4 Best Duvet Protectors UK – A 2023 Expert Buyer’s Guide

While a duvet protector seems like such a simple item that wouldn’t pose much of a problem to find, finding one that fits your criteria is a bit of a challenge.

We want it to be waterproof, that’s obvious.

Yet, we also need it to be breathable, washable and quick-drying and quiet. This is when things get complicated.

Your duvet will certainly be protected against stains and incontinence. But how will you or your loved one sleep if they sweat from using it? And, many sound like a crisp packet being rustled all night.

I made it my mission to hunt down the duvet protectors that won’t disturb your sleep while also providing a barrier to your duvet.

I must admit it wasn’t easy!

Here are some that stand out to me as being a good purchase. I couldn’t find any that tick all of the boxes, but this list will get you on your way to a more comfortable sleep than the ones of old.

Check out the box below for a quick rundown of the best, each one is linked through to Amazon.

BEST DUVET PROTECTORS UK

1. Most Comfortable Duvet Protector – Soak And Sleep Luxury Duvet Protector

The Soak and Sleep is easily the most popular brand of duvet protectors in the UK. They feel luxurious and are not what you may have expected from a water-resistant cover for your duvet.

Made with a polyurethane and cotton blend, they were able to make the material extremely thin.

It is breathable and doesn’t cause overheating, but it is so lightweight, you will hardly notice that it is there.

The thread count is high at 200tc for a smooth and comfortable sensation. You may not even need to put a duvet cover over this protector since it doesn’t feel like it is made out of plastic.

The Soak and Sleep can be easily washed in the washing machine and luckily does not take too long to dry. It can even be tumble dried at medium heat so you can use it the same day potentially as when you washed it.

Rather than rely just on the type of material to repel water, it has a fine layer of Teflon coating. This enables the material to remain breathable and lightweight, not to mention dead quiet.

There is one downside to this though. It only repels water. It is not 100% waterproof. Now, in most scenarios, your duvet will be protected. In the case of bedwetting that is not caught right away, eventually, some moisture may make its way through the protector.

With a variety of sizes and price points, it is a great choice for most people depending on how severe your bedwetting problem is.

2. Best Waterproof Duvet Protector – Stirling Mill Quilted Anti-Allergy Waterproof Duvet protector

To get a 100% waterproof experience, then consider the Sterling Mill quilted protector. Though it is not as thin or as easy to care for as the Soak and Sleep, you won’t have to worry about somebody sleeping through a wet bed that could seep into your duvet. All while still being breathable and wicking.

Perfect for bedwetters and incontinence, it is made with durable polypropylene, which is a type of polyurethane. A bonus is that it is not only waterproof but is anti-allergenic as it resists dust mites and bed bugs cannot pass through it either.

I would not say that this is 100% noise-free, though. You definitely won’t have the feeling that somebody is opening a bag of crisps when you turn at night. It is quiet enough for most people, I would say.

It doesn’t need to be covered by another duvet cover as the quilting is quite nice and the exterior is not uncomfortable. Luckily, the duvet does fit snugly so it won’t bunch up and is held by a zip fastener.

You may want to buy two of these as they are not machine washable. It does need to be air-dried which can take some time. Particularly during a humid winter.

A good quality anti-allergy duvet protector.

3. Best Cheap Duvet Protector – Homescapes Waterproof Duvet Cover Protector

If you don’t have a high budget then I recommend this Homescapes brand as the best cheap duvet protector that still gets the job done.

Even at a low price tag, you can still expect to keep your duvet dry as this is 100% waterproof. Like the Sterling Hill, it is made with a thin layer of polypropylene. In this case though, they went one further. It is also covered with a thin waterproof coating. Now, how long will this waterproof last? After all, we are talking about a budget duvet cover. It is impossible to say, but I would not expect to get more than a couple of years of dry duvets.

It is important to not try to dry this as this will ruin the waterproof ability. And like the Sterling Hill, I recommend buying two since it does take a while to air dry. This seems to be the sacrifice necessary to be able to have confidence that a cover is 100% waterproof. The low price is all the more attractive if you do decide to have an extra on hand.

The material is not quite as comfortable as the other ones I’ve reviewed here, so I highly recommend using a duvet cover to place this inside of.

It is mostly noise-free, but it may make some hint of rustling. This is mitigated by using the duvet cover, however.

Sizes range from single to super king.

4. Best Kids Duvet Protector – Comfortnights Single Terry Waterproof Duvet Protector

The best duvet protector for kids, in my opinion, is this one from Comfortnights. What makes this one different from the others in the list is the fact that it has a terry cotton exterior fabric. This is not only because it feels good against the skin, but because it can absorb liquids.

Most children don’t wake up when they’ve wet the bed and can end up in a pool of liquid since the duvet protector allows the water to drip away. Add a mattress protector and they can quite literally be sleeping in a puddle.

It won’t leave them dry having the terry cotton, but it does add a bit of insurance that they won’t be soaked either.

I suggest adding a duvet cover over the top as well.

In addition to being 100% waterproof, it is also anti-allergenic and offers protection against bed bugs.

This is made out of the same polypropylene as others, but the big difference here is that this is not only machine washable, but also dryable on a low tumble. It may take longer than most laundry to dry, but it doesn’t need to be hung out to air for a day before it can be used again.

One downside is that it does not fit the duvet snugly so you may encounter some bunching up. A remedy to this is to use a safety pin to secure the duvet to the zipper. For the price, it is disappointing to require some DIY to secure it, but there is a low tech solution available at least.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A DUVET PROTECTOR

Several factors make this a purchase that isn’t as straightforward as it may seem.

Let’s take a closer look at what to expect from the different kinds of waterproof duvet covers out there.

MATERIAL

Not long ago, to make a duvet protector that would be truly waterproof, it would be made out of a PVC type material like most incontinence products. Yes, it worked as well as a mac when it came to keeping your duvet dry, but it also made one sweat, was loud and was not easy to wash.

These days there is a type of polyurethane that is impermeable to water but allows your body heat and moisture to pass through.

These can be backed by a more comfortable material, like cotton, terry cloth or polycotton so it doesn’t feel like you’ve wrapped yourself in plastic.

Some feature a coating like Teflon that covers the fabric underneath to make it repel water and other spillages.

Take a moment to make sure that if you need a duvet cover to be 100% waterproof that it doesn’t just repel water as some might permeate if that is the case.

SOUND

This is subjective as some might not feel bothered by the rustle caused by the material.

When you are moving around the less noise the better, obviously, but for truly waterproof and not just water-resistant, a heavy-duty material may make noise. In some cases it’s unavoidable.

In the review section, I will make sure to highlight ones that are quiet and if they aren’t then I will make sure you know that too.

There is a focus by many manufacturers to balance out being waterproof and being silent.

BREATHABLE

This is related to the type of material. Lately, there have been advances in polyurethane that allow vapour and body heat to pass through while still repelling water and other substances.

The way it works is that there are microscopic holes, in some cases not bigger than molecules. Since your body produces humid air, the vapour can pass through while something liquid will not.

With the right kind of material covering the polyurethane, you will find that your body heat is not reflected back towards you.

SNUG FIT

Since there is a slick material used for the protector, your duvet will tend to slide around inside the cover. The way around this is to have it fit snugly inside without much room to move. In some cases, there will also be some fasteners to secure the corners of the duvet to prevent it from getting bunched up.

WASHABLE/DRYABLE

Not needing to wash your heavy duvet every time you have a spill or even because you sweat a lot and need to freshen it up is a wonderful thing when you have a cover. However, if it is a hassle to wash and can’t be dried in a dryer, then the convenience factor is rather nullified.

All duvet covers can be washed in a machine these days, though the settings will vary according to the material. Drying in a machine is another story. Many need to be air-dried and can take quite a while to finally dry. Others can be tumble dried, though eventually, they will lose their waterproof capabilities.

PRICE

Since the prices can range from under £12 to over £40, my advice is to decide on what you can afford and spend to that limit.

On the lower end, you may have a product that seems to work exactly as advertised, but the question is for how long.

The less you spend the less you get. Though, if you are restricted by your budget then it is nice to know there are cheap options, just don’t expect to have all of your needs met.

FAQ ABOUT DUVET PROTECTORS

Q: Do you need to place a duvet protector inside another cover?

A: In some cases, yes. Particularly with the older and 100% waterproof protectors. Lately, some have quite comfortable material on the exterior so a cover is not necessarily needed. Those usually are water-resistant and are not waterproof. The waterproof ones can have a slick exterior in which case they would be uncomfortable to use without one.

Q: How long do duvet protectors last?

A: Unfortunately, they may not last very long. Two years is likely the longest you could still expect to have a waterproof experience. Generally, the lifespan is even shorter than that. The material tends to develop cracks after numerous washings. This allows some liquid to enter and wet the duvet.

Conclusion

If you’ve got through to the checkout you’ll see you get free delivery as standard on all the duvet protectors except the Homescapes which is free delivery with orders over £20. Once again you’ll want to look for a breathable duvet protector so you don’t get too hot, I haven’t written about pillow protectors yet but stay tuned!

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