The Best Mattress Protectors of 2026

A great mattress will always serve you well, but a mattress protector is a key ingredient in keeping one of the most costly home furnishings in good shape for years.

Not to be mistaken for mattress toppers, which provide another layer of foam to cushion you overnight, the best mattress protectors provide a buffer between your sweat, drool, or even a kid's bed-wetting. They protect your mattress from spills, wear and tear, and dust mites.

The best mattress deserves a top-notch mattress protector. In our testing, the winner is the Purple Mattress protector (available at Purple) , a light and thin water-resistant protector that nevertheless kept the mattress dry and has protective fabric all the way around for full protection to mattress sides.

---

---

Other Mattress Protectors We Tested

Things to Consider About Mattress Protectors

A mattress protector is different from a mattress pad. While a mattress pad is intended for added comfort, a mattress protector prevents damage and acts as a protective layer for your bed. Before making your purchase, consider that there are a few types of mattress protectors to choose from.

Waterproof vs. Water-resistant

Waterproof and water resistance are not the same thing. When choosing a mattress protector, you’ll want to know the difference—otherwise, you could end up with a ruined mattress.

Water-resistant labels mean a mattress protector will resist liquid up to a point, but it may eventually leak through. If you quickly wipe up a small spill, it may not seep into the mattress. However, if there’s a lot of liquid or if it sits for a long time, it may seep through. The trade-off is that water-resistant mattress protectors tend to be more breathable than their fully waterproof counterparts.

Waterproof protectors won’t allow liquid to permeate at all, regardless of the amount of liquid or the duration it remains on the protector. These products may not have waterproof barriers on the sides, however. In general, if there’s a quilted top or extra layer of fabric on a waterproof protector, that fabric will absorb liquid, not repel liquids.

Fitted Sheet Protectors vs. Mattress Encasements

Fitted sheet protectors rely on elasticated edges to stay in place. The most significant difference between an actual fitted sheet and fitted sheet-style mattress protectors is that the protector’s sleep surface is made to be waterproof or water-resistant. This is usually done by adding a coating on the back of the fabric to prevent liquid from getting through. Occasionally, manufacturers will use a waterproof fabric such as vinyl, but there are often better options.

Some have waterproof or water-resistant properties only on the top, while others have additional protection around the four sides of the mattress. This is handy for a heavy wetter, if you’ve spilled coffee near the edge of the bed, or if pets jump on and off with dirty feet.

Encasement covers wrap around the entire mattress, including the bottom that rests on the box spring or platform. It’s a giant fabric (or plastic) bag for your bed, as no part is exposed. If you're looking for a hypoallergenic protector, these may be ideal. They're also great for folks worried about bed bugs, as most are constructed in a way that prevents these pests from entering or exiting.

Fitted sheet protectors are much easier to change compared to encasement covers. Because of this, we chose to focus our testing on fitted sheet protectors.

Caring for Your Mattress Protector

When washing a mattress protector, most recommend using cold water and tumble dry low. If you’re using it to protect against urine from bed wetting, you may be tempted to wash it hot or with bleach. However, heat can ruin a waterproof or water-resistant coating, as can chlorine in the beach water.

It’s essential to wash and dry your mattress protector per the care instructions to ensure it will work properly and last long-term. Some mattress covers we tested come with a 10-year warranty, but not following care instructions could void that protection.

Why You Should Trust Us

We sleep on each protector for one to two nights and then assess any differences in our sleep comfort, increases in heat from the mattress protector, noise or fabric from moving, whether we can feel the mattress cover texture, and the overall experience. We then subject them to a stain test with pomegranate juice and a sweat-like solution to ensure they won't stain or yellow.

Read More About Mattresses and Sleep Gear on Reviewed.com

• The Best Mattresses in a Box
• The Best Bed Pillows
• The Best Comforters
• 7 things to know before buying a mattress online
• The Best Meditation Apps