If you're tucked under a duvet but still can't seem to get warm, the duvet itself isn't necessarily the only problem. Your duvet tog, bedroom temperature, bedding fabrics and the way you layer your bed can all affect how warm and comfortable you feel during the night.

Sometimes the solution is as simple as choosing a warmer duvet or switching from cool-feeling sheets to brushed cotton. In other cases, you may simply be someone who naturally prefers a warmer sleeping environment.

Here are some of the most common bedding-related reasons you might still feel cold under a duvet – and what you can do about them.

Why Am I Still Cold Under My Duvet?

If you're cold despite being under a duvet, start by looking at your bedding as a complete setup rather than assuming you simply need the thickest duvet available.

Consider:

  • Is your duvet providing enough insulation for the season and room temperature?
  • Do your sheets feel particularly cold when you get into bed?
  • Does your bedroom become much colder overnight?
  • Would removable bedding layers give you more flexibility?
  • Do you tend to feel cold even when other people are comfortable?

The answer can help you decide whether you need a warmer duvet, different bedding fabrics, additional layers or advice specifically aimed at cold sleepers.

1. Your Duvet Tog May Not Suit the Conditions

In the UK, duvet warmth is commonly expressed using a tog rating. Tog measures thermal insulation, so a higher tog duvet provides greater insulation than a lower tog duvet.

That doesn't mean everyone who feels cold needs a 15 tog duvet. The most comfortable choice depends on the season, bedroom temperature and how warm you personally like to sleep.

As a general guide:

  • 10.5 tog – a versatile option offering more insulation than lightweight summer duvets.
  • 13.5 tog – a popular choice for colder weather and winter bedrooms.
  • 15 tog – provides additional insulation for particularly cold conditions or people who prefer a very warm duvet.

If your current duvet is a lightweight summer or lower-tog model, moving to a more suitable winter duvet may make a significant difference.

Explore our winter duvets, including 10.5, 13.5 and 15 tog options in standard UK and specialist sizes.

2. Your Bedroom May Be Particularly Cold

There's an important difference between being a cold sleeper and sleeping in a genuinely cold room.

If the bedroom itself becomes very cold overnight, your bedding has to work harder to keep you comfortable. Draughts, poorly insulated windows and seasonal temperature changes can all contribute to a colder sleeping environment.

In this situation, concentrate on creating an appropriate winter bedding combination rather than relying on one item alone.

We've covered this in more detail in our guide to the best bedding for cold bedrooms, including duvet choice, warm sheets and adjustable bedding layers.

3. Your Sheets May Feel Cold Against Your Skin

Sometimes the problem isn't that your duvet lacks insulation – it's that the surfaces immediately around you feel cold.

Crisp, smooth sheets can feel refreshingly cool during warmer weather, but that initial coolness isn't always welcome on a cold winter night.

If this sounds familiar, brushed cotton flannelette sheets are worth considering. Brushing creates a softly raised surface that gives the fabric a warmer, cosier feel against the skin.

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

Will a Higher Thread Count Sheet Keep Me Warmer?

Not necessarily. Thread count alone isn't a reliable measure of how warm a sheet will feel.

Fibre, weave and fabric finish all influence the feel of bedding. Cotton percale tends to feel crisp and fresh, cotton sateen is smoother and silkier, while brushed cotton gets its characteristic cosy feel from its softly raised surface.

If warmth is your priority, we'd pay more attention to the type and finish of the fabric than simply choosing the highest thread count.

4. Your Duvet Cover Can Affect How the Bed Feels

Your duvet may provide the insulation, but the duvet cover is the fabric directly around it and against your body.

If you prefer a cosy winter bed, pairing warm sheets with a brushed cotton duvet cover can create a softer, warmer-to-the-touch sleeping environment both above and below you.

See our brushed cotton duvet covers and sets for standard UK and specialist duvet sizes.

5. You May Need Adjustable Bedding Layers

One very heavy duvet isn't always the most flexible way to stay comfortable.

Bedroom temperatures change with the weather and can also change during the course of the night. Adding removable layers allows you to adjust your bedding much more easily.

You might combine:

  • a fitted sheet;
  • an optional flat sheet;
  • your chosen duvet;
  • and a removable blanket, throw or bedspread.

If you're cold, you can add the extra layer. If you become too warm later, it can be removed without changing the rest of the bed.

6. You May Simply Be a Cold Sleeper

If you regularly feel cold in bed when your partner or other people find the same conditions comfortable, you may simply prefer a warmer sleeping environment.

In that case, choosing bedding around your own comfort can be more useful than focusing entirely on the temperature of the room.

Our Sleep Guide for Cold Sleepers looks specifically at duvet choice, warm sheets and bedding combinations for people who tend to feel cold at night.

7. Check That Your Duvet Fits Your Bed Properly

Duvet size is another factor that's easy to overlook.

Your duvet needs to provide enough coverage to comfortably surround you. If it is too small for the bed or shared between two people with very little overhang, movement during the night can leave gaps around the sides.

Make sure you're using an appropriate duvet size for your mattress and sleeping arrangement. If you share a bed and regularly find yourselves pulling the duvet from one another, a larger duvet may also be worth considering where practical.

What Bedding Should I Choose If I'm Always Cold at Night?

If you're reviewing your bedding because you regularly feel cold, we'd tackle it in this order:

  1. Check your duvet tog – make sure it is appropriate for the season, bedroom and your personal preference.
  2. Consider your sheets – brushed cotton can feel much cosier than smooth, cool-feeling fabrics.
  3. Look at your duvet cover – a brushed cotton cover can continue that warm-to-the-touch feel above you.
  4. Add an adjustable layer – keep a blanket or throw available for particularly cold nights.
  5. Check your duvet coverage – particularly if you share your bed.

You can find these options together in our winter bedding collection.

What If I'm Cold Even With a 13.5 or 15 Tog Duvet?

If you're already using a warmer duvet and still feel cold, don't automatically assume an even heavier duvet is the answer.

Consider the rest of your sleeping environment. A particularly cold bedroom, cool-feeling sheets, insufficient duvet coverage or your own preference for a warmer bed may all contribute.

Layering can also be more flexible than continually increasing duvet tog. Combining an appropriate duvet with warm-to-the-touch sheets and a removable blanket gives you more control as temperatures change.

A Note About Feeling Unusually Cold

Bedding can help make your sleeping environment warmer and more comfortable, but it can't explain every reason someone may feel cold.

If feeling unusually cold is new, persistent, severe or happens regardless of your room temperature and bedding, it may be worth discussing it with an appropriate healthcare professional rather than simply continuing to add warmer bedding.

Why Am I Cold at Night? FAQs

Why am I still cold even under blankets?

Your bedding may not provide enough insulation for the conditions, your bedroom may be particularly cold, or the fabrics immediately around you may feel cool against your skin. Some people also naturally prefer a warmer sleeping environment than others.

Why am I cold under my duvet?

Check whether your duvet tog is appropriate for the season and room temperature, whether the duvet provides enough coverage, and whether your sheets and other bedding are comfortable for colder weather.

What duvet tog should I use if I'm always cold?

There isn't one tog rating that's right for everyone. A 13.5 tog duvet is a popular winter choice, while 15 tog provides additional insulation. Your bedroom temperature and personal preference should determine which is most comfortable.

Why am I cold with a 13.5 tog duvet?

A 13.5 tog duvet may not suit every person or every bedroom. Consider your room temperature, personal preference, duvet coverage and the rest of your bedding before deciding whether you need a higher tog.

Are brushed cotton sheets warmer?

Brushed cotton has a softly raised surface that feels warmer and cosier against the skin than smoother cotton fabrics. This makes brushed cotton sheets particularly popular during autumn and winter.

Is it better to use a thicker duvet or add a blanket?

It depends on your needs. A higher-tog duvet provides greater insulation, while a removable blanket gives you more flexibility to adjust your bedding as the temperature changes.

Why do I feel cold in bed when my partner doesn't?

People can have different temperature preferences even when sleeping in the same room. If you regularly feel colder than your partner, choosing bedding and adjustable layers that suit each person's comfort may help.