Best mattress protectors, tried and tested

Best mattress protector overall

• Sizes: Single; Small Double; Double; King; Super King; Euro Single; Euro Double; Euro Queen

• Materials: Cover and skirt: cotton; Filling: cotton; Lining: polypropylene

• Care instructions: Wash at 40°C with non-biological detergent; cool tumble dry

Simba has impressed us throughout various bedding tests, and this mattress protector exceeds expectations once more. Its thick cotton quilted protector is super comfortable, a dream to fit with its generous 40cm skirt, plus it’s a doddle to keep clean.

What’s more, the protector has been anti-dust mite treated to help shield those with allergies, and the generous cotton filling keeps it breathable. I found my temperature remained comfortable during testing, and it was rustle-free, as well as remaining secure throughout.

While there’s no waterproof layer, it would stand up to the odd accidental spill. The protector was a dream to wash (although it’s worth noting you need to use non-bio detergent), and it dried quickly in the tumble dryer.

For a comfortable and effective mattress protector that offers high quality at a relatively reasonable price point, you can’t go wrong with Simba’s performance mattress protector.

Best waterproof mattress protector

• Sizes: Single; Small Double; Double; King; Super King; Euro Single; Euro; Double; Euro King; Euro Emperor

• Materials: Top layer: 70% bamboo, 30% cotton; Skirt: 100% polyester; Inner waterproof layer: TPU

• Care instructions: Machine wash at 40°C; tumble dry

If you’re looking for an effective waterproof mattress protector without that plasticy, rustly feeling, this is the one. I was super impressed by this offering from Panda (we’ve also rated the brand’s pillows and duvets highly in the past) and was particularly taken with how thin and lightweight it is while also being super durable and easy to care for.

I tested this on my daughter’s single bed to see how it fared – it was discreet so she didn’t even notice it was there when I changed her bedding, and it fitted nice and snugly on top of her mattress. We had fun ‘spilling’ her water bottle on it to see whether it would sink through to the mattress, and amazingly, not a drop seeped through.

I liked the fact that it’s naturally hypoallergenic and antimicrobial thanks to its bamboo and cotton cover, so it’s gentle on her skin, and there were no complaints of it being noisy or too hot. It also comes in a cot size, so it’s great for toddlers, too.

While it’s not going to offer that luxurious feel, for an easy-to-care-for, everyday mattress protector that’s both affordable and waterproof, you can’t buy much better than this design from Panda.

Best for mattress protector for deep mattresses

• Sizes: Single; Double; King; Super King

• Materials: 100% pure cotton

• Care instructions: Machine wash at 30°C or 40°C using non-bio detergent; line dry or tumble dry low

For a great-quality mid-range mattress protector, you can’t say fairer than this offering from Scooms. It arrived in a nice cotton drawstring bag that’s handy for storage, and it immediately screams quality – there’s a thin quilted top, a nice thick border edge, and it has a feeling of durability and quality about it. Not only that, it’s Oeko-Tex 100 Standard certified and has a 200 thread count pure cotton cover, meaning it’s truly breathable and free from any harmful substances.

The real bonus of this mattress protector is its deep fit, allowing for a mattress depth of up to 40cm. While this was wasted slightly on my daughter’s mattress (which is only 15cm deep), the protector still fitted nicely, and it provided an additional layer of comfort to her firm mattress. She didn’t overheat, and I found it a breeze to wash and tumble dry quickly on bedding change-over day.

The only downside is it isn’t waterproof, and there are limited size options available, but otherwise it’s a great buy if you’re after a good-quality protector at a sensible price.

Best breathable mattress protector

• Sizes: Single; Small Double; Double; King; Super King; Emperor; Large Emperor; Euro Double; Euro King

• Materials: 100% traceable organic British wool; 100% unbleached 300 thread count organic cotton; 30-night sleep trial

• Care instructions: Machine wash on a wool/delicate cycle at 40°C using wool detergent; line dry

There’s a lot to love about this mattress protector – it’s cool, organic, luxurious and also Allergy UK approved. Not only that, even though it is made from wool, it’s also supremely washable, making it a great natural choice for children and grown-ups alike.

The protector came nicely packaged in its own cotton bag and felt silky, with a lovely quilted design that added that sumptuous feeling – it almost seemed a shame to cover it up. Each protector is crafted from 300 thread count unbleached GOTS organic cotton and certified organic British wool, and the quality shows.

It’s a particularly good choice for those who are looking to temper the heat of their memory foam mattresses; according to Woolroom, the protector will take away up to 70% of the heat given off, preventing you from overheating. I put this to the test on our Simba hybrid mattress, which I love but do sometimes find it’s on the warmer side, and I really did notice the difference with the protector on.

The protector fitted snugly around the mattress, as it should, with plenty of depth left on the skirt that would cater to deeper mattresses, and it didn’t shift around at all during testing. There was no rustle to speak of either, and it washed up well during our test, although it’s worth noting it can’t be tumble-dried and takes a bit longer to air-dry.

While it’s not waterproof, this is a fantastic all-arounder mattress that is great for those who want a natural, breathable option that’s also anti-allergy and cosy to sleep on. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and I’d say this protector is worth every penny.

Best anti-allergy protector

• Sizes: Single; Double; King; Super King

• Materials: 100% Polyester

• Care instructions: Machine wash at 40°C; tumble dry

If you’re an allergy sufferer looking for that extra level of protection, this anti-allergy mattress protector from The Fine Bedding Company should keep the sniffles at bay.

It aims to reduce exposure to the four most common allergens in bedding – dust mites, dog, cat and pollen with the help of some clever tech and ‘active probiotics’, which claim to “break down and consume inanimate allergens”.

Out of its bag, the mattress protector is super soft and has a nice quilted design that feels comfortable against the skin. While the skirt is a little flimsier than others, it’s super elasticated and makes it easy to put on the bed – it fitted well and wasn’t rustly at all, but it ran a little warmer than some and isn’t waterproof, although it would be fine for the odd spill.

However, what I did like was how super easy it was to maintain; it washed up easily on a quick 40°C and tumble dried fast, making it great for busy families, and packed away nice and neatly without taking up much space.

Perhaps one downside is that if you’re bound to wash it a lot, the effectiveness of the Allergy Defence tech wears off after 20 washes; however, for most, that should provide a long shelf-life, and for the money, it’s still great value.

Best 2-in-1 mattress protector

• Sizes: Single; Small Double; Double; King; Super King; Emperor

• Materials: Cover and skirt: cotton; Filling: hollow fibre

• Care instructions: Machine washable at 40°C; tumble dry low

This protector is a fab choice for younger family members, given it’s not only waterproof, but also combats allergens too. Don’t let the simple packaging fool you – both my daughter and I really loved the super-soft cotton cover, and when we tested its waterproof ability, not a drop soaked through to the mattress.

It perhaps didn’t fit quite as seamlessly on the single mattress as some of the protectors we tested, and it shifted around a bit after a few nights’ sleep; however, the skirt was a generous depth of 38cm. It was also a real bonus being able to quickly wash and tumble dry the protector so I could have it back on the bed the same day.

It’s certainly not as thick as some, but for a child-proof protector that’s easy to care for and affordable, this protector is a great all-rounder and ideal for children and grown-ups alike with allergies.

Best cooling mattress protector

• Sizes: Single; Double; King; Super King; Emperor

• Materials: 100% cotton cover with Outlast coating; cotton filling and skirt

• Care instructions: Wash on delicate cycle at 40°C; tumble dry low

If you’re regularly getting hot under the covers at night, this mattress protector can help keep you cool and comfortable with its special temperature-regulating coating – a technology developed by NASA, no less. I certainly had no problems overheating, and the cotton cover felt cool against the skin. Even without the fancy tech, this protector was exceedingly comfortable, with its thick quilted cotton cover providing a soft cushioned feel.

The quality is up there with the best too; there’s a nice, chunky border edge, detailed stitched quilted design and thick cotton skirt that make you feel confident of its durability and longevity. The protector is made on the slightly larger side to allow for any shrinkage, but even so, it fitted well, with no rustling or slipping to speak of.

Given its size and heavy quilted layer, it took a little longer to tumble dry than some, and the skirt isn’t as deep as some of the others at 30cm, but overall, this is a great-quality mattress protector that is pretty effective at keeping you cool and comfortable throughout the year.

Best luxury mattress protector

• Sizes: Single; Double; King; Small Super King; Super King; Emperor; Large Emperor

• Materials: 100% BCI cotton cover; 100% British wool filling

• Care instructions: Machine washable on a 30°C wool cycle using a wool care detergent. Remove promptly, gently reshape and line dry.

This British wool and cotton mattress protector is certainly a cut above with its super-thick quilted top and handcrafted finish.

It arrived in an embroidered cotton storage bag, and the protector is made using BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) cotton with a 260 thread count, making for a cosy and sumptuous night’s sleep. It was ultra comfortable and breathable, and I certainly didn’t overheat – I liked the extra padded feel of it too.

Even though the protector is a good fit and didn’t shift at all during testing, I had to wrestle with it a bit initially to get it on. The skirt is perhaps not quite as generous in depth as some of the others I tried, although it still did wrap sufficiently around my 28cm deep mattress.

It’ll take a bit more effort to maintain it if any spills occur; like the Woolroom design, it’ll need to be washed on a wool cycle with wool care detergent and line dried, which will take a while given the thickness of the protector.

Overall, if you’ve got the cash to splash and a luxurious sleep experience is your top priority, this protector will certainly meet expectations. Just be prepared for a little more upkeep, and check your mattress depth before you buy.