Of the 200 mattress in a box companies vying for your dollars, only a tiny fraction are non-toxic and made with organic materials. Here are our top picks for the best non-toxic mattresses in a box with Made Safe Certification to ensure the highest standards.
Table of Contents
Best sustainable mattress-in-a-box
Best affordable Made Safe Certified mattress
Best affordable very firm mattress-in-a-box
Budget Made Safe Certified mattress for couples
Best mattress-in-a-box for couples with different sleep needs
Popular organic mattress
Leaf Score criteria for the best non-toxic mattress
Check out our recommendations below for an organic, non-toxic mattresses that can seriously upgrade your sleep, won’t harm your indoor air quality, and that will save you money in the long-run.
All our choices below are:
- Made with organic materials including GOTS cotton, GOTS wool, GOLS/FSC organic latex and other organic materials where relevant and available
- Free of chemical flame retardants – we have prioritized Made Safe Certification
- Free of chemical treatments such as toxic stain repellents and antibacterial chemicals
- Highly rated by customers
- Reasonably priced
As always at Leaf Score, we strongly favor companies that demonstrate a robust and comprehensive approach to sustainability, rather than those that make a ton of problematic products and then launch one ‘organic’ mattress in a fit of greenwashing.
Most consumers looking for a non-toxic mattress are concerned about VOCs, chemical flame retardants, and off-gassing and want as
pristine a product as possible. The best way to vet mattress manufacturers is to verify their products carry the most stringent certifications. It is for this reason that we prioritized Made Safe certification in formulating this list. The Made Safe certification is rigorous and scientific, screening products for more than 6,500 banned or Restricted List substances. This certification has a Red List significantly larger than the European Union’s restricted list of substances and hundreds of times larger than those restricted by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency combined. Most mattress listicles rely too heavily on Greenguard Gold, a certification which carries some weight, but which has become less useful for consumers.
The Best Organic Mattresses-in-a-Box With Made Safe Certification
Avocado Green Mattress [Staff Tested]
VOC-free, Made Safe Certified, will never off-gas, made by hand in the U.S.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $1,399 – $2,599 (Queen is $1,999)
- Materials: Organic Fair Trade cotton, organic wool, organic Dunlop latex, upcycled steel coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, GreenGuard Gold, Climate Neutral certified, FSC, Responsible Wool Standard, Formaldehyde Free (UL), Eco Institut, Fair Trade, 1% for the Planet, B Corporation, Sustainable Furnishings Council
- Sleep Trial: 365-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Gentle-firm (or medium-firm)
- Best for: Stomach-sleepers, back-sleepers, lighter/average weight adult side-sleepers and children
- Made with all organic materials and upcycled steel coils
- Rare certification from Made Safe (free of toxic chemicals)
- 5-zoned support and reinforced edging
- Less motion transfer and partner sleep disruption
- Made in the U.S. by a carbon negative B Corp
- Affordable and durable with a 25-year warranty
- 365-night sleep trial
- One firmness level (can’t flip for different firmness)
- Can’t move comfort layers around
- Only two handles on long sides which makes the mattress harder to move.
I chose curbside delivery which was fine but this mattress in King size is a BEAST. I have a hand truck and it was the only way I believe it could be moved upstairs. I’d recommend carefully evaluating your abilities, skill sets, and your available tools if choosing this option is your inclination.
Martin C., 2022
This was a packing and shipping marvel. I couldn’t believe a king size mattress would fit in a box 20″ x 20″ x 48″. The delivery driver suggested I open it on the bed frame. My frame was being delivered the day after the mattress and I deferred to his experience. It was a wise choice in y opinion.
Unboxing it was an experience. I thought it would expand much quicker, almost explode, once removed from its box confines but the vacuum seal bag prevented any rapid expansion. Even after opening the vacuum seal bag, expansion continued slowly but was fun to watch.
The Avocado Green signature mattress is a medium-firm or gentle-firm (with pillow-top) mattress that is vacuum sealed in plastic and then wrapped in paper and protected by a cardboard box. This makes it one of the most sustainably packaged options for a doorstep boxed mattress that’s relatively easy to move around.
Unlike many organic foam latex mattresses, no assembly is required with the Avocado Green Mattress.
The Avocado Green mattress is certified by Made Safe, meaning it has been tested and is verified free of a huge number of toxic materials and chemicals. Avocado is also an industry-leading Benefit Corporation (B Corp), is certified Fair Trade and Climate Neutral (and is, in fact, carbon negative). The company is also a 1% for the Planet member (and winner of the Pinnacle Award) and is close to operating world’s first certified zero-waste mattress factory.
The Avocado Green mattress is a GOTS certified latex hybrid mattress with up to 1,414 individually wrapped 8-inch innerspring coils and either two or four inches of GOLS certified organic latex on top.
The mattress is free of flame retardants and chemicals, with organic wool and organic cotton surrounding the latex and innersprings.
Unlike the Eco Organic, the Green Mattress includes a 1-inch layer of latex on the bottom of the mattress for a more robust build.
Avocado sources the GOTS organic wool from a farmer’s society it co-owns in India, and only uses wool certified to the Responsible Wool Standard. The Avocado Green is firmer for a latex hybrid mattress, at 7/10 without the pillow top and 6/10 with the topper.
The LeafScore team has been fortunate to tour the Avocado retail store in La Jolla, CA once a year for the last several years to stay up-to-date on all the latest offerings by Avocado, and to get a chance to touch and feel textures and materials.
Happsy Organic Mattress
Super affordable, non-toxic, organic mattress with Made Safe certification. Hybrid coil and latex mattress with little motion transfer and plenty of support where you need it. Pillow-top available.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $899 – $1,699 (Queen is $1,399)
- Materials: Organic cotton, organic wool, organic latex, recycled steel coils wrapped in polypropylene
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, GreenGuard Gold, UL Formaldehyde Free, Zero Toxics Product Registry, Rainforest Alliance, FSC, Green America certified business, 1% for the Planet, Sustainable Furnishings Council,
- Sleep Trial: 120-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Depth: 10-inch
- Best for: Stomach-sleepers and average weight back-sleepers
- Exceptionally affordable
- Made with certified organic materials and recycled steel coils
- Made Safe certified
- Pocket coils help reduce motion transfer
- Free shipping and free returns
- 120-night risk-free trial
- Made in the U.S. by a sustainable company
- Available up to Cali King size
- No zoned support, so best for adults with no back pain
- No handles on the sides
- Can’t customize comfort level
- Less transparency on materials and construction (but owned by Naturepedic, who we trust!)
- Polypropylene wrapped coils (zero-VOC certified)
Love it! I sleep so well on it and feel great when I wake up. Service was great. Huge improvement on my previous toxic foam mattress.
AP., 2021
2 weeks in and absolutely loving this mattress. I am a stomach sleeper and was motivated to buy a new mattress to help with my lower back pain. My husband is a side/back sleeper and he likes it too. I have woken up feeling rested and completely back pain free. I chose this mattress because of the health certifications and am working to eliminate toxins from our home. I only wish it came not wrapped in plastic – we aim to be plastic free wherever possible. Hopefully you find an alternative packing solution soon. Overall we absolutely love it.
Ashley O., 2021
If you haven’t heard of Happsy, let us introduce you. This company was founded by Naturepedic, one of our favorite mattress makers. The basic idea is that by offering a single mattress option and piggybacking on Naturepedic’s high volume orders for materials and manufacturing, Happsy provides a super affordable mattress-in-a-box that is also certified organic, eco-friendly, and non-toxic.
A Happsy mattress won’t work for everyone and can’t be customized, but if it works for you, get ready to save some cash!
Happsy offers one 10-inch organic mattress combining organic Dunlop latex and 8-inch pocket coils. The mattress has a layer of organic wool as a natural flame barrier, organic cotton batting on the top, bottom, and sides, and an organic cotton outer cover.
Happsy is one of just a few mattress companies that has been certified non-toxic by Made Safe, joining Avocado, Naturepedic, and My Green Mattress.
This means you can be sure that the Happsy mattress is free of glues or adhesives, poly-foam, synthetic latex, and fire-retardant chemicals. With some digging, we found that Happsy uses synthetic fabric (polypropylene) to wrap its coils and then heat-seals these. The fabric is zero-VOC certified by GreenGuard Gold and meets GOTS and Made Safe requirements.
Note that the Happsy has a zippered cover. This makes end of life recycling and disposal easier but doesn’t mean you can toggle the comfort layer of your mattress. It also means the mattress top is not stitched in place, which can mean less edge support and structural integrity overall.
My Green Mattress Kiwi
The most affordable eco-friendly Made Safe certified non-toxic organic mattress made with pocket coils and organic latex. Great for kids, teens, and lighter to average weight adults as well as stomach-sleepers and some back-sleepers.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $749 – $1,599 (Queen is $1,199)
- Materials: Organic cotton, organic wool, organic latex, steel coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, GreenGuard Gold
- Sleep Trial: 365-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Best for: Stomach-sleepers and lighter or average weight back-sleepers, children and teens
- Higher coil count and wider gauge than other budget hybrid mattresses
- Made in the U.S. in a GOTS certified factory
- Comprises certified GOLS and GOTS materials
- Made Safe certified non-toxic
- Hand-tufted with a sewn edge for greater durability
- Good edge support
- Can support up to 600 lb.
- Free shipping and fast deliver
- 365-night sleep trial and 20-year warranty
- Too firm for most adults
- No zoned support
- Not made to order
- No options to customize firmness
I am astounded what a difference this amazing mattress makes in my comfort level after sustaining a serious back injury. I switched from a memory foam mattress and with the support of the inner springs of the Kiwi, I am experiencing much improvement in my condition! Also love the ease of set up along with the platform bed, I assembled myself!
Faith W., 2023
The quality of this mattress seems very poor. It is relatively hard, not very comfortable, and feels thin. We have slept on this mattress for a few weeks now and I wake up with a sore low back and hips each morning. I’m only 5’4” and 135 pounds and the mattress just doesn’t feel supportive. We have given the mattress to our 7 year old son and he is fine with it, but says his old bed was more comfortable.
Lauren G., 2023
My Green Mattress has seriously upped its game in recent years, with all of its products now made in its own GOTS certified factory. The company is just one of a small number of mattress brands with Made Safe™ certification, meaning its mattresses are truly non-toxic and eco-friendly. My Green Mattress also makes its products in Chicago, helping to keep carbon emissions and the overall environmental footprint low.
The Kiwi from My Green Mattress is one of the best non-toxic affordable mattresses currently available.
It is on the firmer side, however, so best suited for stomach-sleepers, lighter or average weight back-sleepers, children, and teens. It’s likely too firm for most side-sleepers, very petite adults, and older adults requiring greater zoned support at the hips and shoulders. There is a latex pillow-top available ($299 for the Queen size) to soften the overall feel for adults needing greater pressure relief and comfort.
The My Green Mattress Kiwi is a latex hybrid with up to 1,140 individually wrapped pocket coils. This is more than the Avocado Eco Organic.
The 8-inch coils are 13.75 gauge, making them a lot wider than the coils used in most of the Avocado Green mattress and the Eco Organic. This also makes them more durable and sturdy. Given that the coils are already sturdier than those in its competitors’ mattresses, it’s not surprising that My Green Mattress doesn’t use a different coil gauge at the hips or edge. It does, however, add tighter coils in these areas to provide extra support, including 10% more support at the edge.
Above the pocket coil layer is a 2-inch layer of GOLS certified organic and Oeko-Tex certified Dunlop latex with a density of 65 and an Indentation Detection Load of 22-24 (more on this below). Above that is a 1-inch layer of GOTS certified organic wool batting which helps the Kiwi meet federal flammability standards without toxic chemicals or synthetic materials. The cover is made with soft GOTS certified organic cotton.
My Green Mattress doesn’t use toxic glues but does use a zero-VOC water-based latex adhesive to stick its coils together. This meets the standards set by GOTS and GOLS. It then hand-tufts (button-tufts) the layers of the mattress together for greater support and durability. Unlike the Eco Organic and the Happsy, the Kiwi is also sewn together at the top, rather than zippered. This makes it more durable overall and improves the edge support.
The Kiwi is free from toxic chemicals, including flame retardants and poly-foam. It is Made Safe certified and GOTS certified.
Avocado Eco Organic [Staff Tested]
A very affordable, eco-friendly, 10-inch, non-toxic mattress! Made by an award-winning B Corporation with organic latex, wool, and cotton, with recycled steel coils and no toxic chemicals.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $699 – $1,599 (Queen is $1,299)
- Materials: Organic Fair Trade cotton, organic wool, organic Dunlop latex, upcycled steel coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, GreenGuard Gold, Climate Neutral certified, FSC, Responsible Wool Standard, Formaldehyde Free (UL), Eco Institut, Fair Trade, 1% for the Planet, B Corporation, Sustainable Furnishings Council
- Sleep Trial: 365-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Gentle-firm (5/10)
- Best for: Lighter adults
- Very affordable eco-friendly mattress
- Made with organic latex and recycled steel innersprings
- Good edge support
- Excellent for lighter adults and children
- Heavily certified, with Made Safe certification as non-toxic
- Made by a sustainable B Corporation
- Lighter and easier to move than the Avocado Green
- Full one-year sleep trial and 10-year warranty
- More sustainably packaged than most mattresses
- Too soft for most stomach sleepers and heavier adults
- Low coil count may mean more motion transfer than Avocado Green
- One-sided only
- Shorter warranty than the Avocado Green
Super comfortable. It arrived safely very well packed and sleeps great! It’s the best mattress I’ve ever owned. Thank you!
Dawn P., 2022
Didn’t know what to expect from a “boxed” mattress, but the mattress popped “open” immediately after taking the wrapping off. Within in a few hours it was ready to go. Love the feel of the organic material.
Teresa G., 2022
One of the best budget mattress-in-a-box options available, the Avocado Eco Organic mattress starts at just $699 for a Twin and costs just a little more than the My Green Mattress Kiwi at $1,299 for a Queen. It’s also made in the U.S. in a GOTS certified factory by an award-winning B Corp. This Made Safe certified mattress is non-toxic and eco-friendly, is tried and tested (and loved!) by the Leaf Score team, and is a touch softer than the comparably priced Kiwi and Happsy mattresses.
Like most of the mattresses on this list, the Avocado Eco Organic is a latex hybrid made with pocket springs, latex, cotton, and wool. Avocado uses the same 2-inch layer of GOLS certified organic Dunlop latex seen in the Avocado Green but pairs it with a different unit of upcycled steel coils. This is the main difference between the two.
The Eco Organic has up to 988 double-tempered 8-inch recycled steel coils in two gauges (14.5 at the edge; 12 for the interior). Overall, there are fewer coils in this mattress than in the Kiwi, but the gauge is different at the edges and interior. The result is a reinforced edge and softer interior, balancing durability and comfort.
Avocado uses recycled steel rings to keep the layers of the mattress together, avoiding the need for glues or synthetic fiber stitching. My Green Mattress uses latex glue for its coils.
The Eco Organic doesn’t have the additional bottom 1-inch layer of latex as seen in the Avocado Green, giving it a 10-inch profile rather than 11 inches. The comfort layer comprises D65 / 14-19 ILD, soft Dunlop latex sourced sustainably as detailed in the Avocado Green review above.
You’ll find GOTS certified organic cotton ticking for the softer top cover and organic cotton canvas on the base. Avocado also uses GOTS certified wool batting to meet federal safety standards.
The mattress is certified non-toxic by Made Safe, and includes no flame retardants or other toxic chemicals, no adhesives, fiberglass, of poly-foam.
Honorable Mention
The mattresses below made our list for suitable organic options, but lack Made Safe Certification so we have included them in the Honorable Mentions section.
PlushBeds Luxury Bliss
A latex hybrid mattress available in medium and medium-firm, suiting a wide range of sleep styles and available in split-sizes with different firmness ratings. GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, and Eco Institut certified. Excellent choice for reduced motion transfer and edge support, and for heavier adults.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $2,399 – $3,598 (Queen is $2,999 – $1,499.50 at time of writing!)
- Materials: GOTS cotton, GOTS wool, GOLS latex, steel coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, Eco Institut (latex), GreenGuard Gold
- Sleep Trial: 100-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Medium / Medium-Firm / dual firmness option
- Best for: Stomach-sleepers and back-sleepers (med-firm), side-sleepers (medium)
- A hybrid latex and coil mattress made with organic materials
- Much firmer than competitors’ mattresses
- Impressive edge support and reduced motion transfer
- Available in a split firmness design and in medium firmness
- Excellent for heavier adults (combined weight of 600 lb.)
- Free shipping, free returns, and a free 100-night sleep trial
- Lifetime mattress warranty
- No chemical flame retardants or other toxic materials
- Costs more than Avocado and Happsy (almost twice as much)
- Too firm for combination sleepers
- No option to switch out comfort layers
- Shipping is not carbon neutral
- Lacks Made Safe Certification
We got so fed up with the marketing hype and costs of good mattresses we decided to try Plush Beds in medium 12″ inner spring. We’re both in our late 50’s and don’t sleep well, and this mattress has made a huge difference. We don’t like the support of a plain latex, and it’s too warm. This mattress is just right. My husband is large and sleeps on his stomach a lot; I’m small and sleep back-and-side. The mattress is also incredibly motion-proof! I’m never awakened any more by my husband’s tossing.
Anonymous, 2021
PlushBeds is a staple on many of our mattress lists because we have used the Botanical Bliss extensively and sent a latex sample to Duke University to confirm it was free of flame retardants.
Available in medium-firm and medium, and with dual-firmness to suit couples with different needs, the PlushBeds Luxury Bliss mattress is a fantastic mattress-in-a-box made by a sustainable company.
PlushBeds offers a white glove delivery service and mattress removal (for a fee) and has a lifetime warranty for its Luxury Bliss mattress as well as a 100-night sleep trial.
The PlushBeds 12-inch Luxury Bliss is a latex and coil hybrid mattress with up to 1,283 steel coils. This means it has slightly fewer coils than the Avocado Green, though PlushBeds also reinforces the edges of the mattress with more coils with a different gauge for added stability. The coils are individually wrapped in fabric for reduced motion transfer and better comfort and support.
PlushBeds uses GOLS certified organic latex, with three inches of Talalay latex on top of the 8-inch coils. The top and bottom of the mattress comprises a 1-inch GOTS certified organic cotton cover with GOTS wool batting made of Joma New Zealand wool as a natural fire barrier.
Note: that there is no extra layer of latex in the base of the Luxury Bliss, unlike with the Avocado Green. This means you definitely want to get the mattress right side up and can’t flip the mattress.
The Luxury Bliss is sewn together, with no adhesives, chemical flame retardants, or other toxic chemicals used in its manufacture. PlushBeds uses a circular-knit organic cotton cover for greater support and pressure relief.
If you’re looking for a firmer mattress in a box, the Luxury Bliss is a fantastic choice. The medium-firm is an 8/10 for firmness, which is great for stomach-sleepers but not usually comfortable for side-sleepers or back-sleepers.
Luckily, you can also choose the PlushBeds Luxury Bliss in a medium firmness, rated at 5.5/10. This is a much better option for side-sleepers and back-sleepers but will usually be too soft for stomach-sleepers of any size.
The Luxury Bliss is also available in split sizes (from Queen up) and PlushBeds lets you choose different firmness options for both sides. This makes for a great compromise mattress for couples with different sleep needs. You can also use the Luxury Bliss mattress with all bed types, including adjustable bases.
We love that the Luxury Bliss has four or six (in larger sizes) very sturdy (but inconspicuous) handles stitched onto the sides. This makes the mattress more user friendly to move (and to setup) and is one practical reason we added this model to our list.
Birch Luxe Natural Mattress
Highlights: Well-designed latex 11.5-inch hybrid mattress with zoned support at the shoulders and hips and extra edge support. Ideal for hot sleepers and stomach sleepers, including heavier adults. Made with sustainably sourced and organic materials and certified GOTS and Greenguard Gold.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $1,449- $2,849 (Queen is $2,449)
- Materials: Organic Fair Trade cotton, organic wool, organic cashmere, Talalay latex, steel coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GreenGuard Gold, Rainforest Alliance (latex), Fair Trade (cotton)
- Sleep Trial: 100-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Depth: 11.5-inch
- Best for: Stomach-sleepers and back-sleepers
- Made with certified organic materials
- Free of polyurethane foam and chemical flame retardants
- Reinforced coils at perimeter for edge support
- Zoned coils offer extra support at hips and shoulders
- Great for heavier adults needing more support
- Breathable design for fantastic temperature regulation
- Vacuum-packed for easy delivery and set-up
- 100-night sleep trial and 25-year warranty
- Free ground shipping in contiguous U.S. and free returns
- One-sided
- No choice of firmness
- Couples can’t customize firmness on each side
- Not Made Safe certified
The first night I slept on the Birch Luxe, it was a perfect sleep – no morning tension, no tossing and turning all night, no insomnia. I look forward to sleep every night now. My husband finds it equally satisfying. I never thought this was possible. It’s all organic, to boot !!
Alicia B., 2022
The Birch Luxe Natural is a good choice of a non-toxic mattress-in-a-box especially if you’re a heavier adult or older adult in need of a touch more shoulder and hip support. This zoned latex hybrid mattress is comfortable, breathable, and has reinforced edging on all four sides, with a higher coil count and three comfort layers, including one made with organic cashmere.
The Birch Luxe Natural is a latex hybrid mattress made with Talalay latex. This makes it a softer mattress overall compared to the Dunlop latex Kiwi, Happsy, and Avocado Green. Lest you worry this mattress will be too soft, though, note that the layer of latex is actually quite thin and is topped by three layers of organic wool and cashmere. The overall effect is a supportive but comfortable sleep surface that offers superior temperature regulating and moisture-wicking abilities. The Luxe Natural has a quilted Euro-Top made of GOTS certified organic cotton. On the bottom of the mattress there’s a layer of organic wool and the organic cotton cover.
As for the innerspring unit, this comprises more than 1000 individually wrapped pocket coils that move independently to offer inch by inch support. The Luxe Natural is also a zoned mattress, with extra support at the hips and shoulders and extra coils to reinforce all four sides.
The Birch Luxe Natural is a great choice for heavier adults who like to sleep on their stomach. It is also a good option for older adults requiring greater support at the hips and shoulders. Those extra comfort layers make for a soft sleep surface with excellent support beneath.
Many of our preferred brands also make mattresses for babies and toddlers, so if you’re shopping for the whole family check out our guide to the best non-toxic crib mattresses.
FAQs
The mattress-in-a-box phenomenon kicked off in a big way in 2014, thanks to Casper, but its invention dates back to 2007 and a machinist named Bill Bradley of Johnson City, Tennessee. Bradley built a machine to compress and roll a foam mattress into a small enough space to fit in a shipping box. Thus, BedInABox was created, to be popularized later by Casper, Leesa and, more recently, Avocado.
Most mattress-in-a-box products come vacuum sealed and wrapped in up to 30 feet of plastic. In most cases, the plastic wrap and vacuum bag can’t be recycled simply due to lack of facilities. Where curbside pick-up or local services allow, this plastic is recyclable, however.
If you don’t have curbside recycling for plastic wrap, check for a local store (such as a Whole Foods Market) that takes plastic bags for recycling. The plastic wrap should be recyclable there. Alternatively, consider getting a Terra Cycle Zero-Waste recycle box and add the plastic wrap and other hard to recycle items.
Both Casper and Helix mattresses are made with fossil fuel-derived polyfoam that we don’t recommend. Read our thoughts on Casper here, and Helix here.
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