What tog duvet for summer?

Last updated: 7 July 2026

The short answer

For summer in the UK, a 4.5 tog duvet is the usual choice, and a 2.5 tog suits properly hot nights or anyone who sleeps warm. If you really overheat, some people drop to a 1 tog or a plain cotton coverlet. The trick is to go light enough for the warm nights but not so light that a cool spell leaves you reaching for a blanket.

What tog for summer, by sleeper

Summer tog depends more on you than on the calendar, because UK summer nights swing a lot.

• Average sleeper, a 4.5 tog handles most British summer nights.
• Hot sleeper, or during a heatwave, go for a 2.5 tog, or a 1 tog if you still cook.
• Cool sleeper, or a north-facing room that stays cool, you may be happiest keeping a 7 tog on for early and late summer.

The filling matters as much as the tog here, because a breathable duvet feels cooler than a stuffy one even at the same rating.

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Do you need a separate summer duvet?

You have two sensible options. Buy a dedicated low-tog summer duvet, or buy an all-seasons set once and use just the 4.5 tog layer in summer. The all-seasons route is the better value if you don't already own a winter duvet, since the same purchase covers you all year. If your winter duvet is fine and you only need something lighter for July and August, a standalone 4.5 tog is the cheaper add-on.

The coolest fillings for summer

Warmth is only half the story on a hot night. The other half is breathability, how well the duvet lets heat and moisture escape rather than trapping them.

• Cotton and bamboo are naturally breathable and wick sweat, so they feel fresh and airy.
• Silk is light and drapes close without holding heat, which suits warm sleepers.
• Wool is a surprise summer choice, because it regulates temperature and pulls moisture away.
• Low-tog down feels weightless, though it can trap more heat than the natural options above.

Extra ways to sleep cooler

If you still overheat under a 4.5 tog, the duvet isn't the only lever. Swap to breathable cotton or linen bedding, keep the room dark and aired during the day, and try a lighter sleepsuit or nightwear. On the hottest nights, a single cotton flat sheet or coverlet with no duvet at all is often the most comfortable option.

Not sure which tog suits your room and the way you sleep? Our tog to GSM converter gives you a recommendation in seconds, and shows what each tog means in different fillings. Heading into the colder months? See our guide to the best tog duvet for winter.