Best Non-Toxic Mattress 2025 Shopping Guide

Maia James
Best Non-Toxic Mattress 2025 Shopping Guide
929 comments

Finding the best non-toxic mattress is super important because this purchase is a big financial investment. If you buy the right mattress, it can last you for decades! Mattresses are also a major source of toxin-exposure in most American homes. This is a purchase you really want to get right, which is why we wrote this guide.

This post will provide all the information you need to feel confident that you’re purchasing the best non-toxic mattress, whether you’re shopping for your kids or yourself.

The 4 Best Non-Toxic Mattress Brands

This guide includes reviews of the 40 (!) mattress brands you’ve asked about most. But the TLDR here is that the four companies in the graphic below are the very best non-toxic mattress brands. They’re all equally toxin-free and earth-friendly–two values we believe are essential. They also all receive high marks for comfort.

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Best Mattress Guide

1

2

3

4

1. Soaring Heart

2. Happsy

3. Naturepedic

4. Obasan

Best Stuff

Happsy

Happsy is the best non-toxic mattress-in-a-box option on the market, and comes with a 120-day trial period. Happsy is manufactured by Naturepedic, but is a more affordable option, while still getting high marks for comfort. When it’s time to replace my kids’ mattresses, this is the brand I plan to purchase.

Happsy is certified by GOTS, GOLS, and GreenGuard. Queens go for $1,399.

Use code GIMME15 for 15% off sitewide when you shop on Happsy.com. (With this discount, Happsy is the most affordable Best Stuff mattress.)

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Happsy

Naturepedic

Naturepedic was founded by a grandfather named Barry when he could not find a non-toxic mattress for his grandson.

Naturepedic non-toxic mattresses are made of certified-organic cotton and a steel innerspring. They don’t use any flame-retardant chemicals or barrier ingredients. Naturepedic includes a layer of polylactide, which is derived from sugarcane, in all of their mattresses to ensure they pass flammability tests.

Since all Naturepedic mattresses are GOTS-certified, you can rest assured that the polylactide they use also passes GOTS standards. Polylactide is also Greenguard Gold certified.

The waterproof, crib mattress options use food-grade polyethylene for their outer layer (it acts as a moisture and vapor barrier). Adult mattresses mostly run in the $3,000 range, and crib mattresses from $259 to $399. Use code gimme15 for 15% off everything on Naturepedic’s site. (The top-of-the-line mattress is the EOS.)

We offer Naturepedic crib mattresses and children’s mattresses in our online store, and always appreciate your support!

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Naturepedic

Obasan

Handcrafted in Canada, Obasan mattresses have all of the top-level certifications we look for, including GOTS and GOLS.

With a unique multi-zone system, Obasan mattresses get high marks for their comfort and come with a 180-day comfort exchange policy and 20-year warranty.

If you live in Canada, this is the best non-toxic mattress, for sure. Queens start at around $3,200 USD.

Get two complimentary pillows with the purchase of any adult mattress with code GIMMETHEGOODSTUFF.

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Obasan

Soaring Heart

Based out of Seattle and in operation for almost 30 years, Soaring Heart hand-crafts most of their mattresses on-site and is one of the most transparent brands we’ve ever investigated.

Soaring Heart’s latex mattresses are made of 100% organic latex. They have both GOLS and GOTS certifications, written to Soaring Heart itself.

Soaring Heart mattresses contain no chemical fire retardants. Their latex passes flammability tests by using a combination of a tightly woven, organic-cotton fabric encasement, and is then wrapped in organic, felted wool.

Soaring Heart offers organic crib mattresses and dog beds, too.

We loved Soaring Heart so much that we asked them if we could sell their mattresses! You can now buy Soaring Heart mattresses through our online store, and they ship free anywhere in the United States.

I sleep on a Soaring Heart Zoned Mattress, my parents on a Soaring Heart Organic Latex Shikibuton, and we both have toppers. We are basically obsessed with these mattresses, and happy to talk you through their options. Just email John for help choosing.

Soaring Heart

Best Non-Toxic Mattress Coupons

Please enjoy the following exclusive Gimme the Good Stuff mattress discounts on some of the safest mattresses we’ve found.

Obasan: Get two complimentary pillows with the purchase of any adult mattress with code GIMMETHEGOODSTUFF.
Plush Beds: $100 extra off, in addition to whatever other deals they’re running. Use code GIMME100.
Naturepedic: 15% off site-wide. Use code GIMME15.
Happsy: 15% off sitewide. Use code GIMME15. (With this discount, Happsy is the most affordable of the bunch.)

Best Stuff Vs. Good Stuff

Thanks to consumer demand, more mattress manufacturers have taken the steps to make truly non-toxic mattresses with top-level certifications. This means that you have more choices when searching for the best non-toxic mattress. And our Best Stuff and Good Stuff categories have grown to include more brands than ever before.

In this guide, we give special attention to the brands that manufacture only toxin-free mattresses. Several mattress companies now have the proper certifications, but they are owned by other entities that make conventional (toxic) mattresses.

Our updated Best Stuff category includes only the brands that:

  • have the top certifications that guarantee the mattresses they sell are free of all toxins
    AND
  • aren’t owned by parent companies that pollute the environment by manufacturing toxic mattresses.

In other words, we choose to promote mattress manufacturers who demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to non-toxic, Earth-friendly living in EVERYTHING they produce.

This video is several years old, but everything in it still holds true. The only change is that Happsy and Obasan have been added to our Best Stuff list!

My Own Non-Toxic Mattress Choices: What Is the Healthiest Mattress?

When I was pregnant for the first time, we decided to upgrade to a king-sized bed in anticipation of co-sleeping with our newborn.

Of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t agonize and research before deciding what mattress to buy. There was plenty to agonize over when it came to finding the best non-toxic mattress!

At the time of writing this updated post, I have a 10-year-old and a 14-year-old, one of whom still spends a lot of time in our bed. I’m so glad I feel comfortable with (and comfortable on) the non-toxic mattresses we chose, which is the Soaring Heart Zoned. (If you’d like to sleep on this mattress, email me with “Soaring Heart” in the subject line and I can give you a small discount, since we now carry it in our store.)

Why a Non-Toxic Mattress Matters

I often tell my private consulting clients that their mattress is the very first thing they should upgrade when detoxing their homes.

The reason I feel so strongly about sleeping on a non-toxic mattress? Well, for one thing, babies and kids spend a lot of time sleeping, and even busy, night-owl grownups spend about a third of our lives in bed.

Moreover, studies show that your immune system works hardest at night, and the body generally repairs itself at night. It therefore seems reasonable to make your sleeping environment as toxin-free as possible.

Toxins in Mattresses

Unfortunately, mattresses can be loaded with noxious chemicals, including:

  • Various petrochemicals make up the majority of the materials in conventional mattresses.
  • Polyurethane foam is the main ingredient in most mattresses. It’s composed of polyol and diisocyanate, both of which are derived from petroleum. Polyurethane is not environmentally friendly and is dangerous for workers during manufacturing.
  • Flame-retardant chemicals are needed in part because polyurethane is so flammable. There is, however, some good news on the flame-retardant front – more on that in a minute!
  • Soybean foam is a Sneaky ingredient that sounds non-toxic. Unfortunately, the majority of this type of foam is still mostly polyurethane.
  • Synthetic latex is usually made from styrene, which is a human carcinogen.
  • Adhesives that may contain formaldehyde are used to glue mattresses. The best non-toxic mattress manufacturers skip the glues all together and opt for safer methods like stitching, clips, or heat.

This chemical cocktail releases VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are linked to a host of health problems, from respiratory irritation to cancer.

Mattresses

Obasan – two complimentary pillows with code: GIMMETHEGOODSTUFF

Naturepedic – code GIMME15 for 15% off

Kids Mattresses

Happsy – 15% off sitewide. Use code GIMME15

White Lotus

Fire “Safety” in Mattresses

Mattresses are required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to meet flammability laws. This previously meant that they were almost always treated with bromated or chlorinated flame-retardant chemicals, typically one of the first three on this list:

  • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers. PBDEs are associated with hormone-disruption and neurodevelopmental delays, including lowered IQ. The European Union has banned the use of PBDEs in electronic devices. Studies show that children in the United States have higher levels of PBDEs than adults do. Oh, and here’s the kicker: they don’t even work very well at stopping fires!
  • Firemaster 550. This nasty chemical cocktail is made with bis (2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH). Yes, you saw that word in there: phthalate. TBPH is nearly identical to DEHP, the phthalate banned in children’s products (including mattresses!!) due to evidence of carcinogenicity and developmental toxicity.
  • Chlorinated tris. This is the notorious chemical that was removed from children’s pajamas in the 1970s because it was shown to cause cancer.
  • Halogen-free flame retardants. This newer class of chemicals (such as ammonium polyphosphate, aluminium diethyl phosphinate, and melamine polyphosphate) is believed to be much less likely to bioaccumulate than bromated flame retardants. I still prefer my mattresses to be free of even these.

In addition to these notoriously toxic flame retardants, companies may use some of the following ingredients to pass flammability tests: boric acid, silica, melamine, vinylidene chloride, and fiberglass.

The Importance of Fiberglass-Free Mattresses

Fiberglass isn’t a chemical flame retardant, but it can still come with some serious health risks.

Here’s just two reasons that buying mattresses without fiberglass is important:

  • No more itchy nights. Fiberglass particles can easily escape from mattress covers. This can cause itching, redness, and respiratory issues like coughing and wheezing. This is especially concerning for children and those with sensitive skin or allergies.
  • Better indoor air quality. Fiberglass dust can also float around, potentially triggering coughs, wheezing, and generally messing with your respiratory system.

A Myth About Off-Gassing

Many of my clients think that their mattresses are okay if they are old because they have “already off-gassed.” Unfortunately, this is not true in the case of foam mattresses. In fact, as the foam degrades, more PBDEs (hormone-disrupting flame retardants) may be released.

Are Mattress Coils Dangerous?

There has been a lot of online chatter in recent years regarding metal coils in mattresses. We paid close attention to this and did some research, and we arrived at the conclusion that steel springs present no established danger.

We simply cannot find any credible evidence showing that metal coils can act like an antenna and concentrate EMFs into our sleeping bodies. Phew–one less thing to worry about!

What Is the Least Toxic Mattress Material?

A toxin-free mattress will likely contain some combination of the following materials:

  • Organic wool (untreated) is naturally flame- and mildew/dust mite-resistant.
  • 100% natural latex (made from rubber trees) is safer than latex blends. The latter may contain petroleum-based polyurethane. It’s important to note that no latex foam mattress can be 100% natural or organic. Turning latex rubber to foam necessitates the use of chemicals, period. Certified latex mattresses simply have less chemical content.
  • Organic cotton (grown in untreated soil, without pesticides) can be used for batting or mattress wrapping. There is a robust debate about whether or not the herbicides and pesticides used on cotton crops will wash/bleach out as the cotton is processed. Most studies show that it does, but some folks believe that a residue remains. We believe that the risk of sleeping on a mattress or sheets made from conventionally grown cotton is tiny. Still, for the good of the planet, we should all choose organically-grown cotton whenever possible.
  • Trusted certifications from third-party certifying bodies mean that some ingredients in the mattress have been vetted by organizations committed to improving air quality. This also means a safer sleeping surface for you. However, all certifications are not created equally, as you’ll learn below.

Dunlop Versus Talalay Latex in the Best Non-Toxic Mattress Brands

You’ll probably read a lot about Talalay versus Dunlop latex in your search for the best organic mattress. In terms of comfort, Dunlop is firmer and Talalay is lighter and softer. If you’re looking for a GOLS-certified mattress (more on this below), you’ll need to choose a mattress made of Dunlop latex.

Don’t Be Fooled By…

The mattress industry is full of greenwashing. Here are just a few claims that should alert you that a brand may be Sneaky Stuff.

  • “Natural latex.” Petroleum comes from the earth, so petroleum-based mattresses can be “natural.” A “natural latex mattress” may only contain only 50% natural latex and may be blended with polyurethane foam and treated with various VOCs. Look for mattresses that specify that they are made from only 100% natural latex.
  • “All-natural wool,” “pure wool” or “eco-wool.” Unless wool is certified organic, it is likely processed conventionally with a variety of chemicals. You may or may not be okay with this (I feel that the flame retardants are more concerning). In some cases, a wool producer may not bother with organic certification, despite organic practices.
  • Biofoam. Soy- or plant-foam is still made of mostly polyurethane. Biofoam mattresses typically contain less than 20% plant material.
  • Certifications. Oftentimes, these certifications apply only to certain parts of the mattress, not necessarily the mattress as a whole. In some cases, the mattress company creates its own certification. You will read more about these certifications in a moment.

Bottom line: There is a lot of deceptive marketing in the mattress world. It is not illegal to throw around terms like “natural,” “green,” and even “organic” without actually having to prove anything.

What to Know About Mattress Certifications

Sorting through mattress certifications is maddening. Here’s just some of why that is:

  1. First of all, not all certifications are created equal. Some offer great assurance that your new mattress will be non-toxic, while others are essentially meaningless.
  2. What’s more, just because a company shows a certification doesn’t mean all of the material in that mattress is certified. One of our readers wrote to us about a mattress that contained Oeko-Tex 100 certified wool, but the company wouldn’t confirm that they solely purchase the wool from this source. Thus, in this case, it would be impossible to know if the mattress you’re purchasing contains the certified wool or not, to say nothing of the other materials in this mattress.
  3. Sometimes, a mattress will claim to have a certification that they don’t really have. One of the most common deceptive practices is when a manufacturer claims to have GOLS certification for their latex mattress, and even display the GOLS logo on their website. They might even show an actual copy of it on their website, complete with date and signatures. If, however, the certificate is not written to the same name as the manufacturer, it is not particularly meaningful. They are commonly written to a latex supplier out of Sri Lanka, India or South America. Such a certification shows only that the latex was certified up to that point on its journey to becoming someone’s bed. Between Sri Lanka and your bedroom, all sorts of things can happen to the latex to cause it to be more toxic than the certification implies.

So, how do you know if a mattress is non-toxic?

Best Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

The two certifications to look for in your mattress are GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard).

(And again, the best non-toxic mattress brands have these certifications written directly to the mattress manufacturer.)

To obtain a GOTS certification, at least 95% of the mattress must be made of certified-organic materials. Certain chemistries are prohibited entirely, even for that other 5%. A GOTS certification on a mattress means that the entire manufacturing and distribution process is environmentally safe and socially responsible.

Prohibited materials and contaminants in a GOTS-certified mattress include:

  • Polyurethane foam
  • Heavy metals
  • Formaldehyde
  • The fire retardants listed above

One thing we love about GOTS certification is that in order to obtain it, a mattress must be produced in a facility that is also certified. In fact, GOTS certifiers visit production facilities as part of the certification process. (If you are curious about a brand that we don’t review in this guide, you can check for GOTS certification in the GOTS database.)

Similar to GOTS, a GOLS certification means that the mattress is made of at least 95% organic latex. This means that 5% of the latex can be made of synthetic materials, although these are still restricted in some important ways). A GOLS certification requires third-party testing and inspections by certifiers.

Good Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

While OEKO-TEX Standard 100 doesn’t require any organic materials to be used in a mattress, it does set limits for VOC emissions (such as formaldehyde). It also prohibits the use of dangerous flame-retardants and dyes. When looking at mattresses, the highest level of OEKO-TEX certification is Class 1.

Greenguard-certified mattresses have been tested for, and are within limits of, several hundred VOCs, including formaldehyde. Greenguard Gold has stricter standards than plain old Greenguard, but they are not testing for flame retardants or PFAS.

Okay Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

Organic Content Standard 100 just means that some of the ingredients are organic. This certification doesn’t ban flame-retardants or other harmful chemicals.

CertiPUR was developed “by members of the global foam industry,” although it does ban the use of some chemicals, such as PBDE flame-retardants and formaldehyde. It’s important to know that CertiPUR does not certify an entire mattress, only the foam portion.

A Sneaky Mattress Certification

NAOMI (National Association of Organic Mattress Industry) was created by Pure Rest Organics, which is a mattress company. Obviously this means that a NAOMI certification no way independent or third-party

The Bottom Line on Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

When it comes to mattress certifications, most are of SOME value, but they can be used sneakily by mattress manufacturers.

You really need to ask to see the actual signed certification, keeping in mind that if it’s out of date, it’s worthless. You also want to make sure that the entire factory that produces your mattress is certified to be free of toxins, particularly flame retardants. This will guarantee that you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination and mattress health issues.

If You Can’t Afford the Best Non-Toxic Mattress

Maybe you’ve looked all the way down to our Okay Stuff category and checked out the coupons (top of this page), and you simply don’t have it in your budget to upgrade to a safe mattress right now.

Readers often ask: “How do I protect myself from a toxic mattress?”

Unfortunately, there’s no way to wrap a mattress to protect yourself from VOCs. However, running a robust air filter will go a long way towards purifying your indoor air. I have the Austin HealthMate PLUS Air Purification System in my bedroom because while I do have a toxin-free mattress, I also have other furniture and rugs that aren’t as clean. I love knowing that the air filter is mitigating the damage!

You also might consider a futon as an alternative to an expensive, non-toxic mattress. They are much more comfortable than they were in your childhood, and I love the ones by Soaring Heart in particular. (Conventional or Sneaky futons will be loaded with all the same scary chemicals as mattresses.)

Here’s where I explain the difference between a mattress and a futon:

Good Stuff

Avocado

We are now recommending Avocado mattress since they now have the EWG verified mark for all their adult, kids and crib mattresses.

  • Boasts certifications from EWG, GOTS, GOLS, Greenguard, and Made Safe. 
  • Tested for PFAS chemicals. 
  • Crafted with certified organic cotton, wool, and latex.
  • Not Best Stuff because Avocado is a subsidiary of Brentwood Home, which manufactures conventional mattresses.
  • There was a lawsuit accusing Avocado of falsely advertising its latex as “natural 100% GOLS organic certified” after lab tests showed that Avocado latex contains a variety of chemicals. The suit was dismissed.

Buy from Avocado
Avocado

Bella Sera

This tiny company has some good certifications, namely GOLS, but unfortunately, it’s not written directly to the company.

Bella Sera uses wool as a flame retardant, which makes them Good Stuff rather than Okay Stuff.

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Bella Sera

CozyPure

CozyPure’s mattresses skip all the flame retardants in favor of wool, which is significant. Unfortunately, their GOLS certification isn’t written directly to them, so I can’t call this brand the Best Stuff.

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CozyPure

Eco Terra

Eco Terra has OEKO-TEX certifications for their wool and Talalay latex. They don’t use scary flame-retardants, just hydrated-silica. Eco Terra now has an up-to-date GOTS certificate, and we consider this a safe mattress choice.

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Eco Terra

Holy Lamb Organics

While Holy Lamb only qualifies as Good Stuff based on our criteria, we do consider this brand one of the best non-toxic mattresses out there. Because Holy Lamb is such a small business, they do not yet have GOLS certification, but they do have GOTS – and we will move them to Best Stuff as soon as the GOLS comes through.

Holy Lamb Organics

Plush Beds

PlushBeds recently became fully certified with top-level certifications, including GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, and Oeko-Tex Standard 100.

PlushBed’s Botanical Bliss and Luxury Bliss mattresses have all of the above certifications. Their Natural Bliss and Eco Bliss don’t have GOLS certification, but are more affordable.

The only reason Plush is in our Good Stuff rather than Best Stuff category is because they make more conventional mattresses in addition to their fully-certified latex models.

Nevertheless, Plush Beds’ memory foam is the first to be certified by GreenGuard Gold, so if you must have a memory foam mattress (and we know a lot of you must!), then this is the way to go. Overall, everything Plush makes is reasonably toxin-free.

Use code GIMME100 to receive $100 off every order, in addition to whatever other deals are running.

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Plush Beds

Savvy Rest

Savvy Rest is the non-toxic mattress we bought when I was pregnant, and we slept on it for six comfortable years.

The latex used by Savvy Rest is 100% natural, and other materials used include certified organic wool (which serves as flame-retardant) and cotton. Note that the Dunlop latex is organic, while the Talalay is not.

Savvy Rest mattresses have Oeko-Tex certification. (It’s important to note that these certifications are for specific materials within the mattress, rather than the mattress itself; you can read more about this above.) Savvy Rest’s GOTS certification is written in their name, and their GOLs certifications are written to their latex supplier.

Visit Savvy Rest’s website to see their wide array of mattresses and learn more about all the materials they use. Our king-sized mattress costs around $3,500, but prices depend on which model you choose, in addition to the size you want.

Buy from Savvy Rest
Savvy Rest

White Lotus

White Lotus sent along a big box of samples of all of their sumptuous, natural materials when I first reviewed them. They are one of our favorite brands to work with, and they have demonstrated a clear commitment to producing non-toxic mattresses.

White Lotus has a GOTS certification for their mattress materials, and they use some cool ingredients in their products, including:

  • Kapok to stuff their mattresses. The “harvesting of the kapok pods provides jobs to indigenous people and helps maintain this vanishing ecosystem,” according to the White Lotus website.
  • Wholesale green cotton, which is totally unprocessed once harvested from the bolls – no bleaches, dyes, or fungicides.
  • Wool, which is 100%-virgin, lamb’s wool.
  • Organic buckwheat hulls (for pillows).
  • 100% natural latex (from rubber trees).

When I decided to get toddler Felix a new twin-sized, non-toxic mattress, I went with this White Lotus futon.

I do recommend that you avoid the Evergreen Foam used by White Lotus, which is a blend of “natural, oil-based foam” and conventional polyol, an alcohol used in the production of polyurethane. While off-gassing is heavily reduced and the environmental impact better than conventional foam, I don’t consider this truly natural, toxin-free foam.

We have gotten to know the folks at White Lotus quite well, and we really trust the owner. Because White Lotus does not have GOLS certification written in its name, we classify it as Good Stuff rather than Best Stuff.

We now carry White Lotus mattresses and futons in our online store!

Please note that we do not carry any White Lotus products with any of the questionable ingredients listed above – if you see it in our store, you know it’s free of borate, toxic foam, and other synthetics.

White Lotus

Okay Stuff

Awara

While Awara does not have GOLS or GOTS certifications, they do have CertiPUR, Greenguard Gold, and OEKO-TEX.

Note that Awara is made by the same parent company as Nectar mattresses, which we consider Sneaky.

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Awara

Brooklyn Bedding

This company claims to have OEKO-TEX certification, but failed to present proof to us of this. They do have CertiPUR certification (meaning at least the very worst flame-retardants won’t be present in these mattresses).

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Brooklyn Bedding

Coco-Mat

This brand uses all the right buzzwords to describe their mattresses (“non-toxic,” “sustainable,” etc.). Unfortunately, they are lacking somewhat in the certification department – although with digging we discovered they do carry the Oeko-Tex 100 certification. The big question mark for us is the “natural rubber” they use, which doesn’t have any certification. Still, that Oeko-Tex 100 certification means something, and they don’t use PBDE flame retardants.

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Coco-Mat

Essentia

We field a ton of questions about Essentia from people who love memory foam and want a safer option. Standard memory foam (made of petroleum derivatives) is decidedly toxic, and I’ve long suspected Essentia of being Sneaky Stuff.

After researching Essentia thoroughly for a client, I came away (still reluctantly!) calling them Okay Stuff, although I do still have a few reservations. Essentia uses a proprietary flame retardant in their foam, which involves Kevlar – a material that is not remotely natural, but appears to be non-toxic. Kevlar is a type of plastic, however, and you probably know, I don’t love plastic, period!

I spoke to the people at Essentia, and they sent me the independent-testing results for their mattresses — I saw no red flags and everything checked out as non-toxic. They also have a number of certifications, some of which are more legit than others. There is always a chance that sneaky manufacturers might hide things under the “trade secret” laws, but I didn’t learn anything from Essentia that suggests that they are doing so.

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Essentia

SleepOnLatex

This brand does not have GOLS certification, but does have Oeko-Tex, and doesn’t use the most dangerous flame retardants.

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SleepOnLatex

Tuft & Needle

The certifications for these mattresses fall short of Good Stuff – they have GreenGuard Gold, OEKO-TEX, and CertiPUR.

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Tuft & Needle

Bad Stuff

It’s safe to assume that all conventional mattresses contain petrochemicals and that many are treated with toxic flame retardants of one kind or another. 

IKEA mattresses are tempting because they are cheap. But they have no certifications of any kind. They had this to say about the use of fire-retardant chemicals:

“In our adult mattresses, mattress pads, and mattress sets a fiber fire-barrier made of rayon/polyester-batting is used that has an inherently fire-resistant property. Flame-retardant chemicals (phosphorous-based inorganic salts) are only used for some stitch-bond and zippers. IKEA children’s mattresses sold in the U.S. have a fiber-mix barrier as described above. The fiber-batting is quilted into the mattress cover and is not treated with any flame-retardant chemicals.”

(So the crib mattresses are at least free of all fire retardants!).

Joybed is a brand that a lot of you have asked about. Unfortunately, it has no certifications of any kind and therefore can’t be considered for our recommendation.

Newton Wovenair. The polymer this mattress is made from appears to be fine, but the cover is made of polyester (this doesn’t pose a real health risk, but is not environmentally friendly and a form of plastic). Newton uses phosphate flame-retardants. This is better than bromated or chlorinated, but still should be avoided if possible.

Sealy mattresses contain vinyl, undisclosed fire retardants (“trade secret”), polyurethane, polyethylene, and nanoparticles. This includes the mattresses they make for children.

Serta mattresses have actually come a long way, but we still cannot call them even Okay Stuff. Here’s why.

Simmons is the same as Sealy. They use the same problematic materials and hide behind trade secrets.

Tempur-Pedic mattresses are wildly popular. Unfortunately, memory foam is made of inexpensive polyurethane, and you’ll notice that a brand-new Tempur-Pedic is smellier than most other mattresses. This is your clue that it’s off-gassing more. The fire retardant used on Tempur-Pedics is not PBDE, but they do not disclose what it is. The EPA has also raised concerns about emissions formed during the production of polyurethane foam products, which include methylene chloride and other hazardous chemicals.

Sneaky Stuff

Casper. These popular, inexpensive mattresses contain a top latex layer that is Oeko-Tex certified, but I’m not crazy about the memory foam component (which is not certified and contains polyurethane).

The flame retardants seem pretty safe:

“A fire-retardant, knit-sock covers the foam before the outer cover is placed on the mattress. The knit sock is made from a proprietary yarn with a silica core and a polyester/acrylic/nylon/rayon outer wrap. The knit-sock is made without any toxic chemicals and each component is OEKO-TEX® certified.”

However, the latex in the lower layers is not 100%-natural, but rather a blend, and synthetic latex can be very toxic when made from carcinogenic styrene. Readers who have purchased a Casper mattress have complained of the smell and sore throats.

Colgate’s “eco” crib mattresses claim to be made of “the finest non-toxic materials in the marketplace.” In reality, Colgate mattresses contain vinyl and polyurethane.

Eco Dream mattresses are basically just memory foam mattresses that don’t even make claims of non-toxicity!

IntelliBED claims to be non-toxic, and is heavily promoted by natural parenting bloggers. The only certification they have received is the dubious CertiPUR. They claim that they use soy-based foam, but companies can make this claim when the mattress contains only a small percentage of soy foam (the rest being petroleum-derived polyurethane).

And IntelliBED gives no specifics about their foam. IntelliBED makes mattresses from a number of materials that immediately disqualify them from our list of Good Stuff. They use memory foam, various “gels” and foams, and unknown materials with names like “Titanium Infused Energex” (whatever that is). IntelliBED also seems to carry zero independent certifications regarding the safety of the materials they use

Keetsa mattresses (which are manufactured in China), are described by many retailers as “natural” or “green.”

The company is, in fact, pretty transparent, and clearly states that, “Keetsa’s mission is to deliver a comfortable, affordable, and durable mattress in an eco-friendly manner. We are not producing organic or natural mattresses. By replacing some of the petroleum product with cedar oil and introducing green tea extract into the mixture, we have created a foam that is less toxic and has a less-offensive odor than traditional foam. We also utilize sustainable materials, such as bamboo, in our cover materials.”

Layla, like so many others, is a memory foam mattress with only a CertiPUR certification.

Moonlight Slumber set off an alarm for me right away with their bogus certification: “Green Safety Shield” is their own certification, and is not third (or even second!) party. They do have testing that shows no VOCs from their mattresses, but that’s only one issue of concern. I’m more worried about their “Visco foam,” whatever that is!

They do have a CertiPUR certification, but this is from a polyurethane industry group. Finally, their flame retardant is proprietary, although they claim it’s natural and free of chemicals.

Natura mattresses may contain (depending on the model you select) boric acid and fiberglass flame-retardants, petroleum-derived latex (as in, not the kind from rubber trees), and nanoparticles.

Nectar has CertiPUR certification and is free of PBDEs. In other words, nothing about this mattress is particularly non-toxic, but it’s better than a standard mattress.

Nest Bedding says that they are an “Organic, Natural, and Certified Bedding and Mattress Company,” but they, too, rely on only CertiPUR certification.

Purple mattresses don’t have any of the certifications we look for even for our Okay Stuff category. Purple has CertiPUR, but nothing more. So if you’re wondering, “Are Purple mattresses non-toxic?” the answer is unfortunately, no.

Saatva and their sister company Loom & Leaf are memory foam mattresses with only CertiPUR certifications. They use only about 30% “plant-based foams.” The rest is petroleum-based.

The Sealy Naturalis mattress has an organic cotton layer; unfortunately, it is surrounded by a vinyl cover.

Swiss Dreams mattresses appear to have exactly zero certifications, making it impossible to back up any of their claims of non-toxicity.

YogaBed doesn’t even really make any claims of non-toxicity, but I’m calling it Sneaky Stuff. Anything with “yoga” in the name is trying to project a green image, don’t you think?

ZenHaven is just another mattress company jumping on the greenwashing bandwagon, and they have no certifications. This is not a non-toxic mattress.

Whew! We appreciate that this is a ton of information, but hope it helps you choose the best non-toxic mattress. If you have questions about other mattresses, please comment below.

Stay sane,
Author's Signature

Author's Signature

Maia, Founder & CEO

Note: This article contains affiliate links or sponsored content, which means that if you make a purchase, we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that meet our strict standards for non-toxicity and that we use (or want to use!) ourselves. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make Good Stuff! 

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929 comments

chris

I found a company called the Futon Shop that sells what they claim are wool, organic cotton and no flame retardants or petrochemicals of any kind. Look at this mattress:
https://www.thefutonshop.com/chemical-free-purecomfort-organic-cotton-wool-spring-mattress/
They say their cotton is USDA certified organic cotton and they have a certificate saying so on the above link.

What do you think? And what should I do to protect myself if I buy from them? thanks

Maia James

We didn’t keep ours because we had it for nearly ten years; and I have to say that the smell never bothered us!

John Goss

Hi Tammy,
I’m sorry about your Savvy Rest! As you know we made the same error about 8 years ago before we had done any in-depth research. We retired that mattress but when we took it apart we found that the latex foam was seriously crumbling…after only 8 years! We threw everything out. It was in no condition to be sold. If yours is essentially new you may find someone on Craigslist etc who might buy it.
We all now sleep on Soaring Heart mattresses and love them. Yes, we had to take the leap of faith because there are no showrooms to try one before buying. The construction of a Soaring Heart is Similar to that of Savvy so perhaps Naturepedic would be a good choice.
https://gimmethegoodstuff.com/store/naturepedic-chorus-organic-mattress/

Tammy

Hi!
I recently purchased a Savvy Rest (couldn’t test out a Soaring Heart). Can you tell me what you did with the original one that you had? Did you resell it or keep it for another room? We’ve had ours for about 3-4 weeks. I can still smell the latex (I’m very sensitive to scents). Does the smell go away? I’m wondering if I should have gone with the Naturepedic instead, but not sure of my options since the Savvy Rest can’t be returned. Thanks!

Robyn

Hi,

Have you heard of a latex mattress called Milk bed? www.milkbed.com. If so, can you share your thoughts on this? Thank you!

Sean

I did some research The Futon Shop seems like they have great organic mattresses with all organic certified ingredients at a cheaper cost then most competitors. https://www.thefutonshop.com/mattresses/organic-mattresses/

Any thoughts?

Queenie

Hi John and Maia,

Do you know anything about happsy mattress? I’m trying to get a new mattress for my 2 year old. They claim to have GOT and GOL certification. Is it too good to be true? Thanks alot in advance.

Maia James

We don’t know this brand but will add to the list for when we update the guide!

Maia James

You’ll see our thoughts on Essentia mattresses under The Okay Stuff:)

Carolyn

I know this post is old, but it is the most informational of what I’ve found and was hoping you were still answering comments. We need two twin mattresses and are trying to find the best balance between health and what is in our budget. Any suggestions on what you would do would be so appreciated!
A few questions:
Pillow suggestions/encasements?
Is there any point in trying to seal a lesser mattress with an encasement? Are there any encasements that are even worthwhile for twin sized mattresses?
Washabelle mattress is a new company and the washable feature sounds nice but I don’t know how to tell if they’re worth the price when it comes to chemicals. Do you know anything about them?

Shannon

We just purchased Soaring Heart with the OMI latex wave topper for joint pain. Very comfortable and was recommended by Soaring Heart if you have extra joint discomfort.

Sean

This is great, thanks so much for all this useful information. So now that we found our safe mattress I was wondering if you had any recommendations on safe bed frames? Haven’t found as many as we were hoping for. Thanks

Dina

Hi Maia, curious why is sleep number considered “bad stuff”? Thanks!

Natalie

My husband and I have recently started researching healthy mattress options for our four kids. Sadly this is one area that has largely been overlooked by us. We have managed to research and find healthy options for every other area of our lives but mattresses. Three years ago when I was still pregnant with our fourth child we bought two sets of bunk beds from ikea and four foam mattresses. We were under the impression that a mattress didn’t have to cost a lot of money, especially for children, and that if we covered the mattresses with healthy coverings then all would be well. I should also mention that prior to that we had also upgraded our mattress to a “bed in a box” memory foam mattress, and our crib mattress was also an ikea foam mattress. You can imagine my recent horror finding out now how big of a mistake this all was. I have beat myself up and I seriously feel like the worst parent ever, not to mention the countless hours of sleep deprivation frantically researching healthy options on our budget. For starters the kids bunks and mattresses are out of here this weekend! My four kids will be sleeping on the floor for a period of time until we can manage the high cost of four new healthy mattresses and bunk frames for our tiny home. For my two youngest (and quite possibly the two oldest?) we have decided on the Naturepedic Verse mattress. I noticed that you do not carry this mattress in your store. I would like to know if there is any particular reason you do not carry this mattress or what your thoughts are on it. My only concern is for my almost 14 year old and wondering if she may need something a bit softer. For her I would consider the chorus twin. Again, any thoughts would be much appreciated. I have been in touch with Naturepedic and unfortunately there is no store within 100 miles that we can test out these mattresses. With our current debt situation and me being a SAHM I feel like we are taking a huge risk mail ordering mattresses that can not be returned. My husband and I will also be looking into upgrading our mattress next year.

Robyn

Hi,

This is very helpful… We are looking to get my daughter her first bed. She had a Purerest crib mattress. Which category would you file this company under? Would you say “sneaky stuff” because of the certification you mention? We were also looking at Nest — not a good option? Do you know if it’s true that kids should sleep on firm mattresses? Thanks for any more info.

Cindy

I sent John an email about mattress choices but I received no reply. Is there another way to get help?

christine

Do you have a recommendation for a full size mattress for a murphy bed? The mattress may spend a large amount of time in a vertical position when closed up in the wall. Thanks.

Janice Clarfield

Hello ~
Please, have you a comment on the Essentia mattress?
https://www.myessentia.com
Thank you!

Mellissa M.

Hi Maia and John,

I love this website and use it all the time for various products, and have purchased multiple times from your shop. I posted a question asking your thoughts on the all organic mattresses at the Futon Shop, but don’t see my question here. I also notice others have posted and asked about the Futon Shop but have not gotten feedback. With no response, I ended up buying a futon mattress from their site for the futon in my office/guest room. I love it. It’s comfortable, no odors. But I’m still wondering how you feel about the certifications on their website and about the product. The link is below. It was on sale and so much less expensive than any other option I’ve seen. I have a Naturepedic in my master bedroom and for my baby’s crib, but just couldn’t see spending so much for the guest bedroom as well. I really look forward to your feedback!! https://www.thefutonshop.com/catalog/product/view/id/16283/

Grant

John states in a comment that Tuft & Needle fall under the sneaky stuff. But yet I see “Greenguard Certified”, “OEKO-Tex Certified”, no PBDEs, and low VOC. Two of those certs are listed in your Okay and Good category. Are these unsubstantiated claims or something as I would think this would push them higher in your ratings?

Maia James

Don’t know this brand, but will add to our list for when we update the guide!

Kristin

It doesn’t seem to be cost efficient, but I bought our mattress from Home Of Wool on Etsy and we love it. It looks great, smells great, and most of all is incredibly comfortable. It takes a little muscle power for the first few weeks because you need to rotate it to evenly wear the wool, but after that you’re supposed to flip it monthly, we’re not fantastic about that, but no love lost, this mattress is AMAZING. You can choose a variety of materials for the outer cover, cotton wool, flax, etc and of course the price will shift with each option. And I definitely recommend a cover. Even with the international shipping costs, they beat out every single mattress I looked at either in a local store or online. Rosica, the owner, is extremely helpful and patient answering any and all questions. I highly recommend them and plan to buy another mattress from them in the very near future.

amber patel

Hi! Super appreciative of your site! I was wondering if you guys had any thoughts on Urban Mattress?

Thanks!!!

Jackie

Hi, since metal coils may be bad stuff, does that mean metal bed frames/headboard are bad stuff as well?

nma

Hello!
The Futon Shop has been mentioned here a few times, but there isn’t a lot of info. I’m considering buying an all organic, chemical free mattress at the Futon Shop (it’s local so I can go test it out), and was wondering if anyone else has more info to share. Are the mattress truly organic and chemical free? The website displays the certifications for the individual components, but it’s not clear to me if the mattress itself is certified. Thanks for the feedback!

Shannon

Hi John,

Why is it that you say Sleeping Organic does not have the certifications they claim to have on their website? I spoke with someone at the company and they told me the certifications they have. I would like to know where you are getting your information so that I can be more informed to make the right purchase decision. Thanks!

Shira Sameroff

I am looking at CozyPure because looks like the best price for a good (not best) mattress that also seems comfortable. I would love organic but leaning towards non organic as more afforadable. Anyone have experience with them? Or others you like in their price range?

Thank all!! Shira

Shira Sameroff

Hi Ashley,

How have you liked your bed? Comfort? Working with the company? Toxicity? I am looking at CozyPure as well. I would love an organic bed or one off the Best List but can’t spend that much. As long as no fire retardants etc. Thanks a ton! Shira

Tamara

Hi- Thanks for all the valuable information posted here. I’m trying to select new mattresses for my family and I’ve tested out Naturepedic, SavvyRest, and SuiteSleep. I’m interested in My Green Mattress as well, they’ve been very helpful when I talk to them too. When reading through the comments it looks like gimmethegoodstuff doesn’t recommend My Green Mattress, but they are also listed under Good Stuff, is that an error?
Also, have you heard of SuiteSleep? This bed was actually my son’s favorite that we tried, I thought it was really comparable to SavvyRest.
Thanks for your help!

Shira

Thank you so much Maia and John. The information you give us is so helpful and clear and you are both so kind!!! I have been quite overwhelmed doing research about mattressess and you helped a great deal.

I am ready to buy a latex mattress (since learning I have been sleeping on a toxic one for my entire life =( ). It is a confusing decision! Ideally as inexpensive as possible but not at the expense of health and need enough comfort that I can sleep well on it. I found a few showrooms near me (I live in Brooklyn, NY) and tried a few to feel and see them off line. Helpful. Some way more comfortable than others but some also way more expensive. I lay on an incredibly comfortable bed to then learn was $7,000! Way out of my pricerange (that was OMI which I do not see on your list.) I lay on a much less expensive White Lotus mattress that wa a mix of Latex, Wool and cotton but found it not so comfortable. Seems I would do best with all latex and possible a wool or cotton topper. So questions are – how important is it that the latex is organic? It would be my preference of course but they are significantly more money (looked at the cozy pure organic and non-organic for example). Have you looked into Mulligan Mattress? My mother bought one from them in Portland, Oregon. What have you found the most comfortable mattress? Love to hear from anyone else as well about that! Thank you again! Shira

Mantis Toboggan

Great blog! The analysis of the various materials and health impacts are interesting. I was wondering where the various scientists on the “good stuff” team received their PhDs in Chemistry and/or Biochemistry. Maybe some links to any works published by the team in peer reviewed scientific journals would be helpful as well.

Thanks & keep up the good work!

Cate H

If the certification links do not work you can find them easily at the bottom of each page of their website.

Cate H

Has anyone checked out or slept on the OBASAN brand beds
https://obasan.ca/shop/fundy-1-0/
It appears they are certified in GOTS and GOLS (see links below)
I am looking for a bed for my 6 yr old son.
This seems to have “the good stuff” and for a full mattress, it was $1,400.
Not a bad when compared to some of the others.
I am curious if anyone has one and their thoughts on the quality & comfort because they have a strict return policy that does not leave any wiggle room if you do not care for it.
Any feedback would be helpful.
Thanks, Cate

Julie

Hi Trisha,
I recently reached out to Avocado regarding their current certifications and to see if they pursued GOTS/GOLS. Here is what the customer representative had to say:
“At present, our cotton is GOTS certified with organic cotton, and our Dunlop latex is eco-INSTITUT certified. We made a decision early on that if we ensured the purity / quality of our latex (i.e. via the eco-INSTITUT testing standard) that it would have a significant benefit in terms of cost that we pass through to our customers, while ensuring zero off-gassing or negative implications. GOLS certified latex would be much pricier, which would force us to raise our prices rather significantly, so we opted for this route as we’re seeking a balance of true greenness and affordability. We have also received our Greenguard Gold certification as well, which we are very happy to share with you!
In short, we test for chemicals and the purity of the latex. It doesn’t come from a certified organic farm which is the main difference. But similarly it’s tested for any chemicals or emissions, and its 100% natural latex so in terms of integrity and durability it’s the same :)”

I believe that they are an honest and transparent company but for my own home if I am paying 1,000 or more, I’d rather spend slightly more to get one that is certified safe. Hope this helps!

Maia James

Hi Steve! Latex mattresses are quite durable and will last as long as any mattress:).

Steve D.

Never got a reply from my post on Sept 20th about the longevity and durability of latex mattresses . From owners of a latex matttess or John , if you would be so kind in sharing real life experience with a latex mattress , it is certainly appreciated.

Caroline

I have an OMI king-sized mattress (the Duo) which I am looking to sell. This is certified organic Dunlop latex in firm-soft-soft configuration, and it’s in great condition and we have taken great care of it. I am moving to a smaller bedroom, and we need to downsize to a queen.

Please remove this if this is not appropriate, but I am thinking perhaps another reader of the site will jump at the opportunity to obtain one of the Best Stuff mattresses for a more reasonable price. I am in the Boston area.

Sarah

Any comments on The Original Mattress Factory? I am not allergic to latex or anything, but I’m trying to avoid it just in case due to potential eczema irritation. (Again, not allergic. Just trying to stay away from anything that would irritate…) The Original Mattress Factory only has one latex bed, so I’m concerned what all is in the other mattresses. Thoughts?

Nancy Fagen

I was looking at the Avocado mattress too. Gosh, why can’t they just be straight forward and honest!

Madhu

Hi,

What is your opinion on the Balsa mattress offered by Soaring Heart ? I am little skeptical about it’s quality due to the lower price range compared other soaring heart mattresses. Thank you Madhu

Cosmia

Hi. Thank you for this very informative mattress guide. I read through the whole article as well as the comments section to gather as much info as I can. The soaring heart mattress from the best stuff category is what I want but WAY out of my budget, unfortunately. So, I was looking in the good stuff category and noticed the The Green Mattress. When I clicked on their site the prices seem more reasonable for my budget. However, after reading through the comments it seems this company was not on the list when this post was first published. Now it is, obviously, but very little review is given. This seems surprising since you taken so much time to comment on every listing thoroughly. so, is the Green Mattress truly a good stuff option? Thanks again.

Sheila

John, the company is “Spindle”!!! as opposed to “Sprindle” I did a typo on that!!!!

Sheila

Hi John, Sheila here, the young lady who called this past Sunday, October 8th. I have been researching on here and wanted to know what you thought of the company, “Sprindle”. I am very interested in this company. So far it looks like a winner. I wanted to tell you about them so you can add them for a yay or a nay.

Jaclyn

Negligible-to-ok? I’m confused—- on your guide it’s listed as
“Good Mattress Certifications”: stating,
“Oeko-Tex Standard 100. While this certification doesn’t require any organic materials to be used in a mattress, it does set limits for VOC emissions (such as formaldehyde). It also prohibits the use of dangerous flame retardants and dyes”….

I realize it’s not organic— confusing recommendations though

Steve D.

Hoping all is well with the “Gimme The Good Suff Team” . I am strongly at the point of about to purchase a “Latex” mattress and was advised by a luxury mattress dealer out of California( A seller of Vi-Spring, Hastens , Omi, and Hypnos) that latex is not a durable mattress material in the long haul.
Is their validity or truth to his claim and contention? I am strongly considering Soaring Heart purchase
but never having owned a latex mattress in my life ( Have purchased 3 Innerspring mattresses new in my life) . Curious to hear the feedback of others on this one:)

Jenna

Thank you so much for this safe mattress guide! I knew I wanted an organic mattress for my toddler, but I had no idea where to look. You’re website has become my go to spot and I appreciate all of the hard work you are doing to inform the public!

Rebecca Moore

I absolutely agree with the gentleman who commented on GOTS and GOLS. These are voluntary certifications and they are markedly stricter than the bought and paid for ones out there. I’m thrilled with the Sleep Made to Measure products which are GOLS certified and 100 percent organic latex and covered with organically grown cotton. I have done extensive research into the company and they are top flight, though it did take me some time to get the products from them as they are shipped from Sri Lanka. The company has a full range of products and i’ve gotten the baby play mat, that is really useful for tummy time as well as the pillows made to measure and the bassinet mattress. There are no flame retardants and no additives of any type. I’m curious why companies like this are not featured in your product list. They do have an affiliate program that I just joined. So far as I’m concerned. something that is GOLS certified, green and organic takes the top slot for what I’m looking for in a product line.

John

Dreamfoambedding does not have the certifications to make serious claims about nontoxic mattresses.

John

Because that mattress is no longer made it is difficult to get full info on it but Simmons is not exactly known for their dedication to building nontoxic products. They have zero certifications that would lead me to believe that they make any truly nontoxic products.

John

Hi Angie,
You are doing a great job as a consumer. :)

Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com and I’ll be happy to help you to the next level! John

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