To create a hotel-room experience in your own home, it all starts with the duvet. Five-star hotels typically use goose down duvets, as they provide warmth without too much weight. The design of a goose down duvet helps regulate your body temperature while you’re asleep, too.
Goose down duvets tend to be more expensive than duck down, feather or synthetic-fill alternatives, as down is a by-product of the meat industry, and duck is more commonly consumed than goose. The down then needs to be cleaned and processed thoroughly, to remove allergens.
The cost depends on the tog of the duvet, which measures how warm it is. Low weights such as 4.5 tog that are suited to the summer months are more affordable than heavier 13.5 tog winter duvets.
One thing that makes all goose down duvets better value for money is their durability. Some of the duvets we tested come with guarantees of up to 15 years, which might make them better value per year than synthetic options. Plus, can you really put a price on a great night’s sleep and the associated mental and physical health benefits that come with that?
As buying a goose down duvet is a big investment, we tested several, to work out which are really worth your money. Keep reading to discover our favourites.
How we tested
Sleeping on the job, we tested each duvet over a period of at least two weeks. Each was tested in the late autumn, so we could really feel which ones kept us the warmest. We were looking for a duvet that kept out the chill without making us wake up feeling all hot and sweaty. We kept a note of the evenness of the fill, the quality of the casing, the care instructions and the manufacturer’s guarantee, to work out which goose down duvets offered a premium sleeping experience at a great price.
The best goose down duvets for 2024 are:
Scooms Hungarian goose down duvet, 9 tog double
Handmade in small batches in Hungary, using renewable energy, a Scooms goose down duvet is a sustainable choice. The company is approved by the Responsible Down Standard, which ensures the down comes from geese that have been treated well, and each duvet has a QR code attached, so you can trace your duvet back. It arrives in plastic-free, cardboard packaging, too.
Having this duvet on top of us felt like being cloaked in luxury. We liked that it was both warm and airy, thanks to multiple small pockets that ensured an even fill. We also enjoyed the high fill power of 700, which means one ounce of down in the duvet will fill 700 cubic inches of space, and you get more warmth for less weight. Sometimes, a thick duvet can make us feel hot and sweaty as soon as we get into bed, but this one was refreshingly breathable while keeping the chill at bay. A 300 thread count sateen cotton casing kept it rustle-free, too, no matter how much we moved in bed.
One of the best choices for allergy sufferers, Scooms washes down using natural thermal water, before the manufacturing process. The care label boasts Nomite certification, which is an industry standard that indicates bedding is suitable for dust mite allergy sufferers.
Buy now £270.00, Scooms.co.uk
Dusk supreme collection 80% goose down duvet, 13.5 tog double
Dusk offers luxury at a relatively affordable price. We tried the 13.5 tog option, but the brand’s best-selling all-seasons duvet consists of two separate 4.5 and 9 tog duvets, which simply fasten together with buttons. While The White Company and Scooms offer the same buttoning-up options for different warmths year-round, Dusk is far more economical.
The low price could be something to do with the fact the duvet is made with 80 per cent down and 20 per cent feather, while more-expensive brands have a 90:10 ratio, but we genuinely didn’t notice this 10 per cent difference during testing. After shaking out the duvet and letting it settle, we found it weighty and fluffy at the same time, keeping us nice and cosy.
However, it’s very hard to tell where the goose down in Dusk’s products comes from. There’s no mention on the website about sourcing or ethical certifications, so we’re left in the dark as to whether goose welfare has been a priority in the duvet’s manufacturing process.
Buy now £81.60, Dusk.com
John Lewis natural collection Hungarian goose down duvet, 10.5 tog double
Ideal for cold sleepers, this duvet drapes beautifully around the body. It skims the skin before falling down flat on the bed, so there’s no breezy gap between the sheets and the duvet. We liked this, as it made us feel warm and secure in the same way that a weighted blanket does – without feeling restricted.
It’s not as airy as some of the other duvets we tested but it’s brilliantly breathable. The 100 per cent cotton casing helps to maintain warmth, without causing overheating. Made in a factory in Lancashire, using responsibly sourced goose down, the duvet is sewn to create evenly divided boxes and that means warmth all over. Nomite certified for allergy sufferers, the fill has been through hygienic washing and high-temperature drying processes, then sealed in a tightly woven fabric cover, which acts as a barrier against dust mites.
Buy now £250.00, Johnlewis.com
The White Company Hungarian goose down duvet, 13.5 tog double
Cloud-soft and warm, without being heavy, the White Company’s goose down duvet improved the quality of our sleep. According to our wrist-based fitness tracker, we had the deepest sleep while testing this duvet. This shows just how cosy it kept us and how it helped us maintain a steady body temperature throughout the night, which is essential for achieving restorative sleep cycles.
A good night’s sleep relies on the right environment, and this duvet delivers the ideal balance of warmth and airflow. Goose down, renowned for its natural breathability, allows air to circulate effectively, preventing the build-up of excess heat. The box-stitched construction ensures even distribution of the down, eliminating cold spots and maximising comfort.
As we settled beneath this duvet, we felt it adjusted to our body temperature, even if the bedroom was cold when we climbed into bed. The 13.5 tog was more than enough for us for winter but it does have cufflinks and buttonholes, so you can attach it to another duvet and create your own tog rating. Some people might prefer to have a 4.5 tog for summer, a 9 tog for autumn and attach them together to make a 13.5 tog for winter – but this would cost more than buying a 13.5 tog.
Buy now £330.00, Thewhitecompany.com
Soak & Sleep ultimate 90 per cent goose down duvet, 13.5 tog double
While goose down duvets come at a price, this one’s guaranteed for 15 years, so it brings down the overall cost per use. Crafted by a family-run factory in Hungary, it comes with a QR code, so you can read up about how and where the duvet’s made.
What’s special about this duvet is that Soak & Sleep tells us the down has large clusters. The bigger the cluster, the greater the loft, which translates to a plush, luxurious feel. This duvet feels super puffy, squashy and airy, and is like snuggling into a warm cocoon.
The natural state of the loft is enhanced by being washed in thermal water from an exclusive, certified spring. This opens up the loft of the down clusters more – compared with being washed in cold water, which is typical of most down – and improves the duvet’s insulation.
Our only gripe is it does need vigorously shaking each day to refresh the fill – if you don’t, you can see your body outline underneath it.
Buy now £275.00, soakandsleep.com
Snuggledown Hungarian goose down duvet, 13.5 tog double
Manufactured in a family-run factory in the UK, the Snuggledown duvet consists of 80 per cent goose down and 20 per cent goose feathers. Straight out of the bag, it’s so lightweight, to the point we weren’t sure we had been given the correct tog. However, we were pleasantly surprised by how well it surrounded us once we jumped underneath. It’s insulating without being suffocating, and we never woke up feeling the need to stick out an arm or a leg in an effort to bring down our temperature.
It’s a great option if you can’t bear a lot of fabric on your skin when you’re sleeping, or if your temperature fluctuates throughout the night, as the duvet feels weightless and keeps sleepers cosy by trapping air close to the body. This is also a great option for sweaty sleepers, as this air can help draw perspiration away from the body and promote evaporation.
We like that its made in a factory that’s committed to reducing carbon dioxide and has zero landfill waste. Plus, 30 per cent of the packaging uses recycled plastic, and cotton is sourced through the Better Cotton Iniative, while down is responsibly sourced through the Responsible Down Standards.
While it doesn’t have the same body-moulding drape as a 90 per cent goose down duvet, it’s a great option for anyone who doesn’t like their duvet to feel too close while they’re trying to get to sleep.
Buy now £166.99, Amazon.co.uk
The Fine Bedding Co bronze goose down autumn duvet, 9 tog double
The down in the Fine Bedding Co’s bronze collection has been certified by Downpass’ zero-tolerance standards as ethically sourced, as it has a tightly controlled supply chain, and is fully traceable. If you want to sleep with a clear conscience, the Fine Bedding Co duvets are feel-good options.
They also feel fantastic next to the body, as the brand uses plump down clusters, which provide natural loft and comfort throughout the night. The duvet enveloped us in an airy, cloud-like embrace, which we felt was loftier than some of the other duvets we’d tested. Despite its incredible warmth, it felt surprisingly lightweight, so we could move freely and comfortably throughout the night. A baffle-box construction ensured the down stayed evenly distributed, so we never needed to fight our partner for extra duvet to snuggle into.
Every detail of this duvet exudes quality, from its premium materials to its thoughtful design, but that does mean it’s one of the most expensive options we tested.
Buy now £215.00, Finebedding.co.uk
Analin luxurious down and feather quilt, 13.5 tog double
This duvet arrived in a vacuum-packed bag in a tiny box, making us question what size had been delivered. However, once we shook it out, we were impressed by the softness. It’s fluffier than some of the other duvets we tested, as it’s made from 50 per cent goose down and 50 per cent goose feather, but spread out well over the bed.
Once happily snuggled underneath, we felt it did a good job of regulating temperature, especially given its low price point. What it lacks in the purity of down, it makes up for in its construction. Small baffle boxes are stitched together, providing the down and feathers in each compartment enough room to fluff up, while ensuring they don’t all bunch up to one side of the duvet. Each box has strong piped edges, to create walls between top and bottom layers, preventing polyester filling from clumping and shifting. It also retains heat surprisingly well, even if you get out of bed in the middle of the night for bathroom breaks or to check on unsettled children.
Buy now £59.99, Amazon.co.uk
La Redoute anti-dust-mite treated 100 per cent goose down duvet, double
Exceptionally lightweight, this duvet weighs 180g per square metre, which is the equivalent of an average 4.5 summer duvet made from synthetic fibres. However, the goose down is so insulating, you only need a little weight for a huge amount of heat retention. La Redoute hasn’t given this a tog rating, but advises its suitable for 12-15C. We had no complaints in our chilly 12C bedroom, in a draughty Victorian terrace.
The soft satin covering has been treated with Proneem anti-mite treatment, which is said to be effective even after many washes. It’s also plant-based and chemical-free, keeping us safe from mites without irritating our skin. It can be washed at 40C on a delicate cycle if you have a large enough machine at home, and it is also tumble dryer safe, making it super easy to care for.
Buy now £330.00, Laredoute.co.uk
The verdict: Goose down duvets
Offering premium comfort , keeping us toasty warm but not unbearably so, the Scooms goose down duvet offers luxury at a reasonable price, especially if you take into account the 10-year guarantee. However, we also enjoyed sleeping deeply under The White Company’s Hungarian goose down duvet and we thought the Dusk supreme collection duvet offered exceptional value for money.
For more ways to improve your sleep, check out our picks for the best pillows
