As we wave goodbye to summer and say hello to cosy season, you might be wondering if it’s time to switch out your duvet for something warmer. While we’re ready to embrace all things autumn (chunky knits, cinnamon candles and, of course, pumpkin spice lattes), there’s no need to rush when it comes to swapping over your bedding.
Temperatures are slowly starting to fall, but the weather can still be unpredictable at this time of year. You don’t want to risk changing your duvet too early and suffering from a sweaty night’s sleep! So when exactly should you swap your summer duvet for a heavier tog?
When’s the right time to switch your duvet?
Having the right duvet for the season is key to a restful slumber. Many of us will have been using a 4.5-7 tog duvet during the warmer months, and it’s a good idea to swap to a higher tog in winter.
As a general rule, switch over to your winter duvet when average nighttime temperatures are consistently below 10°C. If the weather is particularly variable, adding an extra layer, like a cotton or linen quilt, could help bridge the gap.
We looked at the last five years of weather data for the UK and found that the best day to change your duvet tog was 16th November. This was the date from which the average temperature was less than 10 °C for at least 30 days.
That said, there are other factors to consider, too. If you have a small bedroom with poor ventilation and your room holds a lot of heat, you might want to hold onto your lower tog duvet for a little longer until temperatures drop further.
What duvet tog is good for autumn and winter?
A tog rating indicates how well a duvet traps heat, ranging from 1 to 15. The higher the tog, the better the heat retention and the warmer the duvet.
We recommend switching to a 10.5 tog duvet in the winter months, but this doesn’t work for everyone and comes down to personal preference, too. If you naturally feel the cold, you might want to opt for a 12-15 tog duvet to keep you nice and toasty, and if you suffer from night sweats, a lower tog might be better suited.
It's also worth considering the materials used in your duvet. Duvets filled with natural materials like down or wool have better thermal properties than synthetic equivalents, giving you more warmth without the extra weight. Some materials, such as merino wool, are more breathable too.
Do I need to switch to a heavier duvet in winter?
If your bedroom gets colder in the winter, then yes, having a separate duvet suitable for the season is a worthwhile investment. Plus, if you’re comfortably warm when tucked up in bed at night, you won’t need to spend as much on heating!
Don’t want the faff of swapping out and storing duvets? A 10.5 tog duvet can be a good compromise for some. Our Merino wool duvet is also a great option year-round, thanks to its moisture-wicking properties and breathability.
Like most pure-wool duvets, ours isn’t weighted by tog but comparatively, it sits somewhere between 8 and 10. Since wool is a thermo-regulator, though, it makes an ideal choice for winter while still keeping your body temperature in check the rest of the year, too.
