How to Choose a Duvet Cover Set: Size, Fabric & Fit Guide
If you've ever struggled to find the right duvet cover, you're not alone. Too small and it bunches at the corners, too big and your duvet slides around inside all night and that's before you've even thought about fabric, colour or style.
The good news? Choosing the right duvet cover set is easier than it looks once you know what to check. Here at Amurelle, we've put together this simple guide to take you through everything, from sizes and fabrics to colours and care, so you can find a set you'll love sleeping under every night.
Start With the Right Duvet Cover Size
Size is the first thing to get right, and it's where most people go wrong. Your duvet cover should match your duvet, not your mattress. A duvet is always wider than the bed it sits on, so it drapes over the sides and keeps you covered as you move in the night.
How Do You Measure a Duvet?
- Check the label. Most duvets have the size printed on a tag along one edge.
- No label? Lay the duvet flat and smooth it out.
- Measure the width and length in centimetres.
- Match your measurements to the chart below, and go with the closest size.
Top tip: if you love a generous, hotel-style drape, size your duvet up (a king duvet on a double bed, for example). Just remember to size up your duvet cover set to match.
What Size Duvet Cover Do I Need?
Here are Amurelle's duvet cover sizes, alongside the mattress each one fits:
| Bed size | Mattress | Duvet cover | Pillowcases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 90 x 200cm | 135 x 200cm | 50 x 75cm |
| Double | 140 x 200cm | 200 x 200cm | 50 x 75cm |
| King | 150 x 200cm | 230 x 220cm | 50 x 75cm |
| Super King | 180 x 200cm | 260 x 220cm | 50 x 75cm or 50 x 90cm |
For flat sheets and fitted sheets too, see our full bedding size guide.
Which Duvet Cover Fabric Is Best?
The best duvet cover fabric is a natural one. Linen is ideal if you sleep warm, cotton sateen suits you if you feel the cold, and crisp combed cotton gives you a classic hotel feel. Here's how each one compares.
Linen
Linen is made from flax and is one of the most breathable fabrics you can sleep under. It regulates your temperature, draws moisture away from your skin, and softens with every wash. Its natural creases give your bed a relaxed, lived-in look, and it never needs ironing.
Amurelle's Breeze Linen is made from 100% French flax and garment-washed, so it feels soft from the very first night. Try the Breeze Linen Duvet Cover Set in Sand Beige, one of our most-loved sets, or keep it fresh in Snow White.
Best for: warm sleepers, couples with different body temperatures and anyone who hates ironing.
Cotton Sateen
Cotton sateen is woven to create a smooth, silky surface with a gentle sheen. It feels buttery-soft and warm from the moment you get into bed, and it drapes beautifully for a polished finish.
The Hero Cotton Duvet Set in Snow White is made from 100% cotton sateen for that silky, luxurious feel.
Best for: cold sleepers and anyone who loves smooth, crisp bedding.
Combed Cotton
Combed cotton has the shorter fibres brushed out during production, leaving a stronger, smoother fabric that lasts. It feels fresh and substantial, much like the bedding you'd find in a good hotel.
Amurelle's Hotel Cotton is 420 thread count, 100% combed cotton, finished with embroidered details. Choose the understated Classic Cord or add a pretty edge with Scallop.
Best for: a crisp, classic, hotel-style bed.
Synthetic Fabrics
Polyester and microfibre covers are usually cheaper and resist creasing, but they trap heat and moisture, so you're more likely to wake up hot and clammy. They can also pill and lose their softness after a few washes. For better sleep and better value over time, natural fibres are worth it.
Are Duvet Covers Good for Hot Sleepers?
Yes, as long as you choose the right fabric. If you tend to sleep hot, look for breathable natural fibres. Breeze Linen is the best choice, because it lets heat escape and draws moisture away from your skin. Denser fabrics like cotton sateen feel cosier, so they're better suited to people who sleep cold.
Your duvet matters just as much as the cover. A breathable linen cover over a heavy, high-tog duvet will still feel warm, so match your duvet's tog to the season and to how warm you sleep. Our guide on how to choose the right duvet can help.
For the coolest night's sleep, think about your whole bed rather than one layer: breathable sheets, a breathable duvet cover and the right-weight duvet all work together.
How Do You Put a Duvet Cover On?
Changing a duvet cover can feel like a wrestling match, especially with a king or super king duvet. The "burrito method" makes it quick and easy.
- Turn your duvet cover inside out and lay it flat on the bed, with the opening at the foot of the bed.
- Lay your duvet on top, lining up the corners.
- If your cover has corner ties, fasten them to the duvet.
- Starting at the head of the bed, roll the cover and duvet together towards the foot, like a burrito.
- Reach into the opening and turn it out around each end of the roll.
- Fasten the opening.
- Unroll everything back towards the head of the bed.
- Give it a good shake so the duvet settles evenly inside.
After a couple of tries, it takes less than two minutes.
Find Your Perfect Duvet Cover Set,the right duvet cover set makes all the difference no bunching, no sliding, just a soft, cosy bed you'll look forward to every night. Get the size right, choose a fabric that suits how you sleep, and pick a colour that makes you happy.
Every Amurelle duvet cover set comes with a duvet cover and a matching pair of pillowcases, and each one is designed in Ireland and woven in Portugal.
Shop our duvet cover sets in Breeze Linen, Hero Cotton and Hotel Cotton, and complete your bed with our fitted sheets and pillowcases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size duvet cover do I need for a double bed?
A double bed takes a 200 x 200cm duvet cover in Ireland. It fits a double duvet on a 140 x 200cm mattress, with enough overhang to keep two people covered.
Is a queen size duvet the same as a king in Ireland?
"Queen" is a US size. In Ireland, the closest equivalent is a king, which fits a 150 x 200cm mattress and takes a 230 x 220cm duvet cover at Amurelle.
Does a duvet cover set come with pillowcases?
Most duvet cover sets include a duvet cover and a matching pair of pillowcases. Fitted sheets and flat sheets are usually sold separately, so check what's included before you buy.
What is the best fabric for a duvet cover?
Natural fibres are best. Linen is ideal for warm sleepers because it's breathable and temperature-regulating, while cotton sateen suits cold sleepers with its smooth, warm feel.
Can I use a bigger duvet cover than my duvet?
It's not ideal. The duvet will slide around and bunch at the corners. For the best fit, always match your duvet cover to your duvet size.
