Pets and kids are no match for these machine-washable couch covers.
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When you invest in a high-quality couch, it's only natural to want to protect it — especially if your house is home to toddlers, teens, or cats and dogs. But even the most well-cared-for furniture isn't immune to eventual spots and stains once they've been around for years. Sometimes the easiest remedy for both of these common complaints is a couch cover, or ready-made slipcover. These utilitarian and stylish protectors are designed to fit a range of furniture sizes and they can be easily removed for laundering as needed.
Over the years, the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab have tested couch covers in both woven and knit fabrics, rating aesthetic, how well each cover fit and performance including stain resistance and durability. More recently, we scoured top retailers for the newest crop of bestselling couch covers, reading hundreds of reviews and specifications. Based on our combined research and testing, these are our top recommendations.
For more ways to clean your couch and keep it looking new, check our our guide to the best upholstery cleaners. Time to replace the whole thing? We've also got top picks for the most comfortable couches you can buy.
A top-scorer in Lab tests, this affordable slipcover is hard to beat. Testers gave it high marks for appearance — and love that it comes in a selection of seven colors, including this soft steel blue. No matter the shade, the couch cover fit well and looked neat on couches. It also laundered well, though it did show some signs of color fading after 100 hours of UV exposure. Importantly, the couch cover boasts impressive stain resistance to keep the furniture underneath in tip-top shape.
Thanks to an entirely spandex construction, this multi-piece couch cover offers plenty of stretch to accommodate larger L-shaped sofas of varying sizes. Not to mention, you can use it whether the chaise is on the left or the right of the couch. To keep the cover in place, the material features a combination of non-skid elastic bottoms and non-slip foam anchors. The company claims it won't shift or slip and is resistant to both snags and wrinkles for a neat aesthetic. We love that it comes in a dozen colors, including a rich shade of burgundy and a more neutral ivy. Just note: While you can machine wash this couch cover, the company says it requires line drying.
One of the biggest complaints about couch covers is that they can sometimes feel outdated. Even though this option doesn't fit snugly on the couch, we love the more modern, decorative vibe. The draped couch cover comes in a range of designs — botanicals, bohemian prints and artful lines, for example — that look a little more upscale than your average couch cover. The product, which comes in sizes medium through XXXL to fit sofa and couch types of all sizes and shapes, is more versatile than your average couch cover too. You can use it as a throw blanket or even a carpet or tablecloth. Setup couldn't be any easier. Simply drape it over your furniture, then tuck any extra fabric tightly into the creases.
Available in over 30 colors and seven sizes, this budget-friendly couch cover wins praise from Amazon reviewers for its super stretchy design that offers a snug fit. It also boasts special anti-slip foam strips on the seat and elastic around the bottom to help keep it in place when you sit down. Reviewers note the material is very thin and lightweight which helps it conform to your couch but may affect the cover's ability to protect the fabric underneath from stains. It may also cause durability issues in the long run. But, at this price, you can't beat the affordability and customization options.
Though the Textiles Lab usually recommends polyester couch covers over cotton versions, this one is a popular exception. It's made from a very thick and durable cotton that lends a polished and traditional look that's ideal for couches with blemishes that need to be covered. It offers some stain resistance too. Plus, it's both machine-washable and dryer-safe so it's easy to refresh when needed. It also comes in a range of sizes, including packs of two for matching chairs.
It may not cover the entire couch, but that's part of what makes this couch cover so convenient for households with pets. The Sofa Shield mainly protects the seat, arms and back of your couch, and is designed to keep the most trafficked areas cleaner. Plus, it's easy to remove, machine wash and replace any time it gets dirty, smelly or covered in fur. The material is also stain-, fade-, and tear-resistant to keep your furniture dry and rip-free — even when faced with muddy dog paws or sharp cat claws.
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to protect multiple pieces of furniture at once and still keep a uniform look, this slipcover set is an affordable way to do so. It comes with a sofa cover, loveseat cover and a chair cover — all of which are made from a super stretchy polyester and spandex that easily slips over furniture of varying sizes. Reviewers say the fit is snug and sleek overall and the material holds up to wash cycles. Color options are limited to six choices, but you're likely to find what you're looking for since the offerings include standards like gray, black and brown.
Protect your sofa from spills, stains and even pet hair with this durable and water-resistant PU leather couch cover that is easy to clean. It has the same sleek look and feel as traditional leather but offers the convenience of synthetics. Though it does add to installation time, we love that the whole thing is modular so you can score exactly what you need for your couch. Simply buy as many seat covers, back covers, chaise covers and pillow covers as your couch calls for. Each item is designed with anti-slip technology to ensure a snug fit.
A great value pick, this super stretchy couch cover is made of a polyester and spandex blend that's nice and soft. For a bit of visual interest, it even has a subtle jacquard weave pattern. Though we haven't tested this pick, we love that it comes in a rainbow of 17 colors ranging from neutrals to bolder shades like teal and burgundy. It also comes in a range of sizes to fit chairs, large sofas and everything in between so you can achieve a uniform look across your whole living room set. If there's any downside, it's the way this cover slips onto your couch. The single piece has thick elastic loops along the bottom that hug the couch, which isn't ideal for more decorative sofas with wooden or metal legs.
A reclining sectional is the ultimate luxury, and the Ulticor Sectional Recliner Cover can help keep your couch in pristine shape. The soft and stretchy velvet cover is designed to fit a variety of different reclining couch shapes. It comes with seven pieces and the option to buy even more for additional seats or consoles. Everything fits nice and snugly, according to reviewers, thanks to elastic strips that keep the cover in place. On the downside, you do have to install each piece on its own, which can be time-consuming, especially if you're washing it frequently. For further customization, it also comes in 12 colors, including a go-to black and a unique jewel-toned green.
Though we haven't tested this recliner version, this brand's sofa cover excelled in our tests, earning top scores in both appearance and performance categories. Our testers said the cover offered a sleek look that looked less like a slipcover and more like the actual fabric of the furniture. That's because it was super stretchy and easy to put on for a snug fit. The brand's couch covers wash well, too. There was minimal shrinkage and the fabric was colorfast in the wash. Most importantly, it protects furniture well. The stain-repellent finish caused liquids to bead when poured onto the slipcover. Unfortunately, it only comes in two colors — gray and chocolate.
Before you write couch covers off as being outdated, consider their convenience — especially if you have two things that go together like oil and water: an expensive couch and a house full of kids or pets. Couch covers can be an easy and affordable way to prevent spots and stains on your sofa. They can even serve as a way to cover up existing flaws, whether marks or snags in the upholstery. Couch covers also make for easy cleaning, because you can remove them and launder them as needed.
That being said, it can be tricky to find one that best suits the shape of your sofa. Pay attention to the size and shape of the arms and backs in the sample image to get a better sense of whether it’ll match your sofa at home. Also, consider how many pieces are in the set. The more basic one-piece covers can fit over a wider variety of shapes, whereas two- and three-piece covers conform better to the cushions for a more tailored look.
In previous Lab tests, synthetic materials (like polyester) held up better than natural ones (like cotton). This is due to the fact that woven cotton fabrics do not stretch and are not form-fitting, causing them to be baggier and more difficult to put on. We found that cotton slipcovers shrunk more than the synthetics, which sometimes affected the fit after laundering. In addition, synthetic materials were more durable and stain-resistant, effectively repelling wine, coffee and oil stains.
Brigitt Earley is a writer and editor with over 15 years of experience writing about home products, including furniture and accompanying accessories like couch covers. She worked under the guidance of experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute, including the fiber scientists and engineers in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, to research and review the couch covers recommended in this story.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
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