Duvet Tog Guide

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Did you know that there is a very easy way to discover how warm your new duvet will be? A super thick, heavy duvet may not actually be the warmest option. This is why every duvet is given a tog rating which is printed right on the label. 

A tog is a number that measures how well the duvet will retain and insulate heat. The higher the tog number, the warmer your duvet will be. Pretty simple! 

Fun Fact: The Shirley Institute, a cotton research association in Manchester, England, first developed tog numbers and the tog test in the 1940s. It is a system that is still used to rate the thermal resistance on duvets and carpet underlays. 

Tog Numbers Explained

Before you pick the best tog number for you, we wanted to make sure you know exactly what a tog is. Tog stands for Thermal Overall Grade and the scale ranges from 1 to 15 with 1 being the coolest, lightest rating and 15 being a very warm, insulated duvet. Most duvets fall into the 4.5 to 13.5 tog range so anything cooler or warmer may require a special order.

How to Pick a Tog

There are two main factors that will help you decide what tog rating is best for you: 

  • The temperature in your room
  • How warm you like to be when you sleep
In the summer, you will want a duvet with a lower tog number to help you stay cool during the night. A colder bedroom in the winter may drive you to get a duvet with a higher tog so that you stay cosy and warm.
Every person is different when it comes to their preferred night-time temperature. Some love to be extra warm at night and would therefore love a higher tog duvet. Others would rather be nice and cool, enjoying a lower tog duvet. Think about your personal preferences when you assess blanket tog numbers.
Best Tog for Summer A lighter duvet with a tog rating of 4.5 to about 7.5 is best for the summer. These duvets will help you stay cool while still being cosy under a blanket. Lower tog number duvets are typically made from synthetic fibres which are more breathable and not quite as heavy. Best Tog for Winter You may want to swap your summer duvet for a higher tog winter duvet as the weather gets cooler. If your home gets very cold in the winter, a tog number of 13.5 and up may be needed. Higher tog duvets are usually made with goose down or other natural fibres that insulate well. Dual Tog Duvets If you and your partner have a hard time agreeing on sleep temperature, you may want to investigate a dual tog duvet. Partner duvets will be warmer on one half and cooler on the other. One side usually has a tog of 9 while the opposite side ranks at about a 4. These amazing dual blankets allow you and your partner to feel comfortable under their preferred tog while still allowing you to have one, nice duvet. Best Tog Number for Children Once a child reaches the age of one, they may be ready to sleep under a duvet. Children cannot regulate their body temperature as well as adults and they may overheat more easily. For this reason, it is best to choose a lower tog number duvet for a kid. Children feel warmer under a duvet than an adult would so they will be quite cosy with a low tog blanket, even in the winter.

Now that you understand tog numbers and how to choose the best tog duvet for you, you are ready to go shopping! Pick your tog number wisely and you are sure to feel comfortable all night long.

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