We investigate the range of covering factors (determined from the ratio of IR to UV/optical luminosity) seen in luminous type 1 quasars using a combination of data from the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, UKIDSS and SDSS surveys. Accretion disc (UV/optical) and obscuring dust (IR) luminosities are measured via the use of a simple three-component SED model. We use these estimates to investigate the distribution of covering factors and its relationship to both accretion luminosity and IR SED shape. The distribution of covering factors ( fC) is observed to be log-normal, with a bias-corrected mean of ) is observed to be log-normal, with a bias-corrected mean of 10 fC > = - 0.41 and standard deviation of σ = 0.2. The fraction of IR luminosity emitted in the near-IR (1-5 μm) is found to be high (˜40 per cent), and strongly dependant on covering factor.
