Best bedding that works with pets

Key takeaways

• Washability matters more than weave. We found no study showing that percale, flannel, or any other weave sheds pet hair better, and none of the makers below claims it.

• Protect the layers that can’t go in the wash easily. A mattress protector and a pillow protector sit between a pet and the mattress and pillow, and they can be laundered.

• Keep the top layer washable. A throw or duvet cover is the layer pets touch most, so it’s the one to launder each week.

• Laundering cuts pet allergen in lab tests. In one lab study, only 0.3% to 1.3% of dog dander allergen was measured after washing at 86, 104, or 140°F or with steam, while killing dust mites took 140°F or steam.

• Sharing a bed with a pet has trade-offs. Dogs on the bed were linked with lower sleep efficiency in one small study, and a survey tied co-sleeping to poorer sleep, though neither can show cause.

What sharing a bed with a pet does to your bedding

Many people do it. A review in Emerging Infectious Diseases estimated that 14% to 62% of pet owners let dogs and cats on their beds, and it noted that zoonoses, which are infections that spread from animals to people, may be associated with it. It’s a review of risks, not a measure of how often anyone gets sick.

The sleep evidence is mixed and mostly self-reported. A Mayo Clinic study of 40 healthy adults tracked their sleep with accelerometers for seven nights and found that a dog in the bedroom wasn’t necessarily disruptive, but human sleep efficiency was lower when the dog was on the bed than when it was in the room. A 2024 survey of 1,591 US adults in Scientific Reports found that people who co-slept with pets reported poorer sleep quality and more insomnia symptoms, tied to dogs and not cats, though that was an exploratory result from an online panel and can’t show cause. We cover the couple version of this question in our post on sleeping apart.

How we picked this bedding

This list covers seven pieces from five makers, chosen to protect a bed at each layer, from the mattress to the top blanket. We ordered them by how directly each shields a layer or can go in the wash, using each maker’s own page for fabric, size, price, and care.

Prices are each maker’s list price for a Queen, as of November 12, 2026, before any sale.

1. SafeRest Premium Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protector - Best for guarding the mattress on a budget

The SafeRest Premium Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protector has a cotton terry surface and a membrane backing, and SafeRest says it guards against fluids, urine, perspiration, dust mites, and allergens. It fits Twin to California King, and a Queen lists at $44.99. SafeRest says to wash it before first use, since it ships tightly folded, and to wash it cold on a gentle cycle and tumble dry low.

What works: It’s the least expensive mattress-level product here, and it covers the mattress, which can’t go in the wash.

What doesn’t: SafeRest uses both “waterproof” and “water-resistant” on its page and gives no spill-capacity figure. The page doesn’t mention pets.

Best for: Anyone whose pet has had accidents on the bed, or might.

2. Brooklinen Bigtime Throw Blanket - Best for a washable layer on top

The Brooklinen Bigtime Throw Blanket is 100% cotton on both sides with a polyester fill. Brooklinen’s copy describes taking it from “the couch to the car, the bed to the dog bed.” It lists at $149 and comes in five colors. Brooklinen says to machine wash cold and tumble dry low.

What works: A throw on top of the bed gives a pet a place to lie, and you can pull it off and wash it without stripping the bed.

What doesn’t: At $149 it costs a lot for a layer a pet will sit on. Brooklinen doesn’t claim it resists hair or stains.

Best for: People who want a removable pet layer on a made bed.

3. Brooklinen Washed Classic Percale Comforter - Best for a one-piece top layer

The Brooklinen Washed Classic Percale Comforter is a 270-thread-count cotton shell over polyester fill, and Brooklinen describes it as a comforter that needs no duvet cover. A Full/Queen lists at $249. Care is to machine wash cold with like colors and tumble dry low, removing it promptly.

What works: There’s no separate cover to remove, so one item goes in the wash.

What doesn’t: Brooklinen doesn’t say what size washer it needs, and its patterned versions list higher than the $249 solid colors.

Best for: Anyone who wants a single washable top layer with no cover to remove.

4. Parachute Percale Duvet Cover - Best for a cover you can pull off and wash

The Parachute Percale Duvet Cover is made of long-staple Egyptian cotton percale, and Parachute lists it as machine washable. A Full/Queen lists at $220.

What works: The cover sits between a pet and the insert and washes on its own.

What doesn’t: You need a separate duvet insert, so the total cost climbs. Parachute doesn’t make a pet claim.

Best for: People who already own a duvet insert and want to wash the outer layer weekly.

5. Parachute Percale Sheet Set - Best for crisp cotton sheets

The Parachute Percale Sheet Set is 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton percale, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, made in Portugal. The fitted sheet fits mattresses up to 16 inches deep, and a Queen set lists at $269. Parachute lists the set as machine washable. The maker describes the finish as crisp, smooth, and breathable.

What works: Parachute describes the percale as durable, and a set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases.

What doesn’t: It’s among the pricier options here, and there’s no evidence that percale resists pet hair.

Best for: Sleepers who want one well-made cotton set and wash it often.

6. Protect-A-Bed Premium Cotton Terry Pillow Protector - Best for keeping drool out of pillows

The Protect-A-Bed Premium Cotton Terry Zippered Pillow Protector has a cotton terry top and a polyurethane membrane back, with a zipper. The Queen size is 21 by 31 inches and was marked down from $22.95 to $14.95 as a final-sale item on November 12. Protect-A-Bed says the terry absorbs perspiration, drool, and moisture, and says to wash it every one to two months and dry it on medium heat, since overheating can blister the lining.

What works: Protect-A-Bed says the backing is waterproof, and the zipper encloses the pillow.

What doesn’t: It’s sold one at a time, and the dryer heat limit is strict.

Best for: Anyone whose pet sleeps near their head.

7. Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel Sheet Set - Best for cold sleepers who want brushed cotton

The Coyuchi Cloud Brushed Organic Flannel Sheet Set is 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton that Coyuchi calls warmer and weightier than traditional flannel, with a finish Coyuchi describes as designed to resist pilling. A Queen set lists at $318. Care is to wash cold on a gentle cycle and tumble dry low.

What works: It’s warm for cold sleepers, and the care label is simple.

What doesn’t: It’s the most expensive set here. We found no evidence either way on how a brushed surface holds pet hair, and Coyuchi doesn’t say.

Best for: Cold sleepers who want brushed cotton and don’t mind paying for it.

How to keep bedding clean with a pet

Wash the layers pets touch every week and the protectors every one to two months, or as the care label says. Laundry works well on pet allergen. A lab study of mechanical laundry measured 0.3% to 1.3% of dog dander allergen after washing at 86°F, 104°F, 140°F, or with steam. Killing dust mites took 140°F or steam, and that can conflict with a cold-wash label, so follow the label.

Wash your hands after handling a pet. If someone in the bed has allergies, an air purifier can also help, as we explain in our guide to bedroom air purifiers. Our post on replacing your pillow covers when protectors aren’t enough.

The short version

Pick bedding that washes easily, and protect the mattress and pillow with covers. A cheap protector, a washable throw, and a duvet cover or washable comforter handle most of what a pet brings to the bed. None of these makers claims its fabric repels pet hair.

Frequently asked questions

What fabric is best for bedding if you have a pet?

No study we found ranks fabrics by pet hair. A cotton that survives frequent washing is a reasonable choice, and the makers here list cotton percale and flannel as machine washable.

Do mattress protectors stop pet accidents?

They’re meant to block fluids. SafeRest uses both “waterproof” and “water-resistant” on its page, lists urine among what it guards against, and gives no spill-capacity figure.

How often should you wash bedding with a pet?

We found no official figure for pet bedding. Protect-A-Bed says to wash its pillow protectors every one to two months. A weekly wash of the layers a pet touches is a reasonable habit.

Does washing remove pet allergens?

A lab study measured 0.3% to 1.3% of dog dander allergen after washing at the temperatures it tested. Killing mites needed 140°F or steam.

Is it bad for sleep to let a pet in bed?

The evidence is mixed. In one small study, human sleep efficiency was lower when a dog was on the bed than in the room, and a survey linked co-sleeping with poorer reported sleep, though it can’t show cause.