Best Mattresses Without Fiberglass

It’s important to exercise caution when choosing a budget-friendly bed, as most cheap mattresses use fiberglass to cut costs. This isn’t the case for Bear’s Original all-foam mattress, however. When asked what materials the Bear Original uses to address flammability concerns, BG (a customer service rep) told us, “We use a fiberglass-free, fire-retardant sock made of hydrated silica, rayon, polyester and cotton.” The Bear mattress comes in at just under $1,000 for a queen—which we consider to be a reasonable price, especially given its quality. We gave it a 5/5 for the lifetime warranty and  a 4/5 for its 120-night sleep trial, so you can be confident in your purchase.

The Bear Original has a firmer feel, which we rated at a 7/10 on our scale—just a touch firmer than the standard medium-firm. My fellow tester Melanie Kassel, an average-weight tester, enjoyed the bed on her back and stomach. “My limbs feel like they don’t sink into the bed at all, unlike my heavier areas, so there is a nice mix of on-top-of-the-mattress support for lighter areas and the contouring you’d expect from foam for heavier areas,” she said. In the side-sleeping position, she specifically didn’t notice any pressure buildup around her hips and shoulders. However, our lightweight tester disagreed and reported feeling some misalignment through the hips and discomfort around the shoulder, which is why we only gave the bed a 3.5/5 for pressure relief overall.

Because of the bed’s all-foam construction, it’s unsurprising that the bed scored high for motion isolation (4.3 out of 5), as the upper foam layers absorb movement before it travels across the surface. When it came to response, opinions were mixed among our testers, who found the bed easy to move around on but not particularly “bouncy.” The Bear Original also kept relatively cool during our tests, a rarity for memory foam mattresses, as they tend to retain body heat. We only recorded 7.9 degrees of temperature increase at the surface after lying on it for 7 minutes, earning the mattress a cooling score of 4/5.

For more information, read our full Bear Original review. Looking for better pressure relief? Check out the Bear Elite Hybrid, also on this list. 

Back sleepers need a sleep surface that balances pressure relief and support, and the Helix Midnight Luxe is one such mattress, earning a 4.2/5 in our pressure relief tests. We spoke with Linaya, a customer service representative from Helix, to confirm that the Midnight Luxe is fiberglass-free. She gave the following information: “The flame-retardant yarn that is used is rayon, a derivative of cellulose (bamboo fiber). We use a chemical-free rayon barrier that is in the form of a small foam layer. Rayon fiber is a manufactured fiber composed of 100-percent regenerated cellulose.”

As a hybrid mattress, the Helix Midnight Luxe unsurprisingly excels in response, thanks to its innerspring coils (we gave the bed a score of 4.5/5 in this category). This should be a plus for combination sleepers who switch between their back and another position. My fellow tester Cait Giddings loved the bed in every sleep position, which makes sense as she also rated it at 6.5/10 on our firmness scale, or a true medium-firm feel. While testing the mattress on her back, she said, “The soft pillow top conformed to my lower back and the firmer layers with zoned support kept my spine from sinking or wrenching out of alignment.” This is a sign that the bed should also work to prevent back pain.

Unfortunately, hybrids aren’t exactly known for their motion isolation, and this is the case for the Helix Midnight Luxe. Cait noted, “I could feel my partner getting in and out of the bed and moving around more than I expected.” This is why the bed scored a little lower at a 3.7/5. Another area the Midnight Luxe came up short was cooling: In our test, the bed didn’t overheat, but it wasn’t exactly cool-to-the-touch. If you’re a hot sleeper who’s especially concerned about temperature regulation, I’d recommend upgrading to the GlacioTex cooling pillow top—just note it’ll accrue an extra fee.

If you’re looking for a bed with better motion isolation, consider checking out the Nolah Evolution, also featured on this list. Otherwise, read our full Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review to find out more.

Hybrid mattresses are a great option if you’re looking to avoid fiberglass, as the fire-resistant material tends to be a component of all-foam mattresses. This bed type is known for its balanced support, bounce, and cushioning. The Bear Elite is one such hybrid with a luxurious feel and without fiberglass. We reached out to Bear to see if there was anything unique to the bed’s construction, and their rep, BG, said, “The Elite uses the same [fire-retardant] sock [as the Bear Original],” which contains no fiberglass, but rather a blend of other common and safe materials.

The Bear Elite’s hybrid construction lends it an edge in certain performance categories. For one, it earned a high score for response (4.5/5), likely due to the sturdy coils in its construction. The edges of the mattress are also bolstered by its robust innerspring unit, and our testers found it easy to sit and lie on the perimeter of this bed without it sagging (earning it a 5/5 for edge support). The plush pillow top covering the bed’s surface also contributes to its ability to relieve pressure, for which we gave the bed a score of 4/5. 

Given the bed’s springy surface, we were surprised that it isolated motion so well. During our cooling test, tester Cait said, “I could feel my fellow tester getting in and out of the bed, but when she simply lay down next to me, I could barely feel it.” She concluded that this wouldn’t be too much of a problem for most couples, resulting in a score of 4 out of 5 for motion isolation.

Another surprising score was in our cooling test: The Bear Elite Hybrid saw a whopping 12.6-degree increase after lying on the mattress for seven minutes (compared to the standard 6 to 8-degree increase). The coils should allow for plenty of airflow, and the standard mattress cover is made with phase change material, so this came as a shock. However, Cait, who performed the test, said, “I wouldn’t describe this bed as ‘sleeping hot’ despite its thermal gun results.”

For more information, check out our Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review. If you’re looking for a cooler mattress, consider checking out the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid.

If you’re looking to level up your sleeping experience (beyond choosing a healthier, fiberglass-free mattress), consider upgrading to the aptly named Nolah Evolution Hybrid. This luxury mattress scored relatively well across our performance tests and should provide a comfortable night’s sleep. On top of that, we reached out to a Nolah representative, and Doug from Nolah assured us that there is no fiberglass in the Nolah’s construction. Specifically, he said, “We have not used any fire-retardant chemicals to meet federal fire-safety regulations. Instead, Nolah’s all-foam and foam-hybrid mattresses use a proprietary, silica-based, fire-retardant rayon blend that prevents heat and fire from igniting the mattress.”

The Nolah Evolution comes in multiple firmness options (Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm) for your customization; we tested the Luxury Firm and found it to be a solid 6.5/10 on our firmness scale. This medium-firm feel, combined with a pressure-relieving pillow top (that helped the bed earn a 4.5/5 score for pressure relief), makes it versatile for a wide range of sleepers and body types. Tester Cait found she even enjoyed the Evolution in a stomach-sleeping position: “My weight compressed the pillow-top layer enough that I could feel the firmer layers beneath, giving a lifted feel to my hips.”

The bed should also work well for couples, as it scored high in motion isolation (5/5), edge support (4.5/5), and cooling (4/5). It was a bit lacking in the response department, most likely due to the doughy pillow top that otherwise brings cushy comfort. This may be a turn-off for combination sleepers or sexually active couples who may want a sleep surface that’s easier to move around on. Besides this, the only other downside to the Nolah Evolution is its luxury price point—but if you’re willing to splurge, this mattress is worth every penny.

Looking for a bouncier hybrid? Check out the Helix Dawn, also on this list. Otherwise, find out more about this bed in our full Nolah Evolution review.

Firm mattresses are best for folks who are seeking support above all. If you’re a stomach sleeper, weigh more than 230 pounds, or just like to rest “on top” of your mattress rather than sinking in, consider checking out Helix’s Dawn mattress, which the brand advertises as a firm mattress for those who sleep on their stomach and back. This fiberglass-free mattress came in at a 7/10 on our firmness scale, so it’s a bit firmer than most beds out there. We also contacted Helix customer service to ask what is used in place of fiberglass in the Dawn, and Helix representative Felix told us, “I do not have the specific information as to what is used to avoid fiberglass being used. I can confirm that fiberglass is not used in the production of any of our mattresses.”

The Dawn champions bounce above all. Considering this is a hybrid bed with firmer foams on top, it’s not too surprising that we gave it a 5/5 response score. This means it should be great for sex or combination sleepers. The lengthwise edges of the mattress also held up well. Tester Kate Meier made a note that the foot of the bed was a different story: “I almost fell right off the corner of the bed.” Only the long edges of the bed are reinforced, so just take extra care if you’re a senior or someone with mobility issues.

As a firmer mattress, this bed doesn’t have the best pressure relief. The denser foams didn’t lend themselves well to contouring, and our testers complained of pressure buildup on their hips and shoulders, especially while side sleeping. The bed’s super bounce also contributed to less-than-stellar motion isolation, with Kate saying, “You can feel just about every movement your partner makes on this bed.” This bed also wasn’t particularly cooling on its own, but hot sleepers can upgrade to Helix’s GlacioTex cooling cover, which has fibers in it to regulate temperature. 

Read more in our Helix Dawn mattress review. Want a Helix bed with better pressure relief? Check out the Midnight Luxe.

If you switch between multiple sleeping positions throughout the night, welcome to the bed for combination sleepers club. These folks do best on a mattress that allows them to move around easily on the surface, hence why we’d recommend a hybrid like the Brooklyn Bedding Signature. And if you’re concerned about fiberglass, this bed is also free from it. Kalen, the customer service rep we spoke to about Brooklyn Bedding mattresses, said, “We utilize a hydrated silica-fiber sock as our flame-retardant material. It is important to clarify that this material does not contain fiberglass and is completely safe, non-toxic, and free from any harmful sprays.”

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid has a balanced feel from its coils and soft foams. I tested this bed myself (the Medium model, to be specific) and found it to be at a 7/10 on our firmness scale. I enjoy a firmer mattress, so I liked the feel of this bed—especially on my back and stomach. But if you’re worried about the bed being too firm (or too soft), the bed is available in Soft and Firm models. Regardless, our testers found it to be relatively pressure-relieving and contouring, earning an overall pressure relief score of 4 out of 5. I’d still recommend that dedicated side sleepers skew toward the Soft model, as I noticed some pressure buildup in my shoulder on the Medium.

If you sleep with a partner, you should be surprised that this hybrid excels in motion isolation. I am a notoriously light sleeper, but I was surprised by the Signature Hybrid’s motion absorption from across the bed. I could still feel it when my partner got in and out of bed, so we gave it a 4/ 5 in this category. The edge support was also impressive; I was able to sit and lie down in each position without much sinkage, so I gave it a 4.5/5. I will say that I felt the mattress surface was a bit doughier than I’d like from the pillow top, but I’m someone who likes high response and launching myself across the mattress. 

For more information, check out the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress review. If you’re looking for even more response, check out the Birch Natural.

Stomach sleepers are going to want a super firm mattress with plenty of lift to keep their hips from sinking in too far. It makes sense that we’d recommend the Plank Firm for these folks, as it’s a flippable mattress designed for folks who are often dissatisfied with so-called “firm” beds. We rated the more traditional firm side of the Plank at 8/10, and the extra-firm side at 8.5/10. We spoke with Kalen again about the Plank Firm, since it’s made by Brooklyn Bedding. Kalen said, “All of our mattresses use the same fire retardant I mentioned earlier—a hydrated, silica-fiber sock.” So, you can rest assured that the Plank Firm is fiberglass-free.

We tested each side of the bed as if it were its own mattress, but they scored relatively similarly. For example, both sides had the same responsive feel, earning a 4.5/5 for ease of movement on the surface. That said, the rest of this review will focus on the scores and performance for the traditional firm side, as our testers thought the extra-firm side felt like it was designed for a niche few firm mattress diehards. The traditional firm should work well for stomach sleepers, as it has plenty of support to keep your hips lifted, and a touch more softness than the extra-firm to allow for some give around the stomach and chest. 

In our testing the edges of the mattress held up well, which is rare for a foam mattress, but thanks to the Plank’s firm construction, the perimeter is unlikely to sag when bearing weight. Opinions were mixed on motion isolation, as the bed has mega bounce that some felt caused motion to carry, but others thought was stifled by the foam topper. To err on the side of caution, I’d recommend that especially light sleepers steer clear of the Plank Firm. Another group who should consider avoiding the Plank Firm is side sleepers, unless they’re on the heavier side, as the only person who enjoyed the mattress on their side was our heavyweight tester.

Read more in our Plank Firm mattress review. If you’re seeking an all-foam, fiberglass-free bed that’s a little softer, check out the Bear Original.

Latex mattresses are a great eco-friendly option if you’re looking for a sustainable fiberglass-free bed. Birch is a line of latex beds produced by Helix with the aim of creating trustworthy beds with simple, natural materials. We spoke with Helix rep Felix about the bed’s fiberglass content. He confirmed, “Our mission is to build Birch products with materials sourced from nature. We use four elements: 100-percent GOTS certified organic wool, natural Talalay latex, organic cotton, and USA-manufactured steel.” Fiberglass is nowhere to be found in the Birch Natural.

The Birch’s latex-on-coils construction creates some crazy levels of bounce. Our tester Nicole Davis noticed that “switching from stomach to back was especially easy.” Coincidentally, these are the positions that the Birch’s firmer, on-top feel are going to work best for. We rated the bed at a 6.5/10, so it’s technically a medium-firm bed, but there’s not a lot of sinkage into the surface. This also caused the pressure relief score to falter (only earning 3/5), as our testers noticed buildup in the shoulder and hips when lying on their side.

Surprisingly, Nicole thought the bed had pretty decent motion isolation. Our water glass test showed virtually no movement. When it came to her partner moving around in bed, she said, “The bed didn’t move per se but I felt it.” Latex is rarely known for its motion absorption, but perhaps the upper wool layers are pulling their weight here, giving the bed its 4/5 score. The edges of the mattress did compress when bearing weight, but were secure enough to remain steady when our testers lay down near the edge. This still may be a dealbreaker for older folks or those who want rock-solid edges for getting in and out of bed.

If you want a bouncy bed with more pressure relief, consider checking out the Bear Elite Hybrid. Otherwise, read our full Birch Natural review for more information about this bed.