Latex mattresses are growing in popularity. They’re appealing to sleepers who enjoy the plush contouring of memory foam, but desire a more responsive material. Latex is also in demand for people who want to avoid synthetic foams in favor of materials that are free of harmful chemicals, eco-friendly, and impressively durable. The Birch Natural from Helix ticks all of those boxes, and it has the certifications to back it up. But how does it perform for the average sleeper? That’s what the Mattress Clarity team set out to discover.
As a group, our testers have evaluated over 500 mattresses and 150 sleep products over the past seven-plus years. In that time, we’ve helped more than 43,000 people find the best mattress for their needs. We used our rigorous testing methodology to determine key performance metrics and tagged in Dr. Hannah Habeeb, our chief medical product tester, for her take on the Birch Natural as well.
If you’ve been debating whether or not a latex mattress is right for your sleep style and preferences, keep reading for our detailed review of the Birch Natural.
Our Birch Natural Review in a Nutshell
The Birch Natural is a medium-firm latex hybrid with the signature lifted buoyancy common with latex. Combination sleepers will appreciate its lightning-fast response time, and couples should fare well with its reasonable edge support and motion isolation. With its certified materials and fiberglass-free construction, the Birch Natural is a great option for eco-minded shoppers. While we think it offers decent temperature regulation, exceptionally hot sleepers may want to consider a mattress with active cooling technology.
With its medium-firm feel and uplifting support, the Birch Natural is a good pick for back and stomach sleepers who don’t need a ton of pressure relief. It scored well in edge support, motion isolation, and cooling, so it ticks the boxes nicely for couples. Plus, combination sleepers should really appreciate its fast response and springy nature.
Birch Natural Mattress Performance: My Overall Rating
When we evaluate mattresses, we use the performance categories outlined in our testing methodology to calculate average scores. The Birch Natural Mattress earned an overall score of 4.3 out of 5. In most of our tests, the mattress scored a little higher than the average bed we test.
Below, we share detailed insights into each testing category based on our team’s hands-on testing. Interested in category definitions first? Just hover over the icons below for a helpful description.
Watch Us Test the Birch Natural Mattress
I Recommend the Birch Natural For…
- Eco-conscious shoppers. Organic latex, organic cotton, and New Zealand wool make this a great pick if you’re prioritizing sustainability.
- Combination sleepers. Latex is naturally springy, and this mattress earned a perfect score for its quick response time. Combination sleepers should have no issues moving around.
- Back and stomach sleepers. The latex in this mattress delivers a lifted sensation that works nicely if you sleep on your back or stomach.
I Don’t Recommend the Birch Natural For…
- Side sleepers in search of pressure relief. The mattress earned its lowest score in pressure relief, and side sleepers shouldn’t expect much in the way of contouring.
- Couples who need excellent motion isolation. While the Birch Natural didn’t perform terribly in this category, there are better options for light sleepers who share a bed.
- Fans of a slow-moving mattress. If you like slow-moving foam and a “hugged” sensation, you won’t find it here.
How Well Did the Birch Natural Perform?
Here’s how we scored the Birch Natural, plus a helpful comparison with the average bed we test.
| Test | Performance | Average |
| Firmness | 6.5/10 – Medium-Firm | 6.7/10 – Medium-Firm |
| Side Sleeper Comfort | Good | Good |
| Back Sleeper Comfort | Good | Good |
| Stomach Sleeper Comfort | Good | Good |
| Pressure Relief | 3.5/5 | 3.9 |
| Edge Support | 4/5 | 4.1 |
| Cooling | 4/5 | 3.8 |
| Motion Isolation | 4/5 | 3.9 |
| Response | 5/5 | 4.3 |
| Sinkage Depth | 2.75” | 3.12” |
| Sinkage Rating | Moderate | Moderate |
| Bounce Height | 23.5” | 17.89” |
| Bounce Rating | High | Moderate |
| Noise | 3/5 | 4.5 |
| Sex | 4/5 | 4.3 |
| Trial Period | 4/5 | 4.2 |
| Warranty | 4.5/5 | 4.6 |
How Firm is the Birch Natural Mattress?
Mattress firmness is a reference to how hard or soft a bed feels when you lie down. Since everyone is different, we all perceive firmness in our own way — and it’s heavily influenced by body type and sleep style.
For a useful baseline, we use a firmness guide based on a scale of 1 to 10. The lower the number, the softer the mattress. The industry standard is 6.5/10, which represents a true medium-firm. That’s exactly where we rated the Birch Natural. We think it has a medium-firm feel overall, which comes in at 6.5/10.
Latex is naturally buoyant, with a notably lifted sensation. In other words, the Birch Natural isn’t a mattress you sink into. That was evident for our tester, Nicole Davis, who noted that the bed felt firmer when she tested it on her side. She rated the fitness for this position at 7/10, slightly more than medium firm, and said it caused a bit of pressure buildup around her shoulders.
Although she found the bed a little softer when she turned to her back, giving it 6.5/10 in this position, she said, “It has more of a medium-firm feel when I am on my back, but I would like some more contouring around my lower back. I think that would help with spinal alignment.”
She also gave this mattress a 6.5/10 for stomach sleeping firmness. “It does a pretty good job keeping my hips from dipping too far, but I did feel a little pressure in my lower back when I settled in on my front side.”
How Does the Birch Natural Feel for Different Body Types and Sleeping Positions?
We rated the Birch Natural 6.5/10 on our firmness scale, but that lifted sensation and minimal contouring make it a better fit for some sleep styles than others. Since weight plays a role here as well, here’s what different sleepers might expect.
| Sleeper Weight | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Light (under 130 lbs) | Good | Good | Good |
| Average (130-230 lbs) | Unpleasant | Good | Excellent |
| Heavy (over 230 lbs) | Good | Unpleasant | Unpleasant |
Heavyweight Tester – 6’4”, 250 lbs
“It feels pretty good at my hips. I feel more like I’m sitting on top but the latex has an interesting feel…supported but wobbly, may be the best way to describe it” – In-house tester
Average-weight Tester – 5’5”, 150 lbs
“I feel lower back pressure when lying on this mattress, but my shoulders feel supported as well as my head and back.” – Nicole Davis
Lightweight Tester – 5’4”, 128lbs
“I really like this mattress on my back as a light sleeper. It’s not too firm, allowing my body to settle nicely with great alignment overall.” – In-house tester
Birch Natural In-Depth Test Results
Pressure Relief
Pressure relief describes how well a mattress cushions and distributes body weight to support spinal alignment and reduce stress on sensitive areas, like the hips, shoulders, and lower back. Latex generally does well in this category, but the Birch Natural earned its lowest score with 3.5 out of 5.
We test pressure relief using a specialized mat placed on the mattress. When our testers lie down, the mat generates a color-coded map that highlights areas of high and low pressure. Blue and green indicate low pressure, while yellow and red mean high pressure. The mat also gives us an average pressure score based on the entire surface of the mattress, which gives us a clue into the overall strain on the body.
Our lightweight sleeper got the most pressure relief out of all our testers. On her side, she gave the Birch Natural a perfect 5/5. Her PSI in this position was 10.79, which is pretty low. That aligns with her testing experience. She said she experienced great alignment overall.
She was almost as comfortable on her side, rating the mattress 4/5 in this position. Her PSI was a touch higher at 11.55, just a little below average for this weight class. Our tester reported good support throughout her body.
Nicole tested the Birch Natural’s pressure relief as our average-weight tester. She gave it 3/5 on her side, noting lower back pressure. “I like the amount of support I’m getting around my shoulders, neck, and upper back,” she said. However, she added that she felt like she needed more support in her lower back. Still, her PSI was low at 10.87, and her map was mostly blue.
On her back, Nicole gave the bed the same 3/5 score. “I definitely feel pressure in my shoulder, but my hips are good,” she explained, adding that there wasn’t much contouring. Her PSI of 12.09 was right around average, and her pressure map showed a bit of green on the hips and shoulders.
Our heavyweight tester had a similar experience as Nicole, rating the bed 3/5 for pressure relief in the back position. “I feel supported, but I am feeling a bit of pressure buildup in my lower back.” The pressure map showed a touch of green in the lower back and on one heel. But the PSI of 11.55 was quite low, especially for heavier sleepers.
When our tester moved to his side, his PSI rose to 13.22, but that’s not terribly high for this weight class. “It feels pretty good at my hips,” said our tester. “I do feel supported, and on my shoulder where I actually currently have pain, I don’t feel that actually.” He gave the bed a 3/5 in this position.
In addition to our testers, we asked Dr. Hannah Habeeb, a physical therapist and Mattress Clarity’s chief medical product tester, to weigh in. She found a little more pressure relief on her side and back than her fellow average-weight sleeping, rating both positions 3.5/5 for pressure relief.
But she agreed with some of the other testers in that the Birch Luxe really doesn’t do much in the way of contouring. Dr. Habeeb felt she needed a little more cushioning for her hip and lower back, though she noted that her spine felt aligned and lifted.
For Dr. Habeeb, the Birch Natural performed best in the prone position, earning 4 stars for its pressure-relieving capabilities for stomach sleepers. “My lower back feels really good, because my hips aren’t sinking in too much,” she noted. “My hips feel pretty good, too, and are getting cushioned just enough. I actually really like this for stomach sleepers.”
Edge Support
Edge support is just what it sounds like – the level of support you can expect on the side of the bed. Strong edge support can be a sign of durability, and it’s particularly important for couples looking for room to spread out or adults with mobility issues who may find it challenging to get in and out of bed. Hybrid mattresses tend to perform better in this category thanks to their coil layers, and the Birch Natural fared well, earning an overall score of 4/5.
Nicole tested edge support from a seated position first, noting that it was easy to stand without using her hands. However, the Birch Natural only uses reinforced coils on the sides of the mattress, not the entire perimeter. Unless you’re regularly using the end of the bed to get dressed or put on your shoes, that’s probably not an issue. Still, Nicole gave the bed 3/5 for this test because the edge support didn’t apply unilaterally.
In test two, Nicole lay down on the Birch Natural close to the edge to assess stability. “It felt good lying down,” she said, adding that it was easy to switch between sleeping positions even close to the edge. That earned the mattress a perfect 5/5.
For the third test, Nicole used three stacks of weighted plates to simulate sleepers from different weight classes. She placed each stack on the edge of the mattress and measured the depth of collapse. From lightest to heaviest, the plates sank 3, 3.5, and 5.5 inches, earning scores of 5, 4, and 3, respectively.
Cooling
Latex and wool generally do a great job of regulating temperature, and hybrid mattresses tend to promote air flow. That means our team had high expectations for the Birch Natural going into our cooling tests. We were a little surprised by its score of 4/5, which is good but not excellent considering the materials and construction.
Since it’s an eco-friendly mattress, there are no synthetic cooling fibers in this cover. The Birch Natural has an organic cotton cover that’s soft to the touch. Nicole used a thermal gun to measure the bed’s surface temperature before she began our tests, which read 70 degrees. After resting on it for roughly seven minutes, she measured the bed’s temperature a second time. It increased to 77.7 degrees, which qualifies as good temperature regulation.
As for Nicole’s subjective experience, she says the bed did warm up slightly but still felt comfortable. “It was more cozy than anything, which is actually my preference,” she added. While chronically hot sleepers may prefer a mattress with active cooling technology, most sleepers should be comfortable on the Birch Natural.
Motion Isolation
Some mattresses do a great job of isolating motion, meaning they prevent movement on one side of the bed from rippling over to the other. That’s usually thanks to materials like memory foam, which absorb motion especially well. Although latex is naturally buoyant, it typically fares well in this category. While it is springy to the touch, its quick response time actually helps reduce the spread of motion. For couples or anyone who shares a bed with a pet, motion isolation is especially important. Once again, the Birch Natural earned a respectable 4/5 score for its performance here.
Nicole began our motion isolation tests by placing a glass of water on one side of the bed. On the other side, she got on and off the mattress, paying close attention to how her activities affected the water in the glass. It barely moved at all, earning a perfect score.
In the second test, Nicole lay on the mattress and flipped through different sleep positions. That affected the glass more than it did the water, which splashed gently. Nicole gave the Birch Natural 4/5 for this performance.
For test three, we ditched the water glass, and Nicole got on the bed wearing a blindfold. On the other side, another tester climbed on and off the bed and rolled around. While Nicole wasn’t disturbed when her partner got in and out of bed, she was much more aware of them moving around. “The bed didn’t move per se, but I felt it,” she said. She gave the bed 3/5 for this test. While very light sleepers who share the bed with very restless sleepers may run into issues, we still think this is a reasonably good mattress for couples
Response
Response describes how quickly the materials in a mattress rebound to their original shape after pressure is released. When you roll over, does the bed snap back into shape, or does it take a few seconds? For combination sleepers, this is a particularly important feature. Latex is naturally springy, so it’s no surprise that the Birch Natural earned its best score in this category with 5/5.
Nicole performed a switch test to evaluate the bed’s response time. She lay on the mattress and rotated through different positions, something she found tremendously easy to do. “Switching from stomach to back was especially easy,” she added.
Our Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, said, “In addition to latex mattresses being good for those with allergies, latex allergies notwithstanding, of course, I love how responsive these beds are. This helps combination sleepers and sexually active couples move more easily.”
Sinkage: Moderate
To test sinkage, our tester Sosha Lewis placed a 44-pound kettlebell on the bed and used a ruler to see how far it sank. It’s a useful indicator of how much compression sleepers can expect when lying down. Deeper sinkage is more common with softer, more contouring foams, and it’s characterized by a notable “hugged” sensation. Less sinkage means a more lifted, buoyant feeling.
That’s what we found with the Birch Natural. It’s a responsive mattress, and we only measured 2.75 inches of sinkage with the kettlebell. That’s just slightly over what we consider light sinkage.
Bounce: High
We dropped a ball onto the Birch Natural and measured the height of its bounce to get an idea of how springy this bed really is. The ball soared a full 23.5 inches, which aligned with our expectations and other tests. That impressive bounce earned the Birch Natural another perfect score.
Noise
Light sleepers can be disturbed by even the slightest sound, so we do our best to thoroughly press, roll, and even jump on the beds we test to check how noisy they are. The Birch Natural didn’t squeak or hiss (which can happen as foam releases air), but our in-house tester did detect a subtle crinkling sound. While sheets may muffle that noise, we still have the bed 3/5 in this category.
Sex
The best mattresses for sex share a few commonalities. They usually have a fast response time, supportive edges, and low noise levels. That makes it easy for couples to move around comfortably, stay secure no matter where their activities take them, and avoid being taken out of the moment by distracting sounds. The Birch Natural earned an average score of 4/5 based on its scores from our other tests, making it a good bed for sex.
Adjustable Base Compatibility
Birch recommends a solid platform base or a sturdy slatted foundation for its mattresses, but the brand notes that its Natural Mattress is fully compatible with adjustable bases as well. That didn’t align with our testing. Our in-house tester gave the Birch Natural 1/5 in this category after observing the cover crumpling, large gapping between the bottom center of the bed and the top of the base, and mattress/base alignment issues when they raised the foot of the bed.
Consider one of our picks of the best mattresses for adjustable bases as an alternative
Birch Natural Customer Experience Scores
We base our customer experience scores on factors outside of performance. Here’s how the Birch Natural fared.
Trial Period
Birch offers a 120-night sleep trial for its Natural Mattress. While that’s certainly reasonable, giving you a full three months to test the mattress in your own bedroom, it’s not as generous as competitors with 365-night trials. Plus, if you do decide to return the Birch Natural, a $99 processing fee applies. For these reasons, we gave the Birch Natural 4/5 in this category.
Warranty
The Birch Natural has a limited lifetime warranty that covers manufacturer and workmanship defects for the duration of your ownership. During the first 10 years of ownership, the company will repair or replace your mattress with non-prorated coverage. From year 11 on, prorated replacement charges apply to any warranty claims. We gave the Birch Natural 4.5/5 for this policy.
Unboxing and Moving
The Birch Natural ships compressed, rolled, and placed in a large box. Latex adds weight to mattresses; a queen-size Birch Natural weighs 105 pounds. Plan on roping in a friend to help you get the box to your bedroom and the mattress out of the box and in place on your frame.
While it is a bed-in-a-box, the Birch Natural doesn’t emit a chemical odor. It’s made with all-natural materials, so we did detect a faintly earthy smell at first. Still, it’s not off-gassing in the traditional sense.
Birch Natural Construction
We’ve described the Birch Natural as an eco-friendly latex hybrid mattress, so let’s take a closer look at its materials and construction.
Mattress Height & Weight
The Birch Natural is 11 inches tall, though the brand notes each one is handmade and some variation can occur. The average mattress height is 12 inches, so this is on the shorter side. If you have deep-pocket sheets, you may find you need to get a few standard sets.
Latex is naturally dense, which makes Birch Natural mattresses slightly heavier across all sizes. A queen is around 105 pounds.
Materials
This hybrid mattress is made with certified, fair-trade textiles, making it free of harmful chemicals and pollutants. We took a peek at the layers inside by cutting into the cover.
Layers
The cover is a thin, breathable cotton certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Next up is a 2.5-inch layer of wool, which boosts temperature regulation and breathability. Plus, wool has moisture-wicking properties. The wool layer also makes the Birch a naturally flame-retardant mattress, without the use of chemicals.
Below the wool is a comfort layer of natural Talalay latex, certified organic by the Global Organic Latex Standard. It sits above the coil unit, which is composed of 8-inch individually wrapped steel coils. Another fiber blend layer adds to the bed’s flame resistance and helps stabilize the layers above.
How To Try and Buy The Birch Natural Mattress
Aside from shopping directly on the birchliving.com website, Birch has showroom partners across the country. Use the brand’s showroom search tool to find a location near you.
If you order online from the Birch website, shipping is free in the contiguous US only.
Birch Natural Prices
Check out this handy chart to learn more about Birch’s price levels for each size—and be aware that these prices don’t reflect discounts.
| Size | Price |
| Twin | $1373.75 |
| Twin XL | $1498.75 |
| Full | $1686.25 |
| Queen | $1873.75 |
| King | $2248.75 |
| California King | $2248.75 |
How The Birch Natural Compares
There are plenty of beds-in-a-box mattresses out there, and it’s always helpful to weigh one against another when you’re shopping for a new mattress. Here’s how the Birch Natural stacks up to other popular models.
- Saatva Latex Hybrid Mattress – Better customer policies
- Nolah Natural Mattress – Better for side sleeping
- Nectar Mattress – Lower price tag
|  |  |  | |
| Rating | ||||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 7/10 | Firm: 7.5/10 | Soft: 6/10 | Medium-firm: 7/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Latex | Latex | Foam |
| Cooling | — | |||
| Best For | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers |
Birch Natural vs. Saatva Latex Hybrid
Both the Birch Natural and the Saatva latex Hybrid are made with high-quality, eco-friendly materials, including organic cotton, New Zealand organic wool, latex foam, and steel coils. But the Saatva model uses recycled steel in its coils, and both its latex layer and coil unit are zoned for enhanced ergonomic support.
The beds also share a similar medium-firm feel, though we found a touch more pressure relief from the Birch Natural. It earned a 3.5/5 compared to the Saatva’s 3.3/5. Both beds are compatible with back and stomach sleeping, but we’d steer combination sleepers to the more responsive Birch Natural.
If you’re shopping on a budget, the Birch Natural is less expensive at $1,865 for a queen before discounts. You’ll spend close to $2,600 on the Saatva Latex Hybrid before promotions, but you do get a more generous 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty. Plus, Saatva mattresses ship with complimentary white glove delivery, which includes free removal of your old mattress.
Birch Natural vs. Nolah Natural
The Nolah Natural is another organic mattress made with latex and coils. But the Nolah is slightly softer than the Birch with a firmness rating of 6/10. We think it’s a great fit for side sleepers who need gentle contouring around the hips and shoulders and anyone in search of good pressure relief.
Hot sleepers may also prefer the Nolah Natural, which scored an impressive 4.5/5 in our cooling tests. It came up short in our edge support and motion transfer tests, so couples on the hunt for a latex mattress are likely to prefer the Birch Natural.
Both mattresses share the same shorter sleep trial window of 120 nights and a limited lifetime warranty. While the Nolah Natural is more expensive before discounts, with a queen retailing for $2,099, sales pricing puts both beds in the same price range.
Birch Natural vs. Nectar
The Nectar Classic is a memory foam mattress that has a noticeably lifted feeling, though it’s not as buoyant as the Birch. Despite its memory foam layers, it didn’t offer much more pressure relief than the Birch, scoring 3.7/5 in our tests.
If you prioritize eco-friendly materials, the Birch is the better buy. But couples in need of excellent motion isolation may prefer the Nectar Classic, which scored very well during testing with 4.7/5. Be mindful that edge support on the all-foam Classic isn’t great, however, so we’d only recommend this for couples who share a large bed with plenty of room to spread out.
Combination sleepers will likely prefer the springier Birch Natural, though the Nectar Classic didn’t do too poorly in this category. We found the Classic a little firmer than advertised at 7/10 on our scale, so it’s a good fit for back sleepers who don’t need a ton of sinkage.
Birch Natural Mattress FAQs
What is the Birch Natural mattress made of?
The Birch Natural is a hybrid mattress made with organic materials, including organic latex, organic cotton, New Zealand wool, and steel coils.
Does the Birch Natural contain fiberglass or polyurethane foam?
No. The Birch Natural is made without synthetic foam, and it’s free of fiberglass.
Does the Birch Natural sleep cool?
The Birch Natural does a good job of regulating temperature, thanks to materials like latex and wool. Its hybrid construction also promotes airflow. Still, very hot sleepers may prefer active cooling technology if overheating at night is a chronic issue.