The 7 best organic mattresses of 2024, tested and reviewed
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Awara, Parachute, Avocado; Business Insider
Earth needs our help. We can make a big difference by shopping for sustainably produced items made of natural, non-toxic materials. Fortunately, the best mattress companies have organic and natural options. These beds have the added benefit of being free of harsh chemicals that can exacerbate allergies and negatively impact indoor air quality. Organic mattresses literally help you breathe easier.
I've tested over 90 mattresses, toured an organic-certified factory, and interviewed experts to find the best organic mattresses based on comfort, sustainability, and our objective tests. The Birch Natural Mattress by Helix is our top pick because it's certified organic and provides impressive pressure relief for all sleep positions. Our budget option, the sub-$1,000 Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress, costs about 35 percent less and has a medium-firm feel ideal for stomach and back sleepers. However, the edge support and motion isolation are just average.
Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.
Our best organic mattress recommendations, tested and reviewed
Best overall: Birch Natural Mattress by Helix — See at Birch
Best budget: Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress — See at Awara
Best for side sleepers: WinkBeds EcoCloud Hybrid Mattress — See at WinkBeds
Best for combination sleepers: Avocado Green Mattress — See at Avocado
Best luxury: Essentia Classic REM5 Organic Mattress — See at Essentia
Best latex-free: Parachute Eco Mattress — See at Parachute
Best cooling: PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Organic Latex Mattress — See at PlushBeds
What is an organic mattress?
"Organic" is a vague term advertisers use to chase the eco-conscious dollar. I was careful to develop strict criteria for organic mattresses in this guide. It's not uncommon for a brand to market its products as eco-friendly, natural, and sustainable, but that doesn't mean it's wholly organic, even if some of the materials were sustainably produced. I define an organic mattress as one primarily made of GOTS, GOLS, or eco-Institut-certified materials. These third-party organizations evaluate textiles to ensure they are made of at least 95 percent certified organic materials, which offer environmental and health benefits.
Officially, "Organic textile fibers are grown without the use of synthetic chemicals or pesticides," said Bükra Kalaycı, Responsible, Standard Development and Implementation (Ecology) at Global Standard, which manages GOTS. "Organic mattresses typically use materials such as cotton, wool, and latex."
I don't consider a mattress with memory foam organic, as it's made of chemicals that can emit VOCs that may cause respiratory distress, though the science is still out on that. None of the mattresses in this guide contain memory foam.
Instead, I chose beds mostly made of organic latex, wool, and cotton, though hybrids also feature steel coils, which aren't organic. For more details, check out the what to look for and FAQ sections below.
Best overall
The Birch Natural Mattress by Helix is the best organic mattress because it's comfortable to sleep on and features a long list of certifications, including Greenguard Gold and Fair Trade certification, and it's made in the USA.
Three layers of wool serve as a comfort layer, provide temperature regulation, and work as a natural fire retardant. The eco-Institut-certified Talalay latex acts as a pressure-relieving layer followed by a base layer of individually wrapped pocket springs that give it outstanding motion isolation and edge support, making it great for couples. The cover is made with GOTS-certified cotton.
Stomach and back sleepers will appreciate the firm feel of the $1,500 Birch Natural Mattress. Side sleepers may want to add on the Plush Organic Mattress Topper, which adds cushioning for a few hundred dollars more. It made the bed much softer, which kept my spine aligned and relieved my pressure points.
My thin, 6-foot-5 kid slept on the mattress long term. They also preferred the Birch with the topper, finding it did an excellent job of soothing their growing pains. However, they tended to overheat on hotter summer nights.
Birch offers a 100-night sleep trial. However, a $99 removal fee is deducted from your refund if you return the mattress. Birch tries to donate, recycle, or repurpose all returned mattresses.
Best budget
We tested several mattresses under $500 for our best cheap mattresses guide. At that price, though, you're unlikely to find certified organic mattresses. Still, at under $1,000, the Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress is an incredible deal for a Greenguard Gold-certified bed.
Best of all, it's comfortable. The medium-firm support earned it the stomach-sleeper pick in our best mattress guide. While testing the Awara, I tended to prefer stomach sleeping, though I could sleep in any position. I didn't experience any soreness during the two-week testing period, and I didn't overheat, as the mattress dissipated heat well.
The plush Eurotop is made of organic New Zealand wool and offers added comfort. Next is a layer of Forest Stewardship Council-certified (FSC) Dunlop latex for a responsive, body-contouring feel. Individually wrapped pocket springs make up the bottom layer lending the mattress durability and support. The bed's textiles are OEKO-TEX certified.
The Awara's motion isolation and edge support were middle-of-the-pack, though it barely failed our motion isolation test and offered good bounce.
The mattress is backed by an impressive 365-night home trial and a forever warranty. The return policy doesn't appear to have any catches. If you decide to return it, Awara will try to donate it locally or simply dispose of it.
Best for side sleepers
The medium feel of the WinkBeds EcoCloud provides optimal spinal alignment for side sleepers, which is why we made it the top pick in our guide to the best mattresses for side sleepers. Still, it's supportive enough for petite-to-average stomach and back sleepers.
The Rainforest Alliance-certified EcoCloud is made in the US and features OEKO-TEX-certified textiles. The top latex layer provides bounce and responsive support. The individually wrapped pocket springs are made of recycled steel and provide zoned support for spinal alignment and pressure relief where your body needs it most. The coils around the perimeter of the bed give it impressive edge support. The cover is made of GOTS-certified cotton and breathable wool.
I slept on the EcoCloud a little longer than usual, waiting for new mattresses to test. I loved the pressure relief it afforded as I slept on my side. I fell asleep quickly thanks to the balance of spinal alignment and comfort, which helped me recover from long runs. However, it was one of the hottest mattresses I tested, trapping heat and taking a long time for the heat to dissipate.
Couples will appreciate the impressive edge support and motion isolation. If you don't like the mattress within 120 nights of delivery, you can return it for a full refund. The old mattress is donated or recycled. If you keep the mattress, it's backed by a lifetime warranty.
Best for combination sleepers
The medium firmness of the Avocado Green Mattress makes it a great choice for people who shift positions at night. You'll appreciate Avocado's latex's responsive feel if you like spending time on your stomach, back, and side.
The Avocado Green features eco-friendly certifications, including Made Safe, Greenguard Gold, and Climate Neutral. The GOTS-certified cotton and Responsible Wool Standard-certified wool give the mattress moisture-wicking, breathability, anti-microbial, and fire-resistance properties.
The next layer is eco-Institut and GOLS-certified organic Dunlop latex. The latex contoured well to my body to provide excellent pressure relief. The base of individually wrapped pocket springs divided into zones creates the ideal balance of spinal alignment and pressure relief where you need it most.
The bed is available in Firm, Medium, and Plush feels. The Plush and Medium are pricier as they contain additional latex. As a side sleeper who often flips onto my back or stomach, I felt comfortable sleeping on the Medium. I loved how cool the mattress stayed. The Avocado Green has pronounced bounce, but the edge support and motion isolation were so-so.
The Avocado Green comes with a one-year home trial, but it's full of catches. If you return the mattress, a $99 return fee and shipping fees are deducted from your refund. The mattress must still have its law tag, be in donateable condition, and be rotated monthly for the first six months. Avocado has these standards because it donates 90% of returned mattresses to nonprofits.
Best luxury
While many latex mattresses feature a combination of latex and individually wrapped coils, the Essentia Classic REM5 Organic Mattress is essentially all latex foam. The brand's factory and the mattress are GOLS and GOTS-certified organic. The cover is made of breathable organic cotton and can be removed for easy cleaning. Below that is a Kevlar fabric liner for fire resistance.
The core of the REM5 consists of three foam layers. The top organic latex foam layer is designed for pressure relief and features activated quartz for cooling. The middle layer is similar, only lacking the quartz. It balances pressure relief and back support. The organic latex base offers durability and support for optimal spinal alignment.
The Essentia REM5 comes in two support options. Mid Contour offers elevated support, ideal for back and stomach sleepers. Fior Contour, what I tested, lets you drop into the mattress more, making it better for side sleepers. You can choose between 8 and 10-inch thicknesses. The difference is purely aesthetic, with the thicker mattress costing about $1,200 more. I tested the thinner mattress.
Lastly, for $600 more, you can get the EMF protection foam upgrade. EMFs, or electric and magnetic fields, are invisible energy areas referred to as radiation. It's unclear if it's harmful or if the protection foam will protect against any harm. I didn't test this and can't speak to its effectiveness.
I slept great while testing the REM5. I mainly gravitated toward my side but slept a little on my stomach. The pressure relief was perfect for soothing any soreness I had. The mattress did a good job of staying cool, which kept me from overheating.
The motion isolation is outstanding. The mattress passed our bowling ball test. However, the edge support was subpar. I didn't feel supported when lying on the side of the bed.
Essentia offers a 120-night sleep trial. However, if you return your mattress, a nine percent return fee is deducted from your refund. That's close to $400, much more than most manufacturers. Fortunately, Essentia makes a point of donating or recycling any returned mattresses so they don't end up in a landfill.
Best latex-free
Most organic mattresses we've tested feature some type of latex, but the latex feel isn't for everybody. If you want to go green but don't want latex, consider the Parachute Eco Mattress, an innerspring mattress design. It's made of steel coils and wool sourced from the Wool Integrity program and has no foam.
The Parachute mattress's cover is made of organic cotton for breathability. The top layer features two sheets of wool to help regulate temperature. Below are three steel micro-coil layers that offer motion isolation and pressure relief. Next, a layer of flame-resistant wool separates the micro-coils above from the pocket coils beneath. The pocket coils feature zoned support, with the middle third supplying firmer support to keep your spine aligned. These coils also help with motion isolation and durability. Lastly, a base layer of wool padding helps with fire resistance.
Business Insider contributor Kylie Joyner tested the Parachute Eco Mattress and loved how the medium-firm feel kept her comfortable on her side and stomach. She was impressed with the pressure relief and didn't wake up with aches, pains, or stiffness during the testing period. The motion isolation kept her from being disturbed when her partner rolled over at night.
Parachute provides a 100-night sleep trial. If you return your mattress, the company will fully refund you. The returned mattress will either be recycled or donated locally.
Read our full Parachute Mattress review.
Best cooling
We test mattresses' cooling abilities using an infrared thermometer to take surface readings before lying down, right after getting up, and two minutes after that. Comparing these temperatures shows how cool a mattress stays and how well it dissipates heat. While the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Mattress dissipated heat OK, it's among the best I've tested at staying cool. When a mattress stays cool, it doesn't need to dissipate much heat.
The Botanical Bliss's cooling properties are likely due to the breathable materials used in the top three layers, which are GOTS-certified organic. First, the cotton cover is circular knit to help with pressure relief. Below that, a layer of wool provides natural fire resistance and moisture wicking. Then, a cotton panel keeps the wool in place.
Two layers of latex make up the bulk of the mattress. The eco-Institut-certified latex comfort layer balances support and pressure relief. The GOLS-certified Dunlop latex base lends durability, pressure relief, and support. The mattress as a whole is also Greenguard Gold certified.
The mattress comes in three thicknesses: 9, 10, and 12 inches. I tested the 10-inch. The 12-inch version features an additional latex comfort layer. There are two firmness options: Medium and Medium-Firm. Couples with different firmness preferences can opt for the split mattress in queen sizes and larger. The Medium I tested felt closer to a medium firm. I mainly slept on my side, my preferred position, but often, I felt more comfortable on my stomach, a position better suited for firmer mattresses.
The bed sank significantly when sitting on the side, but I felt supported when lying on the edge. The motion isolation was pretty good. The PlushBeds Botanical Bliss failed our bowling ball test but had decent vibrometer readings. And the bounce was great.
PlushBeds offers a full refund if you return the mattress, though it requires some work. You must coordinate donating the mattress or dropping it off at the company or FedEx. Or, for a $149 fee, PlushBeds will coordinate the removal of your mattress, which will then be donated or recycled.
The top pick in our best cooling mattress guide, the Nest Bedding Finch, is made of natural latex and organic cotton, but it also features memory foam, which disqualifies it for this guide as it isn't fully organic.
What to look for in an organic mattress
James Brains/Business Insider
Our guide on choosing a mattress shares basic buying advice, like what bed is best for your body and sleep position and what size you should buy. This section will focus on what to look for in the best organic mattresses.
Certifications
Third-party certifications tell you if a mattress lives up to its "organic" label. The GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) are the leading certifications for organic mattresses. A mattress must be made of at least 95 percent certified organic materials for GOTS certification. For GOLS, it must be 95 percent organic latex.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and Greenguard Gold are good certifications to look for as they show the materials aren't made with harmful chemicals that may cause health issues.
Other common certifications include:
- eco-Institut: Mainly certifies latex is free from toxic chemicals.
- Fair Trade Certified: This standard ensures materials are ethically sourced and workers are paid sufficiently.
- Forest Stewardship Council: Look for this certification if you want to ensure that materials like latex come from responsibly managed forests.
- Rainforest Alliance: To get this certification, materials must be environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.
- CertiPUR-US: This is a certification for polyurethane foams that are free of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and low VOC. Foams aren't organic, but it's still good to look for in non-organic beds.
Materials
Organic mattresses don't have classic polyurethane foam, as memory foam doesn't occur naturally. However, latex foams are popular organic materials. Here's a breakdown of popular organic mattress materials:
Dunlop latex: This denser latex material is often used for support and durability in mattresses. It can also give the bed a firmer feel.
Talalay latex: Requiring a more involved manufacturing process than Dunlop, Talalay is usually softer and found in the comfort layers of a mattress.
Cotton: Often used in organic mattress covers, cotton is breathable, hypoallergenic, and low maintenance.
Wool: Thanks to its flame-resistant properties, wool is a popular fire retardant in mattresses. It also breathes well and is anti-microbial. However, since it comes from sheep, it isn't vegan.
Metal coils: Hybrid mattresses feature pocket springs made of metal, usually steel. Some manufacturers use recycled metal to make their coils.
How we test organic mattresses
James Brains/Business Insider
I sleep on mattresses for at least two weeks and put them through several objective tests to assess their edge support, comfort, cooling, and motion isolation.
Here are some of the results for the main attributes we tested:
Attribute | Birch | Awara | WinkBeds EcoCloud | Avocado Green | Essentia REM5 | Parachute | PlushBeds Botanical Bliss |
Firmness (1 softest to 10 firmest) | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Motion Isolation (1 awful to 10 best) | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
Edge Support (1 awful to 10 best) | 9 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | |
Heat Dissipation (1 traps heat to 10 stays cool) | 4 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 9 |
Trial Period (nights) | 100 | 365 | 120 | 365 | 120 | 100 | 100 |
Warranty (years) | 25 years | Lifetime | Lifetime | 25 | 20 | 10 | Lifetime |
Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:
Comfort: I've slept on over 90 mattresses, and based on my experience, I can tell how supportive, firm, spine-aligning, and pressure-relieving a mattress is. I also assess what sleep positions a mattress is best suited for. I track my sleep quality using a smartwatch and use an infrared thermometer to measure heat dissipation.
Motion isolation: When sleeping, you don't want your partner to jostle you awake. Mattresses with good motion isolation protect against this. I drop a bowling ball from 4 feet above the mattress so it lands 12 inches from an upright soda can. The can will stay upright on a bed with excellent motion isolation. I also measure the vibration intensity on the other side of the mattress using a vibrometer.
Edge support: You'll have trouble feeling comfortable on a bed with edges that sink significantly. Poor edge support also makes it unpleasant to sit on the side to put your shoes on, and getting into and out of bed becomes a hassle. I measure how much the edge sinks when I sit on it and see how far I can roll on the side before falling off.
Trial and warranty: The home trial is crucial because it lets you find out if the mattress is right for you by allowing you to sleep on it at home. I read the small print of return policies and warranties to look for loopholes, like restocking fees or return shipping charges. Also, I contacted the companies to find out what they do with returned mattresses, whether donating, recycling, or throwing them away.
Setup: I set up each mattress on my own, though you should probably have someone help you. I note if the bed comes with instructions or tools and if there's anything unusual or difficult about the process. I also rate how easy it is to maneuver since you may have to move your bed a few times over its lifetime.
Environmental certifications: I narrowed down the list of prospective mattresses according to reputable third-party certifications like GOTS, GOLS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and Greenguard Gold and took a close look at the materials.
For more details, check out our article on how we test mattresses.
Organic mattress FAQs
James Brains/Business Insider
What is the best material for organic mattresses?
Latex is used in the majority of organic mattresses we've tested because it's naturally occurring and often sustainably produced. Wool and cotton are also popular materials. While metal isn't exactly organic, it's often found alongside organic materials in hybrid mattresses.
Are all latex mattresses organic?
"Not all latex mattresses are organic," said Kalaycı. "Organic latex mattresses are specifically made from latex that has received organic certification at the source. While latex is a natural polymer derived from nature, the source may not necessarily hold an organic certification."
What is the difference between Talalay and Dunlop latex?
The difference is in how the latex is processed. Dunlop is a less processed latex, denser, and often used as a supportive core foam in mattresses. Talalay requires more involved processing to make it softer. It's often used in the comfort layers of organic mattresses.
Are organic mattresses worth it?
Organic mattresses are valued for their potential health benefits for people sensitive to chemicals, eco-friendliness, and use of sustainable materials and manufacturing processes. However, they are usually more expensive, costing $600 to $700 more than traditional hybrid (generally around $1,500) and foam mattresses (averaging about $1,100). This added cost may be worth it if you value sustainable materials free of harsh chemicals.
What is the difference between an organic and natural mattress?
"While the terms 'organic' and 'natural' are often used interchangeably, this is wrong," said Kalaycı. "There is a clear distinction and well-established system behind organic. Organic mattresses are made from materials that are certified organic, meeting strict standards for organic production. On the other hand, natural mattresses may contain natural materials but are not necessarily certified organic, meaning their raw materials and industrial production may still contain some hazardous ingredients."