Mattress protector and mattress topper: the difference and why you need both
Updated September 2026.
Short answer: a mattress protector protects, a mattress topper adds comfort. The topper is the soft layer laid on the mattress to make the bed feel deeper and softer. The protector is a thin, washable layer laid on top of the topper that keeps it clean from moisture and dirt. Most well-made beds have both, and the protector goes on top of the two.
Few words are mixed up as often as mattress protector and mattress topper. Both sit between you and the mattress and are often bought together, but they do completely different things. Once you understand the difference, it is easy to build a bed that lasts longer and feels better.
What is a mattress topper?
A mattress topper is a soft comfort layer, usually 5 to 10 centimetres thick, laid on top of the bed's mattress. It changes how the bed feels: it adds fullness, evens out seams and irregularities and gives the feeling of sinking into the bed. A mattress that feels a little too firm can become far more inviting with the right topper. In continental beds the topper is often part of the bed, but it works just as well on any bed.
Our Cody Lamont Feather Mattress Topper is 10 centimetres deep, with a 100% cotton cover and a filling of 90% duck feather and 10% duck down. Feather and down give a soft, mouldable fullness that envelops the body. It comes in 160×200 and 180×200 and is used at selected ESS destinations. See the full range in the mattress toppers collection.
Why should you have a mattress topper?
For comfort and for the mattress. A topper makes the bed softer and more even without replacing the whole mattress, and it takes some of the wear so the mattress underneath lasts longer. It is also the layer that gives the hotel bed its depth, the feeling of the bed receiving you. It needs to be aired and shaken regularly so the filling keeps its fullness.
What is a mattress protector?
A mattress protector, sometimes called a mattress cover, is a thin protective layer that lies under the sheet. Its job is not to be felt, it is to protect. During a night's sleep the body gives off moisture, and the protector acts as a barrier that helps keep sweat, moisture and dirt away from what lies underneath. It is easy to remove and wash, which makes it the most practical layer of the bed.
Our Paisley Briggs Mattress Protector is washed on a 40 °C delicate cycle and comes in widths of 90, 105, 120, 160 and 180 centimetres, all 200 centimetres long. See the full range in the mattress protectors collection.
Should the mattress protector go over or under the topper?
Over. The order is mattress, topper, protector and finally the sheet. The topper lies closest to you and takes up moisture during the night, and a feather topper like Cody Lamont cannot be washed. With the protector on top, the topper stays clean, and the only thing you need to wash regularly is the protector.
If you have no topper, the protector goes directly on the mattress. If you want to be extra thorough, you can also have a protector on the mattress itself, under the topper. Always choose the protector in the same width as the layer it covers.
The difference at a glance
| Mattress protector | Mattress topper | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Protection, hygiene, freshness | Comfort, softness, depth |
| Thickness | Thin | Full, for example 10 cm |
| Placement | On top of the topper, under the sheet | Directly on the mattress |
| Care | Washed regularly | Aired and shaken, feather is not washed |
| At Boe | Paisley Briggs, 40 °C delicate | Cody Lamont, feather and down |
Do you need both a mattress protector and a topper?
For most well-made beds the answer is yes, because they solve different things. A topper without a protector is hard to keep fresh, as moisture and dirt reach a layer that cannot be washed. A protector without a topper gives a clean bed, but not the soft, enveloping feel. Together they form the foundation of the bed. We walk through the whole build in Build the perfect bed layer by layer.
The protector also helps if someone in the household is sensitive to dust mites. 1177, the Swedish healthcare guide, recommends washing sheets at 60 °C and washing pillows and duvets at 60 °C regularly. More in our guide to allergy-friendly bedding.
How to lay the mattress protector and topper
- Vacuum and air the mattress before you put anything on it.
- Lay the topper centred on the mattress and let the filling settle for a few minutes.
- Pull the protector over the topper so it sits smooth and taut without creases.
- Make the bed with the flat sheet, stretch it firmly and fold hospital corners at the foot end.
- Wash the protector regularly according to the care label, and air and shake the topper at regular intervals.
More washing advice in care advice for bedding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a mattress protector and a mattress topper?
A mattress protector is a thin, washable layer that protects against moisture and dirt. A mattress topper is a full comfort layer on the mattress that adds softness and depth. The protector protects, the topper provides the comfort.
Should the mattress protector go over or under the topper?
Over. The order is mattress, topper, protector and sheet. The topper takes up moisture and a feather topper cannot be washed, so the protector on top keeps it clean.
Why should you have a mattress topper?
It makes the bed softer and more even without replacing the mattress, takes some of the wear and gives the deep feel hotel beds have.
Can you wash a feather mattress topper?
No, the Cody Lamont Feather Mattress Topper cannot be washed. Air and shake it regularly and protect it with a washable mattress protector.
What size mattress protector should I choose?
The same width as the layer it covers. For a 160×200 topper, choose a 160×200 protector.
Our advice
Think of the topper as the comfort and the protector as the insurance. Lay the topper first, the protector on top, and wash the protector instead of worrying about what you cannot wash. For the deep feel of the hotel bed, start with the Cody Lamont Feather Mattress Topper and a Paisley Briggs Mattress Protector in the same width.