The best duvets in 2024: Panda, Simba, Silentnight and more
This year's best duvets for every season, chosen by expert testers
![Best duvets: Image shows the Brook + Wilde Marlowe Duvet placed on a white mattress sat on a blue fabric bed frame](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CF5ZCDTJqfcGKfnkDW8uAG-320-80.jpg)
If you want to stay comfy and snug throughout the night, you need the best duvet. But with so many types to choose from, how do you make the right duvet choice? Our expert team has curated this list of duvets for every sleep style and budget, as a cosy accompaniment to the beds in our best mattress guide.
The first thing to consider when choosing a duvet is the tog rating. Tog ratings determine how warm a duvet is, ideally maintaining a neutral temperature whether sleeping in a snowstorm or a heat wave. Next up is fill material. Synthetic fills, like microfibre and hollow-fibre polyester, best suit allergy sufferers. However, natural duvet fill materials, such as feather and down, are comfortably plump with a breathable lightweight feel.
In this guide our experienced testers have chosen the best duvets to suit a range of budgets, and mattress sales can sometimes help you save on sleep accessories. Our top pick is the Panda Cloud Duvet, but read on to discover all our favourite duvets for different sleep styles, lifestyles, and budgets.
The best duvets for 2024, chosen by experts
Why you can trust Tom's Guide
The best duvet overall
1. Panda Cloud Duvet
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Panda London is known for making snuggly bamboo bedding that’s kinder to the environment and your sleep. The temperature regulating 10.5 tog Panda Cloud Duvet is lightweight yet insulting, meaning it’s cool in summer and warm in winter. An equal blend of bamboo and Nano-Microfibre disperses air, while Bavarian sewn-through pockets keep all that luscious fill in place so that it doesn’t clump up.
Bamboo is used by plenty of eco-friendly bedding brands because it’s naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial – dust mites and bed bugs hate it – and it’s moisture and odour-wicking too. So if you’re dealing with night sweats, the Panda Cloud Duvet will help to wick away sweat and smells.
The machine-washable Panda Cloud is also one of the best duvets for vegans, as zero animal products are used to make it. Plus, the bamboo is ethically sourced, and even the thread and dyes are certified to Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX, guaranteeing to be free of nasty chemicals. Oh, and this hypoallergenic duvet protects against skin irritations.
The best cooling duvet for hot sleepers
2. Simba Hybrid Duvet
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Simba Hybrid Duvet is tailor-made for people who overheat during sleep. It regulates temperature by holding heat when you’re cold, then releases it slowly when you no longer need all that extra warmth. The top layer features Simba’s space-inspired Stratos Active temperature regulating tech; this does all the heavy lifting of storing and absorbing heat, before releasing it.
The middle layer of the Simba Hybrid Duvet is 100% Simba Renew filling – a super-soft, eco-friendly material made from recycled PET bottles (the supply chain is certified to the Global Recycled Standard).
The bottom layer is made of breathable cotton, and because it's stitched into square panels, every corner of the duvet will be just as comfortable, with no bunching up. You can wash your Simba duvet in the machine (up to 40 degrees), and you can also machine dry it, making this high-tech duvet simple to care for.
The best all-season duvet
3. Silentnight Airmax Duvet
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Available in a 10.5 tog, the Silentnight Airmax Duvet is pleasantly plump yet fully breathable. It has wide mesh sides that enable maximum airflow in and out, while the microfibre coating feels silky soft against the skin (you should still cover it with a duvet cover though to help it stay fresher for longer).
At £45 for a double size, we think the Silentnight Airmax Duvet is reasonably priced for the comfort and cooling it dishes out. That said, while Silentnight has designed it for all-season use, hot sleepers may prefer to ditch the duvet completely in the height of summer and stick to breathable sheets.
We’ve been testing out the Airmax Duvet for over two months now and love sleeping beneath it. It’s comforting without feeling hot, and it feels thick in the hand while still being as light as a cloud. How come? Hollow microfibre filling, which also helps it stay fluffy after prolonged use.
Those with common allergies are also safe with the Silentnight Airmax Duvet thanks to its hypoallergenic design. It's also machine washable, making laundry day a breeze, and comes with a 5-year guarantee. If you sleep hot but can’t stretch to the price of the high-tech Simba Hybrid Duvet above, Silentnight’s cool offering is the next best duvet for you.
The best lightweight duvet for summer
Specifications
Reasons to buy
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If you tend to wake up warm, sweaty, and trying to kick your bedding off, the Nectar Duvet can provide a lightweight cover that stays cozy and cool throughout the night. It's ideal for summer nights where you want some cover, but don't want to overheat.
The light and breathable build of the Nectar Duvet is thanks to its unusual fill. The Duvet contains a mixture of Smartfil technology (superfine fibers) mixed with Modal, a natural wood pulp. Woven Smartfil allows air to circulate easily, while breathable Modal wicks moisture away from the body all night long.
While a duvet containing wood pulp might not seem like the most comfortable choice, the Nectar Duvet is still a snuggly option. Our tester found that there was no clumping even after several weeks of use.
Our top choice for lightweight summer cover, if you do wake up sweating, the Nectar Duvet can be machine washed (although you do have to find a washing machine big enough). But be aware that while Nectar markets the Duvet as all-seasons, you might need to add an extra layer on chilly nights.
- Read more: Nectar Duvet review
The best duvet for couples
5. Silentnight Yours and Mine 4.5/7.5 Tog Duvet
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
When one of you sleeps warmer and the other sleeps cooler, it can feel as though the only solution to your duvet drama is buying two single duvets – one with a higher tog, and one lower. Well, Silentnight has done that for you with its Yours and Mine Duvet. This one has a 4.5 tog on one side, which is perfect for hot sleepers, and a slightly higher 7.5 tog on the other.
You may need something a little warmer in winter, but for the rest of the year the Silentnight Yours and Mine 4.5/7.5 Tog Duvet should help you both stay at your optimum sleep temperature. It can be hard to get any kind of temperature control out of synthetic materials, but having the option of two different togs in one duvet is a neat solution.
The duvet itself is made from soft microfibre on the outside and plump hollowfibre on the side. It isn’t anywhere as plush as the other duvets in this guide, but if you want a good duvet for couples who have different sleep temperature needs – and you want it for a cheaper price too – then the Silentnight Yours and Mine 4.5/7.5 Tog Duvet is hard to beat.
Better still, it’s fully machine washable and dryable (machine wash as synthetic at 40C), so caring for it is pretty easy. For another budget-friendly duvet, take a look at the Slumberdown Allergy Protection 10.5 Tog Duvet (number 8).
Best duvets buying advice
How to choose the best duvet tog for your sleep
The best duvet for you will depend on whether you sleep warm, hot or cool, and whether you share a bed or sleep solo. Warm and hot sleepers need a breathable and lightweight duvet to prevent them from overheating in the night, whereas cold sleepers may prefer a duvet that's insulated and guaranteed to keep them warm and snuggly when it's chilly outside.
One of the best ways to choose a duvet is to look at the tog, which is a measure of insulation. Tog ratings range from 1 to 15, and most duvets offer a 10.5 tog as standard. For most people, this will also be the right tog for using the same duvet year-round, perhaps with the exception of high summer.
If you have the budget to buy a winter duvet and a summer duvet though, you can afford to get a bit more specific. For winter duvets, choose 11 tog and higher, and look for natural materials such as down and wool to help insulate heat without making you sweaty or sticky.
For summer, choose a 4.5 tog or similar. This is also our best tip for hot sleepers – anything warmer and you’ll spend half the night kicking it off. As we explain in our best cooling mattress guide, temperature can wreak havoc on your sleep, so listen to your body and choose the right tog for you.
If your optimal sleep temperature is different to your partner’s, choose either a temperature-regulating duvet, a two-togs-in-one duvet, or opt for individual single size duvets in your chosen tog. Cold sleepers who often feel restless in bed or anxious about sleep may also benefit from using one of the best weighted blankets, which can be used beneath a duvet for calming pressure and extra warmth.
Natural vs synthetic duvet fills: which is best?
If you suffer from allergies we’d recommend choosing a duvet made of hypoallergenic materials. Not everyone is allergic to the same properties in duvets, but a lot of people experience sensitivity around goose down or duck feathers, making traditional duvets an unsuitable option.
A duvet will usually state whether it's hypoallergenic, so if you suffer from so much as hay fever, these types of pillows are ones to consider.
Synthetic duvets are also often naturally antibacterial, which means they're unlikely to become a home for dust mites. However, natural fillings are undeniably more plump and lightweight than synthetic duvets, which can feel lovely to sleep in and naturally regulate temperature more effectively.
How much does a duvet cost?
There is a huge variety in the cost of a duvet, and this depends on two factors. Firstly, a single or double duvet will typically be cheaper than the king or queen-size counterparts. Secondly, the design and quality has a big part to play.
The Brook + Wilde duvet, for example, is made of high quality Hungarian goose down, a premium filling with a price tag to match. It is possible to find cheap duvets for as little as £20 though, and while they won't offer anywhere near as much in terms of quality or durability, they will typically be made of microfibres that are hypoallergenic and derived from plastic or cotton.
Premium duvets can cost up to £800, though some mattress in a box brands will offer bundles that provide you with a duvet and bedding for free. So if you're looking for a new mattress and a duvet, it's worth scouting out the latest mattress sales to see what freebies you can get.
Duvet care and maintenance guide
How to wash a duvet
As with your bed pillows, it's important to regularly wash your duvet to keep your sleeping space as fresh and hygienic as possible. After all, your duvet gets used every night of the year and can trap a lot of dust, dead skin, sweat and body odours.
One of the most frequent questions we get asked is, ‘Can you wash a duvet in a washing machine?’ The answer depends on what your duvet is made of and how big it is (king size and super king size duvets may be too large for some washing machine drums).
Opting for a washing machine-safe duvet obviously makes the cleaning process a lot easier, and while these lack the charm of naturally-filled duvets, synthetic fillings dry easily and can go through the tumble dryer.
Some natural fill duvets are also suitable for machine washing and drying – always read the manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning your duvet – though air drying is widely accepted as the best approach when the weather allows.
How to wash a duvet with synthetic fillings at home
- If your duvet fits into your machine without damaging either the drum or the duvet, choose a gentle cycle with reduced agitation.
- Air drying is best, but synthetic materials are fine to tumble dry.
- After washing a duvet, make sure you have completely dried and aired it before covering it in a duvet cover. If it’s slightly damp when you cover it, you risk mould or mildew growing inside.
How to wash a down duvet at home
We can’t stress this enough: always read the care instructions label of your duvet before washing it. This is vital with down-filled duvets.
- If your down duvet is suitable for machine washing, do so on a gentle cycle with non-bio detergent. Wool duvets need wool detergent.
- Air and dry your duvet fully before putting it on your bed. Some can be tumble dried, but air drying is best for natural duvet fills.
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Claire Davies is Tom's Guide's mattress expert and main sleep product tester with over 15 years' product review experience, and she is responsible for all mattress and sleep coverage on the site. A qualified journalist, Sleep Editor and Certified Sleep Science Coach, Claire writes about all things related to sleep, from mattress reviews to the latest sleep techniques and research. Claire has interviewed a wealth of experts, from mattress designers and innovators to neuroscientists and doctors of sleep medicine. Before taking on the role of Sleep Editor, Claire worked as Health & Wellness Editor at Top Ten Reviews, and before that was a Senior Content Editor at T3. Claire is super-passionate about how consistent, good quality sleep can boost our physical and mental wellbeing, and would love to hear from PRs and brands regarding sleep products, services and research that can help our readers sleep better than ever.
- Ruth JonesSleep staff Writer