Why You Can Trust CNET Best Organic Mattress for 2024
If you've been looking for a bed made with sustainably sourced materials that are nontoxic and hypoallergenic, check out our top picks for organic mattresses.
There are a lot of reasons to choose an organic mattress, one of them being that common household allergens like bacteria, mold and mildew can't grow in the natural latex foam. Organic beds are made from responsibly sourced materials and manufactured without harmful chemicals. An added advantage is that they're antimicrobial and hypoallergenic.
Being a mattress expert, I've spent years personally testing more than 100 different beds to provide entirely unbiased reviews for people who have no idea where to start when it comes to buying a new mattress. Given the number of options and factors to consider, knowing what you're looking for is key to finding the best organic mattress that suits your needs, and I'm here to offer guidance.
Best organic mattress for Earth Day
Looking for a great way to celebrate Earth Day? Check out the best organic mattress from Avocado. The Avocado Green mattress won our pick for the best organic mattress because it’s made from certified organic Dunlop latex foam, organic wool and certified organic cotton. The base is even eco-friendly, made with heavy-duty recycled pocketed steel coils.
Read on to see my picks for the best organic mattress for every type of sleeper, the best low-cost organic bed and even more natural mattress options.
Video: Best Organic Mattress for 2024
Watch CNET's Owen Poole review the best organic mattresses for 2024.
What's the best organic mattress?
During our testing process, we found that the best organic bed is the Avocado Green mattress. You just can't beat the reputation and the certifications of Avocado. It has an organic cotton cover, organic Dunlop latex foam, organic wool and heavy-duty recycled pocketed steel coils.
Decorated with several organic certifications and an endorsement from the American Chiropractic Association, the Avocado mattress is a comfy, eco-friendly bed suited for firm-bed lovers. It's one of the best organic mattresses for back pain that you can get. A queen Avocado Green mattress retails for $1,999, though it's often on sale.
Avocado also recently released a soft firmness to its lineup, which means more people can sleep comfortably on it than ever.
Best organic mattresses for 2024
Mattress price scale:
$ = Budget: $799 and below
$$ = Average: $800 to $1,699
$$$ = Premium: $1,700 and up
These reflect MSRP or list prices. Sales might make a mattress less expensive, but are always changing.
The Avocado mattress is 11 inches thick and is made from certified organic Dunlop latex foam, organic wool and certified organic cotton. The base is even eco-friendly, made with heavy-duty recycled pocketed steel coils. It'll support any body type from lightweight to larger bodies, but it's a bit on the firm side. Handcrafted in Los Angeles, the Avocado mattress has details like a button-tufted organic cotton cover and green trim detail around the edges.
The Acovado mattress is best suited for back and stomach sleepers who suffer from back pain, and really does a good job at keeping your back supported throughout the night. If you're a strict side sleeper, you should choose the new soft firmness level. With the optional pillow topper, this bed is around medium-firm or a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale. This seems to be the sweet spot for back pain sufferers because it offers great support to keep your spine in proper alignment, but there's still pressure relief that allows the foam to cradle your curves.
Read more in our full Avocado mattress review.
Pros:
- No off-gassing
- New soft firmness level available
- Optional pillow top
Cons:
- Nature-like earthy smell
- Expensive
Avocado Green
Brought to you by Helix, the Birch mattress is its eco-friendly natural and organic model. It has two more layers than the Avocado mattress and incorporates natural OEKO-TEX-certified Talalay latex foam, responsibly sourced New Zealand wool and organic cotton.
Birch is very bouncy and feels supportive. It's extremely durable, thanks to the pocketed coil and latex foam combo. You won't sink into the foam here, but the organic wool batting on top gives it more of a fluffy, airy feel on the top. It's not a soft bed by any means, though it is softer than Avocado. It's about a medium-firm, or around a 7 out of 10. Larger larger body types who favor their side will probably enjoy this bed.
Pros:
- OEKO-TEX certified Talalay latex
- Bouncy and supportive
- Affordable compared to other organic beds
Cons:
- Not pressure-relieving enough for some
Birch Mattress
Plushbeds Botanical Bliss is an all-latex foam bed with two firmness levels: Medium and Medium-firm. It's bouncy and supportive, but at the same time, gives in more along the curves of my side and allows my spine to be in proper alignment. Side and combination sleepers can opt for the Medium natural latex model. Either latex mattress model will work for back and stomach sleepers.
PlushBeds Botanical Bliss is made with three different layers of foam, and each latex slab has its own firmness level. Because latex foam is so heavy, this bed ships to you in a few different boxes that you will assemble. That sounds like a disadvantage, but if you end up thinking your mattress is too soft, you can switch the layers around and adjust the firmness level to your liking. This is a feature I haven't seen in any bed. Though I will say that you probably want a second person there to help with the setup process because you have to stack the layers yourself and fit them inside the organic cotton cover.
PlushBeds Botanical Bliss is more expensive than your typical bed-in-a-box mattress, but keep in mind it regularly offers substantial discounts.
Pros:
- Two firmness levels
- Bouncy and supportive
- Can move around the foam to adjust firmness
Cons:
- Rearranging foam layers can be a hassle
- Expensive
PlushBeds Botanical Bliss
My Green Mattress offers natural and organic environmentally safe materials at a lower cost because it manufactures all of its beds in its own family-owned factory. It ships to your door in a box. This organic mattress is 11 inches thick and is made with three different layers.
The first is a supportive pocketed coil layer, and on top is natural Dunlop latex foam with natural wool for an extra comfort layer. Imagine a supple, bouncy surface with a light and airy cushion on top. It's not as firm as Avocado, I'd rate it around a medium-firm or a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale. I'd recommend this bed to individuals who weigh under 230 pounds because it's not going to be as supportive as the hybrid beds mentioned on this list.
Pros:
- Budget friendly
- Medium-firm profile
- Best for back, stomach and combination sleepers.
Cons:
- Not as supportive as a hybrid
- Not for people over 230 pounds
My Green Mattress Natural Escape
WinkBeds is a luxury mattress brand that prides itself on making extremely durable and long-lasting mattresses. It puts its beds through a simulation that forces 20 years worth of pressure onto them to ensure it's selling high-quality beds that will last you a decade or longer. The EcoCloud is the company's organic offering, and it's one of the most pressure-relieving latex hybrid mattresses on the market.
The WinkBed EcoCloud mattress is made with recycled steel coils with a zoned design to provide targeted pressure relief to the shoulders and hips. The top layers include natural Talalay latex, organic cotton and premium New Zealand wool to give you an all-natural and organic sleeping experience.
I'd this bed a medium or a 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. It teeters between soft and firm, making it supportive, but amply pressure-relieving for folks who suffer from hip and shoulder pain, or like to sleep on their side.
Pros:
- Super pressure relieving
- Strong reinforcements along the edges
- Good for people with hip or shoulder pain
Cons:
- Not firm enough for some
WinkBed EcoCloud Hybrid
Other organic mattresses we've tested
There are a few other organic options that didn't quite make the cut for this best organic mattress list. They're still good beds and might suit your needs better.
Plank Natural: Featuring a flippable design, the Plank Natural mattress has 8-inch pocketed coils, layers of organic wool and latex foam. You can choose between a medium-firm and firm side. It's probably not the best organic mattress option for side sleepers because it is so firm.
Zenhaven: Zenhaven, from Saatva, is an organic mattress made from 100% natural materials, including latex foam, organic cotton and wool. It also has a flippable design with a Luxury Plush and Gentle Firm side.
How we tested the best organic mattresses
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read more on how we test mattresses.
Our team of experts have years of experience testing mattresses from many brands, with over 210 mattresses under their belts. They tested the best organic mattresses and assessed them on the following factors:
Firmness and feel
When we lay on each mattress, the first thing we assess is how firm a mattress is. You can think of it as how hard or soft a mattress is.
How a mattress feels is where we get handsy with the beds. In addition to lying on it, we press down, touch the bed and note how the material responds. Is it slow-moving like traditional memory foam? Or is it quick to respond like latex foam?
Durability
How durable a mattress is comes down to what it's made of. Based on its construction, we estimate how long you'll get out of your bed. For example, pocketed coils help mattresses last longer.
Motion isolation
Motion isolation is how well a bed dampens the movement across the surface. This is important if you sleep with someone who moves around a lot at night. Two team members jump and bounce on the bed when testing motion isolation. We also have a test involving putting a glass of water at the edge of the bed and bouncing around to see if it tips over.
Edge support
Edge support refers to the strength of the perimeter of the mattress. To test edge support, we sit and lay on the edge of each mattress. If we feel like we'll fall off, the bed doesn't have strong edge support.
Factors to consider when picking the best organic mattress
Mattresses are subjective. What works for someone else might not be best for you. This means you've got to think strategically when searching for your next bed. Keeping these key factors in mind will help you bypass some and hone in on the best organic mattresses.
Material
All materials in organic mattresses are sustainably sourced, antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, so you don't have to worry about them triggering your allergies or asthma. Mold and mildew can't grow on the natural latex foam in organic mattresses.
Organic mattresses include several materials like Dunlop latex, recycled steel coils and organic cotton or wool. Each material will impact the mattress's performance, so it's important to understand what you're getting before you buy. Not to mention, some materials may increase the price, like Talalay latex.
Body type
Your body type also matters when shopping for an organic mattress. Some materials are better suited for heavier body types because they offer the support and durability they need.
Your body type also will influence how the mattress feels to you. A petite person will put less pressure on the mattress, which means it will feel firmer to them. Someone over 230 pounds will sink further into the mattress, making it feel softer. It's important to keep your body type in mind to choose a firmness level that best suits your needs and preferences.
Sleeping position
- Side sleepers need a softer mattress that relieves pressure points at the shoulders, hips and knees.
- Back and stomach sleepers should seek a firmer mattress that will keep their spine in neutral alignment throughout the night.
- Combination sleepers have the most flexibility, but you should choose firmness based on the position you spend the most time in.
Certifications
When shopping for an organic mattress, third-party certifications ensure that you're getting a bed that contains organic, sustainably sourced materials.
These are the most important certifications to look for when comparing organic mattresses:
- CertiPUR-US: This certification ensures that the mattress foams are free of toxic flame retardants, heavy metals and other harmful substances. It also means the bed has low volatile organic compound emissions.
- GOTS: Global Organic Textile Standard is a third-party organization with established criteria for organic fibers. A mattress with a GOTS seal has at least 95% organic fibers.
- GOLS: Global Organic Latex Standard certifications mean that the mattress contains at least 95% raw and organic latex.
- GreenGuard Gold: This certification means that the mattress meets chemical emission standards.
- Oeko-Tex Standard 100: This certification is specific to the textile of mattresses. Seeing a mattress with an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification means textiles have been tested for harmful substances.
Organic mattress FAQs
What are the benefits of an organic mattress?
There are several benefits associated with organic mattresses. They are eco-friendly, meaning the materials sourced for the mattress were ethically and sustainably sourced. Additionally, organic mattresses use natural materials that are non-toxic and hypoallergenic. Organic mattresses are a surefire way to ensure that you're not exposing yourself to any common chemicals in mattresses.
What is an organic mattress?
A mattress must contain at least 95% organic materials to qualify for an organic certification from the US Department of Agriculture. The company that made the mattress must also follow tight sustainability regulations during the farming and manufacturing processes. Otherwise, you can't market your Talalay or Dunlop latex mattress as "organic," only "natural."
What is the best material for organic mattresses?
Organic latex foam comes from the sap of tropical rubber trees. The organic latex is then baked into a unique foam, which feels like a wonderfully supportive, springy and soft sponge. This process creates an eco-friendly, natural mattress that differs from traditional memory foam or convoluted foam mattresses. These entirely natural latex mattress models also have a much different feel than an innerspring or hybrid mattress.
Are organic mattresses really worth it?
Organic mattresses are more expensive than many other beds. This can make them a hard sell for the average person. Organic mattresses are worth it for an eco-conscious person who wants a bed made with natural materials that don't have chemicals.
What's the difference between a natural and organic mattress?
Natural and organic seem like interchangeable phrases, but there is a difference. They're made from similar materials, but natural mattresses are short on certifications. Natural mattresses contain materials such as Talalay or Dunlop latex, which don't have the GOLS or GOTS certification, so they can't be called "organic."