Birch vs. Birch Luxe vs. Birch Elite

In This Comparison
Which Mattress Should You Buy? | Compare the Mattresses | Performance Tests

Which Mattress Should You Buy?

Best Mattress by Category

Before we get into the gritty details, let’s honor some specific mattresses first. The mattresses featured below performed exceptionally well when considering each individual category listed.

Best For	Birch
Overall	Birch
Side Sleepers	Birch Luxe
Stomach or Back Sleepers	Birch
Heavy People	Birch Elite
Cooling	Birch
Affordable	Birch
Back Pain	Birch Elite
Sex	Birch Luxe
Soft Mattress	N/A
Medium-Firm Mattress	Birch Luxe
Firm Mattress	N/A

The table below shows the overall performance score of each mattress we’ve tested from the brand. In total, 3 mattresses were tested for this comparison.

All Birch Mattresses Tested

Birch Mattresses	Score	Mattress Type	Read Review	Check Price
Birch	9.35	Latex Hybrid	Read Review	Check Price
Birch Luxe	8.94	Latex Hybrid	Read Review	Check Price
Birch Elite	8.71	Latex Hybrid	Read Review	Check Price

Moving on, let’s talk about specific performance categories. Depending on what factors are most important to you, individual mattresses may rise above others. The table below looks at 10 testing categories and highlights the top-performing mattresses in those particular tests.

Factor	Winner	Score
Best Overall	Birch	9.35
Best Cooling	Birch	10
Most Sinkage	Birch Elite	2.62″
Least Sinkage	Birch	2.00″
Lowest Motion Transfer	Birch, Birch Luxe	9.8
Fastest Response Time	Birch, Birch Elite	10
Most Bounce	Birch Luxe	15.14″
Least Bounce	Birch Elite	9.80″
Best Edge Support	Birch Elite, Birch Luxe	9.2
Best for Sex	Birch Luxe	9.7
Best Pressure Relief	Birch Elite	10
Least Off-Gassing	Birch	10
Best Company	Birch	8.2

Firmness	Rating	Feel
Birch	7	Slightly Firm
Birch Luxe	6	Medium-Firm
Birch Elite	6	Medium-Firm

Not sure which firmness you need? Your ideal mattress firmness depends on two major factors—sleeping position and body weight. With the right firmness, your body and spine will maintain proper alignment when sleeping.

Lightweight sleepers or those who sleep on their side tend to need a softer mattress. By comparison, heavier sleepers or those who sleep on their back or stomach tend to need more support and a firmer feel.

Now let’s begin our deep dive into the 10 performance categories that both make up our review score and help us tie each mattress to sleeper preferences.

Birch Mattresses

• Birch
• Birch Luxe
• Birch Elite

The table below shows overall scores as well as scores from the individual testing categories.

Factor	Birch	Birch Luxe	Birch Elite
Overall Score	9.35	8.94	8.71
Cooling	10	9.0	9.0
Motion Transfer	9.8	9.8	6.5
Response	10	8.0	10
Edge Support	8.1	9.2	9.2
Sex	9.5	9.7	8.9
Pressure Relief	9.0	9.0	10
Off-Gassing	10	7.2	6.1
Company	8.2	8.2	8.2

This second table shows the data from each test we analyze. We use this data to compare each mattress to others within the brand as well as to compare with over 390+ mattresses we’ve tested to date.

Factor	Birch	Birch Luxe	Birch Elite
Price (Queen)	$1,499	$1,968	$2,999
Cooling	Outstanding	Excellent	Excellent
Sinkage – Depth	2.00″	2.58″	2.62″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Deep	Very Deep
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	5.52 m/s²	5.41 m/s²	12.69 m/s²
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.5 sec.	0.2 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.3 sec.	1.0 sec.	0.3 sec.
Bounce – Height	14.91″	15.14″	9.80″
Bounce – Feel	Extremely High	Extremely High	Moderate
Edge Support – Sitting	4.50″	3.50″	3.50″
Edge Support – Lying	Good	Excellent	Excellent
Comfort Layer Thickness	3.00″	3.50″	5.50″
Mattress Thickness	11.00″	11.50″	13.50″
Off-Gassing – Smell	None	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	0 days	10 days	14 days
Trial	120 nights	120 nights	120 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime

For cooling, the three Birch mattresses that we tested had great overall performance, ranging between 9.0 and a perfect 10. Between these three mattresses, the average cooling score is 9.3.

Cooling Test	Score	Baseline	Max. Temp.	Ending Temp.
Birch	10	86.8°	91.6°	86.8°
Birch Luxe	9.0	79.8°	90.1°	83.3°
Birch Elite	9.0	74.3°	90.0°	79.2°

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (after 5 minutes) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

Below, you can watch a video of how the heat dissipates on each mattress during our cooling test. For this test, we lie on the mattress for 15 minutes, get off the mattress, and then take periodic surface-level temperature measurements.

The average cooling score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.6, which makes Birch the better cooling choice at any of their three price points.

Between these three mattresses, only the base-level Birch mattress earned a score of 10/10. Meanwhile, the Birch Luxe and Birch Elite still earned excellent scores. This is most likely explained by the extra material in the pricier models.

The hole-punched latex and hybrid design are both great for cooling. However, enough foam of any type can still end up retaining more heat. The organic, GOTS-certified wool cover is also not the absolute best material for heat-resistance as well.

All in all, any of these Birch models should be more than adequate for the average sleeper. If cooling is your number one priority and you need the best there is, your best bet is the Birch.

Looking at sinkage, the three versions of the Birch mattresses have moderate to very deep sinkage.

Sinkage Test	Sinkage Feel	Sinkage Depth
Birch	Moderate	2.00″
Birch Luxe	Deep	2.58″
Birch Elite	Very Deep	2.62″

The level of sinkage for each mattress is documented in the images below.

The average sinkage depth across all mattresses tested to date is 2.23″. This means the Birch mattress is slightly more restrained than average, and the Birch Luxe and Birch Elite are significantly deeper than average.

Back and stomach sleepers usually prefer less sinkage, which better maintains proper alignment of their spine. Among these three, the Birch (2.00″) has the least amount of sinkage.

Generally, side sleepers enjoy a deeper level of sinkage, as that typically translates to better pressure relief and contour. For deeper sinkage, opt for the Birch Elite (2.62″) or the Birch Luxe (2.58).

Selecting a model that fits your preference will come down to whether or not you enjoy being more enveloped by your mattress or to float more on top of it. As latex, however, none of the Birch mattresses will overly hug/contour your body the way a memory foam mattress would.

Now, let’s discuss motion transfer, our measure of how likely sleepers are to disturb one another with movements during the night. The Birch mattresses are generally fantastic.

The three tiers of Birch models earned an average motion transfer score of 8.7, with scores ranging from 6.5 to 9.8.

Motion Transfer Test	Score	Acc. Range
Birch	9.8	5.52 m/s²
Birch Luxe	9.8	5.41 m/s²
Birch Elite	6.5	12.69 m/s²

The level of motion transfer on each mattress is also documented in the videos below.

The average motion transfer score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.2.

The standard Birch mattress and the Birch Luxe performed significantly better than average. However, the Birch Elite stood out with much worse performance.

The difference we see here is potentially due to the Elite’s design exceeding a certain threshold of latex foam. It even has latex sewn into its cover. At this level, there’s a good chance sleepers who share a bed will disturb each other with basic movements while they sleep.

If you’re looking to avoid this concern, the Birch or Birch Luxe are your best bets.

When it comes to a measure of responsiveness, the Birch mattresses truly shine. The three Birch models earned an average response time score of 9.3, with scores ranging from 8.0 to 10.

Response Test	Score	Mostly Recovered	Completely Recovered
Birch	10	0.2 seconds	0.3 seconds
Birch Luxe	8.0	0.5 seconds	1.0 seconds
Birch Elite	10	0.2 seconds	0.3 seconds

The level of responsiveness for each mattress is documented in the videos below.

The average response score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.8.

The Birch mattress and Birch Elite are among the fastest mattresses we’ve tested. Both measurements are as fast as we are able to measure, demonstrating latex foam’s lightning-quick speeds.

The Birch Luxe is a bit of an outlier. Looking at the materials, it appears to use more wool between the cover and the latex foam layers. Based on the videos above, we can see the cover takes longer to recover, compared to the near-imperceptible recoveries of the other two models.

Ultimately, all three Birch mattresses will feel lively and easy to move around on. But if you want the absolute best responsiveness, the Birch or Birch Elite are the best picks.

When it comes to bounce, Birch mattresses are extremely bouncy compared to move mattresses. Two of their models are extremely bouncy while one is simply moderate.

Bounce Test	Bounce Feel	Bounce Height
Birch	Extremely High	14.91″
Birch Luxe	Extremely High	15.14″
Birch Elite	Moderate	9.80″

The level of bounce for each mattress is documented in the videos below.

The average bounce across all mattresses tested to date is 8.77″.

By this measure, the Birch and Birch Luxe are well above the average bounce height. Bounce above 12″ start to become a bit like trampoline, which is less preferable to the average sleeper.

The Birch Elite was a bit of an outlier, as we measured it to have much less bounce than the other two models. However, at 9.80″, the Birch Elite is still more than the average and is within my ideal range of 10″ – 12″.

Mattresses with more bounce are better for ease of movement and increased sex performance. However, higher bounce also typically creates a higher level of motion transfer. So there are pros and cons when it comes to bounce.

For edge support, we measure the how much the edge compresses while sitting and the rate the support while lying at the absolute edge. Birch mattresses earned an average edge support score of 8.8, with scores ranging from 8.1 to 9.2.

Edge Support Test	Score	Sitting Sinkage	Lying Support
Birch	8.1	4.50″	Good
Birch Luxe	9.2	3.50″	Excellent
Birch Elite	9.2	3.50″	Excellent

The level of edge support is documented in the images below.

The average edge support score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.7.

So, on average, Birch models are slightly better. Individually, the Birch Luxe and Birch Elite are a solid notch or two above the rest.

The Birch and Birch Luxe models are equipped with two rows of reinforced coils on both sides of the mattress but not at the head or foot. The Birch Elite is the only model with full perimeter support.

While the base Birch model didn’t quite perform at the same level, if you pay for the higher tiers, you will have a robust edge for sitting, lying, and amorous activities.

When it comes to sex, Birch mattresses are fantastic options for couples. The three Birch models earned an average sex score of 9.4, with scores ranging from 8.9 to 9.7.

Sex Test	Sex Score	Bounce	Edge Support	Noise	Pressure Relief	Cooling
Birch	9.5	10	8.1	8.0	9.0	10
Birch Luxe	9.7	10	9.4	8.0	9.0	9.0
Birch Elite	8.9	8.6	9.4	10	10	9.0

The average sex score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.2.

The most detrimental factor for sex performance is low bounce, something that all of these mattresses have an abundance of. With these scores, the Birch and Birch Elite are above average when it comes to sex.

However, the Birch Luxe has especially high bounce mixed with excellent edge support to earn it the highest sex score among the Birch models.

Now let’s discuss pressure relief. Regardless of price or tier, the Birch mattresses have excellent pressure relief. In our tests, they earned scores between 9.0 and 10, which is solidly above-average compared to the average mattress.

Pressure Relief Test	Score	Comfort Layer	Support Layer
Birch	9.0	3.00″	8.00″
Birch Luxe	9.0	3.50″	8.00″
Birch Elite	10	5.50″	8.00″

The average pressure relief score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.6.

The average comfort layer thickness is 4.26″. Despite both having less than average, the Birch and Birch Luxe each earned excellent scores. With only 2.00″ of foam, latex proves to be a more efficient comfort material compared to poly or memory foams. The organic cotton cover and wool filling also plays a positive role to create a comfortable sleeping surface.

Regardles, the Birch Elite has the best pressure relief in the brand. Not only does it have an extra layer of latex foam, there is a microcoil layer sandwiched between them. The topmost latex layer is softer while the bottom one is more firm. This allows for a more gradual transition/buffer into the full support layer below.

The materials included in each mattress are documented in the images below.

There is a strong link between the amount of material used in a mattress and pressure relief performance. We see that demonstrated here. However, all of these Birch models provide better pressure relief than the average mattress.

Also, remember to factor in your preferred sleeping position and body weight, because this can impact the comfort dynamic. Depsite having the same scores, the Birch is more suited for back/stomach sleepers while the Birch Luxe is more suited for side sleepers. If it’s within your budget, the Birch Elite will provide the best experience for all sleeping positions.

When it comes to off-gassing, Birch mattresses can take a while before their latex smell is no longer noticeable. Our score reflects the initial intensity of the smell along with its duration.

Off-Gassing Test	Score	Initial Smell	Smell Duration
Birch	10	None	0 days
Birch Luxe	7.2	Strong	10 days
Birch Elite	6.1	Strong	14 days

The average smell duration across all mattresses tested to date is 7.13 days.

In the case of the Birch Luxe and Birch Elite mattresses, they each smelled longer than the average 7-day duration. Its fair to point out that this smell is unlike non-latex mattresses, which use a lot of synthetic materials.

The smell of Birch mattresses is a distinct rubbery one, and its arguably not as offensive as polyurethane. It can still be quite intense.

With the regular Birch model, we did not experience any noticeable odor while unboxing. What little we could smell was of an inoffensive wool/cotton/textile. Therefore, it earned perfect score and will be your best bet if you’re looking to avoid that intense latex smell.

The Elite model comes in two boxes – one with the pocketed coil base + cover, and another with the latex foam layers encased in a frabric cover. With the amount of latex in its design, its no wonder we could still smell it past two weeks.

As a company, Birch has good overall performance, but it also has its disadvantages.

Birch offers sleepers a 120-night trial period, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping. But if the mattress ends up not working out, they charge a $99 return fee.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding company policies.

Company	Birch
Score	8.2
Trial Period	120 nights
Warranty	Lifetime
Shipping	$0
Returns	$99
Country of Origin	USA

To date, we have tested 395+ mattresses from 105 different brands. The average trial length is 175 nights and the average warranty is 13 years, excluding 42% of mattresses that offer lifetime warranties.

Birch Testing Data

Mattress Name	Overall Score	Cooling Score	Motion Transfer Score	Response Time Score	Edge Support Score	Sex Score	Pressure Relief Score	Off-Gassing Score	Company Score	Type	Thickness	Firmness	Sinkage	Bounce	Trial (days)	Ships To	Price (Queen)	Read Review
Birch	9.35	10	9.8	10	8.1	9.5	9.0	10	8.2	Latex Hybrid	11.00"	Slightly Firm	2.00"	14.91"	120 nights	USA, Canada	$1,499	Review
Birch Luxe	8.94	9.0	9.8	8.0	9.2	9.7	9.0	7.2	8.2	Latex Hybrid	11.50"	Medium-Firm	2.58"	15.14"	120 nights	USA, Canada	$1,968	Review
Birch Elite	8.71	9.0	6.5	10	9.2	8.9	10	6.1	8.2	Latex Hybrid	13.50"	Medium-Firm	2.62"	9.80"	120 nights	USA, Canada	$2,999	Review