Best winter duvets to keep you warm in the cold months

Make sure you're toasty in the winter months with the best duvets for winter

best-winter-duvet

by Hannah Mellin |
Updated on

The colder months are right around the corner and it is officially time to get snuggly, so that means finding the best winter duvet to take you right through to spring/summer. Even though some of the best duvets provide all-year-round comfort, some experts say switching between a summer duvet and a winter one is the best option if you really feel the cold in winter and the heat in summer.

You’ll know when to swap to a summer duvet by simply looking at the weather outside. We usually experience our first spell of cold weather at the start of September, so that’s usually a good time to start thinking about switching back to a winter one. As a general rule, especially in the UK, having a winter duvet during the autumn to spring is the best option for keeping warm at night time.

Best winter duvets at a glance:

• Best overall winter duvet: Silentnight Deep Sleep 15 Tog Duvet - View on Dreams
• Best vegan winter duvet: Duvet Hog Vegan and Eco-Friendly Duvet - View on Duvethog
Best value winter duvet: John Lewis Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Duvet, 13.5 Tog - View on John Lewis

In our round-up, we've handpicked a wide range of the best winter duvets to choose from and have answered some burning questions that might influence your decision. From thicker down and feather duvets to cotton winter duvets and anti-allergy duvets that help asthma, eczema or rhinitis sufferers. We've covered all bases.

Best winter duvets 2024

Best overall winter duvet

This Silentnight Deep Sleep Duvet ticks all of the boxes as it is perfect to use in all seasons, is hypoallergenic and machine washable. The 15 tog is ideal for keeping snug in winter, and the duvet is generously filled for endless comfort and support, helping you to sleep more deeply every night.

One reviewer said: "I bought this duvet thinking I may not need to use it, but as the weather has been so cold, I decided to put it on the bed... I'm glad I did as worth its weight in gold. A very warm duvet, good quality material and stuffing. So if you are finding it a little chilly at night get this duvet, it will keep you toasty."

Pros

  • Warm and thick
  • Hypoallergenic

Cons

  • Some reviews mentioned it feels light for a winter duvet
Size:King
Material:Polyester and cotton

Best winter duvet for hot sleepers

Slumberdown - best winter duvets
Price: £25 (for a double)

www.sleepseeker.co.uk

The Slumberdown Chilly Nights 15 Tog Duvet not only provides extra warmth and clever temperature control, it has a lovely soft touch cover that has a smooth finish so it feels lovely and cosy when you snuggle up.

A customer review: "Outstanding. The best winter quilt I've ever bought!!! I bought a second one as the quality is superb! Love loads of their products as the quality looks Outstanding! Very quick delivery! Thank you so much for making me extra snug when I go to bed."

Pros

  • Snug and comfortable
  • Lightweight even though it is a winter duvet

Cons

  • One review mentioned the durability of the stitching is disappointing
Size:Single, Double, King, Super King
Material:Microfibre and hollowfibre

Best value winter duvet

John Lewis - best winter duvets
Price: £50 (for a double)

www.johnlewis.com

This affordable Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Duvet is great for those with busy households as it can be washed at 60°C time after time and dries quicker compared to standard duvet drying times, meaning it’ll be ready to go back on the bed in no time. The premium filling creates an airy and open structure that traps heat, so you'll feel warm throughout the night.

One reviewer said: "This quilt is absolutely amazing. This is the fourth one I have purchased and it's like sleeping in a fluffy cloud. The quality is first class and makes bedtime a joy."

Another reviewer put: "A good price and so comfortable; it feels luxurious and I'm so pleased with it. Due to the way it's made there's not going to be a problem with the content of the duvet clumping."

Pros

  • Great quality for the price
  • Cosy and light

Cons

  • One review commented that it flattened after a couple of years
Size:Single, Double, King, Super King
Material:Polyester

Best winter duvet for warmth

Marks & Spencer - best winter duvets
Price: £65 (for a double)

www.marksandspencer.com

Duck feathers and down are both fantastic insulators as the loft (or fluffiness) of down creates thousands of tiny air pockets which trap warm air and retain heat, therefore helping you keep very warm in cold winter weather. This duvet from Marks & Spencer is the ultimate luxurious upgrade for your bedroom. 

A customer review says: "I prefer a duvet with a bit of weight and this is just right. I have tried synthetic and wool duvets but have returned to good old-fashioned feathers in my search for the ideal. Very pleased with this duvet that drapes itself into all the nooks and crannies so no draughty gaps."

Pros

  • Great value for the quality
  • Not too heavy

Cons

  • One reviewer said they wished it was warmer as they needed another blanket on top
Size:Single, Double, King, Super King
Material:Cotton, duck feather

Best vegan winter duvet

Warm, soft, and light, with a filling spun from recycled plastic bottles that feels like down, Duvet Hog's bedding is made with the planet and comfort in mind. The filling is soft, light, warm and breathable, like real down, but without plucking a single feather. Available for winter in a 13.5 tog.

One review put: "I have had this amazing duvet for one year and four months, I have washed it a lot and it is still so amazing (what fantastic quality) it's so soft and fluffy. Duvet Hog have literally thought of everything."

Another reviewer said: "I got this duvet for Christmas and I do not have the words for how comfy it is. It's cosy and soft and so warm, but somehow still light. My cat has slept on my bed every single day since Christmas so she gives 5 stars too!"

Pros

  • Vegan and eco-friendly
  • Fluffy and soft

Cons

  • Lightweight, so may not be as 'snug' as you would like in colder months
Size:Single, Double, King, Super King
Material:Recycled plastic, polyester

Best anti-allergy winter duvet

If you're prone to allergies, keep them at bay with Dreams Anti-Allergy 10.5 Tog Duvet that is suitable for every season. Perfect if you don't feel the cold or prefer to have blankets on top to provide you with more warmth.

It's important to remember that hypoallergenic means that the pillow or duvet is less likely to trigger allergies and anti-allergy means that the duvet has been treated in some way to combat the development of dust mites or to offer protection against their allergen. 

One reviewer said: "The anti-allergy double duvet from Dreams is a very good product. It's soft and cosy and is doing it's job now that the spring and early summer are still a bit in cool side."

Another customer reviewer put: "This is not too heavy. It's just the right temperature and it is very soft."

Pros

  • Anti-allergy polyester filling
  • Machine washable at 40°C

Cons

  • May be too light for some
Size:Single, Double, King, Super King
Material:Polyester

Best heavy winter duvet

The White Company - best winter duvet
Price: £250.00 to £460.00

www.thewhitecompany.com

The White Company is known for their luxury products and this Hungarian Goose Down Duvet is no different. It has been filled with 90% white goose down and 10% small feathers which are a by-product of the food industry, thus minimising wastage.

One reviewer wrote: "This is a very well made duvet that is very nice to sleep under - it is so lovely and warm!"

Another reviewer said: "What’s not to like? This is a very good quality duvet."

Pros

  • Can be attached to a second duvet
  • In a 29-thread-count cotton jacquard

Cons

  • Not vegan-friendly
Size:Single, double, king, super king
Material:Hungarian goose feather, cotton

Best luxury winter duvet

The Simba Hybrid 3-in-1 10.5 tog duvet is the perfect combination of beautiful warmth and down-like softness that's designed to help control body heat. With the help of space-inspired technology, one side of the Simba Hybrid duvet has ingenious cooling technology on one side to help control body heat - meaning all you need to do in the summer months is flip it over to the cooler side. The impressive tech absorbs, stores and releases heat when you need it, and the super-soft filling is stitched evenly into square pockets so the comfort reaches every corner.

Tested by us: "Picking a duvet that suits you and anyone you share your bed with is hard work. The Simba Hybrid duvet comes at a high price, but the technology really does work. After sleeping with it for a few months in some pretty unpredictable weather, there hasn't been a day or night where I've been uncomfy, too hot or too cold. You can really feel the cooling technology when you use that side and it is so soft and snuggly it makes getting up in the morning very tricky indeed. The only downside would be that it is hard to fit in my small, integrated washing machine, so I will have to take it to the laundrette when it comes to washing it."

Pros

  • Cooling technology
  • Doesn't clump

Cons

  • Too big for the washing machine
Size:Single, Double, King, Super King
Material:Recycled PET bottle fibres

Best extra thick winter duvet

Expert rating:
4.0

Suitable for use in all seasons, the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet is made with a natural fibre that feels luxurious. It is made in two layers, plus the wool is naturally temperature regulating. The duvet is also hypoallergenic, making it ideal for allergy sufferers.

Yours Senior Digital Writer, Lorna White says: "This duvet seriously improved our sleep quality, and this was clear from the first night of sleep. The weight, thickness and luxurious feel helped us get to sleep very quickly and the temperature regulating properties meant our temperature was regulated throughout the night."

Read our full review of the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool All Season Duvet here.

Pros

  • Hypoallergenic material
  • Wide variety of size options

Cons

  • Popper attachments separate easily
Size:Single, Double, King, Superking, Emperor
Material:Wool

Best double winter duvet

Julian Charles Home - best winter duvets
Price: £34 (was 92)

juliancharles.co.uk

Full of bounce, the Julian Charles Home Super Soft Winter Duvet is sectioned into cassettes, ensuring that the filling is evenly distributed. It is lightweight and breathable too and we love the softness of the brushed microfibre filling.

**One reviewer wrote: "**This duvet is of superb quality and it is great value for money, as with all my other purchases from Julien Charles."

Another reviewer wrote: "This is very light and warm; it is just what you want for a winters night."

Pros

  • Hollowfibre filling
  • Brushed cover

Cons

  • Pillows not included
Size:Single, Double, King Size, Super King
Material:Polyester, hollowfibre

Best winter duvets FAQs

What is a tog rating?

You've seen the word tog everywhere when duvet shopping, but what does it even mean? Tog is the measurement of warmth retention in a duvet that also measures the material's effectiveness to trap warm air. Duvets can range in tog from 1 to 15, and the higher the tog, the warmer your duvet will be. To ensure you've got the coolest duvet for the job, you'll want to pick one with a low tog with a rating of 4.5 or less.

According to Dreams, the most common duvet tog rating is 10.5, so if you're a hot sleeper, struggle in the warmer seasons or get night sweats, your usual duvet might not be best for you or for all year around. For more know-how on duvet shopping, check out our duvet buyer's guide.

What is the best tog rating for winter duvets?

For those wondering what type of duvet is best for winter, you should check the tog rating, If your house gets very cold in the winter, it may be a good idea for you to invest in a 12 to 13.5 tog duvet. They are cosy and will keep you warm for freezing winter nights.

How often should you wash your duvet?

Don't worry, we're all probably a little guilty for not washing our duvets as much as we should do. Washing your duvet is an important part of keeping your bed hygienic and free from dust mites. House dust mites feed on dead skin that has been partially broken down by mould, and both the skin itself and the dust mites that find it so tasty can quickly build up in unwashed beds and bedding.

If you can wash your duvet or quilt in your own washing machine, wash it on a gentle cycle using a non-bio detergent. After washing, make sure to completely air and dry your duvet or quilt before use. Alternatively, you could always take it to a laundrette or laundry service to wash if your washing machine is too small at home.

It is recommended that you should wash your duvet every few months or at least twice a year. Winter duvets tend to be thicker than summer, so you may have to go to a launderette if you have a smaller washing machine.

Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Yours. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle, three cats and a tortoise called Bobby.

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