The best argument for a mattress protector has nothing to do with comfort. Every mattress sold with a home trial in Australia goes to a charity or a recycler when it comes back, which means it has to arrive in a state someone else will take. One spill ends that. The same mark ends a warranty claim years later, because sagging is assessed on a mattress in reasonable condition.
A protector is the cheapest insurance against both, and the cheapest one here does the job for about $20.
The specification that decides whether one fits is the skirt depth, which is how far down the sides it reaches. Mattresses have got deeper, and a protector built for a 25cm mattress will not stay on a 35cm one. Prices, ratings and skirt depths were read off the retailers' listings on 22 September 2026.
1. Temple & Webster Waterproof Bamboo Terry Mattress Protector
The highest-rated protector here and by a distance the cheapest, from around $20 for a king single up to about $35 for a king. Temple & Webster owners rate it 4.8, from more than 500 reviews.
It is a bamboo-blend terry top over a waterproof backing, which is the construction most protectors use. Terry has an advantage over a smooth membrane in that it absorbs rather than pools, so a spill does not run off the side while you find a towel. Owners who mention the fit are generally commenting on the depth of the sides.
What We Like:
- From around $20
- Rated 4.8 by Temple & Webster owners
- Terry absorbs instead of pooling
- Machine washable
What We Don't Like:
- Terry adds a texture you can feel through a thin sheet
2. Aldrin Home Raleigh Quilted Waterproof Cotton Protector
A quilted cotton top rather than terry, for anyone who can feel the difference through a sheet. It runs from around $58 to $78 depending on size, and the quilting adds a thin layer of padding that a plain protector does not have.
The rating is 5.0 at Temple & Webster, but from nine reviews, which is a small enough sample that it says less than the number suggests. The construction and the fibre content are the better guide here.
What We Like:
- Quilted cotton top, no terry texture
- Adds a little padding
- Hypoallergenic
- Five sizes
What We Don't Like:
- Three times the price of the terry protector above
3. Koala Deep Fit Great Barrier Mattress Protector
The answer to a mattress the other protectors will not stay on. Koala build this one to a 30cm depth that stretches to 37cm, which covers the pillow-top and hybrid mattresses that have pushed past what a standard fitted skirt handles. It costs $195 and is rated 4.6 by Koala owners.
Read the wording on this one. Koala describe it as water-resistant with a polyurethane barrier, not waterproof, which is a lower claim than the Emma protector below makes. For sweat, a spilled drink or a pet, resistant is enough. For a child who wets the bed, it is not the same promise.
What We Like:
- Fits 30cm and stretches to 37cm
- 120 day trial
- Rated 4.6 by Koala owners
- TENCEL lyocell top
What We Don't Like:
- Water-resistant rather than fully waterproof
4. Ecosa Waterproof Mattress Protector
The deepest fit here. Ecosa's protector fits mattresses up to 40cm across every size, which is deeper than the Koala reaches even stretched, and it uses a 350gsm bamboo and polyester top on a polyester mesh skirt.
It runs from around $170 for a single to $220 for a super king, with a lower member price, and carries a one-year warranty. Ecosa includes one free with a mattress purchase, so it is worth checking what is already in the order before buying one separately.
What We Like:
- Fits mattresses up to 40cm deep
- 350gsm bamboo blend top
- Often included free with an Ecosa mattress
What We Don't Like:
- One year of warranty cover, against ten on the mattresses it sits on
5. Emma Mattress Protector
The only one here that claims to be 100% waterproof and spill-proof rather than resistant, using a polyurethane layer under a 3D-knitted polyester face. That is the claim to look for if the protector is going on a child's bed.
It is also the most expensive by a wide margin at around $229, and it washes at a maximum of 40°C, which is below the 60°C often recommended for bedding where dust mites are the concern.
What We Like:
- Claims fully waterproof, not water-resistant
- 3D-knitted surface, no crinkle
- Five sizes
What We Don't Like:
- Washes at 40°C maximum
Measure the mattress before buying anything
Skirt depth is the reason most protectors get returned, and it is the easiest thing to get right.
Measure the mattress from the top surface to the base, then buy a protector rated for at least that. The ones here cover most of the range: a standard fitted skirt suits mattresses to about 25cm, the Koala fits 30cm and stretches to 37cm, and the Ecosa goes to 40cm. A protector that is too shallow works loose at the corners within a week, and one that is far too deep bunches underneath.
Depth has drifted upwards as pillow-tops and hybrids have replaced plain foam, so a protector that fitted the last mattress is not a safe guide to the next one.
"Waterproof" and "water-resistant" are different claims
Brands use both words and they are not interchangeable.
Emma's protector is sold as 100% waterproof and spill-proof. Koala's is sold as water-resistant with a barrier that protects against spills and pet accidents. For sweat and the occasional glass of water, either is enough. For a child in the bedwetting years, or anyone managing incontinence, the stronger claim is the one that matters, and it is worth reading the product page rather than the heading it sits under.
Every waterproof layer traps some heat, because the thing that stops liquid getting through also slows air moving. Terry and bamboo tops manage it better than a smooth plastic film, which is most of the reason the cheap terry protector rates as well as it does.
Washing is what kills them
A protector's waterproof layer degrades with heat and with fabric softener, which coats the fibres and stops them absorbing.
Emma's washes at 40°C maximum, and most of the others sit in the same range. That is a genuine conflict with dust-mite advice, which favours hotter washes, and there is no way around it other than washing more often at the lower temperature. Skip the softener, and tumble dry low or not at all.
What the protector is really insuring
A mattress trial is only useful while the mattress is returnable, and every brand's terms exclude stains, marks and odours. The terms are compared brand by brand in mattress trials and warranties.
For the layer that changes how the bed feels rather than how long it lasts, see mattress toppers.
