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Oct 22, 2023

7 Best Organic Mattress Toppers 2023, Tested by Experts

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Natural materials you can feel good about buying and sleeping on.

Don't love the way your mattress feels? A mattress topper may just be the perfect solution, adding either much-needed firmness or softness for your ideal comfort. And while memory foam toppers and featherbeds are undeniably popular, organic options have been harder to find. But the bedding industry has grown, introducing truly organic choices from bouncy latex styles to plush wool ones for every kind of sleeper.

Organic bedding is a great choice for those looking to make more eco-conscious choices without sacrificing performance or comfort. That said, you may encounter misinformation and greenwashing as you shop, so here's what to keep in mind to ensure your purchase is actually organic: Organic labeling is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture through the National Organic Program. "Certified organic" is a strictly regulated term and refers to when fibers are grown without synthetic pesticides, use less water and produce less waste than traditional growing methods. This doesn't necessarily mean the entire manufacturing process is organic. Certifications from the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) mean the complete production process adheres to strict organic guidelines.

The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing home and bedding products for over a century, from the best mattress toppers and the best mattresses to the best sheets, best pillows and best comforters for your perfect bed. To find the best organic mattress toppers, we sent dozens of them to our consumer testers to try at home and provide firsthand feedback. In the Lab, our scientists and analysts evaluate the physical product with an eye toward the construction, materials and design, and thoroughly vet all organic claims and certifications.

Looking for more organic bedding? Check out our guides to the best organic sheets, organic pillows and organic mattresses for more recommendations.

Available in both plush and firm options, this latex topper is truly one of the best available, outperforming dozens of others in our tests. Made by Avocado, a pioneer in the organic bedding industry, it stands out for its high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Plus, it's certified by both the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which means the brand adheres to strict standards throughout the manufacturing process.

On top of its impressive certifications, the topper has impressed our consumer testers with how supportive and comfortable it feels on their beds. While it's a bit pricey for a latex mattress topper, some of our testers found that it has held up very well over years of use, maintaining its level of comfort and support. The brand also offers a wide variety of other organic mattress toppers including budget and luxury versions as well as a vegan option with cotton fill instead of wool.

Turmerry proves that you don't always need to shell out a large sum for quality organic materials — its topper outperformed similar, pricier toppers in our tests, earning high praise for its comfortable feel. It has organic certifications from GOTS and GOLS and comes in three different heights and four firmness levels with an ergonomic layout featuring five zones to properly support your body.

This topper earned high scores across the board for support, and testers raved about the pressure relief. One shared that while the topper contoured nicely to her body, the latex foam didn't compress under her body weight, so it was easy to comfortably change positions throughout the night. Take note that the 2-inch and 3-inch versions don't come with a cover, so you'll have to pay extra for Turmerry's zippered mattress topper cover if you want one.

Wool is known for its natural temperature regulation, keeping you cool in warm weather and warm on colder nights. This organic wool topper from PlushBeds adds a pillow-top-like feel to your bed for much-needed softness. In the Lab, it impressed us with its quality materials — including the GOTS-certified organic sateen cover and ethically sourced virgin wool fill.

One tester compared the plush feel to a "big hug," while others swore it helped ease their back pain. Another shared, "It is quiet, not at all hot and feels very comfortable." Just remember to pair it with a mattress protector or mattress pad as our testers found that it didn't stay in place well if used without another layer underneath their sheets. And while it certainly comes at a premium, it's undeniably luxurious.

For those who struggle with back and hip pain, mattress shopping can be particularly challenging, especially if you find that your new bed isn't as comfortable as you initially thought. If you're looking for a little more cushioning or support, a latex mattress topper might just do the trick, and this GOLS-certified and GOTS-certified pick from My Green Mattress earned top scores from testers with back pain.

It also earned rave reviews from our testers for its easy setup, comfortable sleeping temperature and overall comfort. In fact, several called this topper "comfortable yet supportive" and highlighted the pressure-relieving "ahhhhh feeling." Just keep in mind that with back pain, nothing is an instant fix, and it may take time to adjust to a new surface.

While many use mattress toppers to soften their too-firm beds, a firm latex mattress topper is great for those looking for a little extra support. This one from Silk & Snow was a favorite among our testers for its supportive feel, thanks to the resilient and springy qualities of the dense Dunlop latex.

Multiple testers reported that their sleep quality improved after sleeping on the topper for a few weeks, and one even shared that it "felt comfortable from the start." We also appreciate that this topper comes in two firmness levels (medium and firm). The removable cotton cover makes washing easy. Just note that some testers found that the topper had a tendency to shift in the night.

Side sleepers often need a softer surface to avoid putting painful stress on their shoulders, hips or knees. On the other hand, a too-soft surface may not provide sufficient support to help maintain a neutral alignment. This organic topper is side-sleeper friendly and provides a balance of support with a plush pressure-relieving feel.

Made with 2 inches of GOLS-certified latex encased in a quilted organic cotton cover, Happsy's topper earned praise from testers for its excellent comfort. One tester described the topper as "cloud-like," and remarked that the plush, contouring feel was perfect for sleeping on her side. The caveat is that the topper didn't align perfectly with some mattresses in our tests.

If you're a hot sleeper, there's always the fear that new bedding might cause you to overheat or aggravate your night sweats. While it may seem a little counterintuitive, wool might be just the answer. It's naturally thermoregulating, so it'll keep you at a comfortable body temperature in both hot and cold weather. This topper comes in a 1.5-inch thickness for a little added plushness and temperature control.

Coyuchi is one of the most well-known organic bedding brands around. From its cotton mattress pad to its crinkled percale sheets, its products are consistently top performers in our tests for their high-quality look and feel. While we're still testing this topper, we're confident in recommending it given the brand's strong track record and commitment to sustainability. In fact, this topper uses Coyuchi's Climate Beneficial Wool, which, according to the brand, uses regenerative agriculture through closed-loop carbon farming practices.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has been testing home and bedding products for over a century. To find the best mattress toppers, we research available products, verify claims or certifications and work with consumer testers to evaluate them at home. Testers consider the entire user experience, from the initial setup to long periods of sleep testing, before providing feedback. Here are some of the factors we consider when evaluating the best organic mattress toppers:

✔️ Ease of use: Our testers report how easy (or difficult) it is to set up the topper on their bed.

✔️ Overall comfort: Testers score the topper on how comfortable it feels to lie on at night.

✔️ Comfortable body temperature: Reviewers share whether they maintained a comfortable sleeping temperature at night when using the topper.

✔️ Stay-in-place capabilities: Each topper is rated on how much it shifts around on the bed during use. It's noted if testers use the topper in combination with a mattress protector or mattress pad instead on its on.

✔️ Sound: Each topper is assessed for noise, so we can check if the toppers stay quiet and undetectable during use.

✔️ Mattress enhancement: Users tell us if and how the topper changes the feel of their mattresses.

✔️ Overall satisfaction: Lastly, our testers share whether they liked sleeping on the mattress topper and whether they plan to continue using it. They also compare the topper to their normal mattress and other toppers they've used in addition to sharing any other likes, dislikes or comments.

Picking the right mattress topper will depend on your individual needs and preferences, so here are some things to keep in mind when searching for the best organic mattress topper for you:

✔️ Thickness : Most of our top mattress topper picks are at least 2 inches thick, as we've found this height makes a noticeable difference in our tests, but an even thicker topper will offer additional support. If you're generally satisfied with the feel of your mattress and only want to make a small adjustment, a thinner model may suffice. Note that the thickness of the topper will add to the height of your mattress. Make sure your sheets can still accommodate the total combined height.

✔️ Softness : If your mattress is too firm, opt for a plush or soft topper. If you're looking for something with more support to firm up your existing mattress, look for a topper listed as medium or firm.

✔️ Sleep position: Additionally, make sure to account for your sleep position when picking out an appropriate firmness. Side sleepers need plusher surface while stomach sleepers need a firmer surface for optimal spinal alignment. Back sleepers and combination sleepers are best off with something in the middle. If sleeping with a partner, make sure to take into account both sleep positions and individual preferences.

✔️ Support: Feeling pain when you wake up? An organic latex topper can evenly distribute your body weight for added pressure relief around your joints. Latex tends to be better for those looking for more firmness and support, while wool can help sleepers searching for more cushioning or softness.

✔️ Stay-in-place features: If you're concerned about your topper shifting at night, look for one with straps that hook onto your mattress or consider adding a mattress protector or mattress pad on top to help keep everything in place.

✔️ Care: While most mattress toppers aren't washable, some may come with a removable cover that can be washed by hand or in a machine.

How can you tell if something is really organic? There are several certifications and emblems to look out for. Here are some of the most common you'll see for organic mattress toppers:

✔️ Global Organic Textiles Standard ( GOTS): This third-party certification confirms that the whole product meets strict organic, sustainability, ecological and social criteria throughout the entire process of creating the product from growing to packaging. The product must contain at least 70% organic fiber to meet the requirements. Take note that while some brands may claim to use GOTS-certified textiles (like covers), GOTS only certifies whole products.

✔️ Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS ): This certification ensures that a latex product contains at least 95% organically grown natural rubber latex.

You may see the following other certifications on products, but they may not have to do with whether the materials are organic. The following certifications are also commonly seen on bedding products:

✔️ eco-INSTITUT Certified: This certification usually refers to latex and means the material has been laboratory tested by an international third-party organization for indoor air quality with no emissions or VOCs (volatile organic compounds) present. It doesn't necessarily mean the latex is organic.

✔️ OEKO-TEX: This well-known emblem ensures that the product contains no harmful levels of certain chemicals.

✔️GREENGUARD : This indoor air quality certification verifies the topper has met chemical emission standards. There's also a stricter GREENGUARD Gold certification, which requires lower levels of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

Grace Wu is a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and has tested hundreds of bedding products, including mattress toppers. Grace has also written several stories about organic bedding, including both organic sheets and organic pillows, as well as mattress toppers, including both memory foam and latex toppers. Prior to joining GH, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science & Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University.

Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.

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this latex topper is truly one of the best available, outperforming dozens of others in our tests its topper outperformed similar, pricier toppers in our tests, earning high praise for its comfortable feel. Wool is known for its natural temperature regulation, keeping you cool in warm weather and warm on colder nights. earned top scores from testers with back pain. favorite among our testers for its supportive feel provides a balance of support with a plush pressure-relieving feel. wool might be just the answer. It's naturally thermoregulating ✔️ Ease of use: ✔️ Overall comfort: ✔️ Comfortable body temperature ✔️ Stay-in-place capabilities: ✔️ Sound: ✔️ Mattress enhancement: ✔️ Overall satisfaction: ✔️ Thickness ✔️ ✔️ : ✔️ Softness ✔️ ✔️ : ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Sleep position: ✔️ Support ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Stay-in-place features: ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Care: ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ Global Organic Textiles Standard ( ✔️ Global Organic Textiles Standard ( ✔️ Global Organic Textiles Standard ( GOTS): ✔️ Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS ) ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ OEKO-TEX: ✔️GREENGUARD ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ : Grace Wu
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