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Mattresses made with natural materials — think latex, wool and organic cotton in lieu of petroleum-based foams and synthetics — appeal to a lot of people. But these days, there are more choices than ever, and it can feel a little overwhelming sorting through them all. The Birch Luxe Natural Mattress is a popular option for those specifically considering an organic mattress, and in this review, we’re sharing the good and the bad to help you decide whether it’s your ticket to sweeter dreams.
The expert sleep testers here at Sleepopolis have tested more than 330 mattresses using our medically approved testing methodology, so we know a thing or two about mattresses. Since 2014, we’ve used our process to help more than 60,000 people find the best mattress for their sleep needs. As part of our testing, we also check in with experts like Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, and Dr. Shelby Harris, who share helpful insights on mattress features that work best for different types of sleepers.
The Birch Luxe Natural impressed us from the start. It’s a firmer hybrid mattress made with latex foam that gives it a buoyant, responsive feel. We think it’s a great fit for combination sleepers, back sleepers, and side sleepers who prefer a firmer feel.
Similar to the Birch Natural, the Birch Luxe Natural blends Talalay latex foam with sturdy coils that are zoned for support. We think it’s a good fit for back sleepers and even side sleepers who enjoy a firmer bed. Its luxury upgrades include a softer cover with organic cotton and cashmere, plus the mattress has earned multiple certifications for safe production and materials. To learn more, see our video review.
What our tester says:
“The Birch Luxe Natural impressed us from the start. It’s a firmer hybrid mattress made with latex foam that gives it a buoyant, responsive feel. We think it’s a great fit for combination sleepers, back sleepers, and side sleepers who prefer a firmer feel.” – Riley Otis, staff writer and certified sleep science coach
Birch Luxe Natural Mattress Overview
As the name implies, the Birch Luxe Natural is made with eco-friendly, natural materials. Moisture-wicking cotton and organic wool comfort layers top two layers of organic latex, which are situated above individually wrapped coils for sturdy support. That makes the mattress free of fiberglass and chemical fire retardants — a plus for people looking to reduce their potential for exposure.
The mattress has a lengthy list of certifications. The cotton used in the cover is Fair Trade Certified and the brand partners with Fair Trade factories, which speaks to sustainability and fair labor practices. The Birch Luxe Natural is also Greenguard Gold Certified, so it’s free of potential hazards like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pollutants, phthalates, and formaldehyde, and it’s considered safe for those with sensitivities, including children and the elderly. The latex is certified by the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), indicating that it was sourced from organically grown natural latex rubber trees.
Natural latex has a gentle buoyancy that some people really like. Our tester Riley Otis reports feeling as though she was sleeping on the bed, not sinking down into it, which is pretty typical of this material. Latex offers comparable pressure relief to memory foam, but it’s far more durable. In fact, the Birch Luxe Natural earned exceptionally high marks for pressure relief during our testing — 4.5 stars for pressure relief in the side-sleeping position and 5 stars for the same in the back-sleeping position. When all was said and done, the mattress earned an overall score of 4.7 stars.
Birch Luxe Natural Mattress Review Video
Before diving into our written review, check out our video review to see how the Birch Luxe Natural performed under our rigorous testing methodology. Note that we recently retested the bed, so the scores in the video may not match the ones in the rest of this article.
Birch Luxe Natural Value
Natural mattresses tend to be costlier than those made with conventional foams, and that’s the case here. A queen-size Birch Luxe Natural sells for $2,624 before discounts. But Birch, a Helix brand, does offer regular sales and promotions that bring the cost down considerably. As of this writing, a queen size is $1,968. It’s still higher than other mattresses on the market, but keep in mind the high-quality, certified materials.
It’s easy to focus solely on the price tag when you’re mattress shopping, but assessing value means considering the cost in relation to the organic materials, construction, and expected lifespan. Latex is incredibly durable on its own, and it’s paired with recycled steel coils in the Birch Luxe Natural. The brand offers a limited lifetime warranty, and it’s reasonable to expect the mattress to perform well for at least 10 years. Many conventional foam mattresses on the market, albeit cheaper, generally last between 5 and 7 years.
What Is the Birch Luxe Natural Made Of?
The Birch Luxe Natural is a latex hybrid. We took a knife to the mattress so we could see for ourselves how it’s constructed and better assess the quality of each layer. The 11.5-inch mattress has three wool comfort layers, two layers of bouncy, open-cell latex foam, and a layer of spring coils. There is no base foam at the bottom, just a thin layer of cotton.
Cover – The cover is soft and smooth. It’s made of Fair Trade Certified cotton, which adds breathability. It’s not removable.
Comfort Layer – Three layers of wool add softness, cushioning and a touch of loft. Wool has a coiled structure that makes the fiber impressively temperature regulating, moisture wicking, and naturally fire resistant.
Comfort Layer – Beneath the pillow top, a firmer organic latex layer delivers pressure relief, support, and quick response time.
Comfort Layer – This is a softer layer of organic latex for a bit of contouring.
Support Layer – Individually wrapped coils make up the base layer and give the hybrid mattress additional support and airflow.
Birch Luxe Natural Mattress Firmness
Firmness is a subjective feature, because individual body weight and sleeping position affect how hard or soft a mattress feels. While there is no universal firmness scale, mattress brands often use a scale of 1 to 10 (1 is the softest, and 10 is the firmest). Our sleep experts use the same scale, but again, everyone has an opinion.
While Birch says its Luxe Natural has a medium firmness (though the brand doesn’t offer a numerical rating), our tester Riley found it much firmer — she rated it a 7 in back, side, and stomach positions. Riley falls into the lightweight sleeper category, weighing in under 130 pounds, which means she often perceives mattresses to be firmer. Average and heavyweight sleepers will likely find the Birch Luxe Natural feels a little softer.
Natural latex tends to have a firmer feel because there isn’t as much sinkage as other materials. Riley reports feeling more on the bed than in the bed, but didn’t find it overly firm when she tested it on her back. Instead, she reports excellent spinal alignment and just enough sinkage at the hips to allow the foam to fill the space at her lumbar zone. “I feel pretty weightless and neutral on my back because my weight is so evenly distributed,” she said. The Birch Luxe Natural was equally comfortable on her side. Riley said her spine was nicely aligned and her hips and shoulders felt level, with just a bit of sinkage to keep pressure from building. “I think this would be great for side sleepers who don’t want a super soft bed,” she added.
Firm mattresses are often ideal for stomach sleepers, but Riley found the Birch Luxe Natural wasn’t a good fit for her in this position. Her hips and shoulders didn’t feel completely aligned, and her lower back felt pinched. Since she’s a lightweight sleeper experiencing this issue, we wouldn’t recommend the mattress for dedicated stomach sleepers in any weight range.
Birch Luxe Natural Mattress Performance
It’s typical to consider details like price, firmness, and feel when you’re comparing mattresses, but performance factors are just as important. Factors like pressure relief, motion isolation, responsiveness, cooling ability, and edge support really can make or break a mattress experience, so we evaluate these factors as part of our testing process.
Birch Luxe Natural Pressure Relief Performance
Latex is comparable to memory foam when it comes to keeping pressure point pain at bay. According to Dr. Raj Dasgupta, both materials do a good job of contouring around the body’s curves for relief. Since the Birch Luxe Natural has two layers of latex foam, we had high expectations — and we weren’t disappointed.
Riley, our lightweight tester, assessed pressure relief by lying on her side and her back for several minutes each. She paid close attention to where pressure was building or alleviating. Both positions scored well — Riley gave the mattress 4.5 stars on her side and 5 stars on her back. That earned the Birch Luxe Natural an overall score of 4.8 for pressure relief.
People in higher weight categories will sink slightly deeper into the mattress, which means deeper contouring around the hips, shoulders, and lumbar zone. That should contribute to a pleasant amount of pressure relief and potentially help prevent back pain.
Birch Luxe Natural Motion Isolation
Motion isolation is of particular interest to people who share their bed with any type of partner, be it human, canine, or feline. A mattress that isolates motion well limits the transfer of movement across the bed. That means fewer nighttime disruptions if a bed partner is getting in or out or tossing and turning.
While Dr. Raj Dasgupta notes that motion isolation can be a sign of mattress quality, latex is inherently bouncy, so we wondered how well the Birch Luxe Natural would perform in this category. To evaluate motion isolation, we used a ripple test and a partner test. The hybrid mattress averaged 4 stars — better than expected.
During the ripple test, we placed a basin of water on one side of the bed. On the other side, our tester Kayla climbed in and out of bed. We observed the movement of the water and were a little surprised to note that the disturbance to the water was pretty minimal and limited to minor ripples on the surface. We gave the Birch Luxe Natural 4.5 stars for this test.
Next, our tester switched from her back to her side. The water was jostled slightly more, but it wasn’t aggressive enough to spill. That earned the mattress 4 stars.
In our final test, we switched the basin with a human tester, who got in and out of bed and rolled around. Kayla reported that she could feel her partner moving around, and while she didn’t think the movement would be significant enough to wake her up, it was certainly noticeable. She gave the mattress 3.5 stars.
Birch Luxe Natural Responsiveness
Responsiveness describes how quickly the mattress returns to its original shape after pressure is removed, like when a sleeper rolls over. It’s a really important feature for combination sleepers, who move from one position to another during the night.
Latex is naturally springy, and the Birch Luxe Natural earned full marks in this category. Our tester Riley said the bed is so bouncy, she had no difficulty moving between positions. “I didn’t have to put in any effort when moving around,” she noted.
Riley also performed a responsiveness test using a 53-pound kettlebell, which she left on the bed for seven seconds and then removed by lifting straight up. She used a stopwatch to measure how long it took for the mattress to return to its original shape. It was .31 seconds, which is pretty quick and worthy of 5 stars.
Our third responsiveness test also involved the kettlebell. Riley put it on the center of the bed and used a ruler to measure how far it sank. It was 3.25 inches, indicating moderate sinkage. That means you won’t experience extensive contouring but it should still be comfortably cushioning. Riley ranked the Birch Luxe Natural 5 stars for this test.
Finally, we performed a bounce test by dropping a 25-pound steel ball from a 6-foot height. We used a yardstick to measure the bounce. At 33 inches, this is considered very high bounce — a sign of the buoyancy of these latex layers. We gave the mattress 5 stars once again.
Birch Luxe Natural Cooling
Overheating can be a real issue for many sleepers, and latex is often a great choice. According to Dr. Shelby Harris, latex mattresses are naturally cooling and won’t trap body heat. We used a thermal gun and a feel test to assess the Birch Luxe Natural’s cooling ability. But despite our high expectations, the mattress earned its lowest score across all categories with just 3 stars.
Our tester Riley used a thermal gun to record the surface temperature of the mattress. She lay on the mattress for 5 minutes, then used the thermal gun to take the surface temperature again. When the temperature change is less than 5 degrees, it’s an indication of excellent cooling ability. An increase of 5 to 10 degrees shows good cooling, while 10 to 15 is decent cooling. Over 15 degrees is a sign of poor cooling ability.
The Birch Luxe Natural measured 69.2 degrees during the initial read. After Riley lay on it for five minutes, the temperature increased to 79.87. It’s an increase of over 10 degrees, which is decent. It felt slightly warm to the touch after our tester lay on it, but she said it returned to neutral very quickly. Still, between the breathable cotton and wool and the temperature-regulating latex, we had higher hopes for this category. Exceptionally hot sleepers may want to consider a mattress with active cooling technology instead.
Birch Luxe Natural Edge Support
A mattress with good edge support means the perimeter of the bed offers comparable support to the center. It’s a great feature for couples because it means both partners can spread out comfortably without feeling like they might roll off the side. Good edge support can also be an indication of overall durability — when a mattress has poor edge support, it can suggest potential sagging issues down the road.
We used three tests to assess edge support on the Birch Luxe Natural, which earned an impressive average of 4.7 stars. The objective tape measure test involved stacking weighted plates on the edge and measuring how far the layers collapsed. We used three stacks to represent three weight classes — 99 pounds, 154 pounds, and 198 pounds. With the lightest stack, the edge sank half an inch. With the medium and heavy stacks, it sank 1.5 inches. This is a sign of excellent edge support, earning the Birch Luxe Natural a full 5 stars.
During the second test, our tester Riley sat on the edge of the bed with her feet on the floor. She rose to standing, paying close attention to how supported she felt in the process and whether it was necessary to use her hands for stability. It wasn’t. In fact, she reported that the bed has enough bounce to spring her right up. “It’s very responsive, and it rises with me as I stand,” she added. “There’s enough sinkage to be comfortable, but I don’t feel like I’m sinking all the way down to the bottom.” However, she said that the edge is slightly less supportive than the center of the mattress, so she gave it 4 stars.
For the final test, Riley lay along the edge of the bed on her side, stomach, and back to get a sense of how stable it felt in different sleep positions. The Birch Luxe Natural performed well. Riley said she felt very supported, and even on her side she didn’t get the sense that she’d topple over. “I’d definitely be able to sleep near the edge and still feel supported,” she noted, giving it 4.5 stars.
Birch Luxe Natural Mattress Performance for Couples
The best mattress for couples tends to perform well in four of our categories: cooling ability, responsiveness, motion isolation, and edge support. We’ve already covered the benefits of motion isolation for those who share the bed. The Birch Luxe Natural earned 4 stars, which is pretty good. It performed even better for edge support at 4.5 stars, which means couples will have room to spread out, and it got full marks for responsiveness. That makes it a good fit for sexual activities. Cooling ability is where the Birch Luxe Natural fell short, and there is potential for two hot sleepers to find themselves growing a little too warm. Overall, however, the mattress has a lot to offer couples.
Other Performance Factors to Consider
To thoroughly cover our bases, our sleep experts run additional tests to get the full scope of how a mattress might perform. Here’s what else we assessed.
Sex
The score for sex is an average of responsiveness, cooling, and edge support tests. A mattress that responds quickly makes it easy for sexual partners to change positions, while good cooling ability keeps things from getting steamy in the wrong way. Strong edge support gives couples more room to maneuver. The Birch Luxe Natural received 5 stars for responsiveness, 3 stars for cooling ability, and 4.5 stars for cooling ability. That gives it an average of 4.2 stars for sex — not bad at all.
Noise
Riley tested the Birch Luxe Natural for noise by pressing on it repeatedly and alternating between positions. No matter how much she moved around, the mattress didn’t make a sound, earning it 5 stars. It does have springs, so there is a small possibility that they could start squeaking down the road, but it’s not very likely.
Base Compatibility
Riley tested the Birch Luxe Natural for its compatibility with an adjustable base by elevating the head and foot of the bed. She also moved it into the zero-gravity position. “The mattress worked super well on the base,” she said. While the mattress is fairly floppy, which made it difficult to move around the studio, it worked well for conforming to the base. “It was very smooth moving from one position to the next,” Riley reported, and added that there weren’t any gaps. We gave the mattress 5 stars for its base compatibility.
Durability
Durability can be a predictor of longevity, so we assess details like material quality, what’s used in the support layer, edge support, and the mattress warranty. High-quality materials last longer than cheap materials and aren’t as likely to deteriorate. Sturdy support, including around the perimeter, resists premature sagging, and a warranty is a clue into how long a company expects its mattress to perform.
We found the materials in the Birch Luxe Natural to be high quality, which is reflected in its certifications. Both the latex and hybrid construction add resilience, and the limited lifetime warranty is a good sign as well.
Birch Luxe Natural Performance Scores
| Test | Product Score | Average Score |
| Firmness | 7 | 6.7 |
| Pressure Relief Side | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Back Pressure Relief | 5 | 4 |
| Motion Isolation | 4 | 4 |
| Responsiveness | 5 | 4.2 |
| Cooling | 3 | 4.1 |
| Edge Support | 4.7 | 4 |
| Bounce Height | 33 | 16.3 inches |
| Bounce Rating | 5 | Moderate |
| Sinkage | Moderate | Moderate |
| Sex Score | 4.2 | N/A |
| Noise | 5 | 4.5 |
| Off-Gassing | N/A | N/A |
| Trial Period | 3.5 | 4.3 |
| Warranty | 5 | 4.6 |
| Full Rise | N/A | N/A |
| Unboxing/Moving | N/A | 3/5 |
Birch Luxe Natural Sleeping Position and Body Weight
Since body type and sleep position affect mattress performance, here’s what to expect from the Birch Luxe Natural.
Before we dive into our recommendations, though, we want to recognize that people come in all shapes and sizes, and people of every size deserve a mattress that works for their body type. We use the weight categories light, average, and heavy to more easily categorize sleepers based on how mattresses will perform for their body type, as most mattresses are designed for the group we call “average” (130 to 230 pounds).
As a general takeaway, lighter sleepers don’t require as much support as average-weight sleepers, and mattresses will tend to feel firmer to them. On the other hand, heavy sleepers tend to need more support than average-weight sleepers and tend to sink into the mattress more. As far as sleeping positions go, side sleepers tend to need a softer mattress while stomach sleepers usually need a firmer, more supportive one. Back sleepers are usually somewhere in the middle.
Is the Birch Luxe Natural a Good Mattress for Light Sleepers (Under 130 pounds)?
- Light Back Sleepers – The gentle buoyancy and touch of contouring is a great fit for these sleepers, who should feel comfortably aligned.
- Light Side Sleepers – These sleepers will fare just as well, with enough support for a straight spine and enough cushioning around pressure points. Just be mindful that it’s best for those who don’t like very soft beds.
- Light Stomach Sleepers – Despite the firmness of this bed, sleepers may find they need more lift to keep their hips from sinking.
Is the Birch Luxe Natural a Good Mattress for Average-Weight Sleepers (130–230 pounds)?
- Average-Weight Back Sleepers – These sleepers will sink in just enough for foam to comfortably fill the lumbar zone but the firm latex has enough support to keep a straight spine.
- Average-Weight Side Sleepers – This group should do well, with plenty of cushioning around the hips and shoulders.
- Average-Weight Stomach Sleepers – This bed may not have enough lift to properly elevate the hips, which can pull the spine out of alignment.
Is the Birch Luxe Natural a Good Mattress for Heavy Sleepers (Over 230 pounds)?
- Heavy Back Sleepers – This group should find the mattress does a good job of supporting them, and they’ll sink in for a little more cushioning.
- Heavy Side Sleepers – It’s possible that heavier side sleepers will find they don’t get the spinal support they need, though pressure points should be comfortably contoured.
- Heavy Stomach Sleepers – These sleepers will find the same issues as other weight groups – not enough lift to keep a straight spine.
My Final Thoughts About the Birch Luxe Natural Mattress
Here’s who’s most likely to enjoy a good night’s sleep on the Birch Luxe Natural — and who might not.
Who I Recommend the Birch Luxe Natural For
- Combination sleepers who need a bed that responds immediately as they change positions will appreciate this mattress.
- Back sleepers in lightweight and average-weight categories should find plenty of cushioning support.
- Side sleepers in the same weight classes will find the bed’s gentle cushioning and support a good match.
- People with allergies or sensitivities who want to limit their exposure to chemical irritants will appreciate the all-natural materials in this bed.
Who I Don’t Recommend the Birch Luxe Natural For
- Stomach sleepers in all weight categories should look for a mattress that has more lift to keep the hips elevated for a straight spine.
- Budget shoppers who are hunting for the lowest price tag can find less expensive options.
Birch Luxe Natural Pricing and Sizing
While the Birch Luxe Natural is on the pricier end of the spectrum, the brand does offer regular sales that make the mattress more affordable. Below are full retail prices in all available sizes.
| Twin | $1624.00 |
| Twin XL | $1749.00 |
| Full | $2312.00 |
| Queen | $2624.00 |
| King | $3124.00 |
| California King | $3124.00 |
Birch Luxe Natural Policies
Before you buy a mattress, especially online, it’s important to be familiar with company policies. Here’s what to expect from Birch for the Luxe Natural Mattress.
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty |
| Sleep Trial Period | 100-night trial |
| Shipping/Returns | Free shipping within the contiguous U.S. White glove delivery is available for a $199 fee. |
| Unboxing | The mattress arrives compressed in a box at your door, unless you opt for white glove delivery, which includes in-home setup of your new mattress and removal of your old mattress and packaging. |
| Full-Rise | The mattress begins to inflate immediately after unboxing and is ready to sleep on in a few hours. |
| Customer Reviews | This bed earned 4.3 stars on the Birch by Helix website based on over 700 customer reviews. |
Birch Luxe Natural vs. Avocado
Avocado is a big player in the natural mattress category. Here’s how the Birch Luxe Natural compares.
Birch Luxe Natural vs Avocado Green
Both mattresses have a firm feel (we rated them both a 7) and include latex foam and coils, so there are quite a few similarities. They share a number of the same certifications, like GOLS and Greenguard Gold, but the Avocado has a longer list, including Made Safe, EWG verification, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Climate Neutral, and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
- Price: Before sales pricing, a queen-size Avocado Green in its standard firmness is $2,099. Current discounts only bring that cost down by $100, so it’s the pricier option of the two.
- Sleeping position: During testing, we found the Avocado Green best suited to back sleepers in all weight categories and lightweight side sleepers who don’t have sensitive hips or shoulders. Most light and average-weight sleepers will probably find the Birch Luxe Natural more compatible.
- Cooling: The Avocado Green performed slightly better in our cooling tests than the Birch Luxe Natural, but neither mattress is particularly well suited to exceptionally hot sleepers.
- Body weight: The Avocado Green is a good fit for back sleepers in all weight categories, including those over 230 pounds.
Read more in our full Avocado Green mattress review.
Avocado Green Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Other Models from Birch
The Birch Natural Mattress is the brand’s flagship model. It has fewer bells and whistles than the Luxe, but shares the same certifications.
Birch Luxe Natural vs Birch Natural
During testing, we found the Birch Natural has the same firmness level and a similar latex foam and hybrid construction. It’s half an inch shorter than the Luxe Natural at 11 inches. It earned high marks for its response time and pressure relief, with an overall score of 4.5 stars.
- Price: The Birch Natural doesn’t have a Euro top or the second layer of latex, and that’s reflected in the lower price tag. Before sales pricing, a queen is $1,865 but discounts bring it down to $1,399.
- Sleeping position: We think the Birch Natural is a great fit for back sleepers of all weights.
- Cooling: The Birch Natural outperformed the Luxe Natural in this category, with a 4-star average score. It’s the better choice between the two for hot sleepers.
- Body weight: The Birch Natural is compatible with lightweight sleepers, most average-weight sleepers, and heavyweight back sleepers.
Read more in our full Birch Natural mattress review.
Birch Natural Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Our Review Process
At Sleepopolis, our team of certified sleep science coaches personally test each mattress. We start by unboxing the mattress to figure out how difficult (or easy) it is to get the mattress from the box to the bed. Then, we spend time lying on the bed in different positions, taking time to assess it on our backs, stomachs, and sides. Next, we perform our Sleepopolis tests, using specialized tools to measure qualities like motion transfer, bounce, and pressure relief. Our last step is to open up the mattress and take a look at each layer. These steps allow us to give our final verdict on the mattress.
FAQs
Is a Birch mattress really organic?
Birch mattresses are made with certified organic and natural materials, but the mattresses themselves aren’t certified organic.
Does the Birch Luxe Natural come with a sleep trial period?
Yes, the Birch Luxe Natural has a 100-night sleep trial period.
Does the Birch Luxe Natural come with a mattress warranty?
Yes, the Birch Luxe Natural has a limited lifetime warranty.
How firm is the Birch Luxe Natural?
According to the brand, the Birch Luxe Natural has a medium firmness. During testing, we found it firmer, about a 7 on the firmness scale.