Birch Natural Mattress Review
Is the Birch Natural Mattress for You?
Who’s Going to Love the Birch Natural Mattress
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
Who Should Steer Clear of the Birch Natural Mattress
- Lightweight sleepers
- Side sleepers
- Couples
This mattress is no longer available for purchase. To help you find your next mattress, check out our list of the best mattresses available on the market now.
Want the bottom line? Skip to the Nerd’s Take below.
Video Review
Wanna watch the Birch Natural mattress in action? Join sleep expert Loren in the Nerd Lab to learn more.
Birch Natural Mattress Firmness and Feel
Birch Natural Mattress Firmness
Here at Mattress Nerd, we do firmness on scale from 1–10 where a 1 is the softest and a 10 is like a brick wall. In this case, the Birch Mattress has a higher firmness setting that corresponds with 8/10 on the firmness scale. If you add the optional Plush Organic Mattress Topper, it will feel closer to a medium on the firmness scale.
The firmness of the Birch Natural will appeal to back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and heavyweight sleepers. However, the Birch Natural may be too firm for many lightweight sleepers and side sleepers who are looking for more sink in their mattress.
What Does the Birch Natural Feel Like?
The Birch Natural provides a responsive, breathable, and firm surface with a bouncy feel. For sleepers with aches and pains, the mattress’s Talalay latex layer provides support and relief in needed areas. The latex, in addition to the Birch Natural’s strong edge support, also creates a bounciness that helps sleepers to move around on the bed and get on and off without hassle.
For heavier sleepers, the Birch Natural also has steel coils in its support layer which help to distribute weight evenly across the mattress. These steel coils and the natural materials of the Birch Natural also increase breathability and help to cool the mattress. However, for couples sleeping together, the Birch Natural and its coils lack in motion isolation. This means that you’re more likely to feel your partner moving around during the night.
What Sleeping Position Is Birch Natural Mattress Best For?
| Body Type: | Back Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers |
| Lightweight< 130 lbs: | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Average-weight130–230 lbs: | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Heavyweight> 230 lbs: | 5 | 5 | 4 |
1 = Very poor 2 = Not good 3 = Fair 4 = Good 5 = Excellent
Back Sleepers
The Birch is one of the best mattresses for back sleepers for average-weight and heavyweight back sleepers because its firmness level will keep the head, shoulders, and hips from sinking. However, the Birch Natural’s firmness may be too much for some lightweight back sleepers.
For heavier sleepers, the mattress’s firmness encourages proper spinal alignment while they’re lying on their backs. The top layer of wool and the stretchy cotton cover will contour slightly to important areas of back sleepers’ bodies (like the lower spine) while preventing sagging elsewhere.
Side Sleepers
The best mattresses for side sleepers cradle the hips, shoulders and neck while keeping the spine straight. How well the Birch Mattress works for side sleepers will depend upon their weight. If you’re heavyweight or average-weight, it should sleep fine.
However, if you’re a lightweight sleeper or enjoy extra sinking in the hips and shoulders for comfort, the Birch Natural mattress on its own will be too firm. Side sleepers who are petite and like the bed’s responsive feel should consider purchasing it with the topper, which costs $450 extra for a Queen size.
Stomach Sleepers
The best mattresses for stomach sleepers usually provide firmness and pressure relief in the hips; however, the amount of firmness depends on the sleepers weight too. With the Birch Natural, its firm surface will prevent the hips and lower torso from sinking too deeply, which can result in low back pain for sleepers who prefer this position.
For lightweight, average-weight, and heavyweight stomach sleepers, the Birch Natural offers the right amount of firmness.
Combination Sleepers
The Birch Natural may be one of the best mattresses for combination sleepers and average-weight to heavyweight sleepers who tend to gravitate toward their backs or stomachs for most of the night. Its responsive surface will make it easy to change positions while the coil core provides support everywhere.
That being said, for some lightweight sleepers and combination sleepers who like to sleep on their sides, a mattress topper can offer extra softness.
Birch Natural Mattress Performance
Is the Birch Natural Mattress Cooling?
The Birch Natural features both wool and aerated latex in its comfort layers, which balance temperature and wick away moisture from sleepers’ bodies throughout the night. These materials, along with the bed’s pocketed coil support core, provide steady airflow throughout the night, helping the Birch Mattress sleep even cooler than most hybrids.
The cover is also made from organic cotton, which promotes breathability more than other cover materials such as polyester or spandex. If you’re looking for a mattress for which cooling is a key strength, this could be a good pick. Check out more of the best cooling mattresses.
Edge Support
Edge support is how well a mattress can hold weight at its edges (without warping or dumping you on the floor). The Birch Natural mattress does a great job of this. The sturdy and firm materials of the Birch Natural keep the edges solid, which is especially helpful for seniors, for couples who want extra space in bed, and for the durability of the whole mattress.
See more: Best Mattresses for Couples
Responsiveness
Responsiveness is how easy it is to move around, get on and off, and switch positions without having to fight against the mattress.The Birch Natural’s coils and latex material make the mattress extra bouncy and responsive—something that combination sleepers will enjoy.
For couples, however, this responsiveness also means that you’re more likely to feel your partner moving around and switching positions during the night too.
Motion Isolation: Is it good for those who share a bed?
While the Birch Mattress has above-average edge support, thanks to reinforced coils around the perimeter of the mattress, its responsive surface will cause couples to feel a noticeable amount of movement throughout the night. Latex tends to be bouncy, and the Birch’s coil core will further prevent it from minimizing motion transfer.
For other memory foam options or less responsive mattresses, see our list on the best mattresses for couples.
Noise
The Birch Natural’s steel coil support layer can be noisy and squeaky, especially when you’re getting on and off the bed or switching up positions. While the bed isn’t loud, all-foam mattresses would work as a quieter alternative for light sleepers and couples.
Pain Relief
For sleepers looking for pain relief, it’s important to decrease any mattress pressure, and the Birch Natural does a great job of this. For heavyweight and average-weight sleepers in all positions, the mattress’s latex support layer and coils keep pressure off of the hips, shoulders, and back. The Birch Natural also keeps the pressure off for lightweight sleepers looking for a firmer feel too.
See more: Best Mattresses for Heavy Sleepers
Sex
The Birch Natural has great responsiveness, edge support, and firmness, but noise can be a concern for some couples. The mattress’s steel coils can make some unwanted creaking depending on movement on the bed. For other options for couples, check out the best mattresses for sex.
Off-Gassing
When it comes to odor, or off-gassing, the Birch Natural lives up to its name. When unboxing the mattress, buyers can expect a strong, earthy smell at first, which is due to the bed’s natural wool and cotton materials.
Durability
The durable construction of the Birch Natural means that you can expect to enjoy your mattress well past the average seven year mattress lifetime—this mattress’s natural materials and steel springs are built to last. Even better, you can sleep easy on your Birch Natural with a 25-year warranty too.
Birch Natural Mattress Construction: What’s it made of?
The Birch is one of the best hybrid mattresses that incorporates pocketed coils and eco-friendly materials like wool, organic cotton, and Talalay latex.
Cotton cover: The cover is also made from organic cotton, which promotes breathability more than other cover materials such as polyester or spandex. If you’re looking for a mattress for which cooling is a key strength, this could be a good pick.
Wool comfort layer: The comfort layer is a layer of wool, which gives it a slightly softer profile than it would otherwise have due to the firmer layer of latex and the pocketed coils. The wool also acts as a natural fire-retardant.
Latex support layer: The support core is topped by a pressure relief layer of Talalay latex, which has a spongy feel and cushions pressure points without allowing too much sinking throughout the body. It also adds more responsiveness to the mattress, making it easy to change positions if you’re a combination sleeper and makes the Birch one of the best mattresses for sex.
Base layer: The Birch Mattress has a base layer of wool batting, which acts as a foundation and provides durability and stability to the entire mattress. Above this is a support core of pocketed coils, which are individually wrapped. Theyact independently of one another to cradle the body and provide support. The coils on the outer edges of the mattress are reinforced to enhance edge support.
How Much Does the Birch Mattress Cost?
| Mattress Size | Price | Dimensions | Height | Weight |
| Twin | $ | 39” x 75” | 11” | 63 lbs |
| Twin XL | $ | 39” x 80” | 11” | 67 lbs |
| Full | $ | 54” x 75” | 11” | 87 lbs |
| Queen | $ | 60” x 80” | 11” | 105 lbs |
| King | $ | 76” x 80” | 11” | 131 lbs |
| California King | $ | 72” x 84” | 11” | 130 lbs |
How Do the Policies Measure Up?
Shipping & Unboxing
The Birch Mattress comes with free shipping to all 50 states and ships as a bed-in-a-box. It typically ships within three to seven business days via FedEx from the date it’s ordered. Once opened, the mattress will puff up quickly.
If you decide the mattress isn’t a good fit, you’ll have 70 nights to return it once you’ve slept on the bed for the duration of the mandatory 30-night break in period. Returns cannot be made for a full refund until at least 30 nights have passed from the date of delivery. Full refunds are issued for all returns, and returned mattresses are donated to charity or recycled.
Warranty
The Birch Mattress comes with a 25-year warranty that’s partially prorated. During the first 10 years of ownership, repairs and replacements are available at no cost to the owner. During years 11 through 25, owners are responsible for at least 50% of the mattress price if a replacement is needed. Each year after the eleventh, the mattress owner pays an additional 5% toward any replacements, up to 95%.
Trial Period & Returns
Your Birch Mattress will come with a 100-night sleep trial. This means you’ll have more than three months to test the bed and decide whether it’s a good fit for your sleeping style and preferences. Keep in mind that you’ll need to sleep on the bed for at least 30 nights (there’s a mandatory 30-night break-in period) prior to initiating a return for a full refund.
Addressing Birch Natural Mattress Complaints
Back Pain
Some Birch Natural buyers have expressed frustration at the back pain caused by their mattresses. Specifically, some people have described the mattress as feeling too hard and even lumpy in some areas. Other buyers have cited how the Birch Natural’s coils feel uncomfortable for back sleepers.
Odor
Several people have mentioned that their Birch Natural mattress has a strong natural odor when unboxing it and that the unpleasant odor seemed to linger for longer than expected. Customers have specifically described the wool as the most consistently earthy smelling material in the mattress.
Comparing Different Birch Mattresses
Birch Natural Mattress vs. Birch Luxe Mattress
| Birch Natural Mattress Is Best For… | Birch Luxe Mattress Is Best For… |
| Shoppers on a budget | Luxury mattress shoppers |
| Hot sleepers | Sleepers wanting more support |
| Back and stomach sleepers | Eco-friendly shoppers |
While the Birch Natural and the Birch Luxe are both luxury organic mattresses, the Birch Luxe comes out on top with more support and pressure relief for sleepers. However, the Birch Luxe is also more expensive than the Birch Natural. For stomach and back sleepers, the Birch Natural is slightly more firm, but the Birch Luxe has more edge support and layers of support.
Comparing Birch Natural Brand to the Competition
Birch Natural Mattress vs. Avocado Eco Organic Mattress
| Birch Natural Mattress Is Best For… | Avocado Green Mattress Is Best For… |
| Back sleepers | People on a budget |
| Luxury mattress shoppers | Stomach sleepers |
| Couples | Eco-friendly shoppers |
The Birch Natural and Avocado Green mattresses are both eco-friendly and made from organic material, but the Avocado mattress is more affordable for shoppers on a budget and has more natural materials. For couples, however, the Birch Natural has more motion isolation (meaning you’ll feel your partner moving around less). Lastly, for firmess, the Avocado is slightly more solid, meaning that some stomach sleepers will find it more appealing.
Birch Natural Mattress vs. Purple Mattress
| Birch Natural Mattress Is Best For… | Purple Mattress Is Best For… |
| Seniors | Couples |
| Eco-friendly shoppers | Shoppers on a budget |
| Luxury mattress shoppers | Hot sleepers |
Between the two mattresses, the Birch Natural is a better fit for seniors with its pressure relief, responsiveness, and edge support, while the Purple mattress is a better fit for couples looking to reduce motion transfer. This means that the Birch Natural is easier to get on and off, but it is also noisier because of its steel coils. Lastly, hot sleepers will enjoy the Purple mattress more because of its breathability—which is one of the best memory foam mattresses.
Birch Natural Mattress vs. Casper Mattress
| Birch Natural Mattress Is Best For… | Casper Mattress Is Best For… |
| Eco-friendly shoppers | Side sleepers |
| Luxury mattress shoppers | Shoppers on a budget |
| Heavyweight sleepers | Couples |
The Casper and Birch Natural mattresses both offer pressure relief—but at different levels of firmness, depending on the sleeper’s weight. For heavier sleepers, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers, the Birch Natural mattress will feel more comfortable, while the Casper will provide more softness for lightweight and side sleepers—plus less motion transfer for couples. Lastly, the Casper mattress is the more affordable option, while the Birch Natural has more eco-friendly materials.
Birch Mattress FAQs
If I’m Allergic to Latex, Can I Buy the Birch Natural Mattress?
For most individuals with a latex allergy, reactions occur as a result of direct contact or inhalation of latex particles. Although the Birch mattress’ comfort layer consists of latex material, no inhalation or direct contact should occur; however, you should consult with your doctor prior to purchase.
Does the Birch Mattress Work With an Adjustable Surface?
Yes. Birch mattresses can be kept on any flat and solid surface including a floor, traditional box spring base, platform, or slatted surface. Specifically, for slatted surfaces, it is recommended that you keep your Birch Natural mattress on slats that are five or fewer inches apart from each other.
What Natural Materials Are Used in the Birch Mattress?
The Birch Natural mattress is handmade and consists of a variety of quality natural materials. These include: sustainably sheared sheep wool from New Zealand, OEKO-TEX certified natural latex, and organic GOTS Certified cotton. The cotton, wool, and latex layers all provide breathability and cushion for the Birch Natural mattress.
The Nerd’s Take: What’s the Bottom Line?
The Birch Natural is for eco-conscious shoppers who like a firmer latex mattress and want a reasonable price point. If you’re a back or stomach sleeper who isn’t lightweight or are a combination sleeper who enjoys a firmer feel, this mattress is a great choice to consider.
The Nerd’s Scores for the Birch Natural Mattress
| Performance Factor | Out of 5 |
| Motion Isolation | 2 |
| Pressure Relief | 4 |
| Ease of Movement | 4 |
| Edge Support | 5 |
| Temperature Control | 4.5 |
| Durability | 5 |
