The Best Anti-Bedbug Mattress, Box-Spring, and Pillow Covers

Whatwe’relookingfor

Mattress fit:6- to 18-inch mattress depths |Fabric:Waterproof cotton |Zipper and seams:Velcrozipper guard

SafeRest’s cotton mattress encasement is my top choice because it fits all my criteria at a reasonable price. It’s breathable, machine-washable, waterproof, and features a well-designed zipper guard that blocks bedbugs, dust mites, and allergens. Plus, it’s available in an impressive array of sizes (from crib to California King and all the way up to 18 inches deep), which is integral to finding the encasement that best fits your mattress. Though Wong notes that buying a bedbug mattress encasement is mostly a matter of personal preference and budget, he says, “SafeRest has the best reviews from our clients and technicians who often help install them for clients.”

During the six months that I slept on the SafeRest encasement, I found that I always forgot about the cover until I wasswitching my sheets. This is largely thanks to the encasement’s terry-cotton top layer that blends seamlessly (and soundlessly) with my sheets, whether they’re sateen, bamboo, orlinen. When it’s time to strip my bed, I examine the encasement’s zipper area for signs of an infestation (see:black penlike stipple). With everything clear, I’ll make my bed up as I normally would until the next time. As Scaravella says, when it comes to these covers, you want to “set and forget,” and the SafeRest makes that possible.

As for thesetaspect of “set and forget,” I’ve found the encasement is easier to put on a lighter mattress. When I first received the cover, I was sleeping on an all-foam Zinus mattress that was lightweight enough that I could easily encase it by myself in just ten minutes. But when I went to put the encasement on my new mattress — a heavier hybrid — I needed my partner’s help to lift the mattress while I shimmied the encasement under it. With twice the manpower, though, the process was quick and took only about five minutes.

Mattress fit:Up to 12-inch mattress depth |Fabric:Waterproof polyester |Zipper and seams:Normal zipper, 10-year warranty

For a less expensive alternative, consider Linenspa’s mattress cover, which is made from breathable, waterproof, and machine-washable polyester that fits mattresses up to 12 inches high. While polyester isn’t as soft as cotton, Kane does suggest going for polyester, because he says the material is stretchy and less likely to tear.NYC Bed Bug Inspectionsowner John H. Brickman first recommended the Linenspa to us and says, “I always recommend Linenspa; it’s cheap, and it’s great quality.” This encasement doesn’t include any extra innovations like a reinforced zipper, but the workmanship is solid. Like my favorite option above, Linenspa’s encasements also protect mattresses from bedbugs, dust mites, and allergens.

Mattress fit:Up to 14-inch mattress depth |Fabric:Waterproof cotton |Zipper and seams:Velcrozipper guard

Speaking of allergens: Here’s a machine-washable and waterproof mattress encasement that will protect you and your mattress from bedbugs while also fighting mold, mildew, pollen, and dust mites. It’s adult sleep consultantKelly Murray’s number-one recommendation for bedbug protection and getting a comfortable night’s rest because it’s woven from cotton and won’t make any disruptive swishy noises. She adds, “It allows for breathability, and because of the weave and hypoallergenic finish, it protects against allergens and bedbugs.” As for its bedbug protection, that’s pretty good too: It includes a Velcro zipper guard similar to the SafeRest encasement above that’ll act as an extra barrier to any pesky critters.

Mattress fit:Up to 20-inch mattress depth |Fabric:Waterproofcotton terry |Zipper and seams:Velcro zipper guard, 10-year warranty

As a hot sleeper who shares a bed with my partner (who sleeps even hotter than I do), my cooling-bed setup already includesbreathable pajamas, a powerfulwindow air conditioner, and acooling mattress. With a 100 percent cotton-terry top that’ll help wick moisture away from sweaty sheets, SureGuard’s mattress encasement has functioned simply as an imperceptible addition to my already breathable setup during the eight months I’ve been testing it. (Not to mention that its Velcro zipper guard offers a final barrier of protection against pests.) Like our Best in Class pick from SafeGuard above, it’s possible to put on this encasement by yourself, but an extra set of hands speeds up the process.

It also comes recommended by sleep coach Seth Davis, the founder of the sleep-coaching companySleepably, who works with a lot of hot sleepers and finds that the SureGuard offers optimal temperature control and holds up well with time. When Davis evaluates mattress products, he goes by a strict set of criteria, weighing “whether they introduce potential sleep disruptors such as noise, elevated body temperature, uncomfortable texture, or poor fit on the bed.” Being “both comfortable and nondisruptive,” he says, this protector is “a winner in my book.”

Mattress fit:Crib and porta-crib sizing |Fabric:Waterproof polyester |Zipper and seams:Tight, waterproof zipper

While all the mattress encasements I recommended are waterproof, this characteristic is more important when protecting crib-size mattresses. With this in mind, this encasement is waterproof on all sides and can be machine-washed as long as you follow the washing instructions (warm water and tumble-dry low). Like many of the options above, this encasement includes a Velcro zipper guard, so you can reuse your crib-size mattress for generations to come. It’ll fit crib mattresses up to seven inches deep and porta-crib mattresses up to four inches deep.

Mattress fit:6- to 12-inch box-spring depth |Fabric:Waterproof polyester |Zipper and seams:10-year warranty

If you have a box spring, you’ll want to protect that too because bedbugs love the unfinished wood that’s typically found in box springs. (In fact, Wong says that in different languages, the critters are actually called wood bugs). “There’s always going to be nooks and crannies that these bugs can find to still get what they want,” says Scaravella, so if the bedbugs aren’t in your mattress or box spring, he says they could hide in yournightstandorbed frame. But, he adds, the box-spring encasement “just cuts off some of the more easy hiding places. The more you can cut off, the better.” Unlike the mattress encasements, the material of your box-spring encasement isn’t as important because you won’t be sleeping directly on it. That’s why I chose the more affordable polyester Linenspa box-spring encasement over other options — it’s a great price and will zip closed. It’s also Brickman’s pick because it protects against dust mites, allergens, and liquids, as well as bedbugs.

Fit:21 x 27 inches |Fabric:Waterproof cotton terry |Zipper and seams:Micro-zipper

While a bedbug pillow encasement isn’t as important as the mattress and box-spring encasements, you should consider buying one if you have a pricierpillowor just want to be extra vigilant. It’s important to remember that encasements are a precautionary measure that help with early detection and protect your sleep gear in the event of an infestation. This means that if you don’t mind throwing out your pillow if you get bedbugs, you probably don’t need to encase it because pillows typically offer the blank, white surface you need for early bedbug detection. But if this isn’t you, I’d recommend this 100 percent cotton pillow protector from the maker of my favorite bedbug mattress encasement. It’s breathable and waterproof, and like you’d cover a mattress encasement withsheets, you’ll want to cover a pillow encasement with apillowcase.

During the two weeks that I tested the pillow encasement, I found that it was thin enough to fit under my pillowcase and easy to zip on. I typically sleep with two pillows and often forgot which one I had encased. This imperceptibility comes from the encasement’s material — the same terry cotton as the SafeRest mattress encasement above — and prevents any rubbing noises as you shift in your sleep.