TheRoundup is reader supported. We may earn a small commission when you make a purchase via links on this site, at no cost to you.
All products are personally reviewed and tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
A bed-in-a-box mattress is a compressed, rolled, and vacuum-sealed mattress that ships in a compact box and expands to its full size after being unboxed.
Most manufacturers make bed-in-a-box mattresses using toxic materials, such as synthetic foam, polyester, and chemical adhesives. These materials release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) linked to breathing problems, hormone disruption, and environmental damage.
Fortunately, there are a handful of non-toxic bed-in-a-box mattress brands that combine the convenience of a compressed mattress with chemical-free materials like certified organic cotton, natural latex, and ethically sourced wool.
I've tested them all, and every recommended option in this guide meets strict non-toxic and environmental standards, all without compromising on comfort.
✔ Certified Organic Materials
✔ Unrestricted Airflow
✔ Guaranteed for Life
Why It's Best Overall: The PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Organic Latex Mattress is best overall because it's incredibly comfortable and packed full of high-quality certified organic materials.
While the 11" Avocado Green offers firm support for back pain, and the Birch Luxe excels for hot sleepers and couples, PlushBeds provides the most balanced combination of comfort and certifications.
The breathability of this mattress is outstanding, thanks to the organic cotton knit cover that effectively pulls moisture away from the body. This allows air to move freely through the surface and keeps you dry and comfortable.
The cotton used is organically and ethically grown, with no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. That matters to me, as I don't want to sleep on something soaked in chemicals.
If you struggle with lifting heavy boxes or want an easier experience, you have the option to request an optional in-home setup service. The delivery team brings the mattress into your home, installs it where you want it, removes all packaging, and even recycles your old mattress.
✔ No Off-Gassing Smell
✔ Built to Last
✔ Temperature Regulating
Why It's a Great Option for Hot Sleepers: The Birch Luxe Natural Mattress is a great option for hot sleepers because it has a top layer of natural wool that is incredibly effective at drawing away body heat.
Why It's Recommended for Couples: It's also recommended for couples because the firm edge support means that the whole of the mattress can be used to sleep on.
The build quality of the Birch Luxe Natural Mattress stood out during testing. After two months of nightly use, the edge support was still firm (I often sit there to tie my shoes), and I didn't notice any body indentations. This is definitely a mattress built to last!
It also outperformed all other mattresses I tested in terms of "new mattress" smell. Most new mattresses (no matter how good their eco-credentials) have a factory smell, but the Birch Luxe had none when I unpacked it.
The Birch Luxe offers similar cooling properties to the Happsy mattress, but it's firmer than the plush Happsy option (rated 4/10) and so more suitable for back sleepers.
✔ Enhanced Sleep Quality
✔ Zoned Support System
✔ Superior Spinal Alignment
Why It's Ideal for Back Pain: The Avocado Green Mattress is ideal for back pain because it features a zoned support system that offers excellent back support.
The Avocado Green felt sturdy and high-quality. I found the cotton cover soft and breathable, with a natural scent from the wool and latex (not the chemical odor you get with toxic foam beds).
There's very little sink with this mattress (I tested the firm 11" option). My shoulders and hips stayed level, and my spine felt well-aligned whether I was on my back or stomach.
However, for side sleeping, the 11" option was too firm, and I developed some pressure at my hips and shoulders after a few nights. Side sleepers should consider Avocado's medium (13") or plush (15.5") options, or alternatively, the side sleeper pick, Awara, offers excellent pressure relief.
✔ Adhesive-Free Coils
✔ Allergy Reduction
✔ Luxuriously Soft
Why It's Effective for Allergy Sufferers: The Naturepedic Serenade Organic Hybrid Mattress is effective for allergy sufferers because its certified-organic latex, cotton, and wool are naturally hypoallergenic and resist dust mites and mold.
The hybrid design of the Naturepedic Serenade Organic Hybrid Mattress gave an immediately responsive comfort without a break-in period during testing (I was sleeping on it within 6 hours).
Temperature regulation was also a standout feature of this mattress. It performed exceptionally well across different room temperatures thanks to the breathable latex construction combined with organic cotton and wool materials.
Reinforced perimeter coils delivered stronger edge support than I expected, and the glueless wrapped coils delivered consistent bounce and support without excessive sinkage.
Naturepedic and BedInABox both reduce allergy symptoms, but BedInABox (reviewed next) is the better choice for people with latex allergies.
✔ Rapid Expansion
✔ Latex-Free
✔ Long-lasting
Why It's a Standout Option for Latex Allergy Sufferers: The BedInABox Eco-Lux Mattress is a standout option for latex allergy sufferers because it does not contain any latex. Naturepedic (reviewed above) is our other allergy-friendly pick, but it does contain GOLS-certified organic latex.
This mattress comes with a long list of trusted third-party certifications that confirm all foams used meet strict standards for emissions, durability, and safety. In fact, the BedInABox Eco-Lux Mattress carries the most certifications of all the memory foam mattresses I tested, although fewer than 100% organic options like the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss.
The foam layers provide a balanced medium-firm feel that works well for back, side, and combination sleepers. During testing, I found this mattress to be supportive, comfortable, and cool throughout the night.
Although only the cotton cover carries organic certification (the mattress is not fully organic), BedInABox uses low-emission and non-toxic materials in the rest of the construction.
Avocado and Awara offer a longer sleep trial (365 nights) than BedInABox (120 nights), making them better for cautious buyers who like to thoroughly test a mattress before committing.
✔ Value for Money
✔ Excellent Pressure Relief
✔ 365-Night Trial
Why It's Perfect for Side Sleepers: The Awara Premier Natural Hybrid Mattress is perfect for side sleepers because the adaptive latex foam layer beneath the plush Euro top does an excellent job of aligning the spine and relieving pressure on the shoulders, hips, and legs.
This mattress combines GOLS-certified organic Dunlop latex with individually wrapped coils to create a medium-firm feel that prevents pressure point build-up during sleep.
The organic New Zealand wool used in this mattress serves dual purposes as both a natural fire retardant and moisture-wicking layer, eliminating the need for chemical flame retardants or a fireglass layer.
Awara's 365-night trial and lifetime warranty are the most generous I tested, and show confidence in their product.
✔ Single-Source Latex
✔ Low Price Point
✔ Dynamic Support
Why It's the Best for Under $1,500: The Eco Terra Hybrid Latex Mattress offers high-quality certified organic materials, hand crafted quality and a good level of comfort, all at an affordable price point.
The Eco Terra Hybrid Latex Mattress impressed me with its consistent comfort, thanks to single-source latex that avoids the flaws of cheaper blends.
Responsive latex and coils offer solid pressure relief and spinal support. Whether I slept on my back, side, or stomach, the support felt well-balanced and adaptable.
The Eco Terra 90-night trial and 15-year warranty are the least generous options of all the brands in this guide. However, for the price, it's still an excellent option to consider.
Eco Terra, Awara, and Happsy all offer queen-sized organic mattresses under $1,500, but Eco Terra has the lowest entry price (when on sale at $999).
✔ Organic Materials
✔ Breathable Coil System
✔ Pressure Point Relief
Why It's a Top Choice for Cooling Properties: The Happsy Organic Mattress is a top choice for cooling properties because its breathable coil system and organic wool work together to wick away moisture and regulate temperature.
This mattress (I tested the medium firm option) provided the perfect level of pressure point relief when I slept on my back and stomach during testing. However, I found that when side sleeping, it did give me a small amount of hip pain.
If you're a side sleeper who prefers a super plush mattress, you can add a topper to your plush Happsy Organic Mattress and take the firmness level down to a 2/10.
A mattress in a box is a sleep surface that has been compressed, rolled, and vacuum-sealed for easier shipping and handling, making it convenient for customers to receive them via standard shipping methods.
This streamlined delivery method has its advantages, but also a few trade-offs worth knowing before you buy.
Bed-in-a-box mattresses have gained popularity due to their convenience, but they're not without their problems. Here's a list of the most common pros and cons so you can make an informed purchase.
The main reasons people love bed-in-a-box mattresses include the following.
But there are some drawbacks worth considering.
An organic mattress helps you avoid most of these issues.
An organic mattress is better because it reduces your exposure to toxic chemicals while supporting sustainable farming and manufacturing practices.
Organic mattresses are made from certified organic materials like latex, cotton, and wool, and contain no pesticides, flame retardants, or off-gassing foams.
To guarantee that your mattress is genuinely organic, you should look out for trusted certifications. Of all the mattresses I tested, PlushBeds and Avocado offer the most comprehensive organic material certifications, while Naturepedic specializes in chemical-free construction.
The best mattress certifications include GOTS (found in PlushBeds, Birch, Avocado, Naturepedic, Eco Terra, and Happsy), GOLS (featured in all recommendations except BedInABox), GREENGUARD Gold, Eco-Institut, OEKO-TEX, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, MADE SAFE, EWG VERIFIED, and CertiPUR-US.
You can read more about all of these certifications, and almost 100 more, in our Sustainability Certifications for Eco-Friendly Consumers article.
Getting a certified mattress is an important step to getting a good night's sleep, as is choosing the right firmness.
To choose the right mattress firmness, you need to know your sleeping position. The three most popular options are as follows.
Properly caring for your mattress will help it maintain its correct level of firmness for years.
Proper care extends the life of your mattress and helps maintain a healthy sleep environment. The following tips will help keep your mattress in top shape.
With consistent care, your mattress will stay supportive, clean, and comfortable for many years, and you won't need to return it.
Return policies and trial periods let you test a mattress at home and send it back for a refund if it doesn't work for you.
Most online mattress brands offer trial periods lasting between 100 and 365 nights. This gives you several months to sleep on the mattress and decide whether it's right for you.
If it falls short of your expectations, return it during the trial period.
Every option listed in this guide has decent return polices and trial periods, so you won't be stuck with something that causes discomfort or doesn't live up to the promise. It's a risk-free way to find the right fit for you without stepping into a showroom.
Purple mattresses are non-toxic because they use materials that are CertiPUR-US certified and free from harmful chemicals like phthalates and formaldehyde. However, it's not a brand I tested due to a lack of organic certification.
The long-term health effects of sleeping on toxic mattresses are increased exposure to harmful chemicals like VOCs. Research published in Environmental Science & Technology links VOCs emitted from mattresses to eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and cancer.
Common VOCs found in mattresses include formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, acetaldehyde, and methylene chloride. Synthetic foams, adhesives, flame retardants, and vinyl covers release these chemicals. To avoid VOCs, you should buy non-toxic mattresses like the ones in this article.
To dispose of a non-toxic mattress, consider donating it, recycling it responsibly, or composting its natural materials if possible.
The difference between a mattress and a bed in a box lies in the packaging and delivery. Companies compress and vacuum-seal bed-in-a-box mattresses to reduce shipping costs, whereas delivery teams transport traditional mattresses at full size.
Manufacturers design most mattresses in a box to work with many types of bed frames and foundations, including slatted platforms and adjustable bases, but you should always check the manufacturer's recommendations for optimal support.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
TheRoundup.org - As Seen On
