Lots of the best mattress protectors promise the world. Some are quilted and comfortable, others can be waterproof and pet-friendly, and plenty will be breathable and hypoallergenic too. The only way to know whether these deliver on their dreamy credentials is to sleep on them — so that's what did.
Mattress protectors often get overlooked when people are refining their sleep set-up. You buy the best mattress and mattress topper, but how do you keep them safe from spills, stains, and wear and tear? More importantly, how do you add that extra 5% to your sleep quality? Mattress protectors have the answers.
I've been testing the best mattress protectors on the market officially for 6 months and unofficially for a lot longer. There are lots of factors to account for when choosing the right one for you: natural or synthetic; cooling or cushioning; waterproof or breathable. I've been through all of them and tested them all. The results of all my hard work (some call it sleeping) bring you this list. I promise, these will help you towards better sleep, whether you want yours to be cooler, softer, fresher, or all three.
Quick links
If you want a quick tour around the six best mattress protectors on the market, here you go. There's an option for every kind of sleeper, so when you see one that you like the look of, you can scroll down to read the full details of my in-person testing.
Best overall
This hypoallergenic option is perfect for sensitive skin. It's crafted from bamboo, meaning that the fibres naturally create a cooling, moisture-wicking layer between you and your mattress. It's also waterproof if you have any spills.
Best natural
Crafted from unbleached organic cotton and Chatsworth wool, this uber-luxurious option is kind to your bed, skin, and the planet. It's sumptuous to lie on, cooling, and comfortable too.
Best for night sweats
Designed to help you towards cooler sleep, this thin waterproof layer works hard. It has a slight plastic feel at first, but after a few washes, it does a wonderful functional job.
Best basic
If you want something simple to protect your bed, this will do a wonderful job. It's soft to touch, really comfortable, and hypoallergenic. The synthetic yarn makes this easy to clean and dry for a quick bed refresh.
Best hypoallergenic
Designed for delicate skin, this protector is super soft to touch. It's hypoallergenic, waterproof and surprisingly cooling. Tempur uses THERMIC capsules and TENCEL fibres to help with temperature regulation as you sleep.
Best waterproof
Rather than a protector, this calls itself an encasement, because it zips around the entirety of your bed. Designed to help with any spills or bed bugs, it keeps your mattress safer than any other option — it's still soft and easy to sleep on.
The 6 best mattress protectors, tested for cooler, more comfortable sleep
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Before we get into the details of the best mattress protectors, there are a few decision-making factors that you'll need to know about before we get into what I like the best. Ultimately, choosing the right one for you requires you to make a few decisions. Synthetic or natural materials — synthetics are cheaper, lower maintenance, and often waterproof, but they aren't always very breathable. Those who suffer from night sweats or allergen sensitivities will be better off opting for a natural fibre like bamboo or cotton.
You'll also want to think about the price and texture. Quilted mattress protectors are plusher and more luxurious, but if you've already invested in one of the best mattress toppers, you won't need any extra padding. Waterproof toppers can be useful if your pets or children have accidents at night, but some can crackle and feel like plastic.
There'll be other nuances, but you've got a big bulk of the deciding factors out of the way if you've settled on what's important for you out of all those.
Best mattress protector overall
Made from 70% sustainable bamboo and 30% cotton, Panda London's take on this bedroom must-have is a great choice for anyone who is trying to live more sustainably. Even its packaging creates minimal waste: it arrives tightly rolled up inside a bamboo drawstring pouch, and I love the on-brand panda-patterned ribbon. Cute and eco-conscious.
Far from being 'just' the material it's made from, the bamboo is a key selling point that influences every detail of this mattress protector. Bamboo is a natural repellent to irritants such as bed bugs and dust mites, and it also boasts hypoallergenic properties, meaning it's a great option for those with sensitive skin. Bamboo is also a natural temperature regulator, meaning the mattress protector will keep your bed at a 'just right' temperature that even Goldilocks would be impressed by.
I tested it on a King-size bed and it generously reached right around my 35cm deep mattress and topper. The first thing I wanted to explore was Panda London's claim that the mattress protector was totally silent (it was—there wasn't a single rustle to be heard), while the second was its waterproof credentials. The protector is designed with a layer of Panda London's very own Nano TPU™ technology, which keeps the product waterproof—a claim that stood up even when I poured a glass of water onto it.
You can find out more in my full Panda London Bamboo Mattress Protector review.
Best natural mattress protector
I'm a firm believer that when you invest in your rest, it should be natural. You're spending one-third of your life on your mattress and so you won't want a protector that's throwing out chemicals and irritants into the air. That's why the Woolroom Protector claimed this spot. It's the antidote to all cheap, suffocating mattress protectors out there. This is beautiful, from the inside out.
Woolroom deliver every part of the luxury experience with their protector. It arrives in a robust bag, crafted from unbleached organic cotton. You can use this for storage of the topper if it's not in use, or for anything else that needs packing away. The generous dimensions hugged my kingsize bed perfectly and I could actually feel the plush quilting, even through my sheet. It's rare that a protector offers some extra comfort, but this actually does.
The secrets behind the hypoallergenic, comfortable, cooling properties lie in the craft of this protector. The outer casing feels cool and soft to the touch, thanks to the organic, unbleached cotton then, the protector is stuffed with 250 gsm of traceable, machine-washable wool that's sourced from the Chatsworth Estate. Not only does this mean that you get an ultra-organic-looking mattress protector, you also get to benefit from all the naturally cooling, hypoallergenic properties that wool and cotton boast. Yes, wool is one of the best ways to stay cool when you sleep. For the first time ever, when I reviewed this mattress protector, I had to add another section to do justice to this kind of composition.
All three of the writers on our Homes and Lifestyle team sleep on this protector, which says a lot about how good we think it is. My only wish, if I was granted one, would be to reduce the price of this. I'm not surprised that it's expensive, but I that's the only reason that I couldn't give this the top spot. Not everyone is willing to splurge £150 when they could spend £20.
You can find out more in my full Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Mattress Protector review.
Best mattress protector for night sweats
If you suffer from night sweats, there won't be a better combination than a mattress protector that is both cooling and waterproof. Whilst plenty of the options on this list can boast one, the other, or both, this is the most deserving of the spot. Here's why.
The super soft quilting promises an extra layer of cooling, and protective cover over your mattress. It's crafted from bamboo microfibre technology that is designed to improve the airflow around your skin, rather than synthetic materials, which tend to insulate. The best part about bamboo like this is that it's also really durable and naturally hypoallergenic too.
I tested the waterproof technology, once on purpose (I poured a glass of water on the topper) and once by accident (I spilt my coffee in bed). Both times, the OTTY proved itself to be an incredible topper. Given how effortlessly this repelled water, I was also keen to see how it would handle me, a hot sleeper. Sure enough, the fabric made for a perfect recipe for ridding (or lessening) the intensity of night sweats and hot flushes. It isn't going to rid you of them, but it's extremely rare for that to happen. The only time that I've felt actively cooled was on the Eight Sleep Pod 3, which runs cool water underneath you in the night.
Even though it feels plush, this is still thin and lightweight. I found it easy to clean after my coffee disaster. Even on regular washes, it's quick to freshen up and dry. All in all, it's an excellent buy.
You can find out more in my full OTTY Waterproof Mattress Protector review.
Best basic mattress protector
Whilst most of the toppers on this list won't cost you more than £50 (save for the Woolroom), none of them come at a price that's as competitive as £18 for a single and £34 for a kingsize. That's unbelievably cheap, but when it's part of John Lewis' basics range, you don't need to lose sleep. They're a reliable place to go for budget-friendly basics.
I was surprisingly pleased with just how soft this felt both to touch and to sleep on. The quilting is plush, without overkill, and it's enough to have an impact on the overall feel of the bed. The corners reached nicely around the edges of my mattress, so getting it on and off is an easy job too.
The most controversial aspect of this protector is the fact that it's made from polyester. On the one hand, that makes this incredibly easy to clean and really quick to dry. If you need a speedy bedding refresh, this is the one. However, it's not as breathable as the cotton and bamboo alternatives on this list, which makes sweaty work for hot sleepers.
So, if you want a low-maintenance option to use all year round, this is great. Just note that it's not the most technically skilled option out there.
You can find out more in my full John Lewis Soft Touch Washable Quilted Mattress Protector review.
Best hypoallergenic mattress protector
If you're lucky enough to own one of Tempur's mattresses, you'll already be familiar with the brand's bedding quality. While they're designed to best fit Tempur mattresses, they can be used on non-Tempur mattresses, too.
Designed to keep both spillages and dust mites at bay, this deceptively thin mattress protector is more than capable of keeping your bed in tip-top condition. I tested it by pouring a glass of water directly onto it and were impressed to discover that the mattress underneath remained bone dry.
Thanks to its 'intelligent membrane' design, it claims to be one of the thinnest mattress protectors available to buy today. On the downside, that means for the price you're paying, it doesn't quite compete with that quilted comfort that other mattress protectors can offer; however, on the upside, I didn't even feel like I was lying on anything, which can only be a good thing. This is a big boon if you want a waterproof mattress without any of the cracking and noise at night.
It can be washed an estimated 100 times, and it can also be tumble-dried, too. I have only washed it once, admittedly, but found the mattress protector retained its stretch, dried quickly, and came back refreshed with zero negative impact.
You can find out more in my full Tempur Tencel Mattress Protector review.
