The idea is to prevent premature wear and tear of your pillow while creating a barrier against moisture, stains, dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens. There are lots of cooling options, too, and some even go so far as to keep bed bugs away. Our top pick is the Avocado Organic Quilted Pillow Protector, which is a soft, breathable, and hypoallergenic option. To help you narrow down your options, we rounded up the best pillow protectors for every budget below. This discrete encasement is designed to go over your pillow and under your pillowcase. Thanks to the hidden zipper and white fabric, it won’t show through. We also like that it comes in three sizes and holds various certifications, including GOTS, Made Safe, Greenguard Gold, and Oeko-Tex. This product is soft, breathable, hypoallergenic, durable, and even machine-washable—what’s not to love? It has a zipper closure on one side and is conveniently machine-washable. We also appreciate that the Cotton Pillow Protector comes in four sizes, including Euro to fit square decorative pillows. Woven from 100 percent cotton, it flaunts a super-smooth sateen weave, zipper closures, and a snug fit—extra points for the lifetime manufacturer warranty. Unlike other waterproof designs, this pillow protector is guaranteed quiet—no crinkly, rustling noises when you move around. It’s also hypoallergenic, breathable, and supremely soft. Available in three sizes, this white encasement features a luxurious sateen finish and a side zipper closure. You can count on protection from stains, dust mites, and general wear and tear. In addition to helping regulate your body temperature, a thermoplastic lining keeps sweat stains and spills off your pillow. Thanks to a multi-layer microporous barrier, triple-seal closure, and ultrasonically sealed seams, it also blocks dust mites, pollen, and pet dander while keeping moisture out. We appreciate that this waterproof pillow protector is machine-washable and non-crinkly. The dense fabric is designed to safeguard your pillow from sweat, oil, makeup, and spills. Available in packs of two, the encasements also provide natural protection from dust mites while extending the life of your pillow. However, water-resistant and waterproof protectors typically feature some sort of polyethylene membrane or outer shell. The thermoplastic polymer offers excellent protection from spills, sweat, oil, makeup, and other substances that may stain a pillow.
Size
Many protectors come in standard, queen, and king sizes to accommodate different sizes of bed pillows. However, some only offer standard and king. While queen pillows are a few inches longer than standards, the idea is that they’re close enough to fit the same cases. You might also see additional sizes, such as Euro (for square throw pillows) and body (for body pillows).
Temperature Regulation
Some encasements are designed to help regulate your body temperature while you sleep by way of cooling, breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics. Cotton and bamboo tend to be best for this, and lower thread counts will allow more air to pass through. While there are some exceptions, pillow protectors with polyethylene layers generally won’t be as breathable.
Certifications
We also suggest looking out for various certifications, which can verify the quality of the textile and ensure it’s produced ethically or sustainably. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certifies organic bedding, and the Standard 100 certification by Oeko-Tex confirms a material is free of harmful substances. Similarly, the Made Safe seal tells you a product was created only with safe ingredients and is free of chemicals that could harm your health. Certified Fair Trade bedding is made by farmers, artisans, or production workers who are treated ethically and paid a fair wage. Products certified as Asthma & Allergy Friendly by the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA) should do a sufficient job of keeping allergens out. Then there’s Greenguard Gold, which ensures a fabric won’t pollute indoor air, though it’s not as common for textiles.
What is a pillow protector?
A pillow protector is similar to a mattress protector or mattress pad in that it safeguards the insert from various substances while extending its lifespan. They’re typically made of cotton or bamboo and may feature a polyurethane layer for extra moisture resistance. People often use them as allergen barriers because they can help keep dust mites, pet dander, and pollen out of your pillow. This type of encasement usually has a zipper closure and might feature specially sealed seams to keep liquids and bed bugs out.
Do pillow protectors help with allergies?
According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA), certain pillow protectors can help keep symptoms at bay. The organization says the fabric should be breathable but also densely woven to keep dust mites, pollen, and various other allergens from passing through. Having said that, one of the reasons an encasement can be helpful is that you can wash it often to remove irritants from the surface.
Are pillow protectors hot to sleep on?
Some pillow protectors aren’t as breathable as others, and breathability is key to preventing night sweats and overheating while you sleep. If you tend to run hot, look for a 100 percent cotton or bamboo lyocell pillow protector. Encasements with water-resistant membranes are more prone to trapping heat. However, many brands have managed to make them plenty breathable while keeping moisture out.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in textiles, home design, and lifestyle. For this piece, she researched all aspects of pillow protectors, including the various types, materials, features, and certifications. She considered dozens of encasements from myriad brands and retailers, ultimately selecting products that held multiple critical qualities (breathability, organically grown fabric, water resistance, allergy protection, etc.). Theresa has been contributing to The Spruce since 2019, where she writes full reviews of home-tested products and “Best of” roundups.
