Best Mattresses Without Fiberglass To Buy In 2022

Finding mattresses without fiberglass can be a tall order. It’s a versatile, effective, and cheap material that finds use in several mattresses as a fire retardant. What further complicates matters is that some manufacturers won’t list fiberglass as one of the materials used.

Instead, they use technical terms and jargon to cover the use of fiberglass. Lying outright is illegal, but using jargon or alternate terms is fine! So, an average customer may end up buying a mattress with fiberglass while assuming they purchased one without it.

Here’s our top list of best mattresses without fiberglass and harmful chemicals as fire retardants.

Top Fiberglass-Free Mattresses Reviewed

1. Avocado Vegan Mattress

Avocado Vegan Mattress is organic, and as the name implies, vegan. To be a vegan mattress, it gives up animal-based products. In the context of organic mattresses, this means it won’t use wool batting as a fire retardant.

For the fire retardant, Avocado infuses graphite with the latex foam. When in a fire, graphite expands and acts as a flame retardant.

Avocado Vegan Mattress is a hybrid that uses latex foam and pocketed coils. The foam is made from USDA-certified organic latex. Its standard variant uses a 3-inch layer of GOLS-certified latex foam. The standard mattress is best-suited for stomach sleepers and back sleepers. Heavy or tall side sleepers will find it good as well.

The pillowtop variant of the Avocado Vegan Mattress adds another 2-inches of latex foam. This takes the total comfort layer thickness to five inches and mattress height to 13-inches. Considering the addition of another layer of foam, this mattress has a firmness rating of medium or gentle-firm.

It is suitable for all sleep preferences and combination sleepers. Although stomach sleepers won’t benefit from the plush feel.

For the support layer, Avocado Vegan Mattress employs an 8-inch thick layer of individually tuned and tempered steel coils. The presence of coils gives the mattress some bounce and increases airflow. Pocketed coils don’t fare terribly with motion transfer, so that’s a plus too.

The coils are arranged in five ergonomic zones to provide greater pressure relief. This arrangement ensures that greater support is available at all the right spots. It also ensures better spinal alignment and distribution of weight.

Mattress Highlights

Has graphite as a fire retardant.
Vegan mattress certified by Vegan Awareness Foundation.
Latex foam and innerspring hybrid mattress.
Organic mattress uses high-quality, GOTS-certified latex foam.
Uses USDA-certified organic cotton batting.
1-year sleep trial.
25-year limited warranty.

See more about this mattress

2. Loom & Leaf Mattress From Saatva

What if you want a memory foam mattress, but without fiberglass or similar components? Most mattresses that avoid these chemicals take the organic route and use latex foam. Thankfully, there are some good options for those who want a memory foam mattress.

Loom & Leaf mattresses hit the right spot. This is a luxurious, high-quality memory foam mattress with a flame barrier made from thistle. To be more effective, the barrier may have bits of polyester or binders containing silica.

Loom & Leaf Mattress uses premium-quality high-density 5 lb memory foam for its comfort layer. This premium foam is conforming and provides the exceptional pressure relief that memory foam is famous for.

There are four layers for this mattress. At the top, you’ll find a quilted organic cover. Following this are layers of cooling gel-infused memory foam, high-density 5-lb memory foam, and a high-density foam base for support.

Saatva offers two firmness options with this mattress. The relaxed firm falls into the conventional medium-firm category and is suitable for most sleep preferences. The firm option is best for stomach and back sleepers for comfort. Those with a higher weight or overweight will find the firm mattress more comfortable.

As with most Saatva offerings, this isn’t a bed-in-a-box mattress. They’ll deliver the full mattress, and set it up where you need it. If you choose so, they’ll also take away the old mattress or foundation for disposal.

Mattress Highlights

The flame barrier is predominantly made from thistle and doesn’t use any fiberglass.
Foam mattress with premium high-density memory foam for comfort layer.
Uses organic cotton for fabric.
Arrives as a full mattress, with options for setting it up and removing the old mattress.
180-night mattress trial.
15-year limited warranty.

See more details and buying options

3. Bear Pro

Another excellent mattress without fiberglass, Bear Pro uses a fire barrier made from EcoFlex. To put it rather simply, this barrier is made from rayon, which the manufacturer claims, is an eco-friendly and chemical-free material. EcoFlex is Oeko Tex certified for being free of harmful substances and chemicals.

The Bear Pro mattress has five layers. Its fabric cover is made from Celliant. Some believe that this fabric helps with muscle recovery and better sleep. The comfort layer for the mattress is made from copper-infused foam and gel memory foam.

Put together, these layers provide conforming support and pressure relief for the sleeper. They’re also useful in managing temperature so the memory foam mattress has a lower risk of sleeping hot.

Copper is also naturally antiviral and antibacterial, so it serves several purposes in this mattress. Besides, it’s better than the harsher chemicals that might be used to keep the mattress free from microorganisms.

Next up is the layer for transition foam, which gives way to a high-density support foam. Overall, Bear Pro stays with the reputation of Bear Mattresses in providing quality mattresses with excellent features.

Bear Pro is a medium-firm mattress, suited for most sleeping positions. Lightweight side sleepers might prefer a plusher mattress, but the Pro will feel comfortable for most others.

Mattress Highlights

Uses an EcoFlex flame barrier (made from rayon).
The comfort layer includes copper-infused foam and gel memory foam.
All-foam mattress.
Offers a 100-night sleep trial.
Comes with a 10-year warranty.

4. Amerisleep AS3 Mattress

Amerisleep AS3 has an excellent reputation and often finds itself in the running for the best mattress of the year. This too is a mattress without fiberglass, relying on silica instead.

I’m not a big fan of using silica over fiberglass, but it does seem to be a fairly popular and generally accepted alternative/solution.

AS3 is a foam mattress with some very interesting features and materials. Amerisleep says that the comfort layer for this mattress uses BioPur memory foam. The company says it’s a better and environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional memory foam.

Memory foam is conventionally manufactured using petroleum. BioPur, on the other hand, relies more on plant-based materials, substantially reducing the need for the use of petroleum. Amerisleep says this has the additional advantages of lower off-gassing and increased airflow.

The better airflow ostensibly prevents the mattress from sleeping hot, thus being more comfortable. BioPur foam is as conforming as memory foam and provides good pressure relief and support.

Following this comfort foam layer is Amerisleep’s HIVE transition layer. This foam layer is divided into five zones for enhanced support and pressure relief. It offers different levels of support for various parts of the body.

For example, the hips and lower back are usually heavier and need more support than the feet. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, the transition layer uses zoning to better support individual areas and body parts.

At the base of the mattress is the Bio-Core foam support layer, which provides a capable background for the transition and comfort layers.

Rated medium on the firmness scale, this 12-inch high mattress is suitable for most sleepers.

Mattress Highlights

Uses silica as fire retardant.
Comfort layer made from eco-friendly Bio-Pur foam.
Transition foam has five zones for better support and pressure relief.
All-foam mattress.
Offers a 100-night sleep trial.
Comes with a 20-year warranty.

See buying options and other details

5. Naturepedic Serenade Organic Mattress

True to its name, Naturepedic Serenade Organic Mattress goes big on natural components in its construction. The company calls Serenade “a safer healthier organic mattress”. Obviously, fiberglass has no place in a mattress that aspires to those credentials.

Instead, Serenade uses a layer of organic wool batting as a flame barrier. Wool is an excellent barrier and adds more functionality to the mattress. It wicks away moisture, keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer, is soft for support, and has a bit of a bounce.

There’s also a layer of PLA fibers sourced from non-GMO sugarcane. It’s great for wicking away moisture and adds to the comfort. Organic cotton is the material of choice for the mattress fabric. The carefully sourced materials add a premium touch to this mattress.

Since this is a mattress without memory foam, the comfort layer is handled by organic latex foam. It uses GOTS certified organic latex for a 2-inch comfort layer.

The support layer for this 11-inch latex hybrid mattress utilizes individually wrapped and encased coils. They give the mattress a bounce and excellent air circulation. Since these are pocketed coils, they don’t have much trouble with motion isolation, though it isn’t as good as memory foam mattresses.

Staying with the theme, the coils are attached without the use of any kind of glue or adhesive. I’m not sure how they make it work, but they do!

This latex-innerspring hybrid suits several niche wishlists and even ethical stances. It has responsibly sourced materials, careful construction, and goes big on being natural and organic. Best of all, the mattress is comfortable and offers excellent support and pressure relief.

Mattress Highlights

Uses wool batting as the flame barrier.
Uses responsibly-sourced components, including organic cotton and organic latex.
Doesn’t make use of any adhesives or glue.
Latex-innerspring hybrid mattress.
Offers 90-day risk-free trial.
Comes with a 20-year limited warranty.

Check pricing and buying options

6. Birch Natural Mattress

Here’s another mattress that takes the natural path for its components. Birch is a brand by Helix, the company famous for its customizable mattress. Birch mattresses benefit from Helix’s know-how of mattresses but offer fewer customizations. This one’s tuned more into using organic and natural components.

The flame retardant system here is made from a combination of organic wool and rayon. Additionally, there’s wool in the comfort layer as well, which helps with wicking away moisture and temperature regulation.

As a latex-innerspring hybrid mattress, this contains a layer of natural Talalay latex. It is conforming, responsive, and provides excellent pressure relief. For the support layer, Birch Natural Mattress makes use of individually wrapped steel coils.

The support layer provides bounce and better ventilation for the mattress, without bringing in too much motion transfer. Coils also give the mattress better edge support. Its fabric cover makes use of organic cotton, which adds another nice touch and feel to the mattress.

The latex layer and innersprings work well together to provide support and pressure relief. Made from non-toxic materials, the mattress is rated medium-firm. It is comfortable for all sleep positions, though lightweight side sleepers may prefer something plusher.

Mattress Highlights

Uses a mix of birch wool and rayon as fire retardant.
Utilizes organic and natural materials for construction (except the innersprings, which are made from steel).
Latex-innerspring hybrid mattress.
Offers a 100-night sleep trial.
Offers a 25-year limited warranty.

Learn more about the Birch Natural Mattress

7. Plushbeds Natural Bliss Latex Mattress

Going natural and organic is in style for mattresses too – sustainability should permeate all industries and facets of life. Plushbeds Natural Bliss Latex Mattress perhaps works on a similar philosophy. The mattress uses natural components for most requirements, including the fire retardant.

It has an Eco Fire Barrier, which is derived from plant fibers. To put it rather crudely, rayon is the principal fire retardant in this mattress, forming the Eco Fire Barrier.

Other plant-based materials include the mattress cover, which is knitted with GOTS certified organic cotton. The organic latex foam for the mattress is GOLS certified and doesn’t have any added filler, additives, or odor.

Plushbeds Natural Bliss Latex Mattress is a latex foam mattress. All layers for this mattress are made from latex foam. The mattress is available in multiple height options, each with a different setup of foam layers. Additionally, the mattress offers medium and medium-firm variants.

Given this range of options, you can find a mattress suited to your personal taste and sleep preferences. The medium option works best for most sleepers, except stomach sleepers and those who are heavy or overweight. People in these categories will find the medium-firm mattress more comfortable.

Mattress Highlights

Uses a fiberglass-free Eco Fire Barrier derived from plant fibers.
Uses organic cotton for cover and organic/natural latex foam for the mattress layers.
Doesn’t use any glue.
This is a latex foam mattress.
Offers a 100-night sleep trial.
Comes with a 25-year warranty.

See buying options for this mattress

8. SavvyRest Serenity Organic Latex Mattress

SavvyRest Organic Latex Mattress is another natural latex mattress on our list. As with other natural mattresses, this one too relies on natural wool batting as a fire retardant. To go along with the setup for the organic mattress, SavvyRest uses organic wool batting for the mattress.

An excellent feature of this mattress is its customization. Users get to arrange the layers of latex foam the way they prefer. Therefore, you can have a mattress suited to your requirements for firmness and support. Heck, you could even make it a flippable mattress!

There are three layers of latex in this mattress, each 3-inches thick. You can choose the firmness of each layer and the type of latex foam (dunlop or talalay).

It’s also possible to have the layer firmness split between two sides and create a custom mattress suitable for couples with different weights or sleep preferences. Customization for firmness on each side is available only for queen, king, and cal king mattress sizes.

With the three layers of latex foam and a quilted top, the total height of the mattress comes out to 10-inches. The use of high-quality latex foam throughout the mattress and the easy customization make this mattress a great pick.

Most mattresses use this high-quality latex foam only for the comfort layer, while SavvyRest Serenity uses it for the full mattress. All of this makes Serenity an incredibly comfortable mattress. It’s also more expensive than similar mattresses, but the difference isn’t as staggering.

Mattress Highlights

Uses wool batting as a fire retardant.
Has an organic cotton cover and natural latex layers.
The mattress is made entirely from latex foam.
Highly customizable with options for firmness and latex type (dunlop or talalay).
Possible to choose different firmness levels for each side of the mattress.
No sleep trial or mattress returns, but it does offer a 90-day latex layer exchange.
Offers a 20-year warranty.

See the customizations and other options

9. Happsy Organic Mattress

Happsy Organic Mattress is an excellent mix of value and quality. One of the best mattresses without fiberglass, this one also shuns glues and adhesives. The role of the flame retardant is handled by wood batting placed beneath the mattress cover. Organic wool batting is a reliable and eco-friendly flame retardant.

The quilted mattress cover, its fabric, and the filling at the base of the mattress are all done using organic cotton. The comfort layer for this mattress is 2-inches of certified latex foam. For its support layer, Happsy Organic Mattress gets 8-inches of individually pocketed springs. The complete mattress takes on a height of 10-inches.

Latex foam and innersprings make great companions here. The mattress is comfortable and has good pressure relief. Its firmness is medium-firm, with a tendency towards firm.

If you prefer something softer (or are a side sleeper), consider adding a mattress topper (pillowtop) to the mattress. The company’s default offering is 2-inches thick and fits snug with the Happsy Organic Mattress.

Mattress Highlights

Uses organic wool batting as a flame retardant.
Has an organic cotton cover and latex foam.
A latex-innerspring hybrid mattress.
Doesn’t use glue or adhesives.
Offers a 120-night sleep trial.
Comes with a 20-year warranty.

Get more details about this mattress

10. Harvest Green Original Mattress

Harvest Green Original Mattress is an organic mattress without fiberglass. As with most organic mattresses in this category, this one too uses organic wool batting as a fire retardant. This is a popular choice because wool batting is a readily available material with application beyond being a fire retardant.

Wool batting wicks away moisture, thus avoiding situations where the user wakes up drenched in sweat. It also forms a comfortable layer that avoids the feel of the mattress getting hot in summer or cold in winter.

Above the wool batting is the mattress cover. Keeping in line with the general principle of organic mattresses, this one too uses organic cotton for the cover. The comfort layer here is 3-inches of organic latex foam.

It’s followed by the support layer of pocketed coils. The individually wrapped coils offer bounce and support, while also offering increased ventilation.

Harvest Green Original Mattress is rated medium-firm, but it is partial towards the firm side of things. It’s a great pick for stomach and back sleepers, but side sleepers should look for a plush option. Harvest offers another variant with a pillowtop over the Original mattress, which makes it plush and suitable for side sleepers.

The company also offers a vegan option for their Harvest Green Original Mattress.

Mattress Highlights

Mattress without fiberglass, uses wool batting as flame retardant.
Made from organic cotton, organic wool, and organic latex.
This is a latex-innerspring hybrid mattress.
Offers a 100-night sleep trial.
Includes a 25-year warranty.

See more about this mattress

A Detailed Guide To Picking Mattresses Without Fiberglass And More On Mattress Flame Barriers

Why Would Mattresses Even Use Fiberglass?

Mattresses, especially foam and memory foam mattresses are flammable. Polyurethane can catch fire easily and burn quickly. Fire retardants make these mattresses safe for use at home. Mattress companies see cheap fiberglass as a good fire retardant.

When exposed to a fire, the fiberglass melts over itself, forming what’s called a “fire sock” over the mattress. This reduces the fire risk at a low cost.

Well, it reduces manufacturing costs, there might be a cost to pay for the buyer. Fiberglass particles in mattresses are tiny; you won’t ever feel them inside the cover sheet of the mattress. However, these sheets will give out one day. Or, there may be an accidental tear in the sheet.

Once this happens, fiberglass particles will start pouring out. They’re notoriously difficult to spot and clean. People exposed to fiberglass will often suffer dermatitis (skin irritation or itching). It may also cause breathing problems.

The presence of fiberglass is generally true for cheap or low-cost foam mattresses. Apart from the presence of fiberglass, some low-quality mattresses may cut corners and not use a sock or covering of adequate quality.

Ideally, a good-quality sock should last a decade or two. Cheaper socks may wear out sooner and be unable to hold back the fiberglass particles. This can cause major problems and the aforementioned health risks.

My Mattress Has Fiberglass Should I Be Worried?

Sort of, but there’s no need to be alarmed. If the covering (or sock) over the mattress looks intact, you don’t have much to worry about.

Fiberglass is an effective and cheap fire retardant and it is used in plenty of mattresses, even some high-quality ones. Recent public interest on the topic and events like the Zinus mattress fiberglass lawsuit have brought more attention to fiberglass.

To be clear, fiberglass isn’t an ideal material, but it is relatively benign compared to the other flame retardants. Not so long ago, mattresses contained chemical fire retardants. These were strong, toxic chemicals that could have a very serious effect on your health and well-being. Pretty much all of these chemical fire retardants are known to be carcinogenic or create other health issues. They are best avoided.

Things aren’t that rosy on the mattresses without fiberglass front either. Mattresses are legally required to have a fire retardant. However, companies have no requirement or obligation to declare the flame retardant(s) they use in the mattress.

So, a lot of times, they might be using fiberglass and covering it with marketing mumbo-jumbo. Or, the flame barrier used in a mattress may not be any better than fiberglass!

This creates a weird situation. It is possible that a company that’s honest about the materials they use for their mattress – even if we don’t like those materials – is the more reliable one!

How Mattresses Use Fiberglass

Contrary to what is usually peddled, the use of fiberglass isn’t limited to cheap mattresses. Some expensive ones use fiberglass for their flame barrier too. Often, they differ in how they use fiberglass.

In most cheap mattresses, fiberglass is added as a layer on top of the mattress, then covered with a fabric, cover, or sock. This means, any damage to the sock results in fiberglass particles pouring out and becoming a health hazard.

In better-constructed mattresses, fiberglass is better managed. Often, it will be woven into the fabric or some layer of the mattress. With this arrangement, it shouldn’t come in contact with the user, even if the protective layer or sock is damaged.

Common Flame Barriers Used In Fiberglass-Free Mattresses

So what do mattresses without fiberglass use as fire retardants? There are a few options and these too vary in usage and practical application. Let’s have a quick look.

Silica

Silica is one of the most popular flame barriers in mattresses. Perhaps it’s more popular in usage than fiberglass. In case of fire, it expands and melts on itself, forming a protective sock over the mattress. Sounds very similar to fiberglass, right?

That’s because silica is a major component of fiberglass. It may cause similar problems, and there have been concerns over exposing silica to the skin. Generally, when used in mattresses, silica is woven into the fabric so it doesn’t come in contact with the mattress user.

Kevlar

Yup, kevlar! You’ve probably heard of this synthetic fiber being used in armor, helmets, and tires. This heat-resistant fiber won’t cause problems if it comes in contact with humans. But, it’s expensive and can’t be easily adapted for use with mattresses.

Rayon

Rayon is a synthetic fiber obtained from cellulose. Considering its origin, it often gets marketed as a plant-based natural fiber. Variations of this material are increasingly popular for use as flame retardants.

The interesting part is, cellulose (and thus rayon) is flammable. Pure rayon would probably add to the fire risk rather than being a flame barrier. Most companies use proprietary versions of this fabric, so their mechanism isn’t exactly clear.

However, there are some known uses of rayon as a flame barrier. For example, viscose rayon can work as a flame barrier. In this fabric, particles of silica are blended with rayon. This prevents silica from coming in contact with people, while making rayon a useful flame barrier.

Wool Batting

Wool batting is a popular flame barrier, often used in organic mattresses. As opposed to wool fibers, batting is slow to burn and gives off less heat. This doesn’t work quite as well for the spread of fire, thus making wool batting an effective barrier.

In some cases, silica could be woven into wool batting to further enhance its resilience towards fire.

Finding The Right Mattress Without Fiberglass

Flame barriers in mattresses have something of a chequered past. From dangerous chemicals to questionable materials, pretty much everything has been used in mattresses. A common flame barrier used these days is fiberglass, which carries some health risks.

When looking for mattresses without fiberglass, do some due diligence. For one, carefully check the label, if there’s an unknown material listed, Google it to see what the material is and if it has any associated risks. Also, don’t shy away from asking direct questions to the salesperson or manufacturer (as applicable) to get your answers.

Buying an organic mattress might be the best route here, but they tend to be more expensive than regular mattresses.