When you buy a high-quality couch, it’s natural to want to protect it, especially if you have children, teenagers, or pets. Even the most well-kept furniture is susceptible to marks and stains after a few years. A couch cover or ready-made slipcover is sometimes the simplest solution to these typical issues. These practical and attractive coverings are made to fit various furniture sizes and can be readily removed for laundering when necessary.
Our top picks:
Over the years, the HA Institute Textiles Lab experts have tested sofa coverings in woven and knit fabrics, assessing aesthetic, fit, and performance, including stain resistance and durability. We scoured leading stores for the most recent crop of best-selling couch covers, reading hundreds of reviews and specifications. These are our top recommendations based on our combined study and testing.
Check out our guide to the best upholstery cleaners for more ways to clean and maintain your couch. Is it time to replace everything? We also have recommendations for the most comfortable couches money can buy.
1
BEST COUCH COVER FOR RECLINING SECTIONAL COUCHES
ULTICOR 7-Piece Sectional Sofa Cover
PROS
- Very snug, manicured fit
- Highly customizable
CONS
- Time-consuming to assemble piece by piece
Sizes: Five-seat recliner cover, additional seat covers, and console covers.
Material: Velvet.
Care: Machine wash.
The Ulticor Sectional Recliner Cover may help maintain your reclining sectional in excellent condition. The velvet cover is soft and stretchy and is made to accommodate a range of reclining couch forms. It has seven parts with the option to purchase extra for additional seats or consoles. According to critics, everything fits smoothly and snugly thanks to elastic bands that keep the cover in place. On the negative side, you must install each component separately, which can be time-consuming, especially if you wash it frequently. It also comes in 12 colors, including a classic black and a one-of-a-kind jewel-toned green.
2
PROS
- Complete set for a cohesive look
- Snug fit
CONS
- More limited color options
Sizes: Sofa, loveseat, chair.
Material: Polyester, spandex.
Care: Machine wash.
This slipcover set is an affordable option if you want to protect numerous pieces of furniture at once while maintaining a consistent design. It includes a couch cover, a loveseat cover, and a chair cover, all constructed of a highly elastic polyester and spandex blend that easily glides over furniture of various sizes. According to reviewers, the fit is snug and sleek overall, and the material holds up well to wash cycles. The color possibilities are restricted to six, but you’ll likely find what you’re looking for because the offerings include industry mainstays such as gray, black, and brown.
3
BEST COUCH COVER FOR LEATHER COUCHES
SofaGuard Leather Sectional Sofa Cover
NOW 50% OFF
PROS
- Water-resistant
- Modular design
CONS
- Time-consuming to install piece by piece
Sizes: Cushion cover, back cover, chaise cover, pillow cover.
Material: PU leather.
Care: Machine wash.
This long-lasting and easy-to-clean PU leather couch cover protects your sofa from spills, stains, and even pet hair. It has the same sleek look and feel as conventional leather but with the added benefit of being synthetic. Though it increases installation time, we enjoy that the entire thing is modular, allowing you to get what you need for your couch. Purchase as many seats, back, chaise, and cushion covers as your couch needs. Each garment has anti-slip technology to provide a secure fit.
4
PROS
- Very easy to wash
- Wide range of colors and sizes
CONS
- Doesn't cover the whole couch
Sizes: Couch sofa, couch sofa jumbo, couch sofa oversized, couch sofa small, large chair, large recliner, lounge chaise, sectional corner, small chair, small recliner, loveseat.
Material: Microfiber.
Care: Machine wash.
It may not cover the entire couch, but that is part of what makes this couch cover so useful for pet-friendly households. The Sofa Shield is intended to keep your couch’s most often-used portions clean by protecting the seat, armrests, and back. It’s also simple to remove, machine wash, and replace when it gets dirty, stinky, or furry. The material is also stain-, fade-, and tear-resistant, keeping your furniture dry and rip-free even when soiled dog paws or sharp cat claws are present.
5
BEST COUCH COVER FOR L-SHAPED SECTIONALS
PureFit Super Stretch Sectional Couch Cover
NOW 20% OFF
PROS
- Very stretchy
- Company claims it won't shift, snag or wrinkle
CONS
- Must line dry
Sizes: Three-seat sofa and two-seat chaise, Three-seat sofa and three-seat chaise.
Material: Spandex.
Care: Machine wash.
Because it is entirely made of spandex, this multi-piece couch cover has plenty of stretch to accommodate more oversized L-shaped sofas of varied sizes. It can also be used whether the chaise is on the left or right side of the couch. The cover is placed by a mix of non-skid elastic bottoms and non-slip foam anchors. The business says it will not shift or slip and is resistant to snags and creases for a tidy appearance. We love that it comes in various colors, including a deep burgundy and a more neutral ivy. Remember that while you may machine wash this couch cover, the maker recommends line drying.
6
PROS
- Comes in a wide range of colors
- Super soft and stretchy
CONS
- Hugs the entire couch, which doesn't always look as neat
Sizes: Armchair, loveseat, sofa, XL sofa, wing chair.
Material: Polyester blend.
Care: Machine wash.
This incredibly stretchy couch cover is a beautiful budget selection with a soft polyester and spandex blend. It even features a delicate jacquard weave design for added aesthetic intrigue. Though we have yet to try it, we love that it’s available in 17 colors, ranging from neutrals to bolder hues like teal and burgundy. It also comes in various sizes to suit chairs, enormous sofas, and everything in between, allowing you to establish a consistent aesthetic throughout your living room set. The way this cover glides onto your couch is the only drawback. The single piece features large elastic loops along the bottom that embrace the couch, making it unsuitable for more decorative sofas with wooden or metal legs.
7
PROS
- Many decorative options
- Versatile design
CONS
- Isn't snug on the couch
Sizes: Medium-XXXL.
Material: Polyester.
Care: Machine wash.
One of the most common concerns regarding couch coverings is that they might sometimes look old. We like this alternative’s more modern, ornamental vibe, even if it doesn’t fit snuggly on the couch. The draped couch cover is available in various themes, such as botanicals, boho prints, and creative lines, that seem more posh than your ordinary couch cover. The product, available in sizes medium through XL to fit all types of sofas and couches, is also more adaptable than your typical couch cover. It can be used as a throw blanket, carpet, or tablecloth. The setup couldn’t be more straightforward. Drape it over your furniture, then tuck any excess fabric into the wrinkles.
8
PROS
- Wide range of sizes and colorss
- Snug fit
CONS
- Very lightweight
Sizes: Four-seater sofa, loveseat, chair, oversized chair, oversized loveseat, sofa, oversized sofa.
Material: Polyester, spandex.
Care: Machine wash.
This budget-friendly couch cover, available in over 30 colors and seven sizes, receives high marks from Amazon reviewers for its incredibly flexible design that provides a snug fit. It also has anti-slip foam strips on the seat and elastic around the bottom to keep it in place as you sit. According to reviewers, the material is fragile and lightweight, which helps it fit your couch but may compromise the cover’s capacity to protect the fabric underneath from stains. It may produce long-term durability difficulties. However, at this price, the affordability and customization options are unrivaled.
9
PROS
- Traditional aesthetic
- Machine-washable and dryer-safe
CONS
- Not as stain-resistant as polyester options
Sizes: 17 options.
Material: Cotton.
Care: Machine wash.
Although the Textiles Lab prefers polyester sofa covers to cotton equivalents, this one is a famous exception. It’s comprised of thick and durable cotton with a polished and traditional look that’s great for covering defects on couches. It also has stain resistance. It’s also machine-washable and dryer-safe, making it simple to replenish as needed. It is also available in various sizes, including two-packs for matching chairs.
10
PROS
- Well-fitting
- Impressive stain resistance
CONS
- Showed some fading from UV exposure
Sizes: Chair, loveseat, sofa.
Material: Polyester blend.
Care: Machine wash.
This low-cost slipcover performed admirably in lab tests. Testers praised its beauty and availability in seven colors, including this gentle steel blue. The sofa cover fit perfectly and looked nice on any couch, regardless of color. It also washed well. However, some color fading was visible after 100 hours of UV exposure. Notably, the sofa cover is stain resistant, which helps to preserve the furniture below in good condition.
Are couch covers worth it?
Consider the ease of couch coverings before dismissing them as out of date, especially if you have two things that go together, like oil and water: an expensive couch and a house full of children or pets. Couch covers are a simple, inexpensive solution to keep stains and marks off your sofa. They can even be used to conceal existing faults in the upholstery, like scratches or snags. Couch covers are also convenient for cleaning because they can be removed and laundered as needed.
However, finding one that fits the contour of your sofa can be difficult. Take note of the size and shape of the arms and backs in the example image to determine whether it will match your couch at home. Consider how many pieces are included in the set. One-piece covers are more versatile and can fit a more extensive range of forms, whereas two- and three-piece coverings conform better to the cushions for a more customized look.
What are the easiest couch covers to maintain?
In past lab studies, synthetic materials (such as polyester) outperformed natural ones (such as cotton). This is because woven cotton textiles are not stretch or form-fitting, making them baggier and more challenging to wear. Cotton slipcovers shrank more than synthetic slipcovers, sometimes impacting the fit after laundering. Furthermore, synthetic materials were more durable and stain-resistant, repelling wine, coffee, and oil stains well.
Why trust Home Accessories?
Brigit Earley is a writer and editor with over 15 years of expertise covering home products such as furniture and accessories like couch covers. She researched and reviewed the couch coverings mentioned in this story with the help of HA Institute professionals, including fiber scientists and engineers in the HA Institute Textiles Lab.
