Time to Switch? Choosing the Right Duvet Tog This Autumn
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After a long hot summer, it’s hard to imagine those chilly evenings and freezing nights will ever return. But as the UK heads into Autumn, Bensons for Beds is advising that understanding one simple number could be the key to staying cosy this season – and the key to spending less too.
With energy bills still a major concern for households across the UK, more and more Brits are turning to cost-effective ways to keep warm without relying on central heating. The UK bed specialist says that one simple solution could be decoding your duvet tog rating.
Google search data reveals that some savvy Brits are planning to invest in smarter sleep solutions to beat the chill. Searches for “winter duvet” surged by 56% in the last week of August and people Googling “duvet tog temperature guide” grew by 80% year on year. It’s clear that more people are waking up to the idea that bedding isn’t just about comfort—it’s a frontline defence against rising heating costs.
Despite this increased interest, research conducted by Bensons for Beds highlights a surprising knowledge gap: 62% of respondents admitted they don’t change their duvet seasonally and 55% said they weren’t sure which tog rating is suitable for winter.
But what is a tog rating—and why should you care? A tog is a measurement of the thermal resistance of an area, with one tog equivalent to 0.1m²K/W. This means that where the flow of heat is equal to a single watt per square metre, thermal resistance in togs is equal to 10X the temperature difference between the two surfaces of a piece of fabric. Taken from the term ‘togs’, an informal word for clothing (which derives from the Roman ‘toga’), the tog was first created by The Shirley Institute – the Manchester-based HQ of the British Cotton Industry Research Association – as a simpler way to express thermal insulation in textiles.
Emma Beck, Buying and Merchandising Manager at Bensons for Beds, explains: “People often assume the fluffier or heavier the duvet, the warmer it’ll be—but that’s not always the case. A high tog rating is a much better indicator of insulation. For autumn and winter in the UK, a 13.5 tog is ideal. It keeps heat in and helps reduce your reliance on the thermostat.”
Emma’s Top Tips for Smarter Bedding Choices in Winter 2025
- Know your tog:
13.5 tog is recommended for the UK’s coldest months, 9–10.5 tog is ideal for milder autumn nights and during the warmer spring and summer months, a 4.5 tog (or even just a sheet!) should do the trick.
- Invest in flexibility:
Consider an All Seasons duvet, like the Slumberland 3-in-1, a duvet which comes in 2 parts – a 4.5 tog which is great for the hotter months and a 9 tog for the cooler months. And when that cold British winter is upon us and you need extra warmth, you can fix the two duvets together using the press studs to create a 13.5 tog. Voila! 3 duvets in one.
If you and your partner sleep at different temperatures then a duvet like the eveSleep wunderflex multi-way, the customisable duvet for bed buddies who like to sleep at different temperatures, might be just the solution you need. The duvet features eight different combinations, offering each person the flexibility of mixing and matching the layers on their side. Then it simply zips down the middle joining the two sides together to create one duvet. Very clever!
- Check the care label:
Choose a duvet that’s machine washable to avoid expensive dry cleaning bills. This can also save you time and money in the long run.
- Consider an all-rounder duvet
Choosing a ‘middle of the road’ tog will help keep you comfortable in bed all year round. With its 10.5 tog rating, the Staples & Co Hint of Silk duvet (£69.99) does just that. It also benefits from a 100% polyester waffle designed cover to feel soft against your skin and blend of silk and polyester fibres to create lightweight comfort without being too bulky and causing you to overheat.
For more expert advice on how to choose the right duvet for every season, budget and body temperature, visit Bensons for Beds.
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