A Queen duvet cover in Canada is usually 88 to 90 inches wide and 88 to 94 inches long. A King duvet cover is usually 104 to 106 inches wide and 88 to 94 inches long. The right size depends on the duvet you already own, not on the bed alone, because duvets vary more than mattresses do. Our eucalyptus TENCEL duvet cover set is cut oversized at 90 by 94 inches in Queen and 106 by 94 inches in King, so it fits the larger duvets sold in Canada without pulling tight at the corners.
What is a duvet cover, and why does the size matter?
A duvet cover is the removable fabric shell that goes over a duvet insert, the way a pillowcase goes over a pillow. It takes the washing so the duvet does not have to, and it sets the look and feel of the bed. Because it is a shell, the fit is what makes or breaks it. Too small and the duvet compresses at the edges and feels thinner than it is. Too large and the insert shifts, bunches in one corner and leaves the other corner empty by morning.
If you are choosing a cover for the first time, the material, closure and care questions are covered in our guide to choosing a duvet cover. This article deals with the one question that comes before all of those: which size.
Queen vs King duvet cover dimensions
| Bed | Mattress size | Typical duvet insert | ArthCrafted cover | In the set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen | 60 x 80 inches | 88 to 90 x 88 to 94 inches | 90 x 94 inches | 1 cover, 2 pillowcases |
| King | 76 x 80 inches | 104 to 106 x 88 to 94 inches | 106 x 94 inches | 1 cover, 2 pillowcases |
The difference between the two is width. A King duvet is about 16 inches wider than a Queen, which is the same 16 inch difference between the mattresses. Length is usually the same, so a King cover is not longer, only wider. If your King mattress is a California King (72 x 84 inches), the duvet for it is typically longer and narrower, and a standard King cover is the wrong shape.
How to measure your duvet before you buy
Measure the duvet, not the bed. Two duvets sold as Queen can differ by four inches or more.
- Lay the duvet flat on the bed or the floor and smooth it out.
- Measure edge to edge across the width, then top to bottom for the length, in inches.
- Check the label if there is one. Many Canadian duvets are labelled 88 x 90 (Queen) or 104 x 90 (King).
- Choose a cover that matches or slightly exceeds those numbers. A cover an inch or two larger than the duvet fills out properly; a cover smaller than the duvet never will.
Should a duvet cover be bigger or smaller than the duvet?
Slightly bigger. A cover cut a little larger than the insert lets the duvet lie flat and lofted, and it is easier to put on. The risk with a larger cover is the insert sliding around inside it, which is why the anchoring matters as much as the measurements. Our cover has eight corner loops that tie to the duvet's corner tabs and transparent hidden buttons along the closure, so a 90 by 94 inch cover stays square on a smaller Queen duvet instead of migrating overnight.
Can you put a King duvet cover on a Queen duvet?
You can, but you will have about 16 inches of loose fabric across the width, and the duvet will fold or bunch inside it no matter how well the corners are tied. The reverse, a Queen cover on a King duvet, does not close. Match the cover to the duvet's size and use the oversized cut for the extra room, not a size up.
What comes in a 3-piece duvet cover set?
A 3PC set is one duvet cover and two matching pillowcases. Queen sets come with Queen pillowcases and King sets with King pillowcases, and each pillowcase has a deep envelope enclosure so the pillow stays tucked in. If you want extra cases for a second set of pillows, the pillowcase pair comes in the same nine colours and both sizes.
How to put on a duvet cover in under a minute
The roll method works for any size and any closure, and it does not involve climbing inside the cover.
- Turn the cover inside out and lay it flat on the bed, opening at the foot of the bed.
- Lay the duvet on top and line up all four corners.
- If the cover has corner loops, tie them to the duvet's corner tabs now, while everything is flat.
- Starting from the head of the bed, roll the duvet and cover together toward the foot, like a sleeping bag.
- At the foot, reach into the opening, fold the cover's edge back over the ends of the roll, and unroll it back up the bed. The cover turns right side out around the duvet as you go.
- Close the buttons and shake the corners into place.
With loops tied at the corners, this only has to be done once per wash, and the duvet stays put in between. That matters more on a Queen cover, which has more room inside for the insert to travel.
Which duvet cover fabric sleeps coolest?
Size decides the fit, but the fabric decides how the bed feels at 3 a.m. A duvet cover is the layer nearest your skin above the sheet, so it does more for temperature than most people expect. Eucalyptus TENCEL absorbs moisture into the fibre and releases it faster than cotton, which is why it feels dry and cool on a warm night and simply comfortable on a cool one. We compare the options in detail in the coolest material for duvet covers.
Colours available in Queen and King
Every colour comes in both sizes, so the choice is about the room rather than the bed. A white duvet cover in Bright White suits any bedroom and shows the drape of the fabric; Pearled Ivory and Oat Milk are warmer neutrals; Cool Grey and Slate Grey sit at the cooler end; Sterling Blue and Crown Blue bring colour without pattern; Cocoa Fudge is the deepest of the set; and Sea Green is a soft green duvet cover that reads calm rather than bright.
Matching sheets and pillowcases to your duvet cover
If you are replacing the whole bed at once, the bedding bundle pairs a duvet cover set with a sheet set in the same size, in any combination of the nine colours. Matching tone on tone is the easy option; a Bright White duvet cover over a Sterling Blue or Sea Green sheet set is the more considered one, and it keeps the cover simple to wash.
Frequently asked questions
What size duvet cover do I need for a Queen bed?
Measure the duvet first. Most Queen duvets in Canada are 88 to 90 inches wide and 88 to 94 inches long, so a Queen duvet cover of 90 by 94 inches fits them with a little room to spare. If your duvet is labelled Full/Queen or Double/Queen, it is usually at the smaller end of that range and a Queen cover still fits.
What size is a King duvet cover in Canada?
Typically 104 to 106 inches wide by 88 to 94 inches long. Our King cover is 106 by 94 inches. Check that your duvet is a standard King and not a California King before buying.
Do duvet covers shrink in the wash?
Cotton covers often lose an inch or two on the first hot wash, which is one reason an oversized cut is worth having. Eucalyptus TENCEL washed cold and tumble dried low holds its size; the detail is in does TENCEL shrink when washed.
How often should a duvet cover be washed?
Every one to two weeks if you sleep with it directly against your skin, less often if a flat sheet sits between you and the cover. The same schedule applies to changing your sheets.
Ready to choose? Browse the full range of eucalyptus TENCEL duvet covers in Queen and King.
