

• Wool makes it more expensive than some

Score: 91/100

Wool is something of an outlier when it comes to duvet fillings, so it would be understandable if you had some questions. However, it’s hypoallergenic and naturally temperature-regulating, and you don’t need to rely on our word alone. One well-rested panellist told us of this duvet: “It’s cosy and regulates my temperature nicely. I have never used a wool duvet before but I’m a total convert.” Others described the 10.5 tog design as “luxurious” and “super comfortable”.

While some noted that it isn’t silent to sleep with, they didn’t find it disruptively noisy. It’s also dry clean only. But it’s filled with organic British wool and, given the transformative sleep it gave our panel, we’d say the extra effort is worth it.

Key specifications

Joint best wool duvet

Slumberdown Wonderful Wool Heavyweight Duvet

Pros

• Natural smell isn’t overpowering
• Good quality

Cons

• Time-consuming to dry

Score: 91/100

The clue is in the name – wool is wonderful for a reason. It’s thick, naturally insulating and anti-bacterial, making it a fantastic material for a warming winter duvet.

In terms of tog rating, wool duvets are typically hard to label as the material works with the temperature of your room to regulate body temperature in a different way to other materials. As a rough estimate, however, this one is the equivalent to a 10 to 13.5 tog duvet.

It pleased our testers across the board. But note that it proved a challenge to clean as it’s not machine washable – you’ll need to sponge clean instead.

Key specifications

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Snuggledown Hungarian Goose Down 10.5 Tog Duvet

Pros

• Testers liked the high-quality cotton and the fact it’s made in Britain
• Minimal shrinkage in the wash

Cons

• Too warm for some (but this is a matter of personal preference)

Score: 91/100

Testers loved this lightweight yet warming duvet, which also has a soft-to-the-touch 100 per cent cotton casing. It boasts that luxurious goose down filling (a huge hit with testers) and the brand says that all the natural materials are ethically sourced.

Testers had to put in some work to re-disperse the filling evenly again after washing. However, otherwise, it’s easy to move, clean and fold, and everyone said they’d recommend this duvet to others.

Key specifications

Christy Feather and Down 13.5 Tog Duvet

Pros

• Warm yet still light so you can move around easily underneath
• No ‘new’ smell

Cons

• After washing, the filling was a bit clumpy

Score: 90/100

This “huggable” duvet was a warm and cosy hit with our testers. In fact, they all said they’d recommend it to others after they fell in love with its premium feel and design.

To keep your duvet in tip-top condition, Christy recommends professional laundering, something our panellists agreed with, as it would be difficult to fit the thick duvet into a washing machine. You’ll only need to do this once or twice a year, though. And it’s more affordable than many down duvets on our list, making it a stellar buy if you’re after a cloud-like sleep for less.

Key specifications

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The Duvet Hog The Original Vegan & Eco Winter Warm 13.5 Tog

Pros

• Has a 60-day money back guarantee
• Piping around the edge adds a high-end finish

Cons

• Difficult to pack away

Score: 90/100

This 13.5 tog winter duvet proved to be a real all-rounder; made with recycled plastic bottles, it emerged from the washing machine almost as good as new, and our panel found it luxuriously comfortable to sleep with. It’s also quiet, which means minimal rustling at night.

It has a light, bouncy feel that divided our testers; some loved it, while others would have preferred a heavier-feeling duvet to bed down with. Its buoyancy also made it a bit trickier for our expert to get it back into its canvas bag. Overall, though, this is a premium buy.

Key specifications

Snug Snuggle Up 13.5 Tog

Pros

• Panelling design means it shapes around the body well
• Minimal shrinkage after washing

Cons

• Packaging can’t be reused for storage

Score: 89/100

There’s a lot to love about this bargain duvet; it’s surprisingly lightweight for its high 13.5 tog rating (the lightest duvet on test!), it’s suitable for sleepers with allergies and it’s made in the UK (meaning it has a smaller carbon footprint). But top of our reasons to buy is that, despite its low price, its performance on test was outstanding.

Testers found the soft, quiet design was comfortable and cosy at night, and liked how easy it was to store away during summer. It also washed brilliantly in our lab, with only the slightest fraying of stitching, but note that it’s too bulky to fit into most domestic washing machines.

Key specifications

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Best bamboo duvet

Panda Cloud Duvet - 10.5 Tog

Pros

• Detailed product information and premium packaging
• Has a five-year guarantee

Cons

• Shrunk somewhat in the wash

Score: 89/100

Bamboo has a lot of properties that make it ideal for bedding: it’s naturally hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking. It’s also the world’s fastest-growing plant and doesn’t require as much water as cotton, making it a great choice for both home and planet. Panda sources its bamboo sustainably, too, which is why this duvet is one of our top eco picks.

On test, it felt lightweight but still snuggly, and our panel enjoyed the outer fabric’s silk-like feel. The quilt folded away easily into its reusable bag, but didn’t fare so well in our wash tests. It took a long time to dry (even after 3 hours 30 minutes of drying, it was still damp!) and there was noticeable filling shrinkage, too.

Its tog rating is also on the lighter side, so if your house gets particularly cold, look elsewhere. That said, if you want an all-seasons duvet, it’s a great greener offering.

Key specifications

Best budget down winter duvet

M&S Duck Feather & Down Natural Duvet - 13.5 Tog

Pros

• Duvet hugged the body well
• Lofty design felt cosy

Cons

• Filling was bumpy in places

Score: 89/100

This fluffy down duvet is a luxurious way to stay warm, as it retains plenty of heat. At £65, it’s also excellent value in comparison with other down duvets, and its comfortable feel was likened to sleeping on a cloud.

Some testers found themselves flattening it out from time to time due to the volume of filling, but that was their only niggle.

It washed fairly well, maintaining its premium appearance after our tests, but there was a little shrinkage, which was noticeable when we put it back inside a duvet cover. It wasn’t too hard to pack away into its accompanying storage bag, though – ideal if you’re setting it aside for the coldest of nights.

Key specifications

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EarthKind™ Feather and Down Duvet 13.5 Tog

Pros

• Filling remained even after washing
• Has a reuseable bag for easy storage

Cons

• Some panellists found it noisy

Score: 88/100

EarthKind reclaims pre-loved pillows and duvets, and recycles the feather and down fillings by cleaning them (thoroughly!) and putting them into their new duvets. Testers found this one regulated their temperature well and they enjoyed the high-quality feel.

The duvet was relatively lightweight and washed well (although it’s hard stuffing it into a machine at home). However, testers found it could be noisy and had a slight smell upon opening.

We also tested the 10.5 tog version of this down duvet, and it also scored 88/100, making it a great option if you get slightly hotter at night.

Key specifications

The White Company Perfect Every Day Duck Down 13.5 Tog

Pros

• Has extensive product information and a 10-year guarantee
• Felt thick and cosy

Cons

• Some feathers clumped together after washing

Score: 87/100

The White Company’s down duvet comes in a handy cotton bag, which you can use for storage when the sun’s out. It’s a high-quality choice, bringing hotel-level comfort to our testers’ sleep set-up.

It can be machine washed, but professional laundering is recommended by the brand, and we’d agree – in our wash tests, the filling clumped together. It also remained damp after five hours in the tumble dryer.

Key specifications

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What tog duvet do I need in winter?

A tog refers to how insulating a piece of fabric is and, generally, duvets for winter should be 12 togs or above. We’ve also included some 10.5 tog duvets in our list for the warmer end of spring and autumn, or if your home usually stays fairly hot year-round.

Alternatively, if you’re not quite sure what tog you want, try an all-seasons duvet, which comes in two parts – one higher tog and one lower tog. Depending on the weather, you can choose which tog is right, and when the mercury falls, you can join the layers together for maximum warmth.

If you’re not sure what type of duvet is right for you, check out our guide to the best duvets.

What duvet filling should I buy?

Similarly to when buying a mattress, the best duvet filling generally comes down to personal preference. However, here are the types to consider.

Traditional down duvets – filled with fine feathers – are warm and luxurious, and will last for years. However, they aren’t cheap – although many are mixed with feathers to make them more affordable – and they won’t suit anyone with allergies.

If you’re not sure about down, fibre – often hollow fibre or microfibre – is a more affordable choice. Some are better at temperature regulating and can be hypoallergenic, too. They don’t have the same long lifespan as down duvets, though.

Wool is another filling to consider. It’s naturally hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating – which is ideal if you want something breathable but aren’t convinced by synthetic fillings or feathers.

How to care for your winter duvet

The GHI recommends washing your duvet every few months, or at least twice a year, following the manufacturer’s instructions. It’s also worth washing pillows every other month or so, to avoid dust mites gathering and to keep all your bedding fresh.

If you’re nervous about causing any damage or don’t have a big enough washing machine, we suggest getting them professionally cleaned.

Handily, duvets tend to come in packaging you can reuse, so when it’s time to pack your winter one away, you have somewhere safe to store it ready for next year.

The verdict on the best duvets for winter

Soak And Sleep’s Soft As Down Duvet won rave reviews for its plush feel, while its microfibre filling makes it a fantastic option if you want to avoid feathers.

If you love a more traditional filling, though, Snuggledown’s Hungarian Goose Down duvet is our top pick – the natural materials are all ethically sourced, too.

Alternatively, wool duvets are great for temperature regulation, so we recommend Rise And Fall’s The Luxury Wool Duvet if you want to take advantage of its breathable, hypoallergenic qualities.

Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute

As part of our Sleep Awards, we pulled apart and analysed more than 100 products in the lab to find the very best duvets, pillows, mattresses and more. In fact, we’ve reviewed pretty much anything that promises to deliver the best possible sleep.

All this testing (which has included more than 1,200 samples, 300 of which were duvets) is organised by homes testing manager Blossom Boothroyd. The team uses rigorous testing criteria to assess each product against its claims.

Our homes editor, Hannah Mendelsohn, makes sure we’re reviewing all the latest and most innovative releases, and our homes writer, Megan Geall, analyses the scores and ensures all your questions are answered in our detailed reviews.

Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows, and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.

Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist, working for Stylist, Sky Sports and more.

Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.

Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market. When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her cooking, running and exploring London’s foodie hotspots – or trying to make friends with every dog she passes. Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall and on X @megan_geall

Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.