A mattress pad can subtly change the plushness of your mattress, make it more breathable, and even block off-gassing. It also adds a layer of protection to keep your mattress hygienic. Here are the best non-toxic, organic mattress pads for comfier, cleaner sleep.
Mattress pads need not comprise synthetic polyester or other petroleum-derived plastics. For less sweaty sleep, organic materials such as cotton and wool are a far better choice.
Most mattress pads are just that: pads. They aren’t usually waterproof, so are best used under a mattress protector, especially if you anticipate spills, stains, and leaks.
That said, there is some crossover between pads and protectors because some companies make pads with a waterproof barrier. As such, we’ve included a few waterproof pads in our top choices below, among the regular pads that are cushioning and absorbent or water-resistant rather than waterproof.
Avocado Organic Mattress Cover & Pad Protector
Highlights: Certified MadeSafe and GOTS organic cotton mattress protector pad. Absorbent, breathable, non-sweaty, non-toxic, and climate neutral. Made by a fantastic B Corp and sustainably packaged.
- GOTS certified organic
- MadeSafe certified
- No plastic
- Soft and comfortable
- Noiseless and breathable
- Machine washable and can be tumble dried
- Non-toxic and sustainable
- Made in the U.S. by a heavily certified sustainable B Corp
- 100-night trial and 1-year warranty
- Not waterproof
- Not a full mattress encasement
- Expensive
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton
Certifications: GOTS, PETA certified vegan, 1% for the Planet, B Corp, MadeSafe, FSC, Climate Neutral Certified, Greenguard Gold, Formaldehyde-Free UL, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Fair Trade
Cost: $239-$399
Sizes available: Twin, Twin Xl, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
Pad thickness: <0.5-inch
Depths: Standard fits 6-16-inch deep mattresses, Deep Pocket fits up to 22-inch deep mattresses
I love my Avocado Green Organic Cotton Mattress Cover and Pad Protector! It has a smooth 400 thread count sateen cover over organic cotton batting and it looks and feels great.
While it’s not waterproof, this pad does, in my experience, help absorb minor spills, body oils, and sweat to protect the mattress beneath. It is barely noticeable once in place and is silent, smooth, breathable, and odorless.
If you have a really deep mattress plus topper to protect, this pad is your best bet. Avocado offers a standard pad to fit mattresses up to 16-inches and a deep pocket option that stretches to cover 22-inch-deep mattresses!
The pad is machine washable and can be tumble dried, if your machines are large enough. It’s best to use a waterproof cover with this pad though, as with all pads, and to spot-clean and air-dry when necessary.
Against all odds (old dog, co-sleeping toddler, general clumsiness), it took a while before I really put my Avocado Organic Cotton Mattress Cover & Protector to the test. When a spill finally happened it was just a glass of water. Still, I was very glad to have the extra absorption of the cotton batting to save the mattress beneath.
The pad dried out quickly once lifted and no further intervention was needed, thankfully. For more serious leaks and spills, I love that this pad is machine washable and thin enough to fit in my machine.
The pad may be thin but it does add a subtle layer of cushioning to my mattress. I wouldn’t rely on this pad to make a firm mattress soft, but if you’re just looking for an absorbent, comfortable sleep surface, it does the job veryb well.
My one nitpick is that the pad’s fitted skirt doesn’t have labels for top and sides and has a middle seam that is confusing at first. Once I got the thing oriented correctly, though, it fit well and has stayed in place without any bunching or sliding.
Note that Avocado recommends washing the pad before first use, mostly to shrink it to size. It runs large, so will fit better after a couple of washes.
The Wool Room Organic Wool Mattress Pad
Highlights: Luxurious and thick GOTS organic wool batting in a 300 thread count GOTS organic cotton cover. Adds sustainable, breathable, comfort and plushness to any mattress.
- GOTS certified organic through and through
- Water-resistant, and absorbent
- Adds extra cushioning
- Noiseless, breathable, and thermoregulating
- Safe and sustainable
- 30-night sleep trial
- Not machine washable (can be dry-cleaned)
- Not vegan
- No split size options
- Expensive (but value for money!)
- Heavy
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton, organic wool
Certifications: GOTS
Cost: $270-$480 (down from $420-$800 for Labor Day sale!)
Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
Pad thickness: 2-3-inches
Depths: Fits 18-inch deep mattresses
The Wool Room’s Organic Wool Mattress Pad offers 2-3 inches of plush luxury thanks to the 30 oz sq/yd of GOTS certified organic, fully-traceable British wool. To make sure the wool stays put, the mattress pad has a 300 thread count organic cotton cover with quilting. The cover is fully elasticated and fits mattresses up to 18-inches deep.
This pad is a top choice if your current mattress just doesn’t feel quite right. It can also extend the life of mattresses new and old. Because wool is great for thermoregulation, this pad can help with night sweats and other comfort issues and is a top choice for every season.
The Wool Room offers a 30-night sleep trial on this pad, so you can try it out and send it back for a refund if you’re not totally satisfied.
This pad is naturally hypoallergenic and certified by Allergy UK, it is also naturally resistant to flames, mold, mildew, and dust mites.
Note that the pad is quite heavy in larger sizes, weighing in at 8.6 lb. for the King size. As it’s much thicker than most mattress pads and is more like a topper, you won’t be washing this one in your home washing machine. Instead, it’s dry-clean only. For best results, though, just air out the pad once a month or as necessary, with spot-cleaning when needed. Use it with a waterproof mattress protector and you won’t need to clean it at all!
Coyuchi Organic Cotton Mattress Pad
Highlights: GOTS and MadeSafe certified organic cotton mattress pad with quilting and a fully elasticated skirt. Totally natural and organic, machine washable, and sustainably packaged.
- MadeSafe and GOTS certified
- Adds a little extra cushioning
- Noiseless and breathable
- Machine washable and can be tumble dried
- Not bulky
- Safe and sustainable
- 30-day refund policy (or 365-days for credit)
- Sustainable, reusable, plastic-free packaging
- Not a full mattress encasement
- Made in China
- Not waterproof
- Expensive
- No split sizes
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton
Certifications: GOTS, MadeSafe
Cost: $198-$328
Sizes available: Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
Pad thickness: <1-inch
Depths: Fits 15-inch deep mattresses
Coyuchi’s organic cotton percale mattress pad is a top choice for mattresses up to 15-inches deep. It offers quilted comfort and protection from minor spills and leaks and is fully washable at home.
This pad features GOTS organic cotton inside and out and comes in a reusable organic cotton bag with no plastic packaging.
This organic-cotton percale mattress pad with diamond quilting and elastic around the bottom creates a comfy foundation for your bedding.
Unlike most bedding, this pad comes with a 30-day full refund policy. After that, you have 365 days to return it for store credit if you don’t love it.
Coyuchi is one of our favorite companies at Leaf Score because it consistently walks the talk on sustainability. Coyuchi is a 1% for the Planet member and a leader in bringing eco-friendly, non-toxic, organic bed and bath products and clothing to the U.S.
Sleep & Beyond MyMerino Organic Wool Topper
Highlights: GOTS certified organic wool 1.5-inch thick merino mattress pad/topper. Features an organic cotton percale cover and two elastic straps for a close fit. Comes with a 5-year warranty.
- Springy, supportive, GOTS certified organic merino
- 44 oz per sq. yard; (1,500 GSM)
- 270 thread count GOTS organic cotton percale cover
- 1.5-inch thick for added plushness and support
- Thermoregulating (for all seasons and sleep styles)
- Water resistant and moisture-wicking
- Reusable, plastic-free, sustainable packaging
- Fair Trade and sustainable company
- Spot-clean and air-dry only
- Not vegan
- Expensive
- The two full width elastic bands are fiddly
At a glance:
Materials: Organic wool, organic cotton
Certifications: GOTS
Cost: $299-$369
Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
Pad thickness: 1.5-inch
Depths: Unknown
Sleep & Beyond’s MyMerino Topper is a 1.5-inch mattress pad featuring organic merino wool at a weight of 44 oz per sq. yard; (1,500 GSM). This springy, supportive wool offers good loft for extra comfort, whether your mattress feels too firm or too soft.
This beautiful wool mattress pad also has a 270 thread count organic cotton percale cover and smart quilting to keep everything in place. It is thermoregulating, moisture-wicking, and ideal for hot and cold sleepers in all climates.
The pad ships in a reusable organic cotton drawstring bag with protective flap. And Sleep & Beyond is a super sustainable company with Fair Trade factories and a robust, eco-friendly supply chain across all products.
The one possible drawback to this pad is that instead of a fitted sheet or corner loops, it attaches to the mattress with two full-width elastic bands.
This may mean some folks have a harder time putting on and taking off this pad versus one with a fitted skirt or elastic corner loops or ties. The elastic is also much bigger than strictly necessary, meaning more material use overall.
Turmerry Wool Waterproof Mattress Protector Pad
Highlights: Mostly natural mattress protector pad made with wool fiber fill, polyurethane membrane, and a cotton cover. Truly waterproof, breathable, non-sweaty, and non-toxic.
- Waterproof, water-resistant, and absorbent
- Adds extra cushioning
- Noiseless and breathable
- Machine washable and can be tumble dried
- Not bulky (0.25-inch thick)
- Safe and sustainable
- Oeko-Tex certified and made in a GOTS factory
- 120-day return policy (unopened)
- Free same-day U.S. shipping (sustainable packaging)
- 1-year warranty
- Contains polyurethane
- Not vegan
- Not certified organic
- Not a full mattress encasement
- Made in China
At a glance:
Materials: Cotton, wool, polyurethane membrane
Certifications: Oeko-Tex, GOTS facility
Cost: $139-$199
Sizes available: Crib, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King, Split Cali King
Pad thickness: 0.25-inches
Depths: Fits 18-inch deep mattresses
Turmerry’s Wool Mattress Protector is absorbent, water-resistant, and waterproof, thanks to its cotton cover, wool batting, and thin polyurethane membrane below. The 270 thread count percale cotton cover is breathable, soft, cooling, and comfortable, and the woman-owned company is fast becoming one of our favorites for bed and bath products.
You can purchase this pad in a wide variety of sizes, from crib to split Cali king, and it fits up to 18-inch deep mattresses.
The downside to this pad is that it’s not GOTS certified organic. It is, however, made with Oeko-Tex certified polyurethane, meaning it is one of few pads with a non-toxic waterproof barrier built-in. The company also operates a GOTS certified facility.
Saatva Organic Mattress Pad
Highlights: GOTS certified organic cotton mattress pad made in a Fair Trade factory. Features some spandex on the sides. Available in flex and split sizes. Machine washable.
- GOTS certified organic
- Available in wide size range including split and flex sizes
- Soft and comfortable
- Noiseless and breathable
- Machine washable and can be tumble dried
- Not waterproof
- Not a full mattress encasement
- Expensive
- Company is not focused on sustainable, non-toxic products
- Spandex in the sides
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton, spandex, silicone elastic corners
Certifications: GOTS, Fair Trade factory
Cost: $195-$390
Sizes available: Twin, Twin Xl, Full, Queen, Upper Flex Queen, King, Cali King, Split King, Upper Flex King
Pad thickness: <0.5 inches
Depths: Fits up to a 16-inch deep mattress
Saatva doesn’t offer many organic products, but its diamond-quilted organic mattress pad is a good option, especially if you need a flex size mattress pad.
This pad features organic cotton inside and out, with a touch (4%) of spandex in the sides for a snug fit. The cotton helps absorb sweat, body oils, and minor spills and accidents to keep your mattress clean and hygienic, and hte pad is machine washable.
This organic cotton protector pad fits mattresses up to 16-inches deep and has silicone-elastic corners to fit like a fitted sheet.
If you’re currently in the (U.S.) military, or are a veteran, first responder, government employee, nurse, teacher, senior citizen or student, Saatva offers a year-round $225 discount off orders of $1,000 or more.