Behind the scenes
1 in 4 pets sleep in their owner’s bed
by Manuel Wenk
Oh, snore off! 50 per cent of Europeans bothered by partner’s nighttime noise
10/4/2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Couples in Germany, Austria and Switzerland prefer to sleep under separate duvets. Meanwhile, lovers in France and Italy wouldn’t dream of doing so. Snoring, on the other hand, bothers Europe’s couples to a similar degree across countries, with one in three people – except in Switzerland – wishing they could spend the night alone. These are just some of the findings of a representative survey commissioned by Galaxus.
If two people are in a relationship, does that mean they sleep in the same bed? And, almost more importantly, do they share a duvet or sleep under separate ones? What are the pros and cons of sharing a bed with your significant other? As part of a representative survey commissioned by online retailer Galaxus, YouGov put these questions to 2,663 people in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy and France. Here’s what they had to say.
Less duvet drama in German-speaking countries
The vast majority of couples in Europe share a bed with their partner. When it comes to duvets, however, not all countries are in agreement. In Italy and France, 80 per cent of couples share a bed cover, with hardly anyone using the «one bed, two blankets» strategy.
In Austria and Germany, it’s a different story; 60 per cent of couples in those countries prefer to sleep under separate duvets. Switzerland, on the other hand, seems to be divided on the duvet debate. While half of the country’s lovebirds prefer sleeping under separate blankets, a third of couples enjoy cosying up under the same one.
Snoring bugs everyone, regardless of nationality
The one pet peeve shared by co-sleeping couples across Europe? Snoring. With 50 per cent of people in Europe claiming to be annoyed by their partner’s nighttime noise, snoring’s by far the biggest bedroom bugbear among couples on the continent. Women are much more likely to be bothered by snoring partners; two thirds of female respondents in Germany, France and Switzerland reported grappling with the issue. Meanwhile, around 40 per cent of male respondents mentioned experiencing the same problem. This disparity might be explained by scientific research revealing that women are lighter sleepers than men (article in German). Not only that, but anatomical differences cause men to snore louder and more often than women.
The older you are, the more likely you are to have a snoring partner – and feel annoyed by the noise. In fact, respondents over the age of 60 topped the snoring rankings in every country surveyed.
When couples share a duvet, the chances of one partner stealing the covers increases. In France, 25 per cent of people are frustrated by their partner’s duvet-hogging tendencies. In Italy, it’s 20 per cent, with the figure falling to just 10 per cent in Germany and Austria.
Alongside snoring, respondents in Switzerland and Germany reported feeling irritated by their partners’ tossing and turning.
The perks of sharing a bed
Women in France, Austria and Germany are particularly keen on the closeness and cuddling that takes place in a shared bed. Young couples aged 15–29 are the most snuggle-happy, with 80 per cent of respondents citing cuddling as a «perk» of sharing a bed with their partner. In pragmatically minded Switzerland, respondents are less inclined to go gooey-eyed over the concept of spooning, instead seeing sharing a bed as part and parcel of being in a relationship. Respondents in Italy were most likely to report intimacy as the number one plus point of co-sleeping.
Gender differences on these questions are replicated across Europe. On average, men were more likely than women to cite intimacy as a perk of co-sleeping, and to see sharing a bed as part and parcel of being in a relationship. Female respondents were more likely to report appreciating the sense of safety arising from sharing a bed. Cuddling seems to appeal to everyone, regardless of gender.
Secretly dreaming of separate beds
Now the facts have been established, it’s time for a thought experiment. Who, given the chance, would actually prefer to sleep without their partner? In Germany and France, more than a third of people at least occasionally dream of spending the night alone. Couples in Germany are also the most likely to wish they could permanently sleep in separate beds (12 per cent). In contrast, only one in 50 respondents in Switzerland said they’d prefer to sleep alone on a long-term basis.
In Switzerland and Germany, women are more likely than men to fantasise about having a bed to themselves. While four out of ten women in Germany say they’d prefer this setup, only one in seven men do. In Switzerland, it’s one third and one fifth respectively. It’s a different story in Austria, where one in seven men say they’d prefer to sleep separately on a permanent basis – the highest figure in Europe.
For now, co-sleeping’s here to stay for most couples in Europe – even with all the snoring and duvet-hogging.
Do you share a bed and/or a duvet with your partner? Are you happy with your setup? Or are you a single person who’s fed up of hearing about couple problems? We’re looking forward to reading your comments.
Header image: Shutterstock
Tobias Heller
Communications Manager
Tobias.Heller@digitecgalaxus.chBehind the scenes
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