TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade, and a TOG rating measures how warm baby sleep bags, sleep sacks, swaddles, and sleepwear feel by showing how well they trap heat.
The higher the TOG, the warmer the bedding. The lower the TOG, the lighter and cooler it feels.
You may also see TOG ratings on some quilts, but for parents and carers, TOG is especially helpful for choosing baby sleepwear that suits the room temperature.
Key Takeaways
- A TOG rating measures how warm baby sleep bags, sleep sacks, swaddles, sleepwear, and quilts feel, with lower TOG ratings made for hot nights and higher TOG ratings made for chilly nights.
- The right TOG rating depends on room temperature, local climate, how your home holds heat, how you sleep, your quilt filling, and the bedding layers you already use.
- Ecosa helps you build a more comfortable sleep setup with breathable cot mattresses, kids sleep essentials, and quilts in cooling, silk, wool, and TempRite all-season options.
For babies, TOG ratings are helpful because babies cannot regulate temperature as easily as adults. They also should not sleep with loose blankets, so a TOG-rated sleep bag can make it easier to choose warmth without adding extra bedding.
What Is TOG & How Is It Measured?
TOG, or Thermal Overall Grade, is a warmth rating that the South Australia Government describes as “a number which tells you how warm a garment will keep the infant.” It’s measured by testing how much heat passes through a material to see how well it slows heat from escaping.
- 0.2 to 0.5 TOG – better for warmer rooms and hot nights
- 1.0 to 1.5 TOG – handy for mild weather or in-between seasons
- 2.5 to 3.5 TOG – better for cooler rooms and winter nights
One TOG equals 0.1 m²K/W, which is a technical measure of heat resistance. In everyday terms, a higher TOG means warmer bedding or sleepwear.
TOG Rating Chart
| Room Temperature | Suitable TOG Rating | Best For | Best Ecosa Quilt |
| 24°C and above | 0.2 to 0.5 TOG | Hot rooms, summer nights, very light layers | Ecosa Cooling Quilt, Luxe Silk Quilt Summer 300GSM |
| 20°C to 24°C | 0.5 to 1.0 TOG | Warm weather, light quilts, lighter sleep bags | Luxe Silk Quilt Summer 300GSM, TempRite Quilt, Australian Wool Quilt Summer 250GSM |
| 16°C to 20°C | 1.0 to 2.5 TOG | Mild nights, spring and autumn, medium warmth | Luxe Silk Quilt Mid-season 550GSM, TempRite Quilt |
| Below 16°C | 2.5 to 3.5+ TOG | Cold rooms, winter nights, warmer quilts or duvets | Luxe Silk Quilt Winter 300+550GSM, Australian Wool Quilt Winter 500GSM |
If you sleep hot, live in a warmer part of Australia, or use heating at night, you may prefer a lighter TOG even in cooler seasons.
For babies, NSW Health advises parents to “dress your baby to be comfortably warm but not hot, to avoid overheating.” Check the manufacturer’s TOG guide, dress your baby for the room, keep their head and face uncovered, and avoid loose bedding.
How To Choose The Right TOG Rating
The right TOG rating depends on your room temperature, local climate, body heat, and who’s using it.
1. Think About Where You Live
Your local climate and home setup can change how warm your quilt needs to be, even when the weather forecast looks mild.
Check how your space behaves overnight:
- Thin walls or poor insulation can let heat escape faster.
- Large windows can make your space hotter by day and cooler by night.
- Afternoon sun can leave your space feeling warm long after sunset.
- Thicker curtains or blinds can help hold warmth in.
- Gaps around doors, windows, or floors can make your space feel colder.
- Less airflow can make apartments and studio spaces feel warmer.
If your space stays warm, choose a lighter quilt. If your home loses heat quickly, a warmer quilt can help you stay comfortable.
For babies, also look at the full cot setup. A breathable fitted sheet, sleepwear, sleep bag, and cot mattress can all affect how warm your baby feels.
Our Ecosa Cot Mattress has a firm, supportive feel, an ultra-breathable Nestflow™ core, a washable cover, and Red Nose-reviewed safer sleep criteria, making it a practical base for matching the right TOG sleep bag to the room.
2. Check Your Bedroom Temperature
Your bedroom temperature matters more than the season because your quilt needs to suit the room you actually sleep in.
A winter bedroom in Melbourne can feel very different from a winter bedroom in Brisbane, especially if you use heating, air conditioning, or sleep in a draughty room. For a clearer read, check the temperature around bedtime and again early in the morning, since rooms often cool down overnight.
3. Match It To How You Sleep
Choose your TOG rating based on whether you usually overheat, feel cold, or sleep during warmer parts of the day.
A lower TOG rating may suit you if you wake up sweaty, kick the quilt off, curl up tightly, or sleep after sunrise when the room is warmer. Your sleep chronotypes can also affect this, especially if you are a shift worker, day napper, or late riser.
A higher TOG rating may suit you if you get cold easily, sleep more spread out, or wake up reaching for an extra blanket. For couples with different warmth needs, a breathable quilt with an extra throw on one side can keep the peace.
4. Look At The Quilt Filling
Choose your quilt filling based on feel as well as TOG, because two quilts can offer similar warmth but feel completely different on the body.
| Quilt Filling | How It Feels | Best For |
| Silk | Light, smooth, and breathable | Warmer sleepers or people who dislike bulky bedding |
| Wool | Cosy and naturally temperature-balancing | Cooler nights and changing weather |
| Cooling fibres | Light, airy, and cooler to the touch | Hot sleepers or warmer homes |
| All-season fills | Flexible and easy to layer | People who want one quilt for shifting temperatures |
5. Adjust With Layers
Check the bedding you already use before choosing your TOG rating, including your sheets, pyjamas, mattress protector, and extra blankets.
If your bedding already feels warm, a lighter quilt may be enough. If you use breathable sheets and lighter sleepwear, you may prefer a mid-weight quilt with an extra blanket nearby for cooler nights.
Pairing your quilt with breathable bedding can also help balance warmth. Ecosa bamboo and cotton bedding feel soft, light, and airy, making them good matches if you want your sleep setup to feel cosy without trapping too much heat.
TOG vs GSM
TOG tells you how warm a quilt feels, while GSM tells you how heavy or dense the fabric or filling is. A quilt can have a high GSM and still feel breathable, depending on the material.
| Point | TOG | GSM |
| Meaning | Thermal Overall Grade | Grams per square metre |
| Measures | Warmth | Weight or density |
| Higher number | Warmer | Heavier or denser |
| Best for | Quilts, duvets, sleep bags | Quilts, towels, sheets |
| Watch out | Doesn’t show weight | Doesn’t always show warmth |
TOG
TOG is most often seen on baby sleep sacks, sleep bags, swaddles, and sleepwear.
It helps parents and carers choose the right warmth level without relying on loose blankets. A higher TOG traps more heat, while a lower TOG feels lighter and cooler.
Common places you’ll see TOG ratings include:
- Baby sleep sacks and sleep bags
- Quilts and duvets
- Swaddles and some sleepwear
GSM
GSM stands for grams per square metre, and it tells you how heavy or dense the filling or fabric is. A higher GSM often feels thicker or heavier, but it does not always mean the quilt is warmer.
Common places you’ll see GSM include:
- Quilts and doonas
- Towels and robes
- Sheets and quilt covers
- Mattress protectors
Shop Quilts & Kids Sleep Essentials in Ecosa
You can get Ecosa sleep essentials for kids and babies, including our Ecosa kids mattress, breathable cot mattress, kids pillow, and bedding made for growing bodies.
For grown-up beds, Ecosa quilts can also help you match your sleep setup to how you sleep. Go for our cooling quilt if you sleep hot or live somewhere warm, or choose a warmer wool quilt if you prefer a cosy, tucked-in feel through winter. If you want one quilt for changing temperatures, our TempRite Quilt is a practical all-season choice.
Check out our mattresses and bedding to build a sleep setup that feels right from top to toe.