Meet Our Testing Team
Alandrus
Athena
Brad
Sid
Recommended for...
- Sleepers who prefer mattresses with a responsive feel. The Birch Mattress has a springy surface that does not hug the sleeper’s body very closely.
- People who tend to sleep hot. Ventilated latex and pocketed coil layers maintain strong airflow, helping the surface stay cool, while wool layers wick away moisture from the sleeper’s body.
- Customers looking for a durable mattress. The mattress is made with resilient latex and strong pocketed coils, giving it a long-lasting design, and Helix Sleep backs the bed with a 25-year warranty.
- Eco-conscious shoppers. The Birch Mattress is made from natural latex, organic/natural wool, and other sustainable materials.
Not Recommended for...
- Those who weigh less than 130 pounds, as the surface may feel too firm for lighter individuals.
- Folks who wake up easily due to their sleep partner’s movement. The mattress does not eliminate all motion transfer, and over time the coil system may create some noise.
- Sleepers who experience pressure points in sensitive areas of the body. The mattress is very supportive but it does not conform closely to the body, which may result in inadequate pressure relief for those with chronic discomfort.
Video Review
Our testing team evaluated the Birch Mattress for motion isolation, edge support, and other performance factors. To learn about our findings, check out the video below.
Ratings Summary
Our testing team conducted an extensive evaluation of the Birch Mattress. This review and rating process consists of three parts: in-house evaluation, external sleep testing, and data collection of verified owner experiences. To learn more about our testing process, read our methodology here.
Our performance criteria and ratings for the bed are listed in the table below.
As you can see, our team noted the Birch Mattress excels in several key areas, including temperature neutrality and durability. You can take an an in-depth look at each mattress rating below.
Sleep Position Ratings
As part of our ratings process, we evaluated the Birch Mattress across different body types and preferred sleep positions in our at-home sleep tests. In addition to in-house testing, we surveyed three outside sleep testers and analyzed reviews from verified mattress owners and customers. Our findings are listed in the table below.
For more information on sleeping positions please see our guides for side, back, stomach and combination sleepers.
Birch Mattress Awards
Based on positive ratings from verified owners and our testing teams, the Birch Mattress has earned the following awards in our Mattress Guides.
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Best Firm Mattresses
Best Luxury Best Firm Mattresses.
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Best Mattresses for Kids
Editor’s pick Best Latex Mattress.
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Best Latex Mattresses
Runner-Up Pick Best Latex Mattresses.
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Best Organic Mattresses
Runner-Up Pick Best Organic Mattresses.
How Is the Birch Mattress Constructed?
Cover
The Birch Mattress has a cover made of organic cotton. A layer of natural wool and rayon lies directly beneath the cover, and acts as a fire barrier.
Comfort Layers
The mattress has two comfort layers. The top layer is made from a blend of natural and organic wool, a breathable material that helps wick away moisture from the sleeper’s body. Beneath the wool is a 2-inch layer of natural Talalay latex, which gives the bed its responsive, springy feel.
Support Layers
As a hybrid, the Birch Mattress has a support core of zoned pocketed coils. Lower-gauge (thicker) coils help protect the edges from significant sinkage. Higher-gauge (thinner) coils are found directly beneath the sleeper. These coils reinforce the bed and support the sleeper’s body without feeling too firm.
Organic and natural wool batting forms the bed’s base layer. This differs from many competing hybrids, which reinforce the bed with a base of high-density polyfoam. The batting is a more sustainable material, and the layer is dense enough to provide support that is comparable to polyfoam.
Mattress Height
The Birch Mattress measures 11 inches thick. This is slightly thicker than the average mattress of any type, making it suitable for sleepers who struggle getting on and off shorter beds, but compared to other hybrids it is considered a medium-profile mattress. The strong edges also prevent sleepers from rolling off the sides during the night.
| Product Name | Firmness Setting | Thickness | Support Core Components | Comfort Layer Components | Cover Components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Mattress | 6.5 (Medium-firm) | 11″ | 8″ Pocketed Coils 1/2″ 100% Organic/Natural Wool Batting |
1/2″ 100% Organic/Natural Wool 2″ Natural, Ventilated Talalay Latex |
100% Organic Cotton Natural Wool and Rayon Fire Barrier |
What Are the Firmness and Feel Like?
The Birch Mattress has a very responsive surface that our testing team likened to that of a traditional innerspring. The latex and wool layers do not conform or hug the body very closely compared to beds made of other materials, such as memory foam. This makes the mattress optimal for people who prefer to sleep “on” a mattress, as opposed to sleeping “in” one.
Birch advertises the mattress as having a “medium-firm feel.” Our testers agree with this assessment. That being said, sleepers seeking a soft or very firm mattress may not find the Birch Mattress comfortable.
Ratings Breakdown
Performance Ratings
Next, let’s take a closer look at our performance ratings for the Birch Mattress. These ratings are based on findings from our internal and external testing teams, along with verified customer and owner experiences.
Durability
Helix Sleep officially launched Birch in 2019. Because the company and its mattress are relatively new, we’re basing the bed’s durability rating on its materials and quality of construction.
Latex is one of the most resilient mattress materials. Beds made with natural latex typically perform for at least eight years, making them fairly durable compared to the average mattress lifespan of seven to eight years. In addition to latex, the Birch Mattress also has thick pocketed coils and a dense base layer made from wool batting.
Although the Birch Mattress is very responsive and we recommend the bed for sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds, body impressions may form across the sleep surface over time. This is considered normal wear and tear. To protect against deep impressions, we recommend rotating the mattress every three to six months.
Motion Isolation
The Birch Mattress isolates some motion transfer. However, the bed’s responsive surface causes sleepers to feel a noticeable amount of movement when their sleep partner gets into/out of bed or switches positions. Latex tends to be quite bouncy, and in combination with a coil support core, our testers found the surface of the Birch did little to absorb motion.
For this reason, we have given the Birch Mattress a ‘Fair’ rating for motion isolation, indicating most sleepers will feel some movement on the surface. This is fairly typical for latex hybrids.
Off-Gassing
We noticed very little initial odor from the latex and wool comfort layers of the Birch Mattress. The bed’s interior promotes steady airflow thanks to its ventilated latex and pocketed coil layers. As a result, unpleasant smells from the mattress should air out in a matter of days, and our testers did not note any strong, lingering odors.
Some odor is to be expected from any new mattress, especially one with foam and/or latex layers. Latex and latex hybrid mattresses are commonly associated with a rubber-like smell.
Pressure Relief
The Birch Mattress earned ‘Good’ ratings from testers in each weight group. Our testing team found the bed offers adequate pressure relief throughout the body, though pressure-mapping showed some pressure in the shoulders for side sleepers.
For some sleepers with chronic aches and pains, the most comfortable mattresses conform to the body closely. This results in a deep body-hugging sensation. The Birch Mattress doesn’t provide that hugging feel. Testers noted that the bouncy, responsive surface feels like sleeping “on” – as opposed to “in” – the mattress.
Temperature Neutrality
According to our testing, temperature neutrality is a key strength of the Birch Mattress. The mattress sleeps cool for a few reasons. For one, the latex layer is ventilated to promote steady airflow throughout the bed’s interior and keep the surface feeling comfortable. The coil core allows air movement through the bed, as well.
The bed’s wool components also balance the overall temperature and wick away moisture from the sleeper’s body during the night. Additionally, the mattress has a cover made of organic cotton cover, which is more breathable than other common cover materials like rayon or polyester.
Edge Support
The Birch Mattress performed very well during our edge support testing. None of our sleep testers had issues with sinking around the edge, whether they were sleeping near or sitting on the perimeter of the Birch.
Like many competing hybrids, the mattress is designed with thicker coils around the perimeter to prevent excessive sagging where people usually sit when getting into or out of bed. The reinforced edges also prevent sleepers from the feeling of “roll off” when sleeping close to the edges.
If you sleep with a partner, and thus tend to use more surface area of the mattress, you’ll want a strong edge like the Birch provides.
Noise
The Birch Mattress has a pocketed coil support core. These coils tend to be quieter than other coil types. Although some squeaking and creaking may occur over time, the mattress probably won’t cause any disruptions unless the sleeper is particularly sensitive to noise.
Sex
As already noted, the Birch Mattress has a very responsive surface. This should make the mattress sufficiently springy and bouncy for most couples.
The bed does not sink too much beneath sleepers’ bodies, which should make it easy to switch positions during sex. However, less sinkage also means lower amounts of traction. The bed’s pocketed coils may come to squeak over time, which can make sex less discreet, but the coils do not produce as much noise as bonnells, offsets, and other non-pocketed coil types.
Sleeper Ratings
Next, we’ll discuss our sleeper ratings for the Birch Mattress.
The ideal firmness and thickness settings for a mattress largely depend on a sleeper’s body weight, shape, and preferred sleep position. In order to better inform our readers and avoid subjectivity in our review, we evaluated the bed with sleep testers of varying body types and position preferences.
Lightweight Sleepers – Less than 130 lbs.
Our lightweight testers noted the Birch Mattress has a fairly firm and responsive feel. The bed provides good overall support but very little conforming and cradling, which results in a floating feel for lighter people.
Our testers agree that lightweight sleepers who like firmer, more responsive surfaces will probably find the mattress comfortable, if not a bit firm. However, side sleepers may find the bed does not offer enough cushioning for the shoulders and hips.
Average Weight Sleepers – 130 to 230 lbs.
Our testing found the Birch Mattress offered very good support for sleepers in the average weight group. The bed’s responsive surface provides even support and weight distribution, and does not hug the body closely like other latex hybrid models.
Those who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds tend to prefer a balance of support and body conforming. Our Birch Mattress testers findings were consistent with this trend, though they agreed that the bed does not cradle or conform to the body very much.
Heavyweight Sleepers – More than 230 lbs.
Like the average weight testers, our heavyweight testers also found the Birch Mattress very supportive. The Birch Mattress is responsive enough to support heavier individuals without sagging too much. Comparatively, other hybrids tend to sag a bit with heavier individuals, which can compromise the bed’s supportive and pressure-relieving qualities.
Most people who weigh more than 230 pounds typically prefer medium-firm or firm beds. If the bed is too soft, the sleeper may sag too much in the middle and experience aches and pains. There are firmer beds available for those who prefer firm or very firm surfaces, but our testers agree the Birch Mattress is a good option for heavier people with mid-level firmness preferences.
Pricing and Discounts
- Twin $1,349
- Twin XL $1,399
- Full $1,599
- Queen $1,799
- King $2,099
- Cal King $2,099
Birch Coupons and Promos
Get $400 off your the Birch Mattress.
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Other Birch Sleep Products
How Does the Birch Mattress Compare to Other Beds?
We encourage mattress shoppers to compare multiple models in order to find the best bed. Below, we’ll discuss how the Birch Mattress stacks up to three other mattresses with comparable designs and performance ratings.
Birch vs. Avocado
The Avocado Green Mattress shares many similarities with the Birch Mattress. Both beds are 11-inch hybrids constructed with comfort layers of moisture-wicking wool and responsive latex, as well as and pocketed coil support cores. Like the Birch Mattress, the Avocado Green also offers consistent temperature neutrality and strong edge support.
However, the Avocado Green is slightly firmer than the Birch. Avocado customers can select a latex pillow-top, which increases the bed’s profile by 2 inches and makes the surface noticeably softer. The Avocado Green also isolates motion transfer better than the Birch, despite a similarly responsive feel.
Price-points for the two beds are comparable. The Avocado Green with pillow-top in a queen-size is more expensive than the Birch Mattress, while the non-pillow-top Avocado bed costs less than the Birch. That being said, both mattresses are priced much lower than the average latex hybrid and considered top-value beds.
Read our complete Avocado Mattress Review.
Birch vs. Awara
The Awara Mattress is another latex hybrid. The bed is designed with a 4-inch comfort layer of organic Dunlop latex, followed by a 9-inch support core of zoned pocketed coils. The Awara Mattress is 2 inches thicker than the Birch Mattress, but both beds have a comparable medium-firm feel.
The Awara is more responsive than the Birch. In fact, the mattress is one of the most responsive hybrids we’ve tested. This makes it more suitable for sleepers who enjoy the bouncy, floating sensation of sleeping “on” a mattress, but less suitable for those who want deep body cradling and more pressure relief.
The Awara and Birch offered similarly strong levels of edge support, thanks to perimeters reinforced with thicker, lower-gauge coils, and both maintain consistent temperature neutrality that makes them good options for hot sleepers. The Awara costs slightly less than the Birch, but both mattresses are considered high-value picks.
Read our complete Awara Mattress Review.
Birch vs. EcoCloud
The EcoCloud latex hybrid by WinkBeds has a medium-firm feel that corresponds to a 6 on the 1-10 firmness scale. Like the Birch Mattress, the EcoCloud has a responsive surface that does not hug the body as closely. Both beds also provide strong edge support to prevent excessive sinkage along the perimeter and prevent sleepers from rolling off the mattress during the night.
Our testers noted better motion isolation for the EcoCloud, but there was still noticeable movement across the surface. In terms of pressure relief, both mattresses earned similar ratings from the testing team. Lighter and heavier testers felt some pressure around the shoulders when lying on the EcoCloud, whereas average weight testers felt little to no pressure.
The EcoCloud measures 13 inches thick, giving it a taller profile than the Birch Mattress. The EcoCloud’s price-point in a queen-size is also higher, making the Birch the better value pick between the two models.
Read our complete EcoCloud Mattress Review.
Birch vs. EcoSleep
Unlike the one-sided Birch Mattress, the EcoSleep Hybrid by Brooklyn Bedding is a flippable latex hybrid model with a different feel on each side. One surface is medium-firm (6), while the other is firm (7). Flippable beds are suitable for sleepers whose firmness preferences vary on a nightly basis.
Apart from this construction detail, the EcoSleep Hybrid is fairly similar to the Birch Mattress. The EcoSleep Hybrid has latex comfort layers on each side and a shared pocketed coil support core, making it very responsive and supportive for most sleepers. The mattress also provides consistent temperature neutrality and features moisture-wicking natural wool in its cover. Edge support is a key strength of the EcoSleep Hybrid, but – like the Birch Mattress – this bed offers fair motion isolation.
The two beds are comparably priced, as well. Though the EcoSleep Hybrid is slightly cheaper, both mattresses are much less expensive than the average latex hybrid.
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Birch Mattress FAQ
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Sleep Trial 100 nights
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Shipping Free to all 50 states
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Warranty 25 years partially prorated
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Made In USA
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Where Can I Buy the Birch Mattress?
The Birch Mattress is available for sale on the Birch website. Customers may also test out the mattress at Helix Sleep’s brick-and-mortar showroom in New York City.
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Where Do They Ship?
Birch ships mattresses to all 50 states.
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White Glove Delivery?
Birch does not offer White Glove delivery.
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Old Mattress Removal?
Birch does not offer old mattress removal with any orders.
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Full Delivery Policy
The delivery policy for Birch is as follows:
- In most cases, customers receive their mattress within five to seven business days of placing their original order. All mattresses are shipped using FedEx Ground; a customer signature is not required for delivery.
- Standard shipping is free for customers in all 50 states. Birch does not offer expedited or White Glove delivery.
- All customers receive an email with a tracking number as soon as their mattress ships.
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Trial Period and Warranty Details
Trial Period and Guarantee
Birch offers a 100-night sleep trial for the Birch Mattress.
- This sleep trial includes a mandatory 30-night break-in period. Customers may not return the mattress for a full refund until at least 30 nights have elapsed.
- Birch issues full refunds for all returns. Customers should receive their refund on the original form of payment within five to seven business days; those who use programs like PayPal or Klarna may receive their refund more quickly.
- All returned mattresses are either donated to charity or recycled.
Warranty
Birch offers a 25-year warranty:
- This warranty is partially prorated. During the first 10 years of ownership, Birch will repair or replace a defective mattress at no extra cost to the owner. Prorated coverage kicks in during the 11th year, when owners pay 50% of the original mattress price if a replacement is needed. Prorated charges increase by 5% for each successive year (55% in year 12, 60% in year 13, etc.) until the 21st year, at which point customers pay a flat prorated charge of 95% of the original price until the warranty expires.
- Mattress repairs or replacements will not extend the original warranty, nor will they lead to a new warranty.
- Warranty coverage is contingent on proper foundational support. According to Birch, the mattress must be used with “a firm, solid-surface, on a bed base that is structurally capable” of supporting both the mattress and its users. The warranty will be voided if damage occurs due to improper foundational support.
- The warranty covers sagging or indentations in the sleep surface measuring 1 inch or deeper. Other covered defects include physical flaws in the mattress that causes the material to split or crack despite proper use, and manufacturing flaws associated with the cover assembly.
- The warranty will not cover sagging or indentations measuring less than 1 inch deep. Additionally, Birch will not repair or replace the mattress based on changes in the owner’s comfort preferences, nor do they cover burns, cuts, stains, and other types of physical abuse.
- This warranty is non-transferable. It is exclusively available to original owners who purchase their mattress from Birch or an authorized retailer. Those who buy or acquire their mattress from the original owner or a non-authorized retailer do not receive warranty coverage.
Company Information
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Customer Service
7 out of 10 customers have had a positive experience with Birch/Helix Sleep, irrespective of whether or not they liked their mattress.
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Company History
Birch launched in 2019. The brand’s parent company, Helix Sleep, has been in business since 2015.
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BBB Rating
Birch has not earned a rating from the Better Business Bureau, but Helix Sleep currently holds an ‘A+’ rating.
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Physical Stores
Helix Sleep operates one brick-and-mortar showroom in New York City. The Birch Mattress and other Helix models are available to test out at this location.
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Contact Birch
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