Only heard of the term organic when it comes to going to the grocery store? Well, turns out, your bed can be organic too. Yup, these sustainable mattresses are very much a thing, and they're becoming pretty popular.
Today's world is all about making more eco-conscious decisions. We're certainly here for it. “An organic mattress is one with certified organic materials, like natural latex, wool, and cotton,” explains Product and Sleep Expert at Avocado (opens in new tab), Annie Graybill. Free from harmful chemicals, and produced with more sustainable practices, if it’s time to upgrade your bed, an organic mattress can look after you and the earth.
And you can take our word for it. We’ve tried, tested, and reviewed some of the best mattresses out there, and these six are the best organic options out there. So if you’re already doing your bit for the planet, good goin', but if not, that’s okay because it's never too late to jump into this eco-friendly bed trend.
The best organic mattresses RN
Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
- Best overall organic mattress: Avocado Green mattress (opens in new tab)
- Best budget organic mattress: Avocado Eco mattress (opens in new tab)
- Best organic mattress for comfort: Birch by Helix natural mattress (opens in new tab)
More about these amazing organic mattresses
From top-rated retailers like Avocado, Awara, and Birch by Helix, these are the top six sustainable mattresses, ranked in order
Avocado has set the gold standard when it comes to organic mattresses. In addition to being certified organic, Avocado is the first mattress brand to achieve Climate Neutral certification and is now fully Carbon Negative. If you're looking for the most responsibly made mattress you can buy from both a health and environmental standpoint, this organic mattress is it.
The eco-factor
Avocado takes complete control over its manufacturing process to ensure that every element of its mattress lives up to its high standard. Latex is sourced from Avocado's farm, wool for the mattress cover comes from a herding collective they're part of, and the mattress itself is handmade in the company's Los Angeles factory. Avocado also donates more than 90 percent of mattress returns and 100 percent of the pillow, mattress topper, and mattress protector returns.
As for the mattress itself, it's a high-quality mattress made from Dunlop latex — a product that is entirely natural, energy-efficient to manufacture, and durable. The latex layer sits atop a layer of up to 1,414 individually-tuned steel coils, and the outer edge of the mattress is reinforced with a steel perimeter for excellent edge support. It's also well-rated for temperature regulation (read: it won't give you night sweats). And if you'd rather try out Avocado's Vegan Mattress (opens in new tab), they're extremely similar except it swaps wool for organic cotton, and it is PETA-approved.
In review
Our reviewer Ann says this mattress "sleeps like a dream". It's rated medium-firm, a comfort level that's ideal for Ann as a back and stomach sleeper. Side sleepers, especially lighter-weight ones, may find the mattress to be too firm, and if you're used to a softer mattress it may take a little getting used to. There is an option to add a 2" latex pillow top to make it plusher, but that comes at an added cost between $400 and $600. Though you can't put a price on wellness, we say.
Read on about our experience in our Avocado Green mattress review
Avocado accomplished something groundbreaking with its newest mattress: it's the most affordable organic mattress on the market. Starting at $799 for a twin-size, and rounding out at $1,599 for a King/Cal King, these cost-saving moves sound almost impossible, believe us.
The eco-factor
How do they do it? Well, they own the sheep, latex farms, and processing centers in India and Guatemala, make the springs themselves, and put it all together in their own L.A. factories— this is how they're able to keep prices low. But more about the mattress...the Eco Organic Mattress is made with up to 988 pocketed coils (made from double-tempered recycled steel) and a single two-inch seamless layer of Dunlop organic latex. It does have fewer coils than its Green counterpart and is considered to sleep softer, but it still excels in offering pressure relief.
What is the Avocado Eco Organic Mattress like to sleep on?
Avocado put's the Eco Organic Mattress right in the middle of the firmness spectrum, at a 5, which is softer than the aforementioned Avocado Green. Our expert reviewer Alex still found this very comfortable, however, despite the fact she typically goes for firmer mattresses. Alex described herself as feeling "weightless" and that it required no downtime for her body to acclimate. She summarizes her experience as comfortable, buoyant, and cozy.
Read our full Avocado Eco Organic Mattress review.
Deciding on the features you want in a mattress can be tough, but there are no compromises to be found when it comes to the Birch Natural mattress by Helix: besides a lengthy list of environmental certifications, it sleeps cool and uses specific densities to create the right amount of pressure relief for a night of comfortable sleep.
The eco-factor
The Birch Natural mattress has environmental standards and certifications comparable to other latex hybrid mattresses, including GOTS and Greenguard-GOLD certifications. What's different? The ones made from wool, organic, of course. Unlike sustainable sister mattresses too, this one has excellent edge support too, thanks in part to the pocket coils at the bottom of the mattress, which are designed to be sturdier around the edge. There's also top-tier motion isolation, because of the wool layer that's designed to retain its shape — you won't be disturbed by the comings and goings of your sleeping partner.
In review
Our reviewer Kaitlin slept on this bed when she was 8 months pregnant and determined that it is on the firmer spectrum of medium, making it ideal for stomach and back sleepers. If you desire to go even softer, a plush pillowtop topper is available as an add-on. It also sleeps cool and eliminated her husband's back pain, making for a winning combination.
Read our full Birch Natural mattress review.
A relatively new addition to the organic landscape, the first all-natural mattress from Nolah, the Nolah Natural 11" Mattress, is a hybrid design that gets it just right when it comes to comfort and support, and its use of organic materials.
The eco-factor
The Nolah Natural is hypoallergenic, sleeps cool, and worked wonders at curbing back pain, providing great cushion to pressure points with the bouncy Talalay latex. It's this specially produced Talalay latex that's to blame. Made from all-natural, non-toxic ingredients, it's a first for Nolah, which predominantly uses memory foam, making it ideal for memory-foam lovers with chemical sensitivities or of course, just want to opt for the eco-friendly option.
In review
The Nolah Natural seems to be best suited toward a side or back sleeper, as the mattress is on the softer side of medium. Our tester Courtney explained that she felt like the mattress perfectly cushions pressure points and that the spinal alignment was spot-on. She also complimented how cool the mattress slept, adding to her comfort at night.
Read our full Nolah Natural 11 mattress review.
If you're looking for an organic mattress that combines support and a cozy feel, the Awara mattress should sit at the top of your list. Perfect for those wanting a bit more bounce, this one contours the body enough to be comfortable. In other words, you'll feel like you're floating, rather than sinking in.
The eco-factor
To help offset their environmental impact, Awara donates 10 trees for every mattress sold. Fantastic! Those donated trees go to Trees for the Future, which helps restore forests in Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, Guinea, and Tanzania. And if that doesn't get you sleeping soundly at night, its plush top covered in smooth organic cotton and soft 100 percent organic New Zealand wool will.
In review
This is another medium-firm mattress that will suit most sleeping positions, especially if you're willing to give it a few minutes to conform to your body. In fact, this is why our tester Lisa, a combo sleeper got on with it so well. In addition to its thick top layer, the Awara mattress is made with a 9" layer of pocket coils that allow for excellent support and motion isolation — but Lisa did find the bouncy, double-thick layer of latex to increase motion transfer, making it somewhat of a trade-off.
Psst! We know it's been a few years since Lisa gave her verdict on the Awara organic mattress, so we're in process of updating her review. Check back in a few months for an up-to-date take on what the Awara is like to sleep on.
Read our full Awara Premier Natural Hybrid Mattress review.
The Saatva original hybrid mattress rates highly in our best mattress guide, so it wouldn't be surprising if this one scores high honors in the eco-friendly area. All of Saatva's mattresses are produced with sustainability in mind and include recycled and organic elements, but the Saatva Latex Hybrid is the brand's entirely organic version.
The eco-factor
For one, it's a hybrid style, which has quickly become one of our favorite mattress types because it pairs the support of a foam-style mattress with the breathability of an innerspring. Even better? It's eco-friendly. Rather than made with foam, the top layer is constructed from all-natural latex, which is Saatva's own creation of Dunlop latex that mimics the feel of what you might be used to. The latex is OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified, and naturally hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. The cover is GOTS-certified organic cotton, and it includes a wool layer that adds natural flame resistance without the need for a chemical fire retardant. Bonus points: the innerspring coils are made from recycled steel. Plus, it doesn't come stuffed in a box. White-Glove delivery is on the house.
In review
We're yet to get the full sleep experience on this luxury option, but if it's anything as good as the Saatva Classic, we have high hopes. Stay tuned as we're in process of calling this on in to review. From what we know, the Saatva Latex Hybrid is rated medium-firm. With a combination of firmness and cushion, thanks to the hybrid design, this one is described by current customers as bouncy, without the feel of any uncomfortable coils.
Real Homes review process
Our expert mattress testers sleep on each featured mattress for at least two weeks. All our mattress reviews are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home. The products are given to us free of charge. Often, we can keep our mattress, which gives us the opportunity to return to our reviews for updating, so you can keep up-to-date with how it's fared over a period of time.
Fyi: The Real Homes' mattress review process is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties.
For organic mattresses, we take special consideration of materials and any environmental certifications, as well as comparing them for value for money, construction, comfort, and support through a variety of tests. We understand that mattress firmness is subjective, so we also ask each reviewer to be transparent about their sleep stats, and habits, as well as to invite others to try and lie on it, sharing their impressions.
Meet our organic mattress testers:
Jaclyn used to be our sleep commerce editor, frequently testing out and staying 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. She's tried a few of the mattresses in our best mattress guide and can compare any for their sleep experience.
She's now the Ecommerce Editor at Homes & Gardens, and you can find her work in Livingetc, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, and The Spruce. She lives in Atlanta, GA.
Kaitlin is the former global editor-in-chief of Real Homes, so she knows what she's talking about when it comes to anything for the home. She reviewed the Birch by Helix natural mattress and loved it. We'll be asking for her updated verdict in a few months' time, so stay tuned to see if her sleep experience has changed.
She is presently an Editor-At-Large with sister site Homes & Gardens and also has bylines with Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living, Refinery29, Modern Luxury Interiors, Wayfair, The Design Network, and lots more. She graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in journalism and currently lives in Connecticut with her husband, two sons, daughter, and black lab.
Alex Temblador is one of Real Homes' mattress experts. Amongst many mattress reviews, she also tried out our best cheap organic mattress, the Avocado eco. It was the first mattress she tested that is a fully GOTS-certified organic product with no toxic chemicals, off-gassing, chemical flame retardants, fiberglass, or polyethylene foams. And yes, she noticed a difference.
In addition to her mattress reviewing duties, Alex loves to try other products for Real Homes buying guides and reviews so that she can continue to expand the richness of her first-time homeowner life. The Dallas-based freelance writer has covered home, design, architecture, and art in publications like Real Homes, Dwell, Architectural Digest, Artsy, Neighborhoods.com, Culture Trip, among many others.
Midwestern freelancer Courtney Irwin is a working mom of three who loves nothing more than a good deal, and amazing sleep. She recently reviewed the Nolah mattress for Real Homes, and found it to be a 'gem' of a mattress, helping to improve her lower back pain more than any other she's tried.
Courtney has spent years curating home renovation content and enjoys trying out all of the latest and greatest things at home.
What to look for when buying your new organic mattress
How to choose an organic mattress
It's true, organic mattresses can get expensive. You pay for what you get, as the saying goes. Which makes it even more important to invest in the right one for you. We have a handy 5-step guide on how to choose a mattress, which runs through sleep position, nighttime needs, material, size, and budget, to help you land your best sleep yet.
Why choose an organic mattress?
Organic mattresses have benefits for both your health and the environment. They're safer, often more durable, breathable, and more supportive than mattresses made with synthetic materials such as memory foam. Organic mattresses are usually naturally breathable (and comfortable), so you’ll sleep better, leading to better health, as well.
Health reasons: Mattresses can often contain hazardous chemicals that are frequently part of the mattress manufacturing process; like chemical flame retardants and PBDEs, formaldehyde, and benzene. Common materials can release harmful odors in the air and cause respiratory issues when off-gassing too.
Organic standards, especially GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard), strictly prohibit the use of all of these ingredients. These certifications also come with strict guidelines about everything from how materials are grown, to how and where they're manufactured, and even the way they're packaged and shipped, so you can ensure that when you see a GOTS or GOLS seal, you're getting a healthy, safe product.
Environmental reasons: Globally, the mattress industry contributes 6.5M tons of carbon each year. But of course, we all still need a mattress to sleep on. Choosing a mattress from an organic brand helps reduce the impact the mattress industry has on climate change.
As we mentioned in the reviews above, many organic mattress brands are not just committed to creating products that are pure and healthy, but ones that are manufactured sustainably. This includes efforts like:
- sourcing natural, renewable materials like latex and cotton
- purchasing carbon credits to offset their carbon footprint
- donating product returns to keep the product out of landfills
- planting trees for every mattress sold, and
- using biodegradable materials
Are organic mattresses really worth it?
We've spent a lot of time discussing why you should buy an organic mattress, but what is it really worth going green?
1. Cost
Firstly, going green can be costly, we have to tell you. But while they may cost more upfront, they tend to last longer than those made with synthetic materials, which tend to lose their shape and sag after a few years. There are a few more affordable options coming into play though, so don't think you have to invest all of your savings.
2. False claims
Where the mattress may include organic materials, such as a cotton cover, the rest may not be fully certified organic. Checking that the product is certified by a legitimate independent body, such as any of the certifications above, is useful in ensuring your product is what it claims to be. We've been adamant about only spotlighting fully organic mattresses in our guide to prevent any confusion.
Otherwise, a non-toxic mattress that is made with no harsh or harmful chemicals has a smaller negative impact on the environment than traditional designs, and hypoallergenic materials sound like a no-brainer.
