When you’re looking at our washable bed pads, you’ll see numbers like 800ml, 1500ml, 2500ml.
What’s harder to picture is how ml plays out overnight. Because what you’re really trying to work out isn’t the maths. It’s whether you’re lifting off a pad in the morning or changing the whole bed.
An average adult bladder often holds somewhere around 400 to 600ml before it feels full. That’s not exact and everyone is different, but it gives you a rough reference point.
So when you see 800ml, you’re looking at a pad designed to hold roughly around a typical full bladder release, with a bit of breathing room. That’s why we call it moderate protection. For many people choosing something for overnight use, it’s a practical middle ground.
If someone tends to release more than that, doesn’t wake to toilet, or you simply want a bit more margin for error, stepping up to 1500ml or above gives you that extra capacity before anything spreads beyond the pad area. Our largest pads are designed to handle a full bladder release overnight, which makes them the sensible option when you really don’t want to deal with sheets at 2am.
A simple way to decide
If you’d rather not think in numbers, here’s another way to look at it.
| Light protection | 800ml | Liquids would mostly stay within the underwear. |
| Medium protection | 1500ml | It would soak through into clothing. |
| Heavy protection | 2500ml | If it were likely spread beyond clothing and into bedding. |
The millilitre number simply helps you compare those levels. It’s based on testing, and real life can vary depending on sleeping position and movement, but it gives you a practical framework to choose from.
A couple of practical things to remember
A bed pad sits on top of your fitted sheet, usually under the hips. It protects a targeted area and can be lifted off and washed. It’s not a full mattress protector.
Always wash your bed pad before first use. That activates the absorbent core so it performs properly from night one.
If you’re hovering between two options and this is for overnight use, many people prefer to step up rather than down. It’s easier to wash a pad than to change the whole bed.
When you’re ready, they’re all here.
→ Shop washable bed pads
And if you’d rather run it past someone, we’re right here in New Zealand and happy to help.
