Best Hypoallergenic Mattresses for Allergies

The AS3 by Amerisleep is one of the best hypoallergenic mattresses for just about all allergy sufferers because it’s so versatile. It’s low in VOCs and can fight just about every common allergen. That makes it a great choice no matter what triggers your allergy symptoms.

How the Mattress Feels

Lying down on the AS3, you’ll notice its versatility right away. This is a true medium mattress. That means it offers an equal balance of support and pressure relief. That makes it perfect for couples, combination sleepers, and anyone else who needs a versatile feel.

The AS3 is also highly breathable because it’s made from plants. That means it’s cooling because it keeps air flowing all night. This cooling breathability is one of the reasons why the AS3 is such a fantastic mattress for allergy sufferers. Its breathable memory foam prevents moisture buildup and makes it hard for mold and bacteria to flourish.

What It’s Made Of

The AS3 starts off with the cooling and plush Refresh Cover. This cover helps the mattress shed heat by using minerals to convert your body heat into far infrared energy. This helps the sleep surface regulate its temperature and keep you cool. There’s also evidence to suggest that far infrared energy exposure has health benefits.

The top layer of foam in the AS3 is the plant-based Bio-PurⓇ foam. This unique memory foam features plant oils for a more natural sleep surface. That means it’s more responsive and more breathable than traditional memory foam. It’s also lower in VOCs than regular memory foam.

Below the comfort layer, you’ll find the HIVEⓇ transition layer. This zoned transition layer offers five zones of pressure relief and support. That means each area of your body gets exactly the right combination of cushioning and lift it needs.

The support core of this mattress is made of ultra-dense support foam. This Bio-CoreⓇ foam is highly supportive to fight sinkage and keep your body lifted. It’s also highly durable. That’s why Amerisleep offers a 20-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial period on the AS3.

If your allergies are interfering with your active lifestyle, you should take a look at the Zoma Mattress. The Zoma offers cooling gel memory foam that can keep you from overheating as well as fight moisture buildup and allergens. It was designed by athletes for athletes. So if you want to recover from a physical day as well as your allergy issues, this mattress may be for you.

How the Mattress Feels

Lying down on the Zoma, you’ll notice it’s actually quite bouncy and responsive for an all-foam mattress. This is thanks to the Zoma’s ReactivTM layer. This ultra-bouncy foam fights body impressions and radically reduces the time it takes for the sleep surface to bounce back into place when you change positions.

The Zoma hovers between a medium and medium-firm feel, though overall it’s closer to a medium. That means it has a balance of support and cushioning that slightly favors support. So it’s a great mattress for those with back pain and back sleepers, as well as sleepers with physically active lifestyles.

What It’s Made Of

The Zoma Sports Mattress starts off with a ventilated AirCloth cover to keep cool air flowing around your body while you sleep. This cover also wicks away sweat to keep you dry and prevent moisture buildup.

The next layer of the Zoma is the gel memory foam comfort layer. The TriangulexTM comfort system offers three zones of pressure relief to ensure you get the right cradling from head to toe. The gel foam also pulls body heat away from you to keep you cool all night.

The ReactivTM layer provides a responsive transition between the comfort foam and the base foam. This layer ensures the comfort layer will bounce back quickly. It also increases the buoyancy of the comfort foam above, so you never feel stuck or sunk into your mattress.

Finally, the Support+ foam ensures even more buoyancy. That means you will stay lifted onto the sleep surface. It also means the Zoma Mattress will fight sagging and soft spots for a full decade – as evidenced by its 10-year warranty and 100-night sleep trial period.

Allergy sufferers who can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars should consider the Vaya Mattress. This mattress keeps things affordable by keeping them simple. It features a two-layer design that maintains all the comfort and cradling of a much more expensive mattress without the hefty price tag.

How the Mattress Feels

The Vaya Mattress is a medium mattress. However, it’s still a fantastic choice for side sleepers because its foam is so contouring. The Vaya will cradle your pressure points and keep your spine aligned even if you would typically need a softer mattress.

The Vaya’s plush cover gives it an even softer feel. And the combination of the breathable cover and open-cell memory foam means you won’t have to deal with waking up in a sweat in the middle of the night.

What It’s Made Of

As we said above, the Vaya has two layers of foam. The first layer is open-cell Vaya Comfort Foam. This breathable and contouring memory foam offers pure comfort. It follows the curve of your body to offer total pressure relief to pressure points. That makes it perfect for side sleepers and those with joint pain.

Underneath the comfort foam, the Vaya Base Foam provides stable support that keeps your body from sinking and encourages spinal alignment. This support foam also means the Vaya can back its 10-year warranty and 100-night sleep trial period. This mattress is as durable as many other, more expensive beds.

Both these layers of comfort are wrapped in the plush and breathable Vaya cover. The cover prevents overheating and wicks away sweat for a cool night’s sleep. Best of all, both the cover and CertiPUR-US memory foam can help fight allergies by keeping moisture out of your mattress and making it a hostile environment for microbes.

Those who want the bounciest, most breathable allergy relief should consider the Nolah Natural 11. This hybrid mattress features springy natural Talalay latex and bouncy recycled steel coils that will give active sleepers a responsive surface that bounces right back into place.

How the Mattress Feels

The Natural is a latex hybrid. So the first thing you’re going to notice about it is its amazing responsiveness. The springy latex and the bouncy coils work together to make this one of the most responsive hybrid mattresses around. That makes it perfect for those who love to toss and turn.

The Natural is also a highly breathable mattress. The pocketed coil core allows air to flow all the way through the mattress. And Talalay latex is the most breathable latex type. That means the Natural’s sleep surface is extremely good at wicking sweat and expelling body heat from your bed.

What It’s Made Of

The Natural starts off with a breathable organic cotton cover. This cover sits directly on top of the breathable and pressure-relieving wool layer. The organic wool doesn’t just improve the Natural’s temperature regulation and pressure relief. It also provides all-natural fire protection.

Next up, the Talalay latex comfort layer offers tons of contoured breathability. Talalay latex is lighter and more adaptable than Dunlop latex. That means it contours almost as well as memory foam while remaining much more breathable and responsive. See our guide on Talalay vs Dunlop latex foam for more information.

Beneath the comfort layer, a firmer Talalay transition layer provides extra buoyancy. It also protects your body from the high-tension coils below. The pocketed coil support core offers 25 percent more support than regular coil systems. That extra support can also mean extra pressure. But the transition layer prevents that issue.

The pocketed coil support layer is also arranged into three different support zones. These zones offer enhanced support in your middle to let your pressure points get the compression they need while your lumbar region stays lifted. This keeps your spine aligned. It also means the independently moving coils can bounce back underneath you without motion transfer.

If you want a pure memory foam mattress that can fight allergies and offer total pressure point relief at the same time, check out the Saatva Loom and Leaf. This medium-firm/firm memory foam mattress offers enhanced lumbar support for back sleepers, but its firm version is perfect for stomach sleepers as well!

How the Mattress Feels

The Loom and Leaf offers two firmness choices: Relaxed Firm (medium-firm) and Firm. The medium-firm mattress has some pressure relief and more support. That makes it a good choice for back sleepers and those with back pain.

Meanwhile, the firm option is a true firm bed. This means it has little compression and lots of support. This is a good setup for stomach sleepers.

What It’s Made Of

Both the medium-firm and firm options feature the same basic construction. The Loom and Leaf starts off with a hypoallergenic cover made of organic cotton. This cover sits on top of two layers of plush comfort foams and natural thistle flame barrier fibers. The hypoallergenic cover is treated with a botanical antimicrobial treatment to fight dust mites and other allergens.

The memory foam layers below are also resistant to dust mites and other allergens. The comfort layer is made of gel-infused memory foam that contours to your body’s curves and wicks away heat all at once.

Below the gel-infused foam, a layer of support foam provides additional support and buoyancy. This layer helps ensure you stay lifted onto the comfort foam above without allowing you to sink into the sleep surface. It also protects you from pressure exerted by the firmer foams below.

Up next, a layer of medium-firm or firm transition foam determines the firmness level of the mattress. The transition foam adds even more lift to the mattress. It also allows for an additional buffer between you and the base foam at the bottom.

Finally, the durable base support foam supports the upper layers. It ensures maximum durability and stability, making it one of the most durable memory foam mattresses around. That’s why the Loom and Leaf comes with a full-year sleep trial period and a generous lifetime warranty!

How to Choose a Mattress for Allergies

Not everyone is allergic to the same things. Some people are allergic to latex; others are allergic to pollen or dust mites. Still, others have sensitivities to harsh or synthetic chemicals. That means not every allergy sufferer is going to want the same mattress.

Common allergens you might find in your mattress include:

• Dust
• Dust mites
• Latex
• Mildew
• Mold spores
• Pollen
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

If you’re allergic to latex, obviously, it’s a good idea to avoid even the best latex mattresses. However, there are plenty of other hypoallergenic options. Alternately, if you have sensitivities to the ingredients found in synthetic foams, latex is likely your best option. Just about every mattress for allergies fights dust mites and other microbes.

Hypoallergenic Materials

There are many hypoallergenic mattress materials that can fight common allergens by making the mattress’s internal environment too hostile for microbes to grow. Hypoallergenic mattresses can also wick away moisture to put a lid on mold and mildew growth. It all depends on what they’re made of or how they’re made.

We discuss the four main types of mattresses below.

Natural Latex

As long as you aren’t allergic to latex, this is one of the most hypoallergenic mattress materials available, especially for those who are sensitive to petroleum-based ingredients. Many people can experience symptoms like headache, nausea, and skin reactions while their synthetic mattress is shedding VOCs – a process known as off-gassing.

Flexible polyurethane foam contains VOCs and will release them during the first few weeks after you open your mattress. That means people with sensitivities to the chemicals that synthetic foam releases into the air would do well to stick with latex. Otherwise, memory foam is possibly the best mattress for allergies.

Natural latex is also hypoallergenic in other ways. It is naturally resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew. Its breathability means it can keep the moisture buildup that allows these microbes to flourish from gaining a foothold. That means latex is a fantastic hypoallergenic option for just about all allergy sufferers – assuming they don’t have a latex allergy!

Aside from its hypoallergenic benefits, latex has other useful features, like its extreme durability. Latex mattresses can last a long while, sometimes more than 20 years.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses are a solid option for allergy sufferers who can’t have latex. The great thing about memory foam is it offers tons of different allergy-fighting options because there are so many different variations on memory foam’s structure and ingredients.

Those who are allergic to microbes like dust mites and bacteria should check out memory foam with mineral infusions. Graphite, ceramic, and especially copper are all effective at fighting microbial growth, establishing some of the best gel memory foam mattresses.

Allergy sufferers who are sensitive to moisture-loving allergens like mold and mildew can also consider memory foam options with breathability-enhancing features like microbead infusions or perforations. These will increase the mattress’s moisture-wicking properties, making mold growth a whole lot harder.

If you have a latex allergy and are also sensitive to VOCs, you might consider plant-based memory foam. Plant-based memory foam swaps out some petroleum products for plant oils. This creates a non-latex foam that’s a lot lower in VOCs but can still fight dust mites and other allergens. Plus, it establishes a cooling mattress for hot sleepers.

Whether or not you’re sensitive to VOCs, always get CertiPUR-US certified memory foam. CertiPUR-US purity and quality standards are stringent. So you can be sure that a CertiPUR-US memory foam mattress will not contain enough VOCs to negatively impact your home’s indoor air quality.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses combine at least two inches of foam with a pocketed coil support core. Hybrids can be very hypoallergenic. Not only can they contain any kind of foam you can think of – from plant-based memory foam to copper-infused foam to natural latex foam – but they are also even better at fighting moisture buildup.

The pocketed coils are much more breathable than solid foam support cores. Mattresses that can breathe all the way through can fight moisture buildup even better than foam alone. So a hybrid mattress with a breathable foam comfort layer can fight moisture-related allergens even better than an all-foam mattress.

Our hybrid mattress buying guide covers all the must-know tips for picking out the best beds.

Innerspring

Some innerspring mattresses can be good for allergy sufferers. Innerspring mattresses fight moisture buildup really well. And they often feature hypoallergenic materials like cotton or wool in their comfort layers.

However, you need to be careful with innerspring mattresses. Cheap versions of this bed are likely to feature low-quality foams or synthetic fibers that won’t just fail to fight allergy symptoms but actively trigger them.

This is true of all mattresses, but most of the cheap, poorly made mattresses you’ll find on the market will be innerspring mattresses. Still, even a well-made innerspring mattress can qualify as an excellent budget mattress, thanks to its simple design.

See our innerspring mattress buying guide for tips on picking out the best.

Antimicrobial Treatments

A lot of hypoallergenic mattresses also come with covers that have treatments to prevent microbes from setting up shop in the cover fabric itself. These treatments can be sprayed onto the cover after the fact. Or they may be woven directly in.

Be aware of the difference between “antibacterial” and “antimicrobial.” Antimicrobial mattress covers feature treatments that will fight just about everything microscopic, from fungi to bacteria to dust mites and even viruses. Antibacterial treatments, meanwhile, only fight bacteria. That means antimicrobial treatments are the way to go for allergy sufferers.

Allergy-Fighting Infusions

Latex and memory foam are both antimicrobial, but memory foam especially may come with infusions meant to fight bacteria, dust mites, and mold. Copper infusions are the gold standard when it comes to anti-microbial infusions. Copper creates a hostile environment for dust mites, bacteria, and other microbes.

Other foam infusions that may fight microbes include ceramic and graphite. However, copper infusions are best for those who want to keep these allergens at bay. Best of all, copper is thermally conductive. So it fights heat buildup as well as microbe growth.

A Note On Latex Allergies

If you have a latex allergy, you might think you can have a latex mattress anyway because the cover and potentially a mattress protector will provide a barrier between you and the actual latex foam layers.

However, we recommend you avoid natural latex mattresses altogether because there’s always the potential to come into contact with the latex foam. Your cover could have a tear in it you don’t discover until you change the mattress protector. The outside of the cover could have latex particles on it. There are just too many ways to wind up touching latex.

Mattress Protectors/Covers

Mattress protectors are fantastic for allergy sufferers. There are plenty of hypoallergenic mattress protectors to choose from, but even regular ones are still excellent. This is because all you have to do to clean them is pop them off the mattress and toss them in the washing machine. You can do this as many times as you like.

That means mattress protectors are perfect for sleepers with allergies because they absorb allergens to keep them out of your mattress. And it’s easy to wash those absorbed allergens right out of the protector!

Another great thing about mattress protectors and allergies is that impermeable protectors also protect your mattress from mold and mildew growth. These waterproof mattress protectors keep moisture out of the mattress by blocking sweat, spills, and other sources of moisture. That, in turn, helps to keep moisture-loving allergens like mold and bacteria away.

FAQs

What certifications should I look for when shopping for a hypoallergenic mattress?

There are several different certifications allergy sufferers should look for to ensure they’ll have a good night’s sleep. If you’re looking into a memory foam mattress, make sure you’re getting one certified under the CertiPUR-US standard. This standard ensures the purity of memory foam so that you don’t have to worry about VOCs leaking into your bedroom’s air.

Allergy sufferers who are looking at latex mattresses should look for the Global Organic Latex Standard label. GOLS ensures the organic Dunlop latex in your mattress is free of potentially toxic ingredients and synthetic chemicals alike. Likewise, the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) label ensures the purity of your mattress’s wool or cotton cover.

Other certifications allergy sufferers can look for include OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and GREENGUARD GOLD certificates. These certificates also indicate excellent purity and quality in a mattress’s materials and manufacturing. So allergy sufferers can sleep easy knowing their mattress isn’t triggering their symptoms.

Which mattress is best for asthma sufferers?

Asthma sufferers need to avoid triggers that can include anything from certain chemicals to pollen to dead skin cells and even dust mites. A natural latex mattress fits this bill the best. It’s naturally resistant to common asthma triggers like mold and dust mites. It is also free of common chemicals that can trigger allergy attacks – like VOCs.

If you have asthma and are allergic to latex, look for specific types of memory foam. Plant-based memory foam is a good option for you if you need to stay away from synthetic additives. It’s still resistant to microbes and moisture buildup, but it doesn’t have as high a level of VOCs as traditional memory foam.

Copper-infused memory foam is also a good option for those whose asthma is triggered by microbes. Copper memory foam fights common asthma triggers like dust mites and mold spores. It might be a good choice for you if your triggers don’t include synthetic ingredients.

Do I need a mattress protector if I have a zippable mattress cover?

Zippable covers make washing your mattress cover a breeze. Just unzip it and toss it in the wash. When it’s clean and dry, zip it back around your mattress. This can help allergy sufferers keep their mattress covers free of allergens.

However, a zippable cover is not a replacement for a mattress protector. Mattress covers are permeable. That means even zippable covers still let allergens seep into the mattress itself. Washing a zippered cover won’t get the allergens out of your mattress’s comfort layer.

Mattress protectors, on the other hand, are impermeable. They don’t let liquids or particles through to your mattress. So when you wash them, everything comes out. That’s why you need a protector, even if you have a mattress with a zippered cover.

Will a mattress protector help me with my allergy symptoms?

Mattress protectors absolutely help relieve allergy symptoms. Unlike sheets, they’re impermeable. So they keep allergens from getting into your mattress itself. Mattress protectors are also washable, so you can wash icky things like dead skin cells and dust mites right out. This keeps your sleep surface from becoming an allergen itself.

Another great thing mattress protectors do is keep moisture out of your mattress. Sweat, spills, and humidity can all lead to moisture buildup inside your mattress. This, in turn, leads to mold and bacteria growth that can trigger allergies. Waterproof mattress protectors don’t let water through, keeping your mattress high and dry.

What type of mattress is best for my allergies?

That depends on what your triggers are. Latex is generally best for allergy sufferers and those with chemical sensitivities alike because it resists common allergens and is low in hatch chemicals that cause reactions in sensitive individuals.

If you cannot afford expensive natural latex or have a latex allergy, memory foam is a solid alternative. Plant-based or copper-infused memory foams are both great for allergies. Consider plant-based memory foam if you’re triggered by VOCs. If your allergies are due more to microbes, copper memory foam may be your ideal material.

Bottom Line

There are so many hypoallergenic mattress options to choose from that it can be difficult to know where to start, let alone what is the best mattress. Those allergic to natural latex should consider CertiPUR-US memory foam. Those whose allergies are triggered by microbes should consider natural latex or copper-infused memory foam. And those who have sensitivities to synthetic chemicals should stick with natural latex mattresses.