The best duvets in 2024: Panda, Simba, Silentnight and more
Our expert guide to this year's best duvets for every season
A good duvet will help you stay cosy all night long but finding the right one for you can be a tricky task. A duvet is the perfect accompaniment to the beds in our best mattress guide and we have here curated all the best choices for every sleep style and budget.
When it comes to choosing a duvet, what you need to consider is the tog rating. This shows how warm a duvet is, with the best duvets maintaining a neutral temperature suitable for all weathers. Another factor is opting for a fill material that is ideal for your sleep concerns. Synthetic fills like microfibre and hollow-fibre polyester works well for allergy sufferers. The comfort and softness of natural materials such as feather and down, however, are the top of the line duvet options.
Our best pick currently is the Panda Cloud duvet, but our panel of sleep experts have included something for everyone taking into account all budgets and sleep concerns. Also, quality duvets may be on the pricier end but purchasing during major sale events like the upcoming Black Friday, will help you snag a good bedding deal.
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 kind to both the environment and your sleep. The Panda Cloud Duvet has a 10.5 tog rating and is crafted from a blend of bamboo and Nano-Microfibre, so it's lightweight and insulating. This duvet is designed to be used year-round, with a temperature-regulating build keeping things cool in summer and warm in winter.
Bamboo is often used in eco-friendly bedding because it's both antibacterial and antimicrobial — bed bugs and dust mites hate it. It's also moisture and odour wicking, making bamboo bedding a good choice for those who struggle with night sweats. Bavarian sewn-through pockets keep all that sumptuous fill in place, so you don't have to worry about clumping.
The Panda Cloud Duvet is made with zero animal products (good for vegans), using ethically sourced bamboo, and Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX certified threads and dyes (no nasty chemicals). It's also hypoallergenic, to protect against skin irritations. Oh, and it's machine washable too — for convenience.
The best cooling duvet for hot sleepers
2. Simba Hybrid Duvet
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Simba Hybrid Duvet is tailored for those who often overheat in the night (but still feel chilly when they first climb into bed). Using Simba's Stratos Active temperature regulating tech, the hybrid duvet absorbs and holds onto heat when you're cold, before releasing it when you warm up. It's instant freshness, thanks to the space-inspired Stratos material used on the underside of the duvet.
In the middle of the Simba Hybrid Duvet you'll find 100% Simba Renew Bio filling. This unusual fill consists of recycled PET bottles, combed through to make fluffy fibers. While this might not sound like the snuggliest interior, the fibers are light and airy — plus eco-friendly and from a Global Recycled Standard certified supply chain.
The bottom layer of the Simba Hybrid Duvet is made of breathable cotton, and because it's stitched into square panels, every corner of the duvet is as comfortable as the other, 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 easy 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 takes an unusual approach to breathable sleep. It features wide mesh panels on the sides that enable maximum airflow, for fresher rest even as the temperatures rise. A microfibre coating adds a silky finish against your skin, but to keep things clean, we recommend using a duvet cover.
The unusual construction adds coziness without weight, with the Airmax technology trapping a layer of insulating air. it's designed for all-seasons use, but on the hottest summer months, you might prefer to ditch the duvet and stick with sheets.
One of our sleep experts tested out the Airmax Duvet for over two months and loved 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
Reasons to avoid
The 10.5 tog Nectar Duvet is ideal for those balmy summer nights when you don't want the warmth but you do want some cover. Our tester found the Nectar snuggly but not constricting, with no clumping even after several weeks of use.
The light and breathable feel is thanks to a distinctive fill, as the Nectar Duvet contains a blend of Smartfil technology (superfine recycled plastic fibers) mixed with Modal (a type of natural wood pulp). The woven Smartfil fibers enable airflow, while the Modal wicks away moisture for fresher sleep.
Be aware that while the Nectar provides summer comfort, it's not quite so good at keeping you cozy on very cold nights. Our tester found themselves reaching for an extra blanket on occasion, but admittedly this was during a particularly cold snap in North East England.
Our top choice for lightweight summer cover, if you do wake up sweating the Nectar Duvet can be machine washed (although you have to find a washing machine big enough). If you're looking for an entire new sleep setup, you can often save with bundle deals, such as the Nectar Starter Bundle at Nectar. These bundles pair a mattress with a duvet, pillows, sheets, and bedding, for a completely refreshed bed.
- 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. Silentnight has done that for you with its Yours and Mine Duvet. On one side you'll find a 4.5 tog duvet, and on the other, a 7.5 tog. No more bedding battles, just comfortable sleep all round.
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.
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 is a fully qualified journalist and Certified Sleep Science Coach with over 15 years’ product review experience. Claire is responsible for all mattress and sleep content published on Tom’s Guide, including our Best Mattress of 2024 buying guide. She is our expert on Saatva, DreamCloud, Nectar and Tempur-Pedic mattresses, and is also our in-house hybrid mattress specialist. Claire is certified to advise people on how to choose a mattress that best suits their sleep, body and budget, as well as helping them to create a nighttime routine and bedroom environment that promote good sleep. As Senior Sleep Editor, Claire takes the lead on developing and overseeing rigorous testing procedures for our mattress reviews, both at home and in our fully equipped Sleep Studio. Claire leads a team of experienced sleep and mattress specialists who report on and test a wide range of mattress and sleep products, and she also writes about all things related to sleep, and has interviewed a wealth of experts including mattress designers and buyers, neuroscientists, and doctors of sleep medicine.
- Ruth JonesSleep staff Writer