Best duvets – I've tested over 20 options to find the best-in-class

The best duvets on the market can make a real difference to the quality of your sleep. And, as a good night's sleep is linked to better mental and physical wellbeing, investing in a top quality duvet is well worth the money.

But with a vast range of filling types – from feather and down to wool and microfibre to hollowfibre – along with a sea of different tog ratings and factors such as breathability, temperature regulation, ease of care, and, of course, price, to take into consideration, where do you start?

This is where I come in. As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor I've spent the last four years testing all types of bedding, from reviewing the best mattresses to researching the latest sleep technologies.

For this guide, I put over twenty (and counting) of the best duvets on the market through our testing process to find the best-in-class. That means I slept under each duvet for a minimum of a week (often far longer), to test out its temperature regulation, breathability, snuggle-factor, and ease of care. I then assessed it for performance and value for money before compiling this shortlist.

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It's incredibly difficult to crown the 'best duvet' overall as so many factors play into the choice. However, if pushed, (and money was no object) as a hot sleeper I would chose the Floks Luxury British Wool Duvet because of its first rate temperature regulation and breathability. That said, there are plenty more affordable options in this guide. Read on for my top recommendations based on thousands of hours of snoozing.

Best winter duvet

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Temperature regulation: This is one of the warmest winter duvets I've ever slept under. I tested it in a cold bedroom in a listed Victorian building, and I stayed warm and cosy under this duvet all through the night. Even better, thanks to the wool filling's excellent temperature regulation, I never woke up too warm. That temperature regulation is also a huge benefit if you share a bed. Instead of me sweltering whilst my partner shivered, this duvet kept both of us at the exact right temperature all night long.

Breathability: I'm a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating, and this duvet is by far the most breathable I've tested. Whilst sleeping under it I've never once woken up feeling too hot or clammy or kicked off the covers at 3am like I have sleeping under pretty much every other winter duvet I've tested.

Feel: Before testing the Floks I'd been sleeping under a cloud-like feather-and-down duvet. In comparison, this wool-filled duvet feels heavier, a little thinner, and less squashy and airy. However, it still feels like a premium product, and I found I enjoyed sleeping under its slightly weightier feel.

Ease of care: There had to be a downside right? Yep, it's the fact that this duvet can't be washed. (And its price... but we'll come onto that in a minute). Floks advise airing the duvet by hanging it outside on a sunny day, but, if it needs a deeper clean, you'll have to dry clean it. I haven't had any issues keeping it fresh by using the airing method, but others may prefer a duvet that can be machine-washed.

Value for money: There's no point beating around the bush, this is a very expensive duvet. However, I do think it's worth the money. It offers such good temperature regulation that it's transformed my sleep quality, and the fact that sleeping under it meant I could turn the thermostat in my bedroom down in winter means that in a few years it might have almost recouped its expense.

Winter duvet alternatives

Best all-season duvet

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Feel: A down duvet made from the highest quality Hungarian goose down and a very small ratio of feathers, this is the crème de la crème of duvets comfort-wise. It feels (and looks) super luxurious on the bed. It's soft, squashy, light and airy, and has plenty of 'flumph'. It feels fantastic to snuggle up under after a long day and has plenty of malleability so you can tuck it around every inch of your body for the ultimate cocooning softness.

Temperature regulation: After researching and testing numerous all-season duvets, I chose this as the best-in-class not just because of its superior comfort levels, but because of the range of tog mixes available. Unlike most all-season duvets which only offer one tog mix, scooms offer three options; a 7 tog (2.5 +9 tog) all-seasons duvet, an 11 tog (2.5 + 9 tog) duvet, and a 13.5 tog (4.5 + 9 tog) combo. That means there's a good warmth rating for everyone amongst those options.

Breathability: I'm a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating on bedding that isn't super breathable, and sadly for me this is the one area that this duvet lost some marks. I found the down fill much more breathable than the synthetic filled duvets I've tested, but it couldn't compare to a wool-fill in terms of breathability, and under the higher togs of this duvet, I did still overheat.

Ease of care: Whilst a feather and down duvet isn't quite as easy to care for as a synthetic duvet, scooms duvets can still be machine-washed at 40°c. It can even be popped in the tumble dryer on a low heat, although I found it took a lot longer to dry than a synthetic option.

Value for money: Unfortunately luxury comes at a price, so this duvet is a significant investment. That said, I can vouch for the fact that its premium price tag is matched by its premium comfort levels. If you're looking for high-end hotel comfort at home (and you aren't prone to getting too hot at night, like me), this duvet is the ultimate luxury, and is worth the money. The Soak & Sleep 90% Hungarian Goose Down Duvet is of comparable quality and often slightly better value, however, scooms is one of the few brands that offers a 60-night sleep trial on its duvets, which is a brilliant way to test out if this investment purchase is right for you before you commit.

All-Season duvet alternatives

Best summer duvet

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Temperature regulation: Finding the best summer duvet isn't just about opting for a low tog duvet, good temperature regulation is actually far more important, especially in Britain where night time temperatures can still fluctuate dramatically in summer. That's why a lightweight wool duvet is brilliant summer option, as the temperature regulation wool provides is far superior to any other duvet fill. I slept under this Woolroom duvet from May to September without any overheating on hot nights and stayed cosy on cooler nights.

Breathability: Good breathability is another key factor in a summer duvet when we're all prone to getting more hot and sweaty then usual. Under even the lowest 2-5 tog synthetic or feather and down summer duvets I tested I still found myself waking up clammy, not so with this wool duvet which allows air to circulate through the fibres for a sweat-free summer sleep.

Feel: When I first unpacked this duvet I thought there's no way it was going to keep me warm enough and was a little disappointed by how flat it looked on the bed. There's no squashiness to it, instead it feels thin and feel very utilitarian. However, you definitely shouldn't judge this book by its cover because its performance is 100% worth the sacrifice in aesthetics, especially if you're a hot sleeper. (Although, I do wish Woolroom would make the corners square as its rounded edges do not fit a duvet cover well!)

Ease of care: Unlike most wool duvets, Woolroom's Deluxe duvet can be machine-washed at 40°c following the brand's instructions, making it far easier to care for than most . You will need to line dry it rather than tumble dry it, but as this is a summer duvet you should have good weather on your side.

Value for money: This is a mid-range wool duvet. It definitely isn't cheap, but it does offer a lot of USPs that make it worth the investment. Firstly, it's the only wool duvet that comes with a sleep trial, that means you can sleep-test it for 30 nights on your own bed to see if it transforms your sleep in the same way it has mine. It also comes in three warmth levels, plus an all-season option, and four bed sizes. Plus, it's machine washable. I haven't found any other wool duvet that offers all of those benefits.

Summer duvet alternatives

Best budget duvet

Temperature regulation: The downside of any synthetic duvet is poor temperature regulation (especially compared to a wool duvet). That can make a synthetic duvet a false economy, as you usually need to buy two if not three seperate duvets to get the right warmth for summer, winter, and the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn. Opting for an All-Season synthetic duvet can be a solution, and is usually still cheaper than a natural fill duvet. I found this M&S combo of a cooler 4.5 tog duvet and a warmer 9 tog duvet that combine to create a 13.5 tog winter duvet verstaile enough to suit all seasons.

Breathability: This duvet has lots of plus points, namely affordability and ease of care, but breathability is the one thing it lacks. This is the case with any synthetic duvet, and although the Supremely Washable is more breathable than many synthetic options thanks to its airier fill, it can't compete with a wool duvet in this category, and I did find myself feeling clammy on hotter nights or when my temperature was high.

Feel: It doesn't have the same cocooning feel as a feather and down duvet, but thanks to its airy recycled polyester fill I still found the Supremely Washable squishy and pliable meaning I could tuck it around my body to keep out any draughts.

Ease of care: This is where a synthetic duvet really comes into its own. The Supremely Washable can be machine washed at 60°c, a temperature that kills dust mites which is good news for those with allergies. It can also be tumble dried on low and is super fast to dry, so it can be washed and back on the bed on the same day.

Value for money: Synthetic duvets are far cheaper than wool or feather and down fillings, and this is one of the best value polyester duvets I've found. I think the All-Seasons option is the best buy overall because it means you have a warmth option for each season, but if you need an even more affordable option then the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet range is also available in 1, 4.5, 7.5, 10.5 and 13.5 tog warmth options which range from £19.50-£69.

Budget duvet alternatives

Best wool duvet

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First up, a caveat. After testing multiple wool duvets, I think the Floks Luxury British Wool Duvet is the very best wool duvet money can buy (you can find out more details in the best winter duvet section). But, it is very expensive. That's why I've chosen to feature the best affordable wool duvet I've tested in this section; the Slumberdown Wonderful Wool Duvet.

Temperature regulation: I tested the warmest 'heavyweight' version of the Wonderful Wool Duvet which is equivalent to around 10-12 tog – although there is also a lightweight (equivalent to 3-4.5 tog) and mediumweight (7-9 tog) warmth option. Alongside the Floks 13.5 Tog Luxury British Wool Duvet it's the warmest wool duvet I've slept under. In fact, I stayed so warm and cosy under the covers on cold nights that I was able to turn my thermostat down at night. And, importantly, thanks to the wool filling's excellent temperature regulation, I never woke up too warm. This fantastic temperature regulation is also a huge benefit if you share a bed with someone with a different inner thermostat than you.

Breathability: I'm a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating, so I'm a huge fan of wool for its fantastic breathability, and this duvet is no exception. Whilst sleeping under it I haven't ever woken up feeling too hot or clammy or felt the need to kick off the covers. Instead, I woke up each morning feeling, well, 'wonderfully' warm.

Feel: The feel of this duvet is where it becomes clear this is a budget rather than a high-end option. The filling of the heavyweight Wonderful Wool Duvet felt nice and full and plumptious compared to a lot of other wool duvets I've tested – many of which tend to feel very thin and utilitarian. However, its cotton cover lets it down. The densely woven fabric feels a little stiff which means it doesn't drape well and it can make a crinkling noise when you scrunch it around you. You can still tuck the duvet nicely around your body to keep out draughts, but not quite as well as with more expensive options, and overall it feels cheaper.

Ease of care: Like all wool duvets (other than Woolroom's Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet) this duvet can't be washed. And, unlike the Floks Luxury British Wool Duvet, it can't even be dry cleaned. Instead, Slumberland recommends spot-cleaning the cover with a damp cloth, if necessary, and regularly airing the duvet to keep it in good condition. I find hanging it outside on a sunny day does the trick. However, others may prefer a duvet that can be machine-washed.

Value for money: As mentioned, if you have the budget then the Floks Luxury British Wool Duvet is my top recommendation for the best wool duvet overall, but at well over £200 for a double, its price point is prohibitive. In contrast, a double Slumberdown Wonderful Wool Duvet retails for between £51 and £69 depending on which weight you opt for. It doesn't feel as luxurious as Floks' duvet, and it isn't comparable in terms of its quality, but I found it delivers great warmth, breathability, and temperature regulation for a fraction of the price.

Wool duvet alternatives

Best feather and down duvet

Temperature regulation: I tested the warmest 13.5 tog version of Soak & Sleep's Hungarian Goose Down duvet (there are also a wide range of other togs available) and I found it super insulating and cosy to snuggle up under. If you're a cold sleeper, a feather and down duvet is a brilliant buy. However, if you're a hot sleeper, then, like me, you might find yourself slowly overheating as the night goes on. More on that in the next section.

Breathability: I'm a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating, so, for me, this is where a feather and down duvet falls down. I loved snuggling into this duvet at night, but, come 3am, I regularly found I would wake up hot and clammy because my body heat wasn't able to dissipate through the duvet fill in the same way it could with the wool-filled duvets I tested. If you're a cold sleeper this likely won't be a problem, but if you know you're prone to getting sticky at night, this may be a reason to opt for wool instead.

Feel: The feel of this duvet is where it really excels. No duvet feels quite as luxurious as a feather and down duvet, and this Soak & Sleep option is one of the cream of the crop. It's squishy, plumptious, and feels like being wrapped up in a cloud. If you're looking to create the ultimate sleep haven, then this duvet will certainly elevate your bedding and make you feel like you've just checked into a boutique hotel.

Ease of care: A feather and down duvet will require regular shaking to keep the filling aired and evenly distributed (this is helped by this duvet's quilted cover which keeps the fill well spread out) and is never going to be as easy to care for as a synthetic duvet that can be bunged in the washing machine without too much thought. However, this option can be washed at 30°c and tumble-dried on low.

Value for money: A good quality Hungarian goose-down duvet will never be cheap, and this duvet is a significant investment. However, in my experience, Soak & Sleep always offers great quality bedding at very competitive price points, and this is the best value Hungarian goose down duvet of this quality that I've found. The one caveat; the scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet listed below is slightly more expensive, but it comes with a very useful 60-night sleep trial which this Soak & Sleep option does not.

Feather & down duvet alternatives

How I tested

There's no better way to test out a duvet than on your own bed, so that's what I did in order to compile this guide. I've slept under over twenty bestselling duvets (and counting) to compile this shortlist, and have only included those products which impressed me the most.

I slept under each duvet I've tested for at least a week and in many cases much longer. During this time, I assessed each duvet's insulation and temperature regulation, its breathability (particularly important to me as a hot sleeper prone to overheating), its feel (meaning how nice it felt to tuck around me as I snuggled up in bed and how well it drapes on the bed), and its ease of care (meaning does it need regularly shaking to redistribute the filling and can it be machine washed or cleaned easily).

Each duvet was tested with as few variables as possible. For example, I used the same duvet cover on each duvet, as well as the same mattress, mattress protector, and fitted sheet. I also ensured the bedroom temperature remained as consistent as possible during testing. Experts, including doctors advising The Sleep Foundation and Patient Info, recommend a bedroom temperature of between 16 and 18°c for the best night's sleep, so I aimed to keep my bedroom at 17°c during the night, apart from when testing the summer duvets.

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Because these duvets are in regular rotation on my bed I've also been able to see how they perform in hot and cold weather throughout the seasons and assess how well the duvet holds up over time. Any duvets that flatten, clump, or start releasing feather or down are promptly removed from this round-up.

Where possible, I've also thoroughly researched third-party customer reviews to see what other owners have to say about their sleep experience. All the duvets included in this guide regularly get 4-5 star reviews from customers.

And finally, I considered each duvet's price point. Having tested multiple duvets and discovered for myself the difference in quality between a £50 and a £200 duvet, I believe the options I've included in this guide are each worth their investment. Many can often be snapped up for cheaper than their usual RRP when bedding deals are in full swing. However, I've also included the best affordable duvets I've tested within each category as a budget-friendly alternative.

Amy Lockwood

I'm Amy, and as Ideal Home's Sleep Editor I've spent the last four years testing sleep products by night and sharing my findings with our readers by day. That includes sleeping under more than twenty different duvets on my own bed to find the best-in-class. All in all, that's over 10,000 hours of at-home duvet testing under my belt!

Best duvet brands

Which duvet brand to shop largely depends on what you're looking for. Dunelm, M&S, and John Lewis are great for affordable easy-care synthetic duvets and budget-friendly duck feather and down. Soak & Sleep offers more luxurious duvet fillings at hard-to-beat price points. For a premium goose down duvet scooms or The White Company can come up trumps. And for a wool-filled duvet, Woolroom is one of my first ports of call.

Here are my top recommendations for the best duvet brands to shop:

Dunelm: affordable synthetic and feather and down duvets
John Lewis: budget synthetics, mid-range feather and down, and premium wool duvets
M&S: affordable synthetic and feather and down duvets with a focus on ease of care
scooms: premium feather and down duvets
Soak & Sleep: great quality and good value premium duvets of all fill types
The White Company: premium feather and down duvets
Woolroom: great mid-range and washable wool duvets

How to choose the best duvet

Spend some time looking for a new duvet and you'll soon realise there are a whole host of options available. To help you choose the best duvet for your needs we've broken down the basics of duvet shopping below, from understanding tog ratings to working out what duvet filling is best for you.

Deciding on which duvet fill best suits your needs is one of the key factors in getting this purchase right the first time. From hollow fibre to goose down, synthetic to natural, the array of duvet fillings available can be a little overwhelming, which is where we're here to help.

How to choose the best duvet filling

The best duvet filling for you will depend on your sleep and care requirements. If you want a warm yet breathable duvet, then wool is your best friend. If you want an affordable duvet or one that can be bunged in the washing machine and washed at a high temperature then you'll want a synthetic duvet.

We've broken down the pros and cons of the most common duvet fillings below.

Wool duvets: pros and cons

Wool is a bit of a wonder fibre in terms of duvet fill, and one of the best duvet fillings you can opt for whether it's summer or winter. Insulating, breathable, temperature regulating, hypoallergenic, durable, a sustainable and renewable resource, and bio-degradable at the end of the product's lifespan, it ticks a whole lot of boxes when it comes to the best duvet fill choice. 'Wool works in perfect harmony with your fluctuating temperature', says Chris Tattersall, sleep expert and managing director of Woolroom, 'it also helps to alleviate sleep prohibiting allergies through its exceptional moisture management'. However, not all wool duvets can be washed, so it pays to double-check the manufacturer's care instructions.

Feather and down duvets: pros and cons

Another popular natural duvet filling is down, or, a more affordable mix of feather and down.

Long thought of as the Holy Grail of duvet fillings, down creates a plump, squishy and super soft duvet. This natural filling also has far more breathability than a synthetic option, making for a cooler sleep.

However, sourced from either duck or goose on an industrial scale, the fill can raise concerns about animal cruelty and won't be the right option for vegans. Look for fill that is certified to be a by-product of the food industry, with Downpass or Downafresh accreditation that denotes ethically sourced and traceable feather and down. Generally, down duvets also aren't machine washable, and will need more plumping, and that luxury feel comes with a luxury price tag to match.

A more affordable alternative to pure down, a feather and down fill bulks out down's fine softness by adding some larger feathers into the mix. A goose feather and down duvet filling tends to be the most luxurious mix, with duck feather and down the more affordable (yet often a little lumpier) alternative.

Generally speaking, the more you spend on a feather and down duvet the better the quality, with some cheaper options resulting in escaped down and feathers that stick through the casing.

Synthetic duvets: pros and cons

If you're looking for a duvet that's more affordable and/or easier to care for, and that can be washed at high temperatures then you might also want to consider synthetic fillings. These duvets are filled with manmade fibres, like polyester and polyamide that are made from petroleum-based plastics.

The cheapest duvets you can buy tend to be made of hollowfibre. Made of polyester wadding, hollowfibre fill is dense but lightweight. A hollowfibre duvet is affordable, easy to care for as it can generally be washed at high temperatures, and is anti-allergenic, which makes it a popular choice for kid's bedding. However, over time this duvet fill is most likely to flatten and become lumpy. Synthetics can also cause overheating and night sweats as the plastic polymer fibres aren't breathable and reflect body heat towards the sleeper, and neither production nor disposal at the end of the duvet's life span (plastic is non-biodegradable) is good news from an environmental point of view.

Microfibre is the 'luxury' version of hollowfibre. A microfibre fill is made of much finer strands of polyester resulting in a very lightweight duvet with a, yes, more luxurious feel. Microfibre is often compared to the feel of down, but it's a vegan-friendly option that doesn't pose the risk of animal cruelty in its manufacture. The environmental impact of production and disposal is still a concern though, and, like hollowfibre, microfibre lacks natural breathability which can also cause overheating.

FAQs

How to choose the best duvet tog

Duvet tog is a measure of how effectively a duvet insulates heat and therefore how warm it will keep you during the night. Duvet tog ratings range from 1 tog to 15 tog, with higher numbers offering more warmth.

Although you can get duvets in almost any tog rating, the most common togs are 4.5 tog which makes a great summer duvet weight, 10.5 tog which tends to be the best bet for autumn and spring, and 13.5 tog which offers good winter warmth.

Obviously, it isn't always convenient to have a different duvet for each season, so the middle ground of the 10.5 tog duvet is one of the most popular options.

Another solution is to opt for an 'all-season' duvet. This consists of two separate lighter tog duvets that can be joined together (usually by way of press studs) to make a warmer winter duvet. Most commonly an all-season duvet will include a 4.5 tog and 9 tog duvet that can create a 13.5 tog duvet once combined, or a 4.5 tog and 10.5 tog duvet that will create a warmer 15 tog combination.

Read more in our guide to what tog duvet to buy, and find out when is the right time to switch to a summer duvet.

How to choose the best duvet size

Although it will mean spending a little more and may depend on your bed frame height and style, we'd generally advise sizing up with your duvet, especially if you sleep with a partner.

That means that if you have a single bed you should opt for a double duvet, on a double bed opt for a king-size duvet, and if you have a king-sized bed then opt for a super king duvet. (And if you're lucky enough to be the owner of a super king bed then you might want to try and track down an emperor duvet, although they are a harder size to find).

Opting for a duvet that's the size up from your mattress will prevent one partner from accidentally pulling the duvet off the other during the night, and keep you both warmer in bed by offering enough fabric to tuck around both your bodies rather than the duvet tenting between you both and allowing in draughts.