Last updated: August 2026 · Specifications checked against current manufacturer information
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A bed bug mattress encasement can look deceptively simple. It is essentially a fabric cover with a zipper. But that zipper, the fit and the durability of the cover matter far more than any decorative feature on the packaging.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends encasing both mattresses and box springs when dealing with bed bugs. It also advises choosing an encasement that has been tested against bed bugs and can stay intact for a full year. That last point matters more than most buyers realise.
A regular mattress protector is not the same thing as a bed bug encasement. A protector may cover only the sleeping surface. An encasement surrounds the entire mattress and closes with a zipper.
For this guide we compared five popular options using published manufacturer specifications, focusing on full coverage, zipper design, fit, bed bug claims, durability, waterproofing and value.
We did not laboratory-test these encasements ourselves. Every performance claim below is attributed to the manufacturer that makes it, rather than presented as our own finding. Where a company publishes independent testing information, we say so. Where it does not, we say that too, because the difference matters when you are dealing with an active infestation.
A mattress encasement is one of the cheapest things you can buy during a bed bug problem, and one of the easiest to buy wrong. Marketing language does most of the work in this category: “premium,” “hypoallergenic,” “luxury.” None of those words tell you whether bed bugs can get through the zipper.
What actually matters is narrow and testable. Does it cover all six sides? Does the zipper seal completely when closed? Is there evidence behind the bed bug claim? Does it fit the depth of your mattress? Will it survive a year without tearing?
Below are five encasements measured against those five questions, followed by the parts most buyers get wrong: what an encasement can and cannot do, whether you need to cover the box spring, and how long it has to stay on.
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Zipper system | Bed bug protection | Waterproof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protect-A-Bed AllerZip Best overall |
Active infestations | Specialized locking zipper | Tested bed bug protection | Yes |
| Mattress Safe Sofcover Ultimate Best secure closure |
Rentals & recurring problems | Zipper with the Hook | Bed Bug Certified | Yes |
| SureGuard Best for deep mattresses |
Thick mattresses | Invisi-Zip + SureSeal | Bed bug-proof design | Yes |
| CleanRest PRO Best fit & breathability |
Fit & sleeping comfort | Zip-N-Click | Independently lab-tested | Top only |
| Utopia Bedding Best budget |
Prevention & lower budgets | Standard zippered closure | Manufacturer claim | Yes |
What a bed bug mattress encasement actually does
A true encasement completely surrounds the mattress. The University of Minnesota Extension describes it as a fabric covering that fits around a mattress or box spring and closes with a zipper.
It works in two different situations. On a mattress that is already clear of bed bugs, it removes the interior as a hiding place. On an infested mattress, it traps the bugs already inside, and they stay trapped for as long as the cover remains intact.
Bed bugs do not live only inside mattresses. They hide in the bed frame, the headboard, nearby furniture and cracks around where people sleep. Covering the mattress does nothing about any of that. Treat an encasement as one component of a control strategy, never as the strategy itself. If you already have an infestation, our bed bug treatment cost guide covers what heat and chemical treatment actually run.
What to look for
1. Full six-sided coverage
A fitted mattress protector is not enough. The encasement has to surround the top, the bottom and all four sides. That is what creates a barrier rather than a covered sleeping surface.
2. A secure zipper closure
This is the part that fails. EPA guidance says bed bug encasements should have zippers that seal completely. Manufacturers solve it differently — some use locking mechanisms, others design a special end closure — but when the zipper is fully shut there should be no visible opening at the end of the track.
3. Evidence behind the bed bug claim
Look past the words “bed bug proof.” You want information about testing, certification, or the specific design that prevents entry and escape. The EPA recommends buying products that have been tested against bed bugs, which is a meaningfully higher bar than a claim on the packaging.
4. Correct mattress depth
Measure before ordering, and measure all three dimensions. Length and width are not enough. An encasement that is too small puts constant stress on the zipper and seams; one that is too loose creates folds and installs badly.
5. Durable construction
EPA guidance is to keep the encasement in place for a year, so a thin cover that tears during installation has already failed. Durability matters far more during an active infestation than it does for ordinary mattress protection.
BEST OVERALL 1. Protect-A-Bed AllerZip
Best for: An established, bed bug-specific encasement with a specialized closure.
AllerZip takes the top position because its design targets the things that actually matter for containment rather than the things that sell covers. Protect-A-Bed states that it provides six-sided mattress protection and has been scientifically tested for bed bug protection.
The company also describes a specialized zipper locking system intended to stop bed bugs entering or escaping once the cover is closed. That is a more meaningful specification than “zippered closure,” which describes almost every product in this category.
It is waterproof, using polyester with a polyurethane laminate according to current product information. Protect-A-Bed lists a ten-year warranty against faulty workmanship for the original purchaser, though warranty terms change and carry exclusions, so read the current terms before ordering.
What we like
- Complete coverage paired with a bed bug-specific zipper design
- Manufacturer publishes more detail than most generic sellers
- Waterproof laminate construction
- Long stated warranty for the original purchaser
What we don’t
- Not the cheapest way to cover a mattress
- Overkill if you only want spill protection
- You still need a separate box spring encasement
Check the current price before ordering — it moves often.
Check price on AmazonBEST CLOSURE 2. Mattress Safe Sofcover Ultimate
Best for: Anyone whose real worry is the zipper working itself open.
Mattress Safe attacks the zipper problem from a different angle. The Sofcover Ultimate uses the company’s patented Zipper with the Hook system, and according to the manufacturer a sewn-in loop and zip tie are included to create a tamper-resistant closure.
That combination is worth paying attention to in rentals, multi-unit housing, dorms, or anywhere the encasement might get disturbed by someone other than you. Mattress Safe describes the Sofcover Ultimate as Bed Bug Certified and impermeable to bed bugs and dust mites, and it is waterproof on all sides.
Mattress Safe specifically tells buyers to measure both before ordering, and the advice applies to every product on this page. Box springs frequently have a different depth from the mattress sitting on them, which is how people end up with one cover that fits and one that does not.
What we like
- A second physical mechanism securing the zipper, not just fine teeth
- Genuinely useful for rentals and shared housing
- Multiple sizes and mattress-depth options
- Waterproof on all six sides
What we don’t
- The zip tie makes routine removal deliberately inconvenient
- Sizing requires more measuring than average
- Less widely stocked than the bigger consumer brands
Check the current price and confirm your size is in stock.
Check price on AmazonDEEP MATTRESSES 3. SureGuard Mattress Encasement
Best for: Thick mattresses, and anyone who wants to pick a depth rather than accept one.
SureGuard is the most interesting option here for a practical reason: the company sells the encasement in several depth ranges. Depending on availability, that includes roughly 6–8, 9–12, 13–16 and 17–20 inches.
That matters more than it sounds. A 19-inch pillow-top and a 10-inch foam mattress should not be wearing the same cover, and one-size-fits-many designs handle the extremes badly at both ends.
The manufacturer describes its closure as a super-fine zipper using Invisi-Zip and SureSeal technology, and says the system completely seals the mattress against bed bugs. Protection is six-sided and waterproof. SureGuard also recommends pairing the mattress encasement with a box spring encasement, which lines up with EPA guidance.
What we like
- Four depth ranges instead of one generic deep pocket
- Zipper system marketed specifically for bed bugs, not general protection
- Six-sided waterproof coverage
- Manufacturer points you toward covering the box spring as well
What we don’t
- Availability varies by size and depth combination
- You have to measure depth accurately or the advantage disappears
- Two covers means roughly double the spend
Confirm your exact size and depth combination is available.
Check price on AmazonFIT & COMFORT 4. CleanRest PRO
Best for: Buyers who want tested protection without sleeping on a sealed plastic bag.
CleanRest PRO has the most technically interesting design in this comparison. Its headline feature is the patented Zip-N-Click closure, which according to CleanRest protects the zipper pull area and prevents bed bugs escaping through the closure.
More useful than the patent, though, is that CleanRest publishes testing information. The manufacturer states the PRO encasement is independently lab-tested against bed bug entry, escape and bites, and publishes separate escape-proof test information for the Zip-N-Click closure specifically. Very few brands in this category go that far.
Fit is the other advantage. The PRO uses stretch sides and a stretch bottom. Twin and Twin XL accommodate roughly 7 to 15 inch mattresses; Full, Queen, King, California King and Hotel King cover roughly 9 to 18 inches. The top is waterproof while the sides and bottom stay air permeable, which is a deliberate trade of total waterproofing for breathability.
The company sells several encasement lines and the specifications are not identical across them. Waterproofing, sizing and warranty terms differ by product and by sales channel. Confirm the Amazon listing matches the PRO before ordering.
What we like
- Published independent testing, not just a manufacturer claim
- Stretch construction makes correct sizing far more forgiving
- Breathable sides and bottom sleep cooler than full laminate
- Unusually detailed public information on materials and fit
What we don’t
- Only the top is waterproof, so no six-sided liquid protection
- Easy to buy the wrong model from the product line
- Depth ranges are broad rather than precise
Verify the listing is the PRO model before you order.
Check price on AmazonBEST BUDGET 5. Utopia Bedding
Best for: Prevention, spare rooms, and covering several beds at once.
Not every situation calls for a specialist product. Utopia Bedding sells a simpler six-sided zippered design and sits well below the pest-control brands on price.
According to Utopia Bedding, the encasement provides 360-degree protection and is bed bug proof and dust mite proof. The company lists waterproof TPU backing on all sides, stretchable knitted polyester construction, and machine washability. On paper that covers most of the basic feature list.
This is the honest distinction. For a confirmed infestation we prefer products whose makers publish something concrete about the zipper system or independent bed bug testing. Utopia may well work, but we found less supporting technical information than we found for the higher-ranked picks — and that gap matters most precisely when failure is expensive.
What we like
- Cheap enough to cover a whole house
- Six-sided design with waterproof TPU backing
- Machine washable
- Sensible choice for prevention or a guest room
What we don’t
- Standard zipper with no specialized locking mechanism
- Bed bug claim rests on the manufacturer alone
- Not what we would choose for an active infestation
The lowest-cost pick on this page.
Check price on AmazonWhich one should you buy?
It depends entirely on why you are buying.
For a confirmed infestation, we favour Protect-A-Bed AllerZip for its bed bug-specific construction and published testing claims. Choose Mattress Safe instead when closure security is the thing keeping you up — rentals, shared housing, anywhere the cover might get tampered with. Choose SureGuard if your mattress is unusually thick and a precise depth range matters. Choose CleanRest PRO if you want published independent testing and can trade six-sided waterproofing for breathability. Utopia Bedding makes sense when price is the deciding factor.
One caveat on that last one: price should not be the deciding factor during an active infestation. Replacing a failed $20 encasement with a better one two months later rarely saves anyone money.
If you are still deciding between handling this yourself and hiring someone, work out the numbers first. Our bed bug treatment cost guide breaks down heat versus chemical pricing by room and home size, and our guide to reading a pest control quote covers the add-ons that inflate bed bug estimates. Bed bugs are one of the few problems where DIY consistently costs more than calling a professional.
Do you need to encase the box spring too?
Yes, if you are using encasements as part of bed bug control. EPA guidance specifically recommends covering both the mattress and the box spring, and the University of Minnesota Extension says the same.
The reason is structural. A box spring is full of seams, fabric, joints and protected voids — it is a better hiding place than the mattress in many cases. Covering only the mattress leaves the larger half of the problem exposed.
Several manufacturers sell dedicated box spring encasements. Check the dimensions separately, because the depth is frequently different from your mattress.
How long should the encasement stay on?
At least one year. That is the clearest official recommendation: the EPA tells consumers to leave bed bug mattress and box spring encasements in place for a year, and to choose a product durable enough to survive that period without tearing.
Do not remove it just because you have stopped seeing bugs. If a pest management professional is treating your home, follow their instructions on timing. And if you want to leave an intact encasement on longer for ordinary mattress protection, there is no reason not to.
How to install one correctly
Installation matters nearly as much as the product does.
Measure first and write down width, length and depth. Inspect the bed frame for sharp edges or exposed staples that could tear the fabric. Slide the encasement on without dragging on the zipper or seams — heavy mattresses are a two-person job, and most tears happen here.
Close the zipper completely, then check the end of the track and confirm the manufacturer’s closure mechanism is seated properly. Finally, run your hands over the whole cover looking for tears. If it does get damaged, follow the manufacturer’s repair or replacement instructions rather than taping it.
Can you wash it?
Usually, but follow the instructions for your specific product. There is no universal rule here. Materials, waterproof membranes, zipper systems and safe dryer temperatures all vary between manufacturers, and some waterproof membranes are ruined by bleach or high heat.
Read the care label. And during an active infestation, avoid removing the encasement at all unless the manufacturer or your pest professional tells you to.
Encasement vs. mattress protector
These two get confused constantly, and the confusion costs people money.
A mattress protector usually fits over the mattress like a fitted sheet, and exists to handle spills, sweat, stains or allergens. A mattress encasement surrounds the mattress completely and zips shut. For bed bug control you need the second one.
Look for six-sided coverage, a complete zipper closure, bed bug-specific testing or design information, the correct depth, and durable seams. A label reading “waterproof mattress protector” does not mean bed bug encasement.
Can an encasement get rid of bed bugs on its own?
No. This is the most important limitation on this page.
An encasement traps whatever is already inside the mattress or box spring, and removes both as future hiding places. It does nothing about bed bugs in the frame, the headboard, the nightstand or the baseboards. The EPA recommends an integrated approach rather than reliance on any single method, and that recommendation exists because single methods keep failing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bed bug mattress encasement?
Our overall pick is Protect-A-Bed AllerZip, because its published specifications emphasise six-sided protection, bed bug testing and a specialized zipper closure. The right answer for you depends on mattress depth, budget, and whether the infestation is active or hypothetical.
Does a mattress encasement kill bed bugs?
Not on contact. An intact encasement traps bed bugs already inside the mattress or box spring. The EPA notes that trapped bed bugs eventually die while the cover prevents others from hiding inside.
How long should a bed bug encasement stay on?
The EPA recommends one year, and the cover has to remain intact for that whole period. A tear resets the clock.
Should I encase the box spring as well as the mattress?
Yes. EPA guidance specifically recommends covering both. The box spring often provides better harbourage than the mattress does.
Will an encasement stop all bed bug bites?
No. Bed bugs living elsewhere in the room can still reach a sleeping person. An encasement addresses the mattress and box spring, not the room.
Is a waterproof mattress protector enough for bed bugs?
Not necessarily. Many protectors cover five sides or only the sleeping surface. For bed bug control you need a full six-sided encasement designed and tested for the purpose.
Are cheap bed bug encasements worth buying?
For prevention or general mattress protection, yes. For a confirmed infestation we would prioritise products with stronger published information on testing, zipper security, fit and durability.
Can bed bugs live on top of an encasement?
Yes. An encasement blocks access to the mattress interior. It does not make the outer surface repellent, and bed bugs can still crawl across it.
The bottom line
Judge an encasement by what happens when the zipper closes, not by how the fabric is described. For most people dealing with an active infestation, Protect-A-Bed AllerZip is the pick. Mattress Safe earns its place when closure security is the priority, SureGuard when the mattress is unusually deep, and CleanRest PRO when you want published testing plus breathability. Utopia Bedding remains the budget option.
Three rules matter more than the brand you choose. Buy something designed specifically for bed bugs. Measure the mattress before ordering. Keep the cover intact and installed for at least a year.
And do not mistake an encasement for bed bug control. It protects one of the most important hiding places in the room. It does not touch any of the others.