The best mattress protectors of 2026 to guard against spills, stains, and allergens

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Every mattress needs protection from spills, stains, accidents, and allergens. The best mattress protectors are absolute necessities for any bed, adding a barrier between the sleeper and the mattress. The best mattresses are expensive investments, and mattress protectors ultimately increase their longevity.

We tested almost 30 mattress protectors and mattress encasements on our own beds to make our top picks. Each of our recommendations passed our waterproofing, durability, temperature regulation, and comfort. Our top pick is the Coop Sleep Goods Ultra Tech Mattress Protector, a budget-friendly option with impressive waterproofing and a barely-there feel. We also love the Avocado Mattress Protector, an eco-friendly choice with third-party certifications that’s available in standard and deep-pocket depths.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.

Our top picks for mattress protectors

Best overall: Coop Sleep Goods Ultra Tech Mattress Protector – See at Amazon

Best budget: SafeRest Premium Mattress Protector – See at Amazon

Best organic: Avocado Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector – See at Avocado

Best cooling: Helix Mattress Protector – See at Helix

Best waterproof: Tuft & Needle Mattress Protector – See at Amazon

Best mattress encasement: Utopia Bedding Zippered Mattress Encasement – See at Amazon

Best overall

This is the best mattress protector we tested. The Coop Sleep Goods Ultra Tech is our top pick, combining impressive waterproofing with barely-there comfort. Plus, at under $60 for a queen, it’s one of the most affordable options on our list.

It aced our waterproofing tests. During leakage testing, we put each mattress protector to the test to determine its waterproofing. We pour eight ounces of water mixed with blue food dye directly on top of the mattress protector. Then, we check for any leakage by placing a paper towel and a plastic tub underneath. The blue dye makes it easy to visually determine whether or not any leakage occurred. We do this test before and after washing the protector five times.

The Coop protector passed this test with flying colors. There was absolutely no blue dye or water on the paper towel under the protector. Plus, it absorbed all the water in a small area, with no spreading or pooling across the surface.

I could barely tell it was there. In addition to excellent waterproofing, the Coop protector is comfortable and silent. The bamboo-blend surface is virtually undetectable under the sheets, since it doesn’t create any annoying crinkling noises or trap heat. It fits on the bed much like a fitted sheet and doesn’t shift at night — though keep in mind that only the surface is waterproof. I barely noticed that the protector was there during testing.

It has a generous trial and warranty — as long as you wash it correctly. The Coop protector comes with 100-night trial and one-year warranty when bought directly from Coop’s site. Note, if you don’t follow the washing instructions (wash on cold, tumble dry on low, make sure the waterproof backing is facing in) you’ll void the one-year warranty.

Best budget

We recommend the SafeRest for those on a budget. We tested five mattress protectors that cost less than $50. Of those, the SafeRest Premium Mattress Protector performed the best. In addition to remaining leak-free in our tests, it was one of the best at staying cool and dissipating heat. 

It fits the bed well, even after five washings. The SafeRest protector can fit mattresses up to 18 inches thick. As with many protectors, the part that rests on top of your mattress is made of a different material than the skirt around the sides. The top is waterproof, while the sides are not. Fortunately, the top fit my mattress well and covered it to the edges, even after putting it through the washer and dryer five times. 

It’s not the most comfortable option on our list. The surface is terry cloth and a bit uncomfortable. As I moved in the night, it made a lot of crackling noises, and my fitted sheet didn’t shift smoothly on it. However, it is the best budget mattress protector to have on your bed in case of an accident and didn’t affect my sleep.

Best organic

This organic protector is backed by third-party certifications. The Avocado Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector is the best organic mattress protector that passed our leakage tests. First, let’s talk about the laundry list of certifications. This protector is GOTS organic certified, Made Safe certified to be free of toxins, GREENGUARD Gold certified for low emissions, PETA-approved vegan, and formaldehyde free verified by UL.

It did an excellent job of protecting my mattress. The Avocado protector is made of organic cotton with polyurethane backing to protect your mattress against spills, dust mites, and bacteria. In my leakage tests, the Avocado did an outstanding job. Not a drop of water made it through the protective materials during the two-hour testing period. And, after five trips through the washer and dryer, the protection was just as strong as ever. Also, the Avocado protector fit the test mattresses better after washing than before. It’s also available in a deep-pocket version if you have a thick mattress, making it one of the best deep-pocket mattress protectors.

Two drawbacks — it sleeps hot and crinkles under the sheets. My sleep quality on the Avocado Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector was excellent. I felt comfortable, though there were nights when I felt hot. My objective thermometer readings backed this up, as the protector tends to be hotter. However, the heat dissipated quickly when I got up. The Avocado was a little louder than most protectors, but its mild crinkling didn’t impact my sleep.

Best cooling

Mattress protectors can get hot, but this one stays cool. When researching this guide, one of the complaints I heard about mattress protectors is that they can trap heat and cause sleepers to overheat. So, I looked at how hot the mattress protectors got after sleeping on them and how quickly the heat dissipated. The Helix Mattress Protector is the best cooling mattress protector because it is one of the best at staying cool and dissipating heat fast. In fact, within two minutes of getting up from the bed, the surface temperature plunged more than 14 degrees.

It fits and protects as good as new after five washings. In our evaluations, the Helix passed the leakage tests with flying colors before and after five washing and drying cycles. The protector also showed no shrinkage after the washings, which is essential since the waterproof TPU backing is only on the part that covers the mattress top, not the skirting. 

It’s comfortable and quiet. With its soft surface, the protector was comfortable to sleep on. I tend to overheat at night but didn’t experience any issues. It was also one of the quietest protectors; I didn’t notice any crackling or rustling as I shifted in the night.

Best waterproof

All of our picks are waterproof, but this option excels at leak-proof protection. Since liquids can easily destroy a mattress, waterproofing is a requirement for inclusion in this guide. While all our picks are waterproof, the Tuft & Needle Mattress Protector is the best waterproof mattress protector. It offers five-side protection and excels at keeping liquids from passing through, even after five washing and drying cycles. I also liked that the protector absorbed much of the liquid, keeping some of it from getting on your bedding, the floor, or elsewhere.

It’s soft and quiet, but it runs hot. The protector meets Oeko-Tex standards, meaning it’s free from harmful chemicals and substances. I found the soft top comfortable, making minimal noise as I shifted positions. However, it trapped heat in my temperature tests.

It’s best for thinner mattresses. The Tuft & Needle Mattress Protector doesn’t come with head/foot labels to help you orient it as you put it on, and it only fits mattresses up to 14 inches thick. Yet, I had no trouble putting it on appropriately sized beds, and it stayed in place without bunching up.

It’s backed by a trial period. Lastly, this protector matches the longest home trial period of any model I tested at 100 nights when purchased directly from Tuft & Needle. If you don’t like it, you can return it for free with a full refund.

Best mattress encasement

Mattress encasements are your best bet for protection against bed bugs. Bed bugs can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to get rid of, and even then, there’s no guarantee they won’t come back. So it’s worth the $20 investment to cover your mattress with a full encasement. The best mattress encasement I tested is the Utopia Bedding Zippered Mattress Encasement. It passed the leakage tests before and after washing, and most of the liquid pooled on the surface of the encasement. It was one of the quietest protectors and never got hot when I slept on it. 

It’s a pain to put on. The most significant issue with any encasement is putting it on. Fortunately, the Utopia Bedding encasement has a wide zippered opening that makes it easier to slide over your mattress as you hold it up vertically. Once zipped, a Velcro flap keeps the slider body and pull tab in place and ensures there aren’t any holes for bed bugs to sneak through.

It’s comfy, but there’s no warranty. The encasement was comfortable to sleep on. The thin material was barely noticeable under the fitted sheet. The only downside is that it doesn’t come with a warranty. 

Keep in mind that encasements don’t prevent bed bug infestations from starting. Lastly, no encasement protects you from getting bed bugs. Instead, it protects your mattress, an expensive investment, from harboring bed bugs that can destroy it over time. If a mattress is already riddled with bed bugs, an encasement can trap them. But you need to keep it on for at least 12 months to kill all the bugs, and you’ll still need to treat your home.

What else we tested

We tested 27 mattress protectors and encasements for this guide. Here are a few that missed the cut.

• Purple Waterproof Mattress Protector: Purple previously made our best mattress protector, but it’s been recently discontinued for a new waterproof version that is available in standard and deep pocket variations and emphasized enhanced stretchiness to compliment Purple’s signature GelFlex Grid system. The new version passed our leakage tests, but the liquid spread throughout the entire topper, including the non-waterproof elastic edges, which is not ideal.
• Nolah GlacioTex Cooling: This is an outstanding mattress protector. It just doesn’t top any of our categories. It passed our leakage tests, stays cool, and produces minimal noise. The biggest negatives are you have to pay for shipping if you return it, and the warranty is only one year. Still, it’s worth considering if a top pick is out of stock.
• Bear GlacioTex: While it’s virtually identical to the Nolah GlacioTex protector, this Bear protector is much pricier ($250 retail) and failed our leakage test after five washings. It stays cool and fit our test mattresses well, but at this price point, it needs to be waterproof.
• Coop Sleep Goods Ultra-Cool Waterproof: Coop’s mattress protector is designed for hot sleepers, keeping cool throughout the night. We still recommend it, but keep in mind that liquid pooled rather than absorbed with this protector.
• Casper Waterproof: In general, I’m a fan of Casper products. Its Dream mattress is one of the coolest beds I’ve slept on. But, the company’s mattress protectors get a hard pass from me. While the Casper Waterproof lives up to its name by passing our leakage tests, it was the hardest to put on because of its small elastic ring. I worked up a sweat each time I wrestled it on. Plus, it comes with a minimal one-year warranty. 
• Casper Breathable: This protector is water resistant but not waterproof. Consequently, it failed the leakage tests before and after we washed it five times. It also appeared to shrink in the wash, so portions of the mattress weren’t covered by the top section of the protector. The Casper Breathable protector only has a one-year warranty. It was cooler and quieter than most other models, but at $159 for a queen, it needs to protect your mattress better.
• Linenspa Encasement: We hoped this would be a good alternative if the Utopia Bedding encasement isn’t available, but we can’t recommend it. It passed the leakage tests, protects against bed bugs, and has a 10-year warranty. However, it only fits mattresses up to 12 inches thick, makes loud rustling sounds when you move on it, and traps heat.

What to look for in a mattress protector

You’ll want to choose a mattress protector that fits and protects your mattress against what you want to protect it from. With that in mind, here are the main characteristics to look for.

Waterproofing: You don’t want a spill or other wet mishap to turn your bed into a breeding ground for mold and mildew, so picking a waterproof mattress protector is essential. Most waterproof protectors have polyurethane, PVC, or TPU listed among their materials. All the protectors in our guide are waterproof based on our rigorous testing.

Size: Choose a protector the same size as your bed, but make sure it’s thick enough. Most protectors will fit mattresses up to 14 inches thick. If you have a thicker mattress, look at the protector’s manufacturer’s specs to ensure it will fit. 

Encasement vs. five-sided vs. top-only protection: Encasements completely encase your mattress. They are usually suited for bed bug protection. The trade-off is that they’re a pain to put on and remove. Five-sided and top-only protectors are virtually identical in appearance. Both go on like a fitted sheet. The difference is that the five-sided protectors’ protective coating extends to the mattress’s sides. Top-only protectors only protect the top, which may be good enough for your needs.

Trial and warranty: After two weeks of sleeping on a mattress protector, you should be able to tell if it fits your needs. If it doesn’t, you want to be able to return it for a full refund. Look for a long home trial (30 nights is the standard) and a reasonable warranty (one year is the bare minimum.)

How we tested each mattress protector

I tested all of the mattress protectors in this guide. In addition to sleeping on each protector, each model undergoes many objective tests. The most important factors to consider when choosing a mattress protector are comfort, protection, and fit.

Here are some of the test results for the main attributes we tested:

Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:

Comfort: I slept on each mattress protector (with a fitted sheet in place) and rated how comfortable they felt on a scale of 1 to 5. Most protectors were barely noticeable, and none scored below a 3. I also used a laser thermometer to compare the temperatures before lying on the protector, after lying on it for at least an hour, and two minutes after getting up. This told me how well the protector dissipated heat. 

Protection: I placed a paper towel in a plastic tray and set it beneath the center of each mattress protector. Next, I poured eight ounces of blue water on each protector. Then, I placed a 2-pound weight on the liquid to simulate someone lying on it. I let the water sit for two hours before checking to see if it leaked through. Then, I washed and dried each protector five times and performed the test again. Though I couldn’t test for them, I also noted if the protectors are designed to protect against dust mites and bed bugs.

Fit: I put each protector on mattresses ranging in thickness from 10 inches to 15 inches and noted how difficult it was to put it on, whether the protector bunched up, if the protective top covered the whole mattress top, and whether it stayed put or crept up the corners throughout the night. Next, I washed and dried the protector five times and repeated the test. 

Noise: The polyurethane used as waterproofing for mattress protectors sometimes makes a crackling sound as you move at night. This sound can lead to restless sleep, so I compared all the protectors head-to-head to see how loud they were. I crinkled each one in my hands. As I did this, I arranged the protectors from quietest to most audible. I kept doing this until I was confident my order was accurate.

Trial and warranty: The most foolproof way to know if a mattress protector is comfortable for you is to sleep on it for an extended period, so a lengthy trial is a must. I looked at the length of the trial period (30 nights was the median of the protectors I tested) and whether there are hidden return fees. I also looked at the warranty length (5 years was the median of the models I tried).

Mattress protector FAQs

Why do you need a mattress protector?

Rebecca Robbins, PhD, associate scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, recommends the use of a mattress protector to protect your bed from allergens and spills.

While most often associated with kids, mattress protectors are necessary for everyone. In addition to protecting from spills and accidents, they keep your mattress safe from bodily fluids like sweat and allergens like dust mites.

“A mattress protector can also help extend the general life of your mattress and reduce the overall wear and tear,” said Robbins. “So it’s always a good idea to make sure that when you’re buying a new mattress, you’re coupling it with a mattress protector.”

How often should you wash a mattress protector?

Those with allergies should wash their protector every two to four weeks. This cleaning schedule ensures a reduction in dust mite buildup.

If your aim is to protect your mattress from spills, you’ll want to wash your mattress protector every two to six months or immediately after a spill or accident. The less you wash it, the longer the protective covering with last. Always follow the instructions on the care tag — incorrect washing can sometimes void the warranty.

If you’re using an encasement to keep bed bugs in, you’ll need to keep it on your mattress for at least 12 months.

What is the difference between a mattress protector and encasement?

Mattress protectors fit on the bed like a fitted sheet, with a waterproof top. The sides are often waterproof, too. Mattress encasements zip around the entire bed, offering protection against spills, allergens, and bed bug infestations.

How do you put on a mattress encasement?

To put on a mattress encasement, first stand the mattress upright. Then, pull the unzipped encasement over the top of the mattress. Once your mattress is covered, lay it back on the foundation. Then, zip the encasement closed.

How do you wash a mattress protector?

You can usually wash mattress protectors on a cold, gentle cycle. Then, dry it on tumble dry or low. Always read the care label before caring for a mattress protector.

What’s the difference between a mattress pad, a mattress protector, and a mattress topper?

Mattress pads add a layer of cushion to your bed while offering minor mattress protection. Mattress protectors keep the bed safe from spills and allergens, with full coverage protection that doesn’t actually alter the feel of your mattress. Mattress toppers add extra comfort and support to a bed without protection.

Source: The best mattress protectors of 2026 to guard against spills, stains, and allergens