Do you regularly feel cold in bed while everyone else seems perfectly comfortable? You may simply be what is often described as a cold sleeper – someone who prefers a warmer sleeping environment or needs more insulation from their bedding to feel comfortable at night.

Choosing the right bedding can make a big difference. A warmer duvet, cosy brushed cotton sheets and bedding that can be easily layered allow you to create a warmer bed without simply piling on heavy blankets.

In this guide, we'll look at the best bedding for cold sleepers, including which duvet tog to consider, warm sheets for colder nights and how to build a comfortable bedding combination.


What Is a Cold Sleeper?

A cold sleeper is a general term for someone who tends to feel cold while sleeping or prefers a warmer bed than other people.

It isn't necessarily the same as having a cold bedroom. Two people can sleep in exactly the same room and find the temperature very different. One may be comfortable under a lightweight duvet while the other prefers substantially warmer bedding.

If the room itself becomes particularly cold during winter, rather than you simply preferring a warmer bed, see our guide to the best bedding for cold bedrooms.


What Is the Best Bedding for Cold Sleepers?

There's no single bedding combination that's right for every cold sleeper, but we'd concentrate on three areas:

  • Your duvet – this provides much of the insulation around you while you sleep.
  • Your sheets and duvet cover – fabrics such as brushed cotton can provide a softer, warmer-to-the-touch sleeping surface.
  • Adjustable layers – blankets, flat sheets and throws allow you to add or remove a layer as conditions change.

For colder months, you can explore all three in our winter bedding collection.


Choosing a Duvet for a Cold Sleeper

If you regularly feel cold in bed, your duvet is a sensible place to start. In the UK, duvet warmth is measured using a tog rating, which indicates thermal insulation.

As a general guide:

  • 10.5 tog – a versatile option if you like some additional warmth without an especially warm duvet.
  • 13.5 tog – a popular winter choice and a useful starting point for many people who prefer a warmer bed.
  • 15 tog – provides greater insulation and may suit particularly cold bedrooms or sleepers who prefer a very warm duvet.

The highest tog isn't automatically the best choice. Bedroom temperature, season and personal preference all matter, and overheating can be just as uncomfortable as feeling cold.

Browse our winter duvets for 10.5, 13.5 and 15 tog options in standard UK and specialist bed sizes.


Is a 13.5 or 15 Tog Duvet Better for a Cold Sleeper?

A 13.5 tog duvet is a popular winter choice and may provide plenty of insulation for many cold sleepers. A 15 tog duvet provides additional insulation and may be preferable if you particularly feel the cold or sleep in a very cold bedroom.

It's better to choose according to your own comfort and sleeping environment rather than assuming that every cold sleeper needs a 15 tog duvet.


Warm Sheets for Cold Sleepers

Your sheets can also change how warm and cosy the bed feels, particularly when you first climb into it.

For cold sleepers, we'd generally recommend considering brushed cotton flannelette sheets. Brushing the cotton creates a softly raised surface that feels warm and cosy against the skin compared with smoother, crisper cotton fabrics.

This can be particularly noticeable when getting into bed on a cold evening.

Our warm bed sheets include brushed cotton fitted sheets, flat sheets and sheet sets in standard, deep and specialist sizes.


Are Brushed Cotton Sheets Good for Cold Sleepers?

Yes. If you dislike the cool initial feel of smooth sheets, brushed cotton is one of the first fabrics we'd consider.

Brushed cotton is still a natural cotton fabric, but its soft raised surface gives it the cosy feel commonly associated with flannelette bedding. This makes it particularly popular during autumn and winter.


Does a Higher Thread Count Mean Warmer Sheets?

Not necessarily. It's easy to assume that a 400 or 1000 thread count sheet must be warmer than a lower thread count fabric, but thread count alone doesn't determine how warm bedding feels.

Fibre, weave and fabric finish are also important. Cotton percale, for example, has a crisp, fresh feel, while cotton sateen feels smoother and silkier. Brushed cotton gets its distinctive cosy feel from its softly raised surface.

If you'd like to compare the different fabrics available for your fitted sheet, see our guide to choosing fitted-sheet fabrics.


Consider a Brushed Cotton Duvet Cover

The fitted sheet isn't the only fabric in contact with you during the night. Your duvet cover can make a noticeable difference to the overall feel of the bed too.

Pairing brushed cotton sheets with a brushed cotton duvet cover creates a consistently soft and cosy sleeping environment above and below you.

Explore our brushed cotton duvet covers and sets, including options for standard UK and specialist duvet sizes.


Layer Your Bedding Instead of Relying on One Heavy Layer

Cold sleepers can benefit from bedding that is easy to adjust. Rather than relying entirely on one extremely warm duvet, consider combining your main bedding with removable layers.

For example, you could use:

  • a fitted sheet;
  • an optional flat sheet;
  • your chosen duvet;
  • and a blanket or throw that can be added when needed.

This gives you more control as bedroom temperatures change through the night and throughout the year.


Cold Sleeper Products: What Should You Look For?

If you're shopping specifically for bedding as a cold sleeper, we'd prioritise products that improve warmth and comfort rather than buying everything labelled as winter bedding.

A practical shopping list might include:

  1. A suitable winter duvet – consider 10.5, 13.5 or 15 tog according to your room and personal preference.
  2. Brushed cotton fitted sheets – particularly useful if you dislike getting into cold-feeling sheets.
  3. A brushed cotton duvet cover – for a softer, cosier surface above you.
  4. A removable blanket or throw – useful for adding extra warmth only when you need it.

You don't necessarily need all four. If you're upgrading your bedding gradually, we'd normally start with the duvet and fitted sheet because these are likely to make the most noticeable difference to your sleeping environment.


What If You Use a Mattress Topper or Have a Deep Mattress?

If you have a deep mattress or sleep with a mattress topper, remember that your winter fitted sheet still needs to fit properly.

Measure from the lowest point of the mattress to its highest point, including the topper if the fitted sheet needs to cover it. You'll also need enough additional fabric to tuck securely underneath the mattress.

Need a deeper warm fitted sheet? Our extra deep brushed cotton fitted sheets are designed for deeper mattresses and toppers, allowing you to combine a secure fit with the cosy feel of brushed cotton.

Cold Sleeper or Cold Bedroom?

It's useful to distinguish between being a cold sleeper and sleeping in a genuinely cold bedroom.

If you feel cold when other people sleeping in the same conditions are comfortable, your personal temperature preference may be the more important consideration. If everyone finds the room cold – particularly during winter – the temperature of the bedroom itself is likely to play a larger role.

If it's your bedroom that's particularly chilly, read our Best Bedding for Cold Bedrooms guide for more specific recommendations.


What If You're Still Cold Under Your Duvet?

If you've already chosen warm bedding but still find yourself feeling cold under the duvet, simply adding increasingly heavy bedding isn't always the answer.

Our separate guide, Why Am I Cold at Night Even Under a Duvet?, looks more closely at this particular question.


Warm Bedding in Standard and Specialist Sizes

Being a cold sleeper shouldn't limit your bedding choices just because your bed is an unusual size.

At Victoria Linen, we make and supply bedding for standard UK sizes including Single, Double, King and Super King, alongside Small Double, Long and Large Single, European sizes, Emperor beds and many other specialist dimensions.

Many of our fitted sheets can also be made for different mattress depths, which is particularly useful for deep, pillow-top and topper-equipped mattresses.

Explore our winter bedding range for warm sheets, winter duvets and brushed cotton bedding.


Cold Sleepers: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cold sleeper?

A cold sleeper is a general term for someone who tends to feel cold while sleeping or prefers a warmer bed than other people sleeping in similar conditions.

What is the best bedding for a cold sleeper?

Cold sleepers may prefer a warmer duvet together with soft, warm-to-the-touch fabrics such as brushed cotton sheets. Removable blankets and layers can also help you adjust the warmth of your bed as conditions change.

What duvet is best for cold sleepers?

There isn't one tog rating that's right for every cold sleeper. A 13.5 tog duvet is a popular winter choice, while 15 tog provides additional insulation. A 10.5 tog duvet may be sufficient in a warmer bedroom or for someone who doesn't want an especially warm duvet.

Are brushed cotton sheets good for cold sleepers?

Yes. Brushed cotton has a soft, raised surface that feels warmer and cosier against the skin than smoother cotton fabrics, making it a popular choice for people who dislike getting into cold-feeling sheets.

Does a cold sleeper need a 15 tog duvet?

Not necessarily. A 15 tog duvet provides greater insulation, but the right choice depends on bedroom temperature, season and personal preference. Some cold sleepers may find a 13.5 tog duvet sufficiently warm.

What is the difference between a cold sleeper and a cold bedroom?

A cold sleeper is someone who personally tends to feel cold in bed, while a cold bedroom refers to the temperature of the sleeping environment. You can be a cold sleeper in a relatively warm room or sleep warm in a relatively cool bedroom.

What are the best sheets for someone who gets cold at night?

Brushed cotton flannelette sheets are worth considering because their softly raised surface feels warm and cosy against the skin. They are particularly popular during autumn and winter.