The Best Mattress Protectors for 2026: Waterproof, Bedbug-Proof and Luxury Picks
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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If you’ve spent thousands on a mattress, a $60 protector is the cheapest insurance you can buy. Mattresses absorb sweat, skin cells, body oils and spills, and you can’t put foam in the washing machine. Wirecutter notes that liquid soaked into a mattress can start growing mold within 24 to 48 hours. Many warranties are also voided by stains. A good protector stops all of that while staying almost unnoticeable under the sheet.
This guide is based mainly on Wirecutter’s October 2026 update. Its sleep team tested more than 60 protectors, encasements and pads, pouring 400 mL of simulated urine, dyed water and other fluids onto them, weighting them for an hour, and washing them repeatedly. We also used CNN Underscored and the Sleep Foundation. We haven’t tested these products ourselves. Prices are for queen sizes where noted and change often.
Quick answer: the SafeRest Premium is the best waterproof mattress protector. It stayed leakproof through repeated spill tests and seven washes, dries in one cycle and has a 10-year warranty. IKEA’s Grusnarv is a softer budget alternative at about half the price. For dust mites, allergies or bedbugs, choose a full encasement such as the AllerEase Platinum Zip-Off Top.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Type | Best for | Approx. price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| SafeRest Premium | Waterproof fitted protector | Best overall | Affordable |
| IKEA Grusnarv | Waterproof fitted protector | Budget, softest top | About half the SafeRest |
| AllerEase Platinum Zip-Off Top | Six-sided encasement | Allergies, dust mites, bedbugs | About $53 (queen) |
| Mattress Safe Sofcover Ultimate | Six-sided encasement | Certified bedbug protection | About $115 to $138 (queen) |
| PeapodMats Bed Mat | Waterproof pad | Kids, incontinence, pets | Pricier for its size |
| Saatva or Birch waterproof | Premium protector | Luxury feel, natural materials | About 4x the SafeRest |
*Prices from Wirecutter’s buying links at the time of writing.
The best mattress protectors
1. SafeRest Premium Mattress Protector: best waterproof protector
Best for: most beds, especially with kids, pets, or breakfast in bed.
SafeRest has been Wirecutter’s top waterproof pick since 2018. It survived two rounds of spill tests and seven rounds of laundering and stayed leakproof. It was especially good at stopping synthetic urine from spreading across the surface, which other protectors tended to let wick outward. It’s thin enough to wash with other laundry, always came out clean, and dried in one cycle while others needed several.
It fits mattresses up to 18 inches deep and comes in uncommon sizes, including crib, twin XL and California king. The 10-year warranty is by far the longest of any protector Wirecutter tested. The only real drawback is a slightly scratchy terry top and a faint crinkle from the laminate underside. Neither is noticeable under a fitted sheet, Wirecutter says.
Pros
- Leakproof after repeated tests and washes
- Dries in one cycle
- Fits up to 18-inch mattresses
- 10-year warranty
Cons
- Terry top is a bit rough
- Slight crinkle when you move
2. IKEA Grusnarv Waterproof Mattress Protector: best budget pick
Best for: guest rooms, kids’ rooms, or keeping a spare on hand.
The Grusnarv kept every liquid from reaching the mattress, outperforming everything else in its price range. It held up through seven washes, and Wirecutter’s testers found it softer and quieter than the SafeRest, though liquid spread a little more across the surface. It costs roughly half as much.
It held so much soapy water that it needed two rinse cycles, so use only a little detergent. It comes in twin, full, queen and king only. IKEA says it phased PFAS out of its textiles in 2016.
Pros
- Leakproof
- Softest top tested
- About half the price
Cons
- Hard to rinse
- Fewer sizes
3. AllerEase Platinum Zip-Off Top: best encasement for allergies and bedbugs
Best for: allergy and asthma sufferers, and anyone who travels or lives in an apartment building.
An encasement wraps all six sides of the mattress. Wirecutter says it can reduce dust-mite allergy symptoms, keep bedbugs out of the mattress, and, if left zipped during an infestation, trap them until they die. The AllerEase’s zip-off top is its smartest feature: allergist Cristina Porch-Curren recommends weekly washing for allergy sufferers, and you only need to remove the top layer to do it.
Its tight French seam along the zipper and Velcro zipper cover held up through repeated laundering. Corner straps fit different mattress depths, and the thinly quilted top is softer than most encasements. It also has a waterproof polyurethane lining, which Wirecutter didn’t test, and a lifetime warranty. It’s slow to dry, needing two hours in the dryer, and it isn’t Oeko-Tex certified, though AllerEase says it tests for PFAS.
Pros
- Zip-off top for easy washing
- Strong seams and zipper
- Lifetime warranty
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Slow to dry
- Not Oeko-Tex certified
4. Mattress Safe Sofcover Ultimate Encasement: best certified bedbug protection
Best for: anyone who wants lab-verified protection.
An entomologist tested this encasement by putting bedbugs on it to see whether they could get through or feed through the fabric. It blocked them completely, and it’s also tested against dust mites and allergens. Five-thread serged seams and a zipper that locks in place with a hook didn’t budge when Wirecutter’s testers jumped on the bed.
It’s softer and quieter than most encasements, comes in three depths for mattresses from 5 to 22 inches, and includes twin XL and California king. It costs more than twice as much as the AllerEase, the whole cover has to come off to wash, and it needed more than three hours of drying.
Pros
- Lab-tested against bedbugs
- Very secure zipper
- Fits 5- to 22-inch mattresses
- Soft and quiet
Cons
- Expensive
- Hard to remove
- Very slow to dry
5. PeapodMats Bed Mat: best waterproof pad
Best for: potty training, incontinence, older pets and overnight guests.
This isn’t a fitted protector but a 3-by-5-foot pad that sits on top of the sheet, so you can swap it in the middle of the night without stripping the bed. It stayed completely leakproof even after soiled pads sat for hours, a grippy TPU-coated base kept it from sliding, and multiple cups of coffee poured on it didn’t reach the mattress. Placed sideways, it spans a queen. Smaller sizes work in the car or on a chair. It’s pricey for its size, but it’s reusable and durable.
Pros
- Leakproof
- Doesn’t slide
- Easy middle-of-the-night swaps
Cons
- Pricey for the size
6. Saatva or Birch Waterproof Protector: best luxury options
Best for: high-end mattresses where feel and materials matter.
Wirecutter found the Saatva Waterproof Mattress Protector performed well in spill tests, and its silicone straps fit many mattress depths. It costs about four times as much as the SafeRest, though. The Birch protector looks and feels like a breathable cotton fitted sheet, is waterproof on all sides rather than just the top, and uses Fair Trade-certified cotton. Naturepedic and Avocado make similar organic options at similar premium prices. Buy one of these for the feel and the materials, not for better protection.
Pros
- Sheet-like feel
- Natural and Fair Trade materials
- Saatva fits many depths
Cons
- Much pricier than SafeRest for the same protection
Protectors that failed
Several popular protectors leaked in Wirecutter’s spill tests, including Amazon Basics, Utopia Bedding, The Company Store’s cotton protector and Helix’s waterproof protector. Lands’ End’s pad leaked slightly and took a long time to dry. Low prices or a well-known mattress brand don’t guarantee a protector actually blocks liquid.
How to choose a mattress protector
- Protector vs. encasement. Fitted protectors stop liquids and stains. Six-sided encasements stop dust mites and bedbugs. If you need both, put the encasement on first and the waterproof protector over it.
- Capacity. Occupational therapist Lindsey Vestal told Wirecutter a waterproof protector should hold at least 400 to 500 mL, the volume of a full bladder.
- Pore size for allergies. Look for encasements with pores under 10 microns.
- Depth. Measure your mattress, including any topper. SafeRest fits up to 18 inches.
- Comfort and noise. Thin polyurethane laminates are quiet. Avoid crinkly vinyl.
- Chemicals. Oeko-Tex certification means the fabric was tested for harmful substances, including PFAS. Otherwise look for independent PFAS testing.
- Buy two. A spare means you can remake the bed while the other is in the wash.
Care tips
- Wash every one to two months, or weekly if you have allergies.
- To kill dust mites, wash at 130 °F or dry at that temperature for at least 15 minutes, if the label allows it.
- Skip bleach and fabric softener, which can damage waterproof laminates.
- Tumble dry on low. High heat can melt the backing, and Wirecutter saw one protector start to melt.
FAQ
Do mattress protectors make you hot?
Thin protectors with polyurethane backing barely change how a bed feels. Cotton or terry tops breathe better than vinyl. Hot sleepers should avoid thick quilted pads.
Will a protector void my mattress warranty?
No. It actually helps, because many mattress warranties exclude stained mattresses. Check your warranty terms.
How often should I replace a protector?
When it leaks, tears or the backing starts to flake. SafeRest’s 10-year warranty is a good sign of durability.
Do I need a pillow protector too?
Wirecutter recommends one. Its pick is the Hospitology Products Pillow Encasement, and Niagara’s multipack is the budget choice.
The bottom line
Put a SafeRest Premium on every bed you care about. It’s leakproof, easy to wash and backed for 10 years. Choose IKEA’s Grusnarv for spare rooms, an AllerEase or Mattress Safe encasement for allergies and bedbug protection, and Saatva or Birch if you want a protector that feels as nice as your sheets.
