Best mattress protector 2023 for preserving your mattress investment

It's a smart investment to buy the best mattress protector for your mattress. Protectors have one simple job - to save your mattress from spills and stains. This in turn will save you money and ensure that you sleep healthily. 

What's more, a mattress protector is the first line of defense against allergies caused by dead skin cells, pet dander, and other irritants in your mattress. 

Our expert review team has carefully researched what makes a great mattress protector. I've tested most of these mattress protectors myself, assessing breathability, waterproofing, and comfort so you can find the best protector for your mattress. 

Best mattress protectors 2023

Why you should buy it: Breathable, waterproof, quiet, responsibly sourced materials. 

Saatva checks off all the boxes when it comes to designing a 5-star mattress protector. I found that it provides a great fit, is easy to put on, and doesn't slide around when you're on it. It's simple to machine wash and tumble dry, too.

The non-rubbery waterproof barrier allows air to flow: my testing found that the organic cotton knit wicked away moisture, so I kept cool, even on warm evenings, but when I poured water onto the protector, it didn't soak through to the mattress below. It sits tightly and smoothly on the bed, with no wrinkles. Once it was on, I truly forgot it was there. 

Good to know? It fits mattresses up to 16- in deep and is made from Fair Trade Certified™ organic cotton, too.

Why you should buy it: waterproofing protection is amazing, soft to the touch, and good for thick mattresses

Coop Home Goods' premium mattress protector is made with bamboo-derived products and offers some of the best waterproofing protection we've seen in a mattress protector. Plus, it's soft to the touch and quiet.

It's marketed as breathable as many mattress protectors are. Don't let that fool you into thinking that these buys offer cooling capabilities; just know that they won't make you overheat at night – that's an important distinction.

Good to know? Like the other mattress protectors on our list, it's designed to protect your mattress from bacteria, dead skin, and allergens, including pet dander. It's quite a deep protector at 18in, so if your mattress is thinner be prepared to tuck it in, though, at this price point, that's a sacrifice we're willing to make. It's machine washable, too.

Why you should buy it: Comfortable Terry construction, noiseless waterproofing, over 190,000 5-star reviews on Amazon.  

This hypo-allergenic mattress protector is waterproof, gets rid of dust mites, and allergens, and cut down perspiration.   It has a soft cotton Terry construction I loved, with a breathable, ultra-thin membrane layer that is noiseless and traps and absorbs moisture to stop it from reaching your mattress. 

This fitted mattress protector fits all mattress types up to 14 inches, and up to 18 inches deep for the Queen to Cal King. Like many of the mattress protectors in this guide, it's machine washable and backed by a 10-year warranty.

Why you should buy it: breathable, soft to touch, comfortable. 

The Casper Breathable Mattress protector uses a very soft-to-the-touch 'spacer knit' design that allows air to move between you and your mattress for increased breathability, helping you stay cool through the night. 

This construction adds a welcome layer of comfort to the protector, too, though we are by no means saying that it's a substitute for a mattress topper.

It's not the most water-resistant of the mattress protectors we've reviewed – it's designed to protect against light sweating or spills that are immediately attended to rather than bed-wetting or constant spills (teenagers, we're looking at you). It is, you'll be pleased to know, machine washable, though. Fits mattresses up to 16in deep.

Why you should buy it: Made from 100% organic bamboo, hypoallergenic, soft, cooling, and sustainable.

The upside to choosing a natural material, other than its sustainable qualities (this Ettitude mattress protector uses a fraction of the water and carbon emissions produced with cotton products) is the breathable and hypoallergenic benefits.

It's totally free from harmful chemicals – even the TPU lining, designed to protect from spills and stains is non-toxic, making it a great by for anyone with allergies. It's silky smooth to the touch; and with each machine wash, it becomes softer. Reviewers say it's quiet to sleep on, too.

Why you should buy it: Breathable, extra deep, breathable.

Finding a deep-pocketed mattress protector that can suit particularly thick mattresses can feel like a tall order, but Avocado has it all thought out with its waterproof and organic design.

The standard pocket can fit most mattresses between 6in and 16in deep, but the deep pocket can comfortably fit 22in mattresses – the deepest of the protectors we've reviewed.

To create the waterproof barrier, two layers of soft GOTS-certified organic cotton sandwich a thin polyurethane film; this means it can cope with little spills, doesn't have that plastic-crinkle noise thicker ones can; and helps you keep cool at night. 

It can be spot-cleaned, machine-washed, and tumble-dried on low.

Why you should buy it: Great for allergy sufferers, fully encases the mattress to protect from allergens, easy zip-off top for easy washing. 

This innovative mattress protector fully encases your mattress to protect against dust, allergens, and bed bugs, but come laundry day, you can easily zip off the top layer for machine washing. We love love love that.

That soft thick top layer is made of temperature-regulating fabric and the antimicrobial treatment prevents odor build-up. The design is fully waterproof and includes corner anchor bands to keep the five sides in place when the top layer is zipper off. 

This zippered design can cope with twin and full-size mattresses up to 14 inches thick, and queen and king-size mattresses up to 17 inches thick.

Why you should buy it: Full mattress encasing to protect against allergens; water-resistant. 

If you're looking for protection against allergens, this fully encasing mattress protector is another great buy. 

The polyester lining means it's water resistant, which does impact a little on breathability when compared with some of the buys higher up on this list – this is the case with any mattress protectors constructed from similar lining materials. However, it is designed to enhance the breathability of your standard mattress, so all-in-all, you will most likely notice you retain less heat in bed than you might have before if yours isn't a high end mattress. 

It's machine washable.

Why you should buy it: Safe and non-toxic for kids; adult sizes available too. 

Our Editor at Large Kaitlin first picked out a Naturepedic mattress protector after much research when she had her first baby. Six years and two more children later, she's still using, and highly rating, this non-toxic, organic protector. 

'Not only does a good children's mattress protector need to be waterproof to protect from bedwetting and accidents, but it also needs to be safe and non-toxic,' says Kait. 'It needs to be soft, well-made, and able to handle constant cycles through the wash. I've found these organic cotton protectors are up for the challenge, and I've bought everything from oval bassinet sizes to California king beds since my first purchase.' 

Two layers of undyed cotton jersey and an ultra-thin waterproof barrier in the center keep you cool and dry and protect and maintain the comfort of the mattress. The pad stops liquids from passing through while allowing some water vapor to escape to help reduce sweating and clamminess. It also blocks dust mites and other allergens. The material is both soft and cool to the touch. It's thick, well-made, and stays virtually undetectable and quiet. 

How we test the best mattress protectors

The Homes & Gardens' review process is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties. All our mattress protector reviews are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home. We measure how they fit on beds, and how easy they are to wash. For those with water-proof and water-resistant claims, we spot-test them with a cup of water to measure their effectiveness at keeping your mattress dry.

All of the mattress protectors with rankings have been personally reviewed by members of our team, who take into account the value for the money, construction, and accuracy of any special features. If the mattress protector is unranked, we're still working to get our hands on a sample, or may even be in the midst of testing it out. For these instances, we've researched and perused through hundreds of reviews, and deep-dived into their construction, special qualities, and who they may suit best. 

For more insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our Homes & Gardens review guidelines. 

Our reviewers

Jaclyn Turner

I joined the Homes & Gardens team in January 2021, and since them have become something of a sleep specialist, testing and reviewing mattresses, mattress protectors, toppers and bedding. As a savvy, price-conscious shopper myself, I always focus on both quality and value, with a discerning approach. I’ve previously worked on the commerce teams with Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, The Spruce, The Spruce Eats, and MyDomaine, covering everything from major sales to new product launches. I reviewed many of the mattress protectors in this guide.

Kaitlin Madden

Kaitlin Madden Armon is our Editor at Large, which means she writes, reviews products and contributes to expert panels and talks around the country. She started her career as a local lifestyle editor with Modern Luxury's Michigan Avenue magazine in Chicago, where she wrote about fashion, food and arts; she then worked as an editor at Wayfair and Real Homes, and has written for Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living, 1st Dibs, Vanity Fair, Refinery29, Modern Luxury Interiors, Chicago Magazine, Maya Romanoff, The Design Network, Decorist, Amazon, Loom Decor, and lots more. She is also the co-founder of the interior design startup, The Finish, which offers home decorating services on-demand. With three young kids, she was uniquely placed to review the Naturepedic mattress protector for this guide.

What is the best mattress protector?

For a high-quality mattress protector, after over a year of use, the Saatva Waterproof Mattress Protector (opens in new tab) It's pricey but fits snugly, is breathable, waterproof, and easy to care for, and we like that it's made with organic materials. If you're after value, COOP Home Goods Mattress Protector (opens in new tab) holds up really well, but it doesn't fit as snugly on the mattress; though, it is overall soft and effective at keeping unwanted spills or dust mites from reaching your mattress. If you're looking for a slight cushion, but don't quite want to add a full-on mattress topper, the Ettitude Bamboo Mattress Protector (opens in new tab), and has a subtle quilted design. It's made of bamboo as well and certified organic, though rated as water resistant, as opposed to the fully water-proof design of the COOP. 

Are mattress protectors waterproof?

Not all mattress protectors are waterproof, so it is worth checking the specs before you buy. Some are fully waterproof, such as our number one buy, the Saatva Waterproof mattress (opens in new tab) (clue's in the name); these are ideal where bed wetting is a problem, not only protecting the mattress, but pulling moisture into the lining so that the sleeper doesn't get soaked. Others are water-resistant, which means they can take spills that are mopped up quickly but won't cope with persistent bed wetting. Others aren't designed to resist either full-on wetting nor spills, though will offer some light protection to mattresses.

Why use a mattress protector? 

It's important to keep your mattress clean, which is why a mattress protector should be the first thing you buy following the purchase of a new mattress. Mattress protectors do make an enormous difference in not only protecting your mattress from spills but in reducing allergens caused by dust mites, for example. The best bed sheets are deliciously indulgent, as are the best pillows you can find. But oftentimes, these purchases are insignificant compared to your investment in the mattress, which can't exactly go through a simple wash cycle. So, buy a mattress protector at the same time as you choose a mattress to ensure you prolong its life.

Which mattress protector is best for bed bugs?

The best mattress protector for bedbugs is one that is fully encased by the mattress protector. They won't get rid of bedbugs already in a mattress, but washed after every use (if, for instance you are shopping for guest beds), they can cut down on the likelihood of bedbugs invading a bedroom – since they don't just dwell in mattresses. The two we recommend in this guide are the Allerease Platinum Zip-off Top Mattress Protector (opens in new tab) and the Brooklyn Bedding Complete Coverage Mattress Encasement (opens in new tab).

Which mattress protector is best for cooling?

Those mattress protectors made of superior materials like organic cotton or bamboo; and those free of uncomfortable and questionable waterproofing materials like vinyl/PVC, phthalates, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and butane rubber that may cause you to sweat or overheat further, are best for cooling. Plus, they tend to be toxin free, too. 

We're pretty particular about choosing the best waterproof mattress protector without comprising breathability, too. These are noiseless when you move, fit snugly on your mattress, and don't alter the bed's feel. In fact, we promise you'll sleep soundly with one of the best mattress protectors under your sheets.