How to Choose a Mosquito Net in India: Bed, Baby and Door Nets Explained

Short answer: For an adult bed, pick a foldable frame net sized to your mattress (single beds need about 3 x 6.5 ft, double beds about 6 x 6 ft) if you want it gone during the day, or a hanging canopy net (machardani) if you sleep in the same spot every night and want the lowest price. For babies under 2, choose an umbrella-style foldable baby net or a baby bed with a zip-up net cover. To stop mosquitoes getting into the house at all, add a magnetic door screen to the balcony or kitchen door. Whatever the type, check the mesh: commonly cited guidance is at least 156 holes per square inch to keep mosquitoes out.

October is the tail end of the monsoon, and water left standing after the rains keeps mosquito numbers high in most Indian cities. This guide explains the net types sold in India, what to check on a listing, and the mosquito net prices we have tracked on Amazon.

The four types of mosquito net sold in India

Type	Best for	Set-up	Tracked deal prices
Foldable frame net (bed)	Adults who want the net off the bed during the day	Springs open like a tent, folds flat into a disc	₹349 to ₹569
Hanging canopy net (machardani)	One fixed bed, lowest cost	Tied to hooks, a ceiling ring or bed posts	from ₹242
Baby net (umbrella or bed with net)	Infants and toddlers, travel	Pops open over a baby, or zips over a small mattress	₹234 to ₹1,299
Magnetic door screen	Keeping insects out of a room or the whole flat	Hook-and-loop frame around the door, magnets close it behind you	₹514

Foldable frame nets

A foldable net has a sprung frame sewn into the mesh. You open it over the bed like a tent and twist it back into a flat disc in the morning. It needs no hooks or drilling, which suits rented flats. The trade-off is a fixed height and size. A foldable net only fits the bed size it was made for, and a tall person sitting up may touch the mesh. Measure your mattress before ordering, and check whether the listing says "bottomless" (it sits over the mattress) or "with base cloth" (you lie inside it).

Hanging canopy nets (machardani)

The traditional machardani hangs from four corners or a single ceiling ring and tucks under the mattress. It is the cheapest option and covers any bed if you buy the right dimensions. Its weakness is set-up: you need hooks, a frame or bed posts, and a net left hanging all day collects dust. A net that is not tucked in on every side lets mosquitoes in, so tuck it under the mattress, not just to the edge.

Baby nets

Baby nets come in two forms:

• Umbrella or pop-up nets. A small dome that opens over a sleeping baby and folds for travel. Most listings size these for 0 to 6 months, or up to about 2 years.
• Baby beds with a net cover. A padded cotton bed with a zip-up mesh top, so the baby is fully enclosed. These cost more but double as a travel bed.

Many parents prefer a physical net for infants because it keeps mosquitoes off without putting anything on the baby's skin. If you are thinking of using a repellent cream, patch or vaporiser near a baby, ask your paediatrician first.

Magnetic door screens

A magnetic door screen is a two-piece mesh curtain held to the door frame with hook-and-loop (Velcro-style) tape. Magnets down the middle let you walk through hands-free, and the halves snap shut behind you. They are useful on balcony and kitchen doors that stay open for air in the evening, which is when mosquitoes drift indoors. Measure the door opening, not the door. Many screens are sold at around 210 x 100 cm, and a wider opening needs a bigger size.

What to check on the listing before you buy

1. Size against your mattress. Measure the length and width, then add a few inches so the net can be tucked in. Single: about 3 x 6.5 ft. Double: about 6 x 6 ft. For "king size", check the listed dimensions, because sellers use the label for different sizes.
2. Mesh density. The commonly cited minimum for mosquitoes is 156 holes per square inch, and finer mesh (up to around 500 holes) also stops tiny biting insects. Many Indian listings don't state it. If the mesh looks loose and open in the photos, skip it.
3. Material. Polyester mesh is light, cheap and dries fast after washing. Cotton machardani nets breathe better on hot nights but are heavier and slower to dry. Pick cotton if you sleep without AC.
4. Base cloth or bottomless. A net with a sewn-in floor seals completely but is harder to wash and fits only one size. A bottomless net sits over the mattress and depends on a good tuck.
5. Zip or open flap. A zip entry seals better than an overlapping flap. This matters for children who move around a lot at night.
6. Fold-back complaints in reviews. A foldable net is only convenient if it folds back cleanly. Read reviews for complaints about the frame tangling or springs breaking.
7. Washing. Hand-wash in mild detergent and dry in the shade. Don't wring a framed net hard, because that can bend the spring.

Bed net or repellent?

They do different jobs. A net protects you while you sleep. Vaporisers, coils and creams help while you are awake and moving around. The Aedes mosquito, which spreads dengue, mostly bites during the day, so a bed net alone does not cover daytime bites. Use a net at night, and add door screens or a repellent for the daytime.

Mosquito net deals we have tracked

Each price below was verified on the Amazon product page when the deal was posted. Net prices change often, so confirm the price on the store page before you buy.

Bed nets

• BENAVJI foldable machardani double bed net, pure cotton, 6 x 6 ft: ₹349 (MRP ₹1,599)
• Foldable king size mosquito net, white: ₹433 (MRP ₹1,249)
• Mosquito net for double bed: ₹569 (MRP ₹1,999)
• Oriley single bed canopy net, 3.25 x 6.5 ft: ₹242 (MRP ₹599)
• Foldable kids net with base cloth, 1 to 6 years: ₹359 (MRP ₹1,499)

Baby nets and beds

• Mommers foldable baby mosquito net, blue, 0 to 6 months: ₹359 (MRP ₹899)
• Lifelong Cuppy baby net, foldable and bottomless, 0 to 2 years: ₹350 (MRP ₹1,399)
• Classic baby mosquito net with cotton bed, 0 to 12 months: ₹399 (MRP ₹1,499)
• TIDY SLEEP baby bed with mosquito net, 90 x 65 cm: ₹1,299 (MRP ₹2,599)
• Kiddery Ares baby cradle with mosquito net: ₹2,195 (MRP ₹5,999)

Door screens

• Amazon Brand Solimo magnetic mosquito net door screen, 210 x 100 cm: ₹514 (MRP ₹1,499)

For more home and baby deals, browse the offers page.