Best organic mattress 2024: Jump Menu
1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall: Avocado Green
3. Best luxury: PlushBeds Botanical Bliss
4. Best memory foam: Essentia Classic Eight
5. Best for side sleepers: Birch Luxe Natural
6. Best firm: Zenhaven Latex
7. Best innerspring: Naturepedic Chorus
8. How to choose
9. How we test
10. Meet the team
11. Organic mattress FAQs
We spend roughly one-third of our lives in bed, so it's worth paying attention to what you're sleeping on. Where some mattresses contain questionable materials, organic mattresses are made without harmful substances or chemicals. Better for you and the environment, there's no surprise these beds are quickly rising in popularity.
Most organic mattresses are constructed with non-toxic, natural fabrics, like latex, bamboo, wool, or cotton, and will have certifications to back up their claims. Acting as a substitute for synthetic memory foam that struggles to biodegrade, these eco-friendly alternatives aim to offer a good night's sleep without cost to the earth. But don't think you're sacrificing your comfort for your conscience. Organic mattresses aren't only better for the environment but have a range of benefits for your sleep. They're naturally hypoallergenic and sleep cooler and last longer than other beds.
However, these mattresses will cost you, and are among the most expensive beds you can buy. That's why we've deep-dived into our best mattress reviews to find the best organic options out there. Tried, tested, and ranked for eco-friendly materials, special features, and overall value for money, these are the best mattresses for those trying to be more sustainable at home.
After graduating with a MA in International Journalism, Louise started her journey to better sleep working in PR for a luxury bedding brand. Joining the other side of the desk as eCommerce Editor first at Real Homes and then at Homes and Gardens, Louise brings bags of bedding expertise to help you wind down well. A connoisseur of the mattress world she's tried, tested, and reviewed some of the top sleep products - and has all the know-how when it comes to finding the best bed for you.
Best organic mattress deals
It's the best time of the year to bag a big-ticket item, such as a mattress, at a major discount. Since organic mattresses tend to be more expensive than their cheap and cheerful synthetic sisters, it's always worth taking advantage of a good deal. Here are a few of our favorites.
The quick list
If you're set on buying an organic mattress and you just want the headlines for the best one to buy, here's a quick guide to our tried-and-tested favorites. There's more information further down the guide.
The best organic mattress overall
We love the sustainable credentials that come with this mattress. It might be too firm for sensitive sleepers, but is generally good.
The best for luxury
With fully customizable depth and firmness, this mattress can be adjusted to suit your sleeping needs. It could have better motion isolation though.
The best for memory foam
The perfect eco-friendly alternative to memory foam, this mattress is cooling and responsive to sleep positions. However, it's quite expensive.
The best for side sleepers
Taking luxury to the next level, this mattress is crafted with cashmere and features cooling technology too. It's more expensive than the Birch Natural, but luxurious nevertheless.
The best for firmness
Organic, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and all natural, this is a fantastic firm mattress. It's quite expensive, so watch the sales for discounts.
The best for innersprings
If you're allergic to latex, this softer option is a much-loved wool alternative. It has less bounce and an initial farm-smell, but this dissipates quickly.
The best organic mattress in 2024
You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The best organic mattress overall
Buy it if
✅ You're a light sleeper: this has excellent motion isolation
✅ You're a cautious buyer: this has a one-year trial and 25-year warranty
✅ You're a vegan: this comes with vegan options
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're a side sleeper: this is quite firm
❌ You're on a budget: the pillow top costs $400 extra
❌ You'll need help setting up: white-glove delivery costs another $245
The bottom line
🔎 Avocado Green covering all bases, this soft, sustainable bed is brilliant for a range of sleepers, but is expensive
We gave Avocado top spot here because it's made from organic cotton, wool, and latex, all sustainably sourced from organic farms. If you need to sleep soundly, this won't weigh on your conscience, nor will it come with chemical smells or any hidden fiberglass.
These are just a few of the reasons this is popular with people who have chemical sensitivities, plus there's a vegan Avocado mattress available which doesn't use wool.
In our tests, this performed excellently. The balance of latex and coils means that this is a much more cooling mattress than memory foam options, without many compromises. The Avocado Green has excellent motion isolation, so even light sleepers won't wake up if they have a partner who moves a lot in their sleep.
It's worth noting that the bed becomes much comfier with the pillowtop. Unfortunately, this will require another $500 from you. If you want the softest topper, you'll need to set aside another $1,300 which is about enough to buy another whole mattress with. We thought this was expensive at base price anyway.
Read more: Avocado Green Mattress review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainabliity | All-organic, sustainably sourced materials | ★★★★★ |
| Plushness | Firm, but could be too firm for some | ★★★★ |
| Motion control | Great motion control | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Very expensive, especially with extras | ★★★ |
The best luxury organic mattress
Buy it if
✅ You want a bespoke mattress: this is customizable
✅ You're looking for luxury: this feels incredibly premium
✅ You're a hot sleeper: this is breathable
Don't buy it if:
❌ You will adjust if often: this can be heavy
❌ You're a light sleeper: the motion isolation could be better
❌ You're on a budget: this is expensive
The bottom line
🔎 PlushBeds Botanical Bliss this offers premium, bespoke features with adjustable thickness and comfort, but it coould have better motion isolation
If your sleep requires some customization, look no further. We found you can zip and unzip layers of latex to achieve the perfect depth and firmness for your sleeping needs.
The latex mattress is hand-crafted with a GOTS-certified organic cotton cover, over 10 pounds of temperature-regulating GOTs-certified wool (also a natural flame retardant), and three layers of latex, including Talalay latex layers for comfort, followed by two Dunlop latex layers for pressure support.
These interchangeable layers make it a top pick for all sleep styles, and those unsure about which mattress firmness to choose. If you have a partner who prefers a completely different mattress feeling, the availability of split queen, king, and California king models ensures that everyone can sleep happy. Our tester loved how the latex offers a buoyant feeling that gently cradles the pressure points of your body. It's a responsive feel that won't leave you feeling like you're sinking.
However, this mattress could have better motion isolation. While we loved that you can adjust the depth and firmness, on test we found that the heavy layers make this a pretty tedious process. As always with organic mattresses, this is a pretty expensive option. For those looking for a vegan option, the Natural Bliss Mattress is comparable in construction and design and uses a combination of hydrated silica and plant fibers as a natural fire barrier instead of wool.
Read more: PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Organic Latex
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainabliity | Brilliant organic credentials | ★★★★★ |
| Plushness | Customizable levels of firmness | ★★★★★ |
| Motion control | Could be better | ★★★ |
| Value | Expensive | ★★★ |
The best memory foam organic mattress
Buy it if
✅ You want a soft mattress: this feels like memory foam
✅ You have pets or allergies: its hypoallergenic
✅ You're a hot sleeper: this is cooler than memory foam
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a thick mattress: this is 10" at most
❌ You're a side-sleeper: this could be too firm for you
❌ You're on a budget: this is expensive
The bottom line
🔎 Essentia Classic Eight this is a little thin, but brilliant if you have allergies
The secret behind this uncannily soft mattress is a latex-based foam which replicates the feeling that memory foam lovers - like our tester - can't and won't give up. We actually found it's even better than lots of memory foam mattresses; it sleeps a little cooler and reacts faster to your body.
The Classic 8 mattress is best for stomach and back sleepers and offers a firm feel our tester found to be excellent for pressure relief and spinal alignment. The mattress is allergy friendly and hypoallergenic, and completely resistant to dust mites and other allergens.
This foam is also fully vegan. Like other organic beds it is made from rubber latex, mixed with other essential natural and organic ingredients that once combined help to achieve a distinctive feel and proper consistency suitable for mattress making.
Essentia claims that this mattress can sleep up to five degrees cooler than your body temperature, but while it was certainly cool, we didn't experience this big of a drop on on test. It's expensive, and it's also a little thin, as it's only available in 10" thickness. It also has a long-lasting off-gassing smell.
Read more: Essentia Classic REM5 review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainabliity | Fantastic organic version of memory foa, | ★★★★★ |
| Plushness | Could be too thin and too firm for some | ★★★ |
| Motion control | Generally good | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Really reasonable price | ★★★★★ |
The best organic mattress for side sleepers
Buy it if
✅ You want a medium-firm mattress: this offers support and comfirt
✅ You're a hot sleeper: this is cooling
✅ You sleep at the edges: this has brilliant edge support
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a firm mattress: this could be too soft for some
❌ You're on a budget: this comes with a luxury price tag
❌ You're vegan: whilst cashmere is temperature regulating it's not always accepted as vegan
The bottom line
🔎 Birch Luxe Natural it doesn't get more luxurious than an all organic, cashmere mattress with zoned lumbar support, but this has the price tag to match it
The Birch Luxe Natural Mattress is everything side sleepers could want in a mattress: it sleeps cool, features luxurious eco-friendly materials (cashmere, anyone?), and offers the right amount of support just where you need it.
A medium-firm feel makes the Birch Luxe a popular option amongst side sleepers. Some reviewers found it too soft for their liking, but our tester felt the mattress offered the right balance of comfort and support. It also is naturally cooling and temperature regulating, with its combination of cotton cover, ultra-fine cashmere, naturally hygroscopic wool, and buoyant Talalay latex that allows for better airflow.
The Birch Luxe is the premium upgrade to the Birch Natural Mattress. It has an organic quilted cotton cover, to add to the sustainable material choices. Non-toxic and handmade in the USA, this mattress is free from any polyurethane foams and harmful chemicals (eg. fire retardants, formaldehyde, or pesticides) with the correct certifications to keep you safe.
Read more: Birch Luxe Natural mattress review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainabliity | Made from responsibly sourced materials | ★★★★★ |
| Plushness | Could be too soft for some | ★★★★ |
| Motion control | Generally good | ★★★★★★ |
| Value | Expensive, but could be more considering it uses cashmere | ★★★★ |
The best firm organic mattess
Buy it if
✅ You want versatility: this has a gentle firm side and flips for a plush side
✅ You have back pain: this offers plenty of support
✅ You're looking for luxury: this feels like a premium mattress
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're on a budget: this is expensive
❌ You don't have a quality bed frame: this will void your warranty
❌ You're a side sleeper: this will be too firm
The bottom line
🔎 Zenhaven Latex crafted with natural latex, this firm mattress can flip for a plusher feel too. It comes with plenty of support, but is expensive
If you're after a firm mattress, this organic option from Saatva is made from 100% natural latex, which is organic, hypoallergenic, and antimicrobial.
The Zenhaven utilizes five different zones of varying latex density, such as an increased lumbar region support and a latex support core for added durability. Our tester found this felt more breathable and buoyant than any type of memory foam, which is incredibly impressive.
Most organic designs feature a luxurious plush top for a zero-gravity feel, but our tests found that those looking for a firmer mattress will enjoy the firm support of the Zenhaven. The design is flippable, depending on your desired firmness, which will give stomach and back sleepers uplifting, pressure-free support. It also sleeps incredibly cool, standing up to two summer heatwaves.
However, you have to bear in mind that this mattress is very expensive, costing more than $3000 for a queen outside of sales periods. If you like the brand, Saatva's Classic mattress is one of our favorites and, with frequent sales periods, usually $1000 cheaper, but it's not organic.
Read more: Saatva Zenhaven Natural Latex Mattress review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainabliity | All organic materials | ★★★★★ |
| Plushness | Can flip for different firmness | ★★★★★ |
| Motion control | Generally good | ★★★★★★ |
| Value | Expensive | ★★★ |
The best innerspring organic mattress
Don't buy it if:
❌ You sleep at the edges: the edge support could be better
❌ You're sensitive to smell: there's an initial faint wool smell
❌ You wand a sink-in mattress: this is firm
The bottom line
🔎 Naturepedic Chorus totally free from latex, but with lots of support, this is a fantastic option for back pain. Although it lacks support at the edges.
The organic mattress industry is dominated by latex models; for a softer option with less bounce, this is a much-loved wool mattress. Naturepedic is best known for its eco-friendly baby bedding, but the Naturepedic Chorus Mattress is one of the best (and only) organic innerspring mattresses you can buy.
As our tester confirms, it has great support and comfort thanks to the combination of coils and wool. The top cover is made from organic wool, organic cotton, and PLA (a fiber made from non-GMO sugarcane), followed by a layer of micro-coils designed to help relieve pressure. Naturepedic manufactures its own encased coils, made of high carbon content steel, heat-tempering, and extra turns to ensure long-lasting durability and good motion isolation. Their mattresses are also made without adhesives or glue.
Due to the organic nature, some buyers have noted an initial farm-like smell due to the wool that does dissipate, and others mentioned the edge support could be better. This is also incredibly firm. It's perfect if you love a foam bed, but if you need something even slightly softer, you have to look elsewhere.
Read more: Naturepedic Chorus Mattress review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainabliity | All organic materials and latex free | ★★★★★ |
| Plushness | Not consistent to the edge | ★★★ |
| Motion control | Generally good, but could be improved | ★★★★★ |
| Value | Great price | ★★★★★ |
How to choose the best organic mattress for you
To choose the bed of your dreams, there is a 5 step guide you can follow to find the right bed for you, based on comfort, cost, and features that meet your needs. But when it comes to an organic mattress, there are a couple more things you should look out for.
A mattress can be labeled and marketed as organic if it contains just 30 percent organic material. For instance, some "bamboo" mattresses are actually mostly rayon. When it comes to choosing your organic mattress, you'll want to make sure your mattress contains 100 percent non-toxic materials. To recognize whether your mattress is fully organic – or not – you'll want to look out for the following:
Material:
Some mattress materials like memory foam, are made with chemical-based flame retardant chemicals. Natural organic mattresses will be made from alternatives such as wool or cotton.
Certifications:
Mattresses made with 100 percent organic materials will be GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified for cotton or wool, GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified for latex, and CERTIPUR-US foams if you can't part with memory foam. Organic mattresses should also have a MADE SAFE certification, which ensures no harmful chemicals or substances were used during the manufacturing process.
How we tested these organic mattresses
Our mattress reviews are based on the first-hand experience of using these products at home. Testers sleep on each featured mattress for at least a month and will often return to their reviews months later to keep you up-to-date with how a mattress fares in the long term. There's more detail in our explainer of how we test mattresses, and for more general insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our how we test review guidelines.
When it comes to testing the best organic mattresses, they go through a more rigorous process. With sustainability and eco-friendly claims at the forefront, we aim to ensure there is no evidence of greenwashing or false marketing when it comes to certifications and materials. In doing so, we research manufacturing, and test the beds ourselves to ensure brands are truthful.
All of the mattresses on this best list with rankings have been personally reviewed by members of our team, who take into account value for the money, construction, comfort, and support, with various tests to consider factors like edge support, and motion transfer, and spinal alignment. Meet our team of expert testers below:
Meet the team
Alex Temblador has covered home, design, architecture, and art in publications like Real Homes, Dwell, Architectural Digest, Artsy, Neighborhoods.com, and Culture Trip, among many others. In addition to her mattress reviewing duties, Alex puts a range of home and garden equip through their paces for Homes & Gardens.
Antonia has worked in media and publishing for over a decade at brands like The New York Times, People, Entertainment Weekly, and Page Six. She now works on the Audience Development team at our parent company Future.
Our former sleep ecommerce editor, Jaclyn frequently tests out and stays up to date on all things mattresses and bedding. She's not willing to sacrifice comfort or value and is after a mattress that makes it easy to sleep through the night. In addition to Homes & Gardens, you can find her work in Real Homes, Livingetc, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, and The Spruce. She lives in Atlanta, GA.
Kaitlin Madden is Executive Editor at Homes & Gardens. She is also the co-founder of the The Finish, an interior design start-up which offers home decorating services on demand.
Kaitlin reviewed the Birch Luxe, finding that this exceptional mattress 'makes you feel like you’re at a posh hotel'.
FAQs
Why buy an organic mattress?
There are both environmental and health reasons to opt for an organic mattress. Here's why you should buy an organic mattress:
1. They're sustainably made and ethically sourced
An organic mattress is made with sustainability in mind. They use natural, renewable materials like latex and cotton which is better on the environment. They'll often be made in fair-trade environments too and are biodegradable. For the eco-conscious, they take into account their environmental impact by working to offset their carbon footprint and to keep product out of landfills.
2. They're non-toxic
The mattress industry is notoriously known for not being the most transparent about its materials and manufacturing processes, and a lot of it comes down to harmful chemicals involved in the making process. Organic mattress companies are working to hold brands accountable industry-wide as consumers ask more questions about how their mattresses are made.
3. Naturally hypoallergenic
Organic mattresses avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals. This means they're less likely to negatively affect those with skin sensitivities and allergies. Organic mattresses will be free of any chemical flame retardants and PBDEs, formaldehyde, benzene, and even common materials that can pose a hazard like polyurethane.
4. Odorless
Most memory foam mattresses have an off-gassing period after being compressed as unpleasant odors sometimes linger for a few days. Many organic mattresses are GreenGuard certified, meaning they won't have any chemical smells.
5. They tend to sleep cooler
Whether you choose a latex mattress or a hybrid design, organic mattresses tend to sleep much cooler than memory foam designs, as latex by default is cooler than memory foam, which can trap heat.
Why use a latex mattress?
Latex has grown immensely popular in mattresses as it sleeps cooler than memory foam, is durable, supportive, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, dust mite resistant and mold resistant.
Latex is a natural material made from rubber tree sap. Extracting the sap does not harm the tree, making them an extremely ecofriendly and sustainable material. There are also two core types of natural latex, Dunlop and Talalay, which refers to how they were made.
Dunlop latex has a springy feel, that is relatively dense and firm, making it ideal for support but less so for comfort. The manufacturing process, is akin to baking. It's made by filling a mold with liquid latex before using a vulcanization process, leaving the mode denser on the bottom and lighter the top.
Talalay latex has a bouncy, softer feel thanks to its less dense design. It's also considered to be more breathable. It's usually more expensive to produce due to the extra step in the manufacturing process, where air is added to the mold, and ultimately creates a uniform fill and density.
However, not all latex is natural, so when searching for a latex mattress you will want to make sure the type of latex is specified. Some mattresses are partially or completely composed of synthetic latex foam, which is typically made from SBR, or styrene-butadiene rubber. Note, none of the mattresses in guide feature synthetic latex.
Are there vegan mattresses?
Vegan mattresses simply mean that no animals were involved with manufacturing, and will not use materials sourced from animals like feathers, wool, or down.
Not all vegan mattresses are organic, and visa versa. Most organic mattresses, for example, use wool as a natural, non-toxic flame retardant. Memory foam mattresses can technically be vegan, but they're more likely to feature conventional materials that may feature the chemicals you're looking to avoid.
Brands like Naturepedicand Plushbedsoffer vegan mattresses that utilize cotton, and plant-based, nontoxic materials. We've noted whether each of the mattresses in this guide is vegan or has a vegan alternative.
Can memory foam mattresses be organic?
Memory foam mattresses are not organic, because at their core they are made from synthetic materials, but they can be eco-friendly. If you can't quite give up the feel of memory foam, seek out makes that only use CERTIPUR-US foams, which means they're low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to minimize off-gassing and be free of ozone depleters; PBDEs, TDCPP, and TCEP flame retardants; mercury, lead, and other heavy metals; formaldehyde; and phthalates.
Some brands have created their own 'memory foam', such as Essentia with its proprietary latex memory foam formed from hevea milk. This is the milky white "sap" of the Rubber tree.
If you're trying to shop sustainability (it is a tricky task, but worth it), there are bedding products you can buy too that are made from materials that are better for the earth. The best bed sheets made from bamboo, for example, don't require any pesticides, fertilizers, or irrigation to produce – and they're incredibly soft.
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