Bedding: Pillows, Duvets & Sheets Compared

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Last updated: 8 Aug 2026

Check fitted-sheet depth first against your mattress plus any topper, because corners that won't stay put make the wrong size obvious overnight. For your pillow, choose height to suit the position you sleep in. Price isn't a guide to the height you need.

Choose duvet warmth for your room and your body, regardless of the season printed on the packet. Tog measures how much warmth a duvet holds in. Two single duvets solve a hot-and-cold couple's bedding disagreement faster than any mattress.

Sheet depth needs to include your topper

Add your topper's depth to your mattress depth before buying a fitted sheet, or use the sheet-depth tool. Both depths are measured in centimetres. Sheets that fitted your old mattress can ping off the corners once a deeper mattress and topper fill them.

Cotton and linen breathe, while polyester holds heat against you. For allergic rhinitis, the NHS recommends synthetic bedding and covers, washed regularly at 60C and above. Buy sheets and protectors whose washing instructions allow that temperature if you need this routine.

Pillow height follows your sleeping position

Your pillow should hold your head in line with your shoulders and spine, as Bed Advice UK advises. Too soft lets your head flop and curves your neck. Too hard gives you a crick, so choose pillows by support as well as height.

Your sleeping position	Height to look for
Side	Thicker, or two thinner pillows, to fill the shoulder-to-ear gap
Back	Less height than on your side
Front	Thin pillow or none

Foam and latex feel firm and hold their shape, and are considered hypoallergenic, though barrier covers are still recommended for asthma or eczema. Standard UK pillows measure 71 to 74 cm by 46 to 48 cm, while continental squares measure 65 by 65 cm, so match your pillowcases to the shape.

Replace pillows every two to three years, rather than keeping a flattened pillow because its cover still looks sound. Natural or polyester pillows need washing at least three times a year, so their washing instructions matter when you're choosing a filling.

Duvet warmth and protector backing matter together

Lower tog suits you if your room is warm or you overheat, while higher tog suits a cold room. Wool and feather-and-down breathe better than polyester at the same tog. The packet's largest number settles surprisingly little about your night.

Separate single duvets let you choose different warmth on one bed, which is useful when you share and you sleep hotter than your partner. Don't add a thick shared duvet simply because one of you feels cold. Your partner can have more insulation without adding yours.

Read the protector's backing before buying, because plastic blocks airflow through your mattress while a breathable membrane allows it through. Always use a protector, Bed Advice UK advises. Mattress guarantees often require one too, so check the terms before choosing.

A topper adds cushioning if your mattress feels too firm, along with extra depth beneath your sheet. Avoid buying one to repair a mattress that has started to dip, because extra padding doesn't restore the support underneath you.