Best Pillow Protectors

Your pillow does more than provide a soft place to lay your head. It plays a critical role in enhancing your sleep quality by promoting healthy spinal alignment. After finding the best pillow for your needs, it’s natural to want to protect it from damage. Sweat, oils, makeup, dead skin, and dust mites can stain your pillow and degrade its performance over time. 

A pillow protector extends your pillow’s life by shielding it from wear and tear. It completely encases the pillow for comprehensive coverage. A zipper closure allows you to remove the protector to clean your pillow. Designed to fit beneath the pillowcase, pillow protectors generally do not change the feel of a pillow. 

We’ll take a closer look at the best pillow protectors on the market that fit a range of budgets and needs. We’ll also examine their construction and performance so you can choose the best pillow protectors for your sleep style.

Product Details

Best Overall

Brooklinen Pillow Protector

Who it’s best for:

• Hot sleepers
• People who prefer a long return window
• Value shoppers

Highlights:

• Sateen weave provides silky-smooth breathability
• Antimicrobial coating designed to resist bacteria, mold, and mildew
• Each order includes two pillow protectors

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For sleepers looking to extend the lifespan of their pillow, the Brooklinen Pillow Protector offers quality protection with an attractive design. Each protector is made of 500 thread count cotton that’s been treated with an antimicrobial coating, which is designed to minimize bacteria, mold, and mildew. Its tight, sateen weave makes a smooth, durable layer that protects your pillow from sweat, makeup, dead skin cells, and dust mites. 

The protector’s luxurious finish enhances the pillow’s feel inside the pillowcase for optimal comfort. Thanks to cotton’s natural breathability, it shouldn’t trap much heat within the pillow, keeping you cool throughout the night.

A low-profile side zipper closes securely around your pillow while enabling easy removal. Each protector is machine-washable and remains soft even after regular washing. For best results, Brooklinen recommends cleaning the protector every time you change your pillowcase.

The Brooklinen Pillow Protectors come in two packs. They are available in standard and king sizes. Orders are typically processed in one to four days. Brooklinen ships to addresses in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. The 365-day return policy allows you to try out the protectors and return them if necessary. Domestic returns are free, and refunds are issued to the original form of payment or as store credit. Each protector also comes with an additional one-year warranty.

Best Value

Parachute Cotton Pillow Protector

Who it’s best for:

• Sleepers who use feather pillows
• People concerned with allergens
• Budget-conscious shoppers

Highlights:

• Tightly woven cotton fabric stands up to quills in feather pillows
• Low-maintenance material is safe for washing machines
• Affordable price-point fits nearly any budget

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People looking for an affordable way to protect their pillows may want to consider the Parachute Cotton Pillow Protector. Made of 100% cotton, this protector features a tight weave to provide a barrier between the sleeper and their pillow. Not only can this help shield against allergens, but it can also prevent quills from poking out of a feather pillow.

Designed with accurate sizing in mind, each protector comfortably holds your pillow without being too tight or too loose. A nylon zipper closure keeps the pillow securely contained. The durable cotton sports a crisp yet soft feel that holds up well to repeated washing. For easy maintenance, simply unzip the protector, slip it off of your pillow, and toss it into the washing machine. Regular laundering can also help reduce allergens on the surface.

The Parachute Cotton Pillow Protector comes in standard and king sizes at a lower-than-average price-point. Each order comes with free standard shipping within the contiguous U.S. After purchasing, you have 60 days to return your pillow protector if you decide it’s not right for you. Return shipping is free within the contiguous U.S., and all refunds are issued to the original form of payment.

Best Luxury

Avocado Quilted Pillow Protector

Who it’s best for:

• People who prefer a luxurious sleep experience
• Eco-conscious consumers
• Sleepers looking for extra support

Highlights:

• Quilted design adds plush comfort and support
• GOTS-certified organic cotton
• Three size options

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The Avocado Quilted Pillow Protector offers exceptional comfort with a thick layer of 400 thread count, GOTS-certified organic cotton. It’s made in a GOTS-certified factory in Los Angeles that maintains organic standards for the materials and fair working conditions for the employees. The sateen weave gives the surface a buttery feel that is accentuated with diamond-shaped, quilted stitching. At the same time, the protector allows sufficient airflow to dissipate heat. 

This pillow protector adds an extra layer of support and structure to your pillow, so it may make an overly soft pillow feel a bit firmer. The hidden side zipper ensures a snug fit and a wrinkle-free surface for exceptional comfort. You can wash the protector in a machine using the delicate cycle and cold water. It’s important to note that this protector should not be put in a dryer. Instead, it should hang or lay flat to dry.

The Avocado Quilted Pillow Protector’s premium materials and construction come with a higher price tag that may not be suitable for people on a budget. However, its availability in standard, queen, and king sizes offers customers more options when shopping.

Each order incurs a small flat shipping rate. An additional charge applies to orders to Alaska or Hawaii. Shipping fees are non-refundable. The protector comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a one-year limited warranty. 

Softest

Peacock Alley Pillow Protector

Who it’s best for:

• People who enjoy soft, smooth pillow surface
• Sleepers who want to extend their pillow’s life expectancy
• Shoppers with standard or king size pillows

Highlights:

• Cotton in a sateen weave for an exceptionally smooth feel
• Precise fit doesn’t compress the pillow’s fill
• Machine-washable

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For sleepers who prefer their pillow to have a supremely soft feel, the Peacock Alley Pillow Protector may be a suitable option. Made of cotton, it features a sateen weave for a smooth finish that easily slides over your pillow and beneath a pillowcase. With a thread count of 400, the weave is tight enough to protect the pillow while limiting heat buildup. The protector’s tailored construction encases your pillow without compressing the fill, preserving the original loft and plushness. 

A side zipper is tastefully disguised by decorative piping for a clean, finished look. To clean, sleepers can simply unzip and remove the protector. Peacock Alley recommends machine-washing on the gentle cycle to maintain the fabric’s integrity. 

The Peacock Alley Pillow Protector is available in standard and king sizes. Orders ship to all 50 states and select international destinations. Rates vary. If you’re unhappy with your protector, you can return it within 30 days of receipt. Refunds are processed within 30 days to the original form of payment.

Best Temperature Regulating

The Company Store Cool Zzz Pillow Protector

Who it’s best for:

• Sleepers who tend to sleep hot
• Anyone prone to night sweats
• People who live in warm climates

Highlights:

• Contains COOLMAX fiber designed to wick away moisture for improved temperature regulation
• Machine-washable design minimizes workload
• Three size options

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Waking up in the middle of the night and trying to find a cool spot on your pillow isn’t conducive to good sleep. The Company Store attempts to remedy this with its Cool Zzz Pillow Protector engineered for temperature regulation. 

This protector contains 20% COOLMAX fibers. This type of polyester is designed to draw moisture away from the body to keep the sleeper cool and dry. The Cool Zzz Pillow Protector also includes 80% cotton to enhance its durability, breathability, and softness. In addition to being built for cooling, the Cool Zzz Pillow Protector also shields the pillow from sweat, oil, personal care products, and the resulting stains. 

A zipper closure helps hold the pillow in place. To refresh the surface, remove the pillow and wash the protector on the gentle cycle. 

The Cool Zzz Pillow Protector is available in standard, queen, and king sizes. It ships within the contiguous U.S. for a flat-rate charge. Orders over a certain amount ship free. Deliveries to Alaska, Hawaii, or U.S. territories incur an additional shipping charge. The Cool Zzz Pillow Protector comes with a 90-day trial period. If you are unsatisfied with the pillow protector, you can return it within that 90-day window for a full refund minus a small processing fee. 

Best Waterproof

Coop Home Goods Ultra-Tech Pillow Protector

Who it’s best for:

• Customers with children
• Shoppers looking for many size options
• Those prone to sweating or drooling

Highlights:

• Polyurethane membrane protects the pillow from liquids
• Six size options
• Machine-washable design for easy care

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Sleepers who sweat or drool may wake up to the uncomfortable sensation of a damp pillow. Coop Home Goods developed its Ultra-Tech Pillow Protector with a waterproof, polyurethane membrane to block liquids from soaking into your pillow and causing damage. As an added bonus, it can double as a pillowcase. 

The fabric is a blend of polyester and viscose rayon derived from bamboo. This combination makes the protector soft enough to use as a pillowcase. It is also breathable to help mitigate the heat buildup that’s common with waterproof pillow protectors. The Ultra-Tech Pillow Protector is also designed to be completely silent, whereas some waterproof sleep products tend to crinkle with movement. 

Coop Home Goods recommends machine-washing and drying the protector with the waterproof backing facing inward. Be sure to use low heat in the dryer to avoid damaging the membrane. 

In addition to the standard, queen, and king sizes, the Ultra-Tech Pillow Protector also comes in travel/toddler and body pillow sizes. 

All orders of the pillow protector receive free shipping within the contiguous U.S. They also come with a 100-night sleep trial during which you can place a return for a full refund. Refunds are processed within two business days after Coop Home receives the item and are issued to the original form of payment. In addition, your pillow comes with a five-year limited warranty.