Best Washable Dog Bed

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Every dog bed gets dirty. Hair, drool, muddy paws, the odd accident and, in some homes, fleas all end up in the place your dog sleeps most. A bed you can wash easily stays fresher and usually lasts longer. This guide covers what makes a dog bed truly washable, the two beds in our catalog that a named reviewer washed and used hands-on, a few others from the same test, and how often to wash a bed.

How we wrote this: hands-on notes come from Whole Dog Journal, where trainer and gear writer Jae Thomas, CPDT-KA (published June 5, 2025) assembled, washed and reassembled five beds with washable covers and used them with her own dogs. Cleaning advice comes from the AKC and the US EPA. Product facts come from each maker’s page. We did not test these beds ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

What “washable” really means

Two kinds of beds are sold as washable, and the difference matters on wash day.

• Whole-bed washable. The entire bed, fill and all, goes in the machine. These are usually fiber-filled beds such as donut or pillow beds. Best Friends by Sheri, for example, says its 23 inch Original Calming Donut can be machine washed on gentle and tumble dried on low as one piece (Best Friends by Sheri). Bigger sizes may not fit a home washer, so check the label before you buy.
• Cover washable. A zippered cover comes off a foam core, and only the cover goes in the machine. Foam beds are built this way. FurHaven, for instance, says the cover on its Luxe Lounger can be machine or hand washed, while the foam core is spot clean only (FurHaven).

Neither type is better in every home. A whole-bed washable bed is simple, but fiber fill can flatten over time. A foam bed with a removable cover usually gives firmer support, but you have to clean the foam by hand and get the cover back on. Whole Dog Journal made that step part of its test: Jae Thomas favored beds that were easy to take apart, wash and put back together.

What to look for in a washable dog bed

A cover that comes off easily

The AKC advises looking for a removable cover you can put through the wash every week, and notes that dogs bring in dirt and pests like fleas. A long zipper that opens along more than one side makes this much easier. If your bed has a foam core, look for a cover that is not so tight that you have to fight it back on.

A water-resistant liner or base

A liner between the cover and the foam, or a water-resistant base, keeps drool and accidents out of the core. The AKC points out that easy cleaning matters most for older dogs with incontinence and puppies who are still learning house training. Whole Dog Journal singled out the water-resistant liner on its top pick as a reason accidents were no problem.

Dryer-safe parts

Whole Dog Journal noted that many washable dog bed covers cannot go in the dryer, and counted it as a plus when one could. Read the care label before you shrink a cover that then will not fit its foam.

A tough fabric for diggers

Dogs that dig and nest at their bed are hard on covers. In Whole Dog Journal’s test, the Fable crate bed’s cover showed no scratches after years of nightly digging, while two beds with softer, thinner covers were marked down for durability.

The right size and shape

The AKC says to pick a size that gives your dog plenty of room to stretch out. Curlers often like a round or bolstered bed, and sprawlers like a flat mat or a low lounger. Our dog bed size chart shows how to measure your dog.

Our picks

FurHaven Ultra Plush Luxe Lounger: budget foam lounger with a washable cover

The FurHaven Ultra Plush Luxe Lounger is a contoured bed with a low middle and raised sides that act as a head rest. FurHaven offers three cores (orthopedic foam, memory foam top or cooling gel top), says the low step-on design is easy for smaller, older or disabled pets, and sells it with a zippered cover you can machine or hand wash. The CertiPUR-US certified foam core is spot clean only, and FurHaven says the bed is not suitable for heavy chewers (FurHaven).

Whole Dog Journal named it the best budget washable bed. Jae Thomas found the orthopedic foam more supportive than she expected for a bed that is thinner in the middle, and liked the design for both puppies and seniors. Her caveats: the cover shed a bit in the wash, felt thin, and was not the most durable of the beds she tried. Sizes run from Medium, about 30 by 20 inches, to Giant, about 58 by 42 inches, per the review.

Best Friends by Sheri Original Calming Donut: whole-bed washable for curlers

The Best Friends by Sheri Original Calming Donut is a round shag faux fur bed with a raised rim. The maker describes vegan polyester with fiber fill and a water and dirt resistant bottom, and says the 23 inch size can go in the washer and dryer whole (Best Friends by Sheri).

Whole Dog Journal picked it for dogs who like to cuddle into their beds. Jae Thomas found it cozy and easy to take apart and wash, but said getting the bolster back into the cover was a hassle, and friends who have used it for years with medium and large dogs found the fill goes flat. She suggests sizing down if your dog is between sizes. In short, it suits small and medium dogs that curl up more than big dogs that need firm support.

Named without links

These beds were part of the same Whole Dog Journal test but are not in our catalog, so we name them without links:

• Orvis Memory Foam Couch Dog Bed: Whole Dog Journal’s top pick. Memory foam inside a water-resistant liner, tall bolsters, and a cover that went through the washer and dryer with no problems. Jae Thomas called it the highest quality bed in the test, though also the most expensive. Orvis now sells it as the Memory Foam Lounger Orthopedic Dog Bed and lists a machine washable cover and a water-resistant liner over the foam (Orvis).
• Fable Dog Bed: the review’s pick for crates. Jae Thomas has used one in her dog’s crate every night for about three years; the crushed foam insert has not gone flat and the cover has held up to nightly digging, though it holds on to hair. Fable describes the exterior as water and stain resistant and machine washable (Fable).
• EveryYay Snooze Fest Orthopedic Cuddler: a stylish bed with a soft knit cover that can go in the washer and dryer. Whole Dog Journal found the egg crate foam less supportive than its orthopedic label suggests and the cover too thin for diggers.

How often to wash a dog bed

The AKC suggests washing the removable cover weekly to keep hair, dander and germs down. If you are dealing with fleas, the EPA advises: “Wash all pet bedding and family bedding on which pets lie in hot, soapy water every two to three weeks.” Vacuum the bed and the area around it as well, and ask your vet about flea treatment for your pets, since washing alone will not clear an infestation.

Wash sooner after an accident, after your dog has been sick, or when the bed starts to smell. If your dog suddenly starts having accidents on their bed, see your vet, as it can be a sign of a health problem rather than a training issue. For a step by step method, see our guide on how to wash a dog bed.

When a washable bed is not enough

A soft washable bed is fine for most healthy dogs, but older dogs and dogs with sore joints often need firmer, thicker foam. See our best dog bed for senior dogs and arthritis guide, and ask your vet what support your dog needs. For dogs that feel the cold, our best heated pet bed guide covers safe heated and self-warming options. For dogs that destroy bedding, a chew resistant bed is a better buy than any cover, see the dog beds and crates buying guide.

Dog tearing up its bed? See the best chew resistant dog bed, with what makes a bed harder to destroy, safety for chewers and two picks.

Need a bed for camp? See the best camping dog bed, with pads, camp mattresses and cots, what to check and three picks.

FAQ

Can you put a dog bed in the washing machine?

Many fiber-filled beds can go in whole, and most foam beds have a removable cover that can. Check the care label first. Best Friends by Sheri says its 23 inch donut can be machine washed and dried whole, while FurHaven says only the Luxe Lounger’s cover goes in the machine and the foam is spot cleaned.

How often should you wash your dog’s bed?

The AKC suggests washing the cover weekly. During a flea problem, the EPA advises washing pet bedding in hot, soapy water every two to three weeks, along with daily vacuuming.

Can you wash a memory foam dog bed?

Usually only the cover. Foam cores are generally spot cleaned and air dried, as FurHaven advises for its foam. A water-resistant liner helps keep liquids out of the foam in the first place.

Can a dog bed go in the dryer?

Some can. Best Friends by Sheri says its 23 inch donut can be tumble dried on low, and Whole Dog Journal found the Orvis and EveryYay covers dryer safe. Other covers should be air dried, so follow the label.

What kind of dog bed is easiest to clean?

A small fiber-filled bed that goes in the washer whole is the least work. For bigger dogs, a foam bed with a removable cover, a long zipper and a water-resistant liner is the easiest to keep clean.

More bed help: the dog beds and crates buying guide, the dog bed size chart, how to wash a dog bed, the best dog bed for senior dogs and arthritis and the best heated pet bed.