A good mosquito net does three things at once: it keeps biting insects off you while you sleep, it cools the bedroom by adding a layer of breathable fabric overhead, and — if you choose well — it transforms the look of the room. A bad mosquito net does none of these things and ends up in landfill within a season.

This guide is the one we wish more people read before they bought. It covers every fabric, every style, every size, how to install a net properly, how to look after it, and how to choose the right one for your situation — whether you live in Florida, you’re heading to Costa Rica, or you’re outfitting a tropical resort.

It’s a long read. If you want the short version: cotton nets last decades and breathe beautifully, polyester nets give you the tightest weave and the easiest care, and silk nets are the most beautiful object you’ll ever hang over a bed. Now, the detail.

Why a Mosquito Net Still Beats Every Other Option

Screens fail when doors open. Repellents wear off. Plug-in vaporisers only work in sealed rooms and many people would rather not breathe chemicals all night. A mosquito net works by simple physics — a barrier the insect cannot cross — and it works whether the power is on, whether the windows are open, whether you’re camping, indoors, or sleeping on a verandah in Antigua.

Mosquito nets also protect against insects that repellents barely touch. A correctly woven net stops them at the fabric.

And nets do more than block insects. A well-hung canopy reduces overhead light, softens sound, and creates a separate microclimate around the bed — cooler in summer, marginally warmer in winter. Resorts use them because they look beautiful. Families use them because they work.

The Three Fabrics — Cotton, Polyester, and Silk

Fabric is the single most important choice you’ll make. It determines what the net protects against, how it feels, how long it lasts, and how it looks in your room. We make nets in three fabrics, and we have specific reasons for each.

Cotton — The Specialist’s Choice

Our cotton nets are woven at 256 holes per square inch. That’s a finer mesh than most commercially available cotton nets and it’s deliberate — it’s the weave we settled on after testing dozens. The cotton is 100% natural, machine washable, and uses a run-proof weave that won’t ladder if a thread snags.

Cotton has one property no synthetic fibre can replicate: tiny fibrous hairs along each thread. Mosquitoes can sometimes find their way through synthetic weaves by probing — they can’t probe cotton in the same way because those fibres physically deter them. This is also why cotton nets are the only nets that genuinely deter midges and sandflies, which are small enough to walk through some polyester weaves.

Cotton breathes. In a humid climate — Florida, the Gulf Coast, Queensland, anywhere tropical — that matters more than people realise. A cotton net feels cooler under than polyester, and it doesn’t trap moisture.

If you want a net that lasts decades, looks beautiful, washes clean, and protects against the widest range of insects, choose cotton.

Browse our full cotton range: Cotton Mosquito Nets.

Polyester — The Tight-Weave Workhorse

Our polyester nets are woven at 360 holes per square inch — the tightest weave we produce. Polyester is the right answer when your priority is the absolute smallest hole size and the easiest possible care. It washes easily, dries quickly, doesn’t crease, and resists humidity without going limp.

Polyester nets are slightly less breathable than cotton, but the trade-off is a weave so tight that even very small mosquitoes can’t pass through. For most American homes — where the main concern is mosquitoes specifically — polyester is an excellent choice.

Polyester also takes colour well, holds shape, and is the practical pick for families with children where the net will be washed often and stands up to heavy use.

Browse our full polyester range: Polyester Mosquito Nets.

Silk — The Bed Canopy You Inherit

Our silk canopies are made from pure mulberry silk. The drapes are 8 momme georgette gauze, which is light and translucent and moves with the air, and 16 momme satin fabric for all hems and trims. These items ship from Australia.

A silk canopy isn’t really a mosquito net — it’s a bed canopy that happens to be made of mosquito-resistant fabric. People buy them because they’re stunning. The fact that they also block insects is a bonus.

If you’ve ever looked at the bed canopies appearing in Homes & Gardens or Country & Town House interior features over the last two years and wondered where to get one, this is it. Silk canopies are the centrepiece of a bedroom — and they last because real silk, looked after properly, is a multi-decade fabric.

Explore our silk range: Silk Bed Canopy.

Which Fabric Is Right for You?

For most American homes worried about mosquitoes specifically — polyester. For families in the South, Gulf Coast or anywhere with midges, sandflies, or no-see-ums — cotton. For luxury, longevity, and a bedroom that looks like a magazine — silk.

We’ve written a deeper comparison if you want the full breakdown: Cotton vs Polyester vs Silk Mosquito Nets.

The Four Styles — Box, Round, Temple, and Pop-Up Freestanding

Shape matters almost as much as fabric. The right shape depends on your bed, your ceiling, and how much room around the bed you want to keep clear.

Box — Maximum Space, Four Hanging Points

A box net is a rectangular frame of fabric that hangs from four points — usually four ceiling hooks placed in a rectangle slightly larger than the bed. The fabric drops down on all four sides, giving you a vertical wall of mesh around the bed.

Box nets are the practical choice for people who want maximum usable space inside the net — you can sit up, read, and move around without the fabric pressing in. They’re the standard format for resorts and for couples sharing a bed because there’s no central pinch point.

Browse box nets: Box Mosquito Nets.

Round — One Hook, Classic Drape

A round net hangs from a single hook in the ceiling and drops in a circle around the bed. It’s the simplest installation — one hook, one net, ten minutes — and it’s the shape most people picture when they think of a mosquito net.

Round nets work beautifully over single, queen and king beds. They give a softer, more romantic look than a box net and they’re the easiest to take down and store seasonally.

See more: Round Mosquito Nets, or read our explainer on box vs round nets.

Temple — Three Openings, Distinctive Profile

Temple nets are a blend of the box shape and the round with a stepped, pagoda-style top and typically three entrance openings. They have a more architectural look than a standard box and they’re often the design chosen for guest rooms and master bedrooms where the net itself is part of the decor.

The openings mean two people can get in and out from either side without disturbing the net’s hang.

Pop-Up Freestanding — No Hooks, No Ceiling

Sometimes you can’t put a hook in the ceiling. Renters, travellers, people staying in hotels, families who want a portable solution for the kids’ beds — the pop-up freestanding net was made for you.

It’s a self-supporting structure that sits over the bed like a tent. No hardware, no installation, no holes in the ceiling.

See the range: Pop-Up Freestanding Mosquito Net.

Sizing — Match the Net to the Bed

A mosquito net needs to be larger than the bed it covers. The fabric should reach the floor or close to it on every side — gaps at floor level let insects in. We make nets in six sizes, matched to standard US and international bed dimensions.

• Twin / Single — for single beds and standard twin beds; ideal for kids’ rooms and guest beds.
• Double / Full — for the standard double bed; the right size for older children and single adults who want more room.
• Queen — the most popular size in the United States; fits queen beds with generous side drape.
• King / Cal King — sized for standard king and California king beds; the difference is in the proportions.
• Super King — for oversized king beds and larger custom frames.
• Crib / Baby — sized specifically for cribs and bassinets, with safe attachment options for nurseries.

If you’re between sizes, always size up. A slightly oversized net drapes more elegantly and seals better at floor level than a tight one. If you have a custom bed or aren’t sure which size fits, send us the bed dimensions and we’ll tell you.

Installation — Getting It Right the First Time

Most mosquito net installations take under an hour. The most important decisions happen before you open the packet: where the hooks go, what type of fixings you use, and how high the ceiling is.

Ceiling Hooks

For a round or temple net you need one hook directly above the centre of the bed. For a box shaped net you need four to six hooks arranged in a rectangle slightly larger than the bed. The fabric should hang clear of the mattress so it doesn’t press against sleepers.

For drywall ceilings, use toggle bolts or proper drywall anchors rated for at least 15 pounds. For wooden joists, simple screw hooks are fine — find the joist with a stud finder first. For concrete or masonry ceilings, you’ll need masonry anchors or rawl plugs and a hammer drill.

The whole hanging assembly only needs to support the weight of the net itself plus a small safety margin — a few pounds, not dozens — but you want it secure enough that pulling the net tight to tuck it under the mattress doesn’t dislodge anything.

We’ve written a full step-by-step installation guide: How to Hang a Mosquito Net from the Ceiling — Complete Guide. This is an in-depth article and worth reading.

High Ceilings

If your ceiling is more than eight or nine feet high just extend the length of cord you use until the correct height is reached.

Renters and Travel

If you can’t drill into the ceiling — or you simply don’t want to — choose the pop-up freestanding format. It’s self-supporting and doesn’t touch the ceiling at all.

Care and Longevity — Why These Nets Aren’t Disposable

Most mosquito nets sold today are disposable. Thin polyester, glued seams, weak hanging loops, and a lifespan measured in seasons rather than decades. We have a different philosophy — we believe a mosquito net should be an item you buy once and keep for a decade.

That requires both the right product and the right care.

Washing

Cotton and polyester nets are machine washable on a gentle cycle in cold or warm water. Use a mild detergent — nothing with bleach, nothing with fabric softener. Fabric softener coats the fibres and reduces the breathability of cotton.

Hang the net to dry rather than putting it in the dryer. It dries quickly because the mesh is open. A dryer will cause the loose weave netting to shrink and once this happens it will never be able to be stretched back into shape. Avoid direct sunlight for long periods, especially with silk as it can become discoloured and brittle.

Silk should be dry cleaned or hand washed in cool water with a silk-safe detergent. It’s not difficult — silk has been washed by hand for thousands of years and it’s worth doing properly.

Storage

When a net comes down for the off-season, fold it loosely and store it somewhere dry. Vacuum-packing isn’t necessary and isn’t ideal for cotton. Fold and repack into the zippered bag it was supplied in.

Repairs

Small holes or pulled threads can be repaired with a needle and matching thread — our run-proof cotton weave makes this straightforward. A net you can repair is a net you keep for decades.

Resort and Luxury Use — Who Buys Our Nets in Bulk

The clearest indicator of a good mosquito net is who chooses to hang one over their paying guests’ beds. Resorts can’t afford a product that fails — a single complaint about bites costs them more than the net cost in the first place.

Resorts and lodges we currently supply, all of whom have given permission to be named, include:

Playaviva Resort — Sustainable boutique hotel, Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Baraka Point Resort — Luxury beachfront resort, British Virgin Islands

Verana — Handmade hillside jungle hotel, Yelapa, Mexico

Villa Valentin — Tropical retreat and destination wedding venue, Mexico

Casa Vida Verde — Luxury rainforest and beachfront retreat, Cabo Matapalo, Costa Rica

Creando Olas La Saladita — Boutique beach vacation home, Mexico

Keyonna Beach Resort — Rustic open-air beachfront cottages, Antigua

Aganoa Lodge — Coral reef surrounded luxury lodge, South Pacific, Samoa

Cocos Hotel — Adults only romantic Caribbean getaway, Antigua

The Fort Printers — 18th century mansion boutique hotel, Sri Lanka

Paperbark Camp — Premium tented bush retreat, Jervis Bay, Australia

Les Chaudieres — Secluded cliff-top luxury retreat, Saint Lucia

Tet Rouge — Adults only resort with Gros Piton views, Saint Lucia

Katamah Guesthouse — Beachfront nature sanctuary, South Coast, Jamaica

Each of these properties orders the same nets we sell to families and individuals. There’s no separate “resort grade” — what you get on MosquitoNets.com is what they get.

If you’re outfitting a resort, hotel, or holiday rental get in touch directly through our contact page.

Choosing the Right Mosquito Net — A Quick Framework

Work through these four questions in order:

1. What insects am I trying to block? Mosquitoes only — polyester is fine. Sandflies, midges or no-see-ums — choose cotton.
2. Can I install ceiling hooks? Yes — choose box, round or temple. No — choose pop-up freestanding.
3. What’s the room style? Practical bedroom — polyester. Statement bedroom — cotton or magazine style — silk.
4. What size is the bed? Match to the closest size and round up if uncertain.

That’s it. Four questions and you have the right net.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do mosquito nets really work?

Yes — when correctly sized and properly installed. A mosquito net is a physical barrier, not a chemical one, so its effectiveness depends entirely on the integrity of the barrier. Make sure the net reaches the floor or tucks under the mattress on all sides, with no gaps where it meets the bed.

What’s the difference between cotton and polyester mosquito nets?

Cotton nets are woven at 256 holes per square inch from natural fibres, breathe better, and uniquely deter most midges and sandflies due to tiny fibrous hairs along each thread. Polyester nets are woven tighter — 360 holes per square inch — and are easier to wash and faster to dry, but slightly less breathable.

Will a mosquito net stop sandflies and midges?

Standard polyester nets may not stop the smallest midges (no-see-ums) and sandflies. Cotton nets stop most of them because the fibrous nature of cotton fibres physically deters these very small insects in a way synthetic weaves can’t. If you live in or travel to areas with midges or sandflies, choose cotton.

Can I use a mosquito net if I rent and can’t drill into the ceiling?

Yes — choose a pop-up freestanding mosquito net. It’s a self-supporting structure that sits over the bed without any ceiling fixings.

How long does a good mosquito net last?

A properly made cotton or silk net should last a decade or more with reasonable care. Polyester nets last a decade or longer. The cheap disposable nets sold on Amazon and elsewhere typically last one or two seasons — they’re not the same product.

How do I wash a mosquito net?

Cotton and polyester nets can be machine washed on a gentle cycle in cool water with mild detergent — no bleach, no fabric softener. Hang to dry rather than tumble drying. Silk nets should be hand washed or dry cleaned.

What size mosquito net do I need?

Match the net size to your mattress size: Twin/Single, Double/Full, Queen, King/Cal King, Super King, or Crib for cribs and bassinets. When between sizes, always size up — a slightly larger net drapes better and seals more effectively at floor level.

Are mosquito nets safe for babies and children?

Yes, and we make a dedicated Crib/Baby size with safe attachment for nurseries. Mosquito nets are one of the safest forms of insect protection for infants because they involve no chemicals, no electricity, and no contact with the skin.

Do you ship to the United States?

Yes. We ship free throughout the mainland USA from our warehouse in North Carolina. Silk canopies ship from our Australian workshop.

Why aren’t you on Amazon?

Deliberately. We sell direct so we can provide expert advice, stand behind every product, and keep prices fair without paying Amazon’s marketplace fees. Twenty-six years specialising in one product means we’d rather talk to our customers ourselves.

Where to Start

If you’ve read this far, you know more about mosquito nets than most of the people selling them. Now go pick one:

Shop all mosquito nets: All Mosquito Nets.

Still not sure which one? Contact us — Frank or Bronwyn will reply personally.

— Frank Taylor, MosquitoNets.com