We spent $1,000+ dollars testing the best mattress protectors to find the best one on the market. Here are our results and insights!
In Depth Review And Process
For a long time, I didn’t use a mattress protector. However, I soon learned my lesson — a mattress protector is a relatively cost effective method for protecting a relatively large investment (your mattress!). It can really extend the life of your mattress, which is hard to clean once you get it.
I never really thought too much about which mattress protector to purchase at first — I just bought whatever was available online. However, I soon learned another lesson — it’s important to get the right mattress protector. First, you want to make sure that it is made of high quality materials (and that it isn’t toxic). You always want to make sure that it is fully waterproof and will stay waterproof after multiple washes. In addition, you want to make sure that it isn’t loud and crinkly. I’d purchased cheaper, plasticky mattress protectors — while these are waterproof, they definitely detract from your sleeping experience. You can hear them crinkle while you sleep and sometimes they bunch up under your sheets. These mattress protectors are a definite no go in my book because while you do want to protect your mattress, you definitely don’t want your protector to negatively impact your sleep experience.
I finally set out to find the best mattress protector available on the market today. I started by scouring the internet and reading hundreds (if not thousands) of reviews. I finally narrowed it down to a list of 8-10 mattress protectors to actually test. I purchased all of these mattress protectors and evaluated them along these dimensions:
- Waterproofing
- Noise
- Temperature regulation and overall feel
- Return policy / warranty
- Value
Things to look for
Temperature regulation – look for a breathable fabric (like bamboo or tencel)
100% waterproof, and tested against wash cycles – the worst thing you can do is get a mattress protector that isn’t waterproof or whose waterproof feature wears out over time. Make sure you look for a fully waterproof mattress protector and read the reviews to see if it lasts. A big issue I encountered was that a lot of mattress protectors are water-resistant or are waterproof for a while, but do not last. Great mattress protectors often offer a long warranty because the brand’s have confidence knowing they will stand the test of time
Softness and comfort – you want a mattress protector that is soft. While mattress protectors generally will not be as soft as sheets (that’s what sheets are for!), but you want one that isn’t loud and crinkly (ahem, polyester).
Hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial – look for a mattress protector that is hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial to resist bacteria that might grow on it
Things to avoid
Flame retardant – while a flame retardant sounds like a benefit, it might actually do more harm than good. Some flame retardants contain chemicals that are detrimental to your health, according to multiple studies (1), (2). Federal regulations already require your mattress to be able to withstand an open flames for ~30 minutes, so it’s probably not necessary to have a flame retardant mattress protector. If you want to have a flame retardant mattress protector, make sure you do your research so you know the chemicals used in the one you get are safe.
Loud, crinkly fabrics – make sure you read the reviews and get feedback on how loud/quiet the protector is. While many companies claim that the fabric is ‘quiet’ you only really know once you try it.
Overall, the best mattress protector I slept on by far was the Dosaze Cooling Bamboo Waterproof Mattress Protector. I enjoyed sleeping on this mattress protector because not only did it provide the best, most comprehensive protection for my mattress, but it also enhanced my sleep experience (but more on that later).
Is It Worth It To Consider Mattress Protectors Under $50?
I personally do not think it is best to consider the options under $50. You will likely save money in the long run because the manufacturers of mattress protectors tend to cut corners – these protectors also generally do not last as long. If you get the right mattress protector (even if it is more expensive), you’ll likely save money in the long run.
As an example, some mattress protectors tend to use lower quality materials (like polyester and plastic), which overheats, is less durable, and doesn’t feel as nice. Others might start out waterproof, but will lose that effect over time. These materials cost less, but you can definitely tell based on how they feel and sound.
It is worth it to invest in a higher quality mattress protector – especially when you consider how much a mattress protector can extend the life of your mattress. The right mattress protector can extend the life of your mattress by years. It can even enhance your sleeping experience for that time.
This waterproof mattress protector from Dosaze is made of a silver-infused 70% bamboo and 30% cotton fabric blend to ensure users’ comfort. It also treated with an anti-stain repellent solution and finished with a truly waterproof lining. The bamboo / cotton combination is actually comfortable enough to sleep on, in our opinion (though added sheets are recommended!) and and are not loud or scratchy in any way (like a lot of other waterproof mattress protectors are). It has complete moisture protection to make sure no forms of liquids can get to your mattress.
We’re confident when we say that this waterproof mattress protector not only protects your mattress investment, it actually enhances your sleeping experience. In all of our testing, it definitely performed the best. This bed protector was waterproof after multiple washes, was not noisy, and was even comfortable enough to sleep on (without sheets).
The Dosaze Cooling Mattress Protector doesn’t just look great; it fits most beds really well, too. It’s really a great bed protector.
Pros:
- Nice and soothing feel — soft enough to sleep on in my opinion! (but I recommend using sheets as well)
- Temperature regulating
- Made of a bamboo blend fabric so it is breathable and soft
- Lasts for years and years (comes with 10 year warranty)
- Not loud or crinkly in any way
- Can fit mattresses up to 15 inches in depth
- Machine washable
- Actually waterproof – waterproofing nature survives multiple washes easily
Cons:
- Only available online
You can see that this mattress protector not only provides top notch support, but can also regulate your temperature and improve your sleep overall. It’s definitely one you want to consider purchasing!
UPDATE (3 months later!): I’ve been sleeping on this mattress protector for three months now, and it is still the best one. I just actually spilled some coffee on my bed, but thankfully I had my mattress protector and it is still 100% waterproof (even after multiple washes).
The SlumberCloud Dryline Mattress Protector is made of high-tech materials (Outlast Xelerate) which is a polyester and lycra knit fabric that was originally designed by NASA. It contains a PCM technology that absorbs and redistributes heat to regulate the temperature of the surface.
This waterproof mattress protector does a good job – it’s waterproof and not loud. The cooling effect was harder for us to notice, as it was for a lot of reviewers, but it was a quality mattress protector. Our biggest issue with this mattress protector is the price – for $189, we were expecting more features to justify the price.
As you can see, this is a solid mattress protector, but it’s simply too expensive to really justify the price, especially when some of the premium features of the mattress protector don’t really deliver.
If you’re allergic to latex and you’re looking for something made with organic cotton, Naturepedic Organic Mattress Protector won’t disappoint you. It’s made of GOTS certified organic cotton which means that everything about it adheres to organic guidelines.
This product features “dry sleep technology”. Its ultra-thin waterproof layer works relativly well in blocking off liquids, but is my no means perfect. While most customers do not complain about the waterproofing (including us), a handful of reviewers experienced leaking with these mattress protectors — and often had to use multiple layers to really make sure they didn’t leak:
That being said, I think this mattress protector really only fails in severe instances — e.g., bed wetting and heavier spills, and seems to work for normal liquids (like sweat). Furthermore, the cotton material does have a quite nice feel to it.
Overall, this could be a good option if you don’t need something to be 100% waterproof. However, for the price, I still think you could do better.
You can see that the pillow doesn’t do much to align your neck and back – it is a high quality pillow, but I didn’t find it the most comfortable. I didn’t really enjoy the feel of the latex, which was a bit too “springy” for me.
The Avocado Organic Mattress Protector is made of quality material and has a durable construction. However, it is important to note that this mattress protector is NOT 100% waterproof – rather, it is absorbent. This is meant to keep the protector more breathable and less plasticky.
The Avocado Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector is kind of like a fitted sheet – it covers the top and the sides of the bed. There is also an elastic band around the perimeter that holds it in place, and we did not notice that it moved around throughout the night.
While this is indeed a great mattress protector, it is also a bit tough to justify the extremely high price point (nearly $250) -there are other mattress protectors and while the cotton is nice, it isn’t a must have for a mattress protector by any means. We think you can spend less than half of the price for an equally effective mattress protector with all of the same features.
A 100-night trial allows customers to return their protector for a full refund of the purchase price if they decide it isn’t right for them, while a 1-year limited warranty covers defects.
As you can see, it’s important to note that the mattress pad, while made of premium, organic materials (and is GOTS certified), isn’t suitable for heavy spills — see the response below from Avocado to an unhappy customer:
This mattress protector has a great feel – the eucalyptus fabric is cool and soft to the touch. It contains shredded PET fill that is free of BPAs and has an OEKO-TEX certification, so you can rest easy know that the protector is free of harmful chemicals and substances.
The material does absorb liquid well, but it is important to note that it is not completely waterproof. It is also important to note that this protector only covers the top of your mattress – it doesn’t cover multiple sides so it doesn’t protect your entire mattress.
I like the feel of this mattress pad, but I don’t think it’s the best bet because it isn’t 100% waterproof. It’s also not the best value when you consider that it really only protects the top of your mattress and not the sides.
If you are on the market for a comfy way to protect your mattress against dirt, allergens, and sweat. Then the Buffy Plushy Mattress Protector could be a good fit for you. I liked that this mattress protector provides a barrier between you and your mattress but is also breathable and soft.
If you only need protection from a few crumbs or the occasional small spill, then this mattress protector could be a good fit.
This protector comes from the company that brought us the Coop Home Goods Original and Eden adjustable pillows. I loved these pillows, so I decided to also give the mattress protector a shot.
Unfortunately, this mattress protector doesn’t fully deliver — it sleeps hot and the waterproofing doesn’t last very long. A lot of reviewers (including me) experienced some leaking through the mattress protector so it isn’t quite suitable for larger spills. Other reviewers claim that the fit is a bit loose and so it can bunch up and feel strange under the sheets.
A few nice things about this protector are that it’s free from PVC and other harmful chemicals. It’s also excellent for allergy sufferers since the material is considered hypoallergenic.
This mattress protector isn’t expensive so it is pretty good value — but you are kind of rolling the dice because it doesn’t protector from all spills.
This mattress protector comes with two layers – one that dissipates liquid and one that ‘absorbs’ it to protect your mattress. We aren’t a huge fan of the feel of the fabric, but it was a decent option.
It’s important to note that this mattress protector is water-resistant, not waterproof. This fabric also doesn’t feel the best — it’s made of a polyester spandex blend. I don’t love this feel at all, and it can increase your sleep temperature throughout the night. Increasing your sleep temperature could counteract all of the investment you made into a cooling mattress or sheet set!
This one’s quite popular because of its zippered enclosure. Offering 360-degree protection, it’s designed to protect your mattress from all liquids and allergens. It can even keep the bed bugs away.
This protector can fit mattresses with depths up to 12 inches, which is pretty shallow. Its soft fabric doesn’t make any crinkling sound. It doesn’t give that plastic-feel between your sheets, too.
It is also important to note that reviewers claim that this mattress protector doesn’t, in fact, help protect against bed bugs.
This can be a decent budget option, but it simply isn’t made of as high quality materials as others. It is made of plastic, which you know is going to be loud and crinkly.
Conclusions
For a comfortable, waterproof, and temperature regulation mattress protector, I highly recommend the Dosaze Bamboo Cooling Waterproof Mattress Protector. It’s simply the best one on the market.
Disclosure: HomeHacks has relationships with some of the products listed in this article. We may earn a varying commission if you purchase any of the products on this list.
