Best mattress protectors 2025

The best mattress protectors offer an extra layer of defence for your bed and help to extend the life of your mattress.

Unlike mattress toppers, they’re not specifically designed to provide extra padding and support, but instead protect against stains, spills, dirt and grime.

We’ve assessed mattress protectors from Argos, Dunelm, Panda, Simba and more to determine which provide the best protection. We also test for comfort, how well they wash, and how easy they are to take on and off.

Our rigorous tests have revealed two Best Buys.

The best mattress protectors

Only logged-in Which? members can view the mattress protector test results below. 

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

The mattress protectors we tested

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best mattress protectors from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Dormeo Evercomfy Anti-Allergy Mattress Protector

Available from Dormeo (£24.99)

Sizes Single, double, king, super king

Composition Anti-allergenic microfibre

Need to know Machine washable

Fogarty Soft Touch Mattress Protector

Sizes Single, small double, double, king, super king, emperor (30cm and 35cm depth available) 

Composition Polyester cover, recycled polyester filling

Need to know Machine washable, tumble dry on a low heat setting

Ikea Luddros Mattress Protector

Available from Ikea (£10)

Sizes Single, double, king, super king 

Composition Polyester and cotton blend fabric cover, polyester filling

Need to know Machine washable at 60°C

John Lewis Natural Cotton Quilted Mattress Protector

Available from John Lewis (£39.50)

Sizes Small single, single, small double, double, king, super king

Composition Cotton cover, 98% cotton, 2% mixed fibres filling

Need to know Machine washable at 40°C

M&S Supremely Washable Mattress Protector

Sizes Single, small double, double, king, super king 

Composition Polyester microfiber

Need to know Wash at 40°C, tumble dry at low temperature

In the market for a new mattress too? See our mattress reviews

Panda Bamboo Mattress Protector

Sizes Single, double, king, super king

Composition 70% bamboo rayon, 30% cotton primary layer, polyester skirt, TPU inner waterproof layer

Need to know Wash at up to 50°C, hang dry

Silentnight Bounceback Mattress Protector 

Available from Argos (£18)

Sizes Single, small double, double, king, super king

Composition Polyester microfibre cover, polyester hollowfibre filling

Need to know Machine washable, suitable for tumble drying

Simba Performance Mattress Protector

Sizes Single, small double, double, king, super king, EU single, EU double, EU queen

Composition Cotton, anti-allergy treatment

Need to know Machine washable

Soak & Sleep Quilted Cotton Double Mattress Protector

Available from Soak & Sleep (£34)

Sizes Single, double, king, super king

Composition Cotton casing top, polyester casing bottom, cotton filling

Need to know Machine washable at 40°C or 30°C

Desperate for a new duvet? Check out our best duvet reviews

How we test mattress protectors

We shortlist the most popular mattress protectors from UK retailers and put them through a series of tests to assess protectiveness, comfort, noise, ease of use and washing.

We test double mattress protectors because a double is the UK's most popular size of bed. But all the protectors are available in numerous sizes.

We regularly revisit the mattress protectors on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them, we do.

Spill and stain protection

We layer kitchen roll on top of a mattress and put each protector on top. We then spill a glass of water over it and see how much soaks through to the layer underneath. We repeat the process with a mug of coffee. The best protectors stop a single drop getting through, while the worst barely catch any liquid.

Comfort and noise

A panel of testers lie on each protector and rate how comfortable it is. We then rate how noisy each one is to roll around on, finding out which ones are more likely to disturb your (or your partner's) sleep.

Ease of taking on and off

The best mattress protectors have stretchy corners and are very straightforward to take on and off. The worst bunch up at the sides or require you to lift up each mattress corner, which may be tricky for a person to do on their own.

Washing

We wash each protector once to see how easily the coffee stain comes out. Some protectors are spotless afterwards, others remain stained.

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

What’s the difference between a mattress protector and a mattress topper?

A mattress protector is a piece of bedding that sits on top of your mattress beneath your fitted sheet, giving an extra layer of protection. It's designed to extend the life of the mattress by protecting it from stains, spills, dirt, mites and grime - and some also have anti-allergy properties. However, it will not extend the life of a bad mattress by stopping it sagging or going soft. While they aren't always designed for comfort, some are padded with comfort in mind.

Mattress toppers aren't designed to extend the life of a mattress, but they will help change the comfort, making it feel softer or firmer, and can help pressure distribution too. They're much thicker and more padded than protectors.

We'd expect a mattress to last 8-10 years. While a protector will help to stop it from getting ruined earlier than expected and a topper can help change the feel, neither will help if the mattress sags or starts to soften with age. If that happens, it's time to invest in a new mattress. Take a look at our mattress reviews - we have Best Buys costing less than £150.

Need a mattress topper instead? Read our mattress topper reviews

Are mattress protectors waterproof?

Some mattress protectors are fully waterproof, protecting entirely against spills, sweat and bedwetting. Others are only water resistant, so they may not offer 100% protection. There are also mattress protectors that aren't marketed as waterproof or water resistant, but still offer some protection against spills and stains.

If you need total protection, a waterproof mattress protector is your best bet. But the material they're made from often makes them noisier than other cotton or synthetic protectors.

Can mattress protectors stop bed bugs?

Mattress protectors can help to create a barrier that prevents bed bugs from getting onto the mattress itself. This can make protectors a useful part of a wider preventative approach that includes good hygiene and regular bedding washing to reduce the risk of an outbreak in the first place.

That said, using a mattress protector alone is unlikely to be enough to stop or eradicate an infestation. Our detailed guide gives more information if you suspect a bedbug outbreak.

In the market for a new mattress? See our mattress reviews