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Birch Elite Review

Derek Hales

Published

Birch Elite Alt Hero Image
8.71 Overall Score
Tested With Scoring System 1.3
9.0 Cooling
6.5 Motion Transfer
10 Response Time
9.2 Edge Support
8.9 Sex
10 Pressure Relief
6.1 Off-Gassing
8.2 Company

Best For

  • Exceptional pressure relief with 5.5″ comfort layer
  • Extremely fast response time
  • Luxury latex hybrid mattress option, 13.5″ thick and high-quality materials

Considerations

  • Smell duration was worse than average, 14 days
  • Very deep sinkage is not ideal for all back or stomach sleepers
  • High levels of motion transfer

Our Verdict

The Birch Elite is a 13.50″ latex hybrid mattress made of latex foam, microcoils, and a pocketed coil base. It’s the top-tier mattress from the Birch lineup, featuring the thickest latex hybrid we’ve tested from Birch to date.

The Birch Elite is available in a single firmness level — medium-firm.

This mattress has very deep sinkage and moderate levels of bounce. This is deeper sinkage and less bounce than what we measured on both the Birch and Birch Luxe.

In our performance tests, this mattress earned an overall score of 8.71, ranking the mattress in the top 47% of all mattresses tested to date.

The Birch Elite is $2,999 for a queen-sized mattress, which is 55% more expensive than the average latex hybrid. If you’re looking for a deal, the Birch Elite is not the pick for you, but for high-quality materials, outstanding pressure relief, and a high-profile design, Birch Elite is an excellent choice.

Type: Latex Hybrid
Firmness: Medium-Firm (6)
Best For: All Sleeping Positions, All Body Weights

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

Performance Tests

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and feel of the mattress. We then take the results of those tests and compare them to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:

FactorBirch EliteAverage
Overall Score8.718.54
Price (Queen)$2,999$1,935 (Latex Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score9.08.6
Sinkage – Depth2.62″2.22″
Sinkage – FeelVery DeepModerate
Motion Transfer – Score6.58.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration12.69 m/s²8.79 m/s²
Response Time – Score108.8
Response Time – Mostly Recovered0.2 sec.0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered0.3 sec.1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height9.80″8.81″
Bounce – FeelModerateModerate
Edge Support – Score9.28.7
Edge Support – Sitting3.50″3.95″
Edge Support – LyingExcellentExcellent
Sex – Score8.98.2
Pressure Relief – Score108.6
Comfort Layer Thickness5.50″4.28″
Mattress Thickness13.50″12.19″
Off-Gassing – Score6.18.1
Off-Gassing – SmellStrongStrong
Off-Gassing – Days14 days7 days
Company – Score8.28.8
Trial100 nights174 nights
WarrantyLifetime40% have lifetime warranties, average of other 60% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Birch Elite Different?

The Birch Elite is a 13.50″ latex hybrid mattress with an overall performance level that is better than average and a price that is also significantly higher than average.

Birch Elite Lounging
Birch Elite Lounging

Advantages

Advantages include better cooling performance, extremely fast response time, great edge support, and a higher sex score. The higher sex score is largely a product of the fantastic edge support as well as moderate levels of bounce.

Pressure relief was also exceptional, scoring a 10/10 in our tests. This mattress has a 5.5″ comfort layer, which is 1.22″ thicker than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.28″.

Neutral Factors

The Birch Elite has very deep sinkage and moderate levels of bounce. These factors are considered neutral since they could be a pro or con depending on what exactly you’re looking for.

Disadvantages

Proven disadvantages for the Birch Elite include higher levels of motion transfer (44% more motion than average) and a longer smell duration.

Despite the fact that this is a natural mattress, the odors are still quite strong. In our tests, the Birch Elite did not fully stop smelling until 14 days after unboxing. As a reference point, the average is 7 days. If you’re sensitive to strong odors, this could be a bigger con than others may find it to be.

9.0

Cooling Test

The Birch Elite has excellent cooling. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of heat retention around my body.

Baseline Temp.

74.3° F

Max. Temp.

90.0° F

Ending Temp.

79.2° F

Birch Elite is a latex hybrid, meaning it has latex comfort layers on top of a pocketed coil unit. The pocketed coil unit brings extra airflow into the mattress, helping improve breathability.

In addition, latex does a nice job at resisting heat retention, which further helps to improve cooling performance. Lastly, the layer of microcoils within the comfort layer creates an air gap and better breathability.

Being a natural mattress the Birch Elite doesn’t utilize non-natural materials like thermoreactive fibers or phase change materials, which could have further improved cooling performance.

Max. Temp.

Birch Elite Before Cooling Test
Birch Elite Before Cooling Test

Ending Temp.

Birch Elite After Cooling Test
Birch Elite After Cooling Test
  • 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 (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

Despite this, the mattress still sleeps cool, breathes well, and doesn’t retain excessive heat.

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 90.0° F. This is the same as the average of 90.0° F, based on all of our tests to date.

After getting off the mattress, the temperature declined by 4.6 degrees from minutes 0 to 1, which is 0.2 degrees warmer than the average 0 to 1 minute decline of 4.8 degrees.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

Birch Elite Heat Dissipation Chart

When we consider the combination of objective data, my subjective experiences, and an analysis of the materials, I’m confident in my view that cooling is excellent.

Sinkage Test

The Birch Elite has very deep sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.62″. This is 0.40″ more sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.22″, based on all of our tests to date.

Sinkage Depth

2.62″

Sinkage Feel

Very Deep

Body Contour

Balanced

The mattress creates a balanced body contouring hug, but also a hug that is more restrained in the way that it conforms to your body. This is in contrast to many memory foam and poly foam mattresses, which create a more exacting and dramatic hug around the precise shape of the body.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

Birch Elite Sinkage Test
Birch Elite Sinkage Test

Birch Elite has a more relaxed and generalized contouring hug. The quilted cover creates immediate softness, comfort, and pressure relief. The microcoil layer sandwiched between two layers of latex is interesting and not something I often see from other mattress tests.

Having this microcoil layer helps to take some of the polarizing feel out of the latex. Latex as a material type can be very polarizing, with some sleepers loving it and some hating it.

The microcoil layer and thick pillow top provide a more balanced and even feel to the mattress, which will create a less polarizing feel that many types of sleepers can enjoy.

6.5

Motion Transfer Test

The Birch Elite has a high level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 12.69 m/s². This is 44% more motion transfer than the average of 8.79 m/s².

Accel. Range

12.69 m/s²

Motion Duration

1.20 seconds

The design of this mattress is not doing it any favors for motion transfer. We have highly resilient and springy materials with the latex and pocketed coil unit.

In addition, the microcoil layer, which itself isn’t springy or resilient, but what it does do is allow for a deeper sinkage and a more immediate, abrupt drop-down sinkage when getting into bed or changing positions.

This combination of deeper sinkage, microcoil drop down, and high bounce from latex and pocketed coils creates the right material conditions to deliver high motion transfer.

The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.

In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest motion peaks from 0 to 0.2 seconds. Motion drops off, but we do still see a secondary motion transfer spike from 0.5 to 0.6 seconds.

By 1.20 seconds, we’ve returned to near-zero levels of energy, which is 0.32 seconds longer than the average motion duration of 0.88 seconds.

Motion Transfer Over Time

Birch Elite Motion Transfer Chart

When we consider the total motion transfer picture, it’s just not a pretty sight. We have higher-than-average motion transfer intensity, a notable secondary motion spike, and a longer motion transfer duration than average.

10

Response Test

The Birch Elite has an extremely fast material response. In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.2 seconds, which is 0.21 seconds faster than the average of 0.41 seconds, based on all of our tests to date.

Mostly Recovered

0.2 sec.

Fully Recovered

0.3 sec.

In our fully recovered responsiveness test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.3 seconds, which is 0.71 seconds faster than the average of 1.01 seconds.

This is effectively an instant material recovery speed and is tied for 1st as the fastest responsiveness mattress we’ve tested to date.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

Latex and coils spring back to shape incredibly quickly, and this mattress is built primarily of latex and coils. The quick recovery speed helps improve ease of movement and prevents any type of a “stuck” feeling on the mattress.

Bounce Test

The Birch Elite has a moderate level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 9.80″. This is 0.96″ more bounce than the average of 8.84″, based on all of our tests to date.

Max. Depth

5.30″

Max. Rebound

4.50″

Total Bounce

9.80″

Max. Sinkage Depth

Birch Elite Bounce Depth
Birch Elite Bounce Depth

Max. Bounce Height

Birch Elite Bounce Rebound
Birch Elite Bounce Rebound

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

Latex hybrids typically create higher than average bounce and that’s exactly what we measured with the Birch Elite. The layers of latex and 8.0” pocketed coil unit work together to deliver a high degree of resiliency, springiness, and bounce.

The high bounce greatly improves sex performance. However, as we noted earlier, it is also having a negative impact on motion transfer.

9.2

Edge Support Test

The Birch Elite has excellent sitting edge support and excellent lying edge support.

Max. Sinkage

3.50″

Lying Support

Excellent

Reinforced Edge

Yes

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 3.50″. This is 0.45″ less sitting sinkage than the average of 3.95″, based on all of our tests to date.

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

Sitting, 140 lbs.

Birch Elite Edge Support Test
Birch Elite Edge Support Test

Sitting, 200 lbs.

Birch Elite Edge Support Test With Vest
Birch Elite Edge Support Test With Vest

While lying directly on the edge of the mattress, I felt that the support was excellent in all sleeping positions. The Birch Elite uses two rows of reinforced perimeter edge support coils.

These more supportive and firmer coils are having a significant impact on edge support performance.

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

Lying on Edge, 140 lbs.

Birch Elite Edge Support Test Back Sleeping
Birch Elite Edge Support Test Back Sleeping

Lying on Edge, 200 lbs.

Birch Elite Edge Support Test Back Sleeping With Vest
Birch Elite Edge Support Test Back Sleeping With Vest

Mattresses with pillow tops, latex, microcoils, and deeper sinkage can sometimes really struggle with edge support. However, despite using these materials, the Birch Elite maintains impressive sitting and lying edge support.

In my view, the pocketed coil unit with its reinforced edge perimeter is the single biggest factor responsible for providing excellent edge support on the Birch Elite.

8.9

Sex Test

The Birch Elite has good sex performance. First up, let’s talk through what the Birch Elite does well.

Birch Elite Edge Support
Birch Elite Edge Support

Noise is minimal, cooling is excellent, and pressure relief is outstanding. In addition, edge support earned an excellent score, with just 3.50” of sitting edge sinkage.

A more robust and supportive edge helps extend the usable surface area of the mattress for amorous activities.

Sex FactorFactor WeightScoreRating
Bounce65%8.6High
Edge Support20%9.4Excellent
Noise5%10Minimal
Pressure Relief5%10Outstanding
Cooling5%9.0Excellent

Last but not least, we have bounce, which we measured at 9.80”. This is notably more bounce than average and that extra bounce greatly helps improve overall sex performance on the mattress.

10

Pressure Relief Test

The Birch Elite has an outstanding level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no pressure points anywhere on my body. Quite the opposite in fact, the Birch Elite is incredibly comfortable.

Comfort Layer

5.50″

Support Layer

8.00″

The mattress is equipped with 5.5″ of comfort material, which is 1.23″ more comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.27″, based on all of our tests to date.

Certainly, the thicker-than-average comfort layer is helping improve pressure relief. In addition, so is the quality of those comfort materials. Each layer looks and feels high quality, both on the body and in hand.

Birch Elite Side Sleeping
Birch Elite Side Sleeping

The Birch Elite has a more novel design that uses a sandwich of latex, microcoils, and latex. This is helping to create a more balanced, even, and less polarizing feel.

Many latex mattresses can be more polarizing in their feel, as latex has a more unique feel that some love, but some hate.

Beyond the microcoil sandwich, the mattress also uses a thick layer of wool within the comfort layer, which creates an immediate softness and comfort when you first lie down.

In our pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 0.87. Ideally, I want to see all PSI measurements at 1.0 or less and the Birch Elite easily beats that mark.

Pressure Map – Side Sleepers

Birch Elite Pressure Map Side Sleeping
Birch Elite Pressure Map Side Sleeping
Pressure Relief (PSI)AverageMaximum
Side Sleepers0.110.87

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Birch Elite Pressure Map Back Sleeping
Birch Elite Pressure Map Back Sleeping
Pressure Relief (PSI)AverageMaximum
Back Sleepers0.080.81

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Birch Elite Pressure Map Stomach Sleeping
Birch Elite Pressure Map Stomach Sleeping
Pressure Relief (PSI)AverageMaximum
Stomach Sleepers0.080.68

When I consider our objective pressure mapping tests, material thickness, material quality, and my subjective experience on the mattress, I’m confident most sleepers will find the pressure relief to be outstanding.

6.1

Off-Gassing Test

The Birch Elite had a strong smell upon the initial unboxing. The mattress smelled for 14 days. This is 7.0 days longer than the average smell duration of 7.0 days.

Initial Smell Strength

Strong

Off-Gassing Period

14 days

Birch Elite Layers Exposed
Birch Elite Layers Exposed
8.2

Company

Birch mattresses come with a 100-night trial period and a lifetime warranty. Shipping is free. Returns are $99.

Company FactorFactor WeightScoreData
Returns40%7.0$99
Trial Period30%8.0100 nights
Warranty20%10Lifetime
Shipping10%10$0
Country of Origin0%USA

Comparing 101+ brands tested to date, the average trial period is 172 nights, 72 nights more than Birch offers.

Birch Elite Logo
Birch Elite Logo

Birch also offers a lifetime warranty, a perk only offered by 40% of mattresses that we’ve test.

How firm is Birch Elite?

The Birch Elite comes in a single firmness, 6 out of 10, with a medium-firm feel.

Firmness Chart

This firmness is the most popular firmness level—suitable for a wide range of sleepers with different sleeping positions and preferences.

Support & Sleeping Positions

Support on the Birch Elite is excellent. During our tests, I felt well supported in all sleeping positions. The mattress is equipped with an 8.0″ support layer.

This is 0.1″ thicker than the average support layer thickness of 7.9″, based on all of our tests to date.

Support FactorData
Comfort Layer 5.50″
Support Layer 8.00″
Firmness Medium-Firm
Body Contour Balanced
Zoned Support Yes
Reinforced Edge Yes

This mattress uses a zoned pocketed coil unit, which in this case simply means that the coils within the center third of the mattress are more supportive.

This helps to create better support, a more neutral spinal alignment, and helps the mattress resist sagging in the middle.

Birch Elite comes in a single firmness, medium-firm feel. This firmness is ideal for most body types and sleeping positions.

Birch Elite Compression Demonstration
Birch Elite Compression Demonstration

Check out the table below to see the sleeper weights and sleeping positions that would be best suited for this mattress.

Sleeper WeightStomach SleeperSide SleeperBack Sleeper
Under 150 lbs.YesYesYes
150-250 lbs.YesYesYes
250-300 lbs.YesYesYes

The mattress also uses two rows of reinforced coils along the perimeter of the mattress, which extends the sleepable surface area. In my view, the most important factor in deciding if the support dynamic of Birch Elite is right for you is simply understanding if you’ll like latex.

Latex is springy, responsive, and creates a more generalized hug around the body. By contrast, memory foam and poly foam create a far more notable hug around the body and form closer to the body’s unique shape.

Neither of these are better or worse, but they each have a more specific feel.

Based on all of my tests to date, an analysis of the materials, and my subjective experiences, I’m confident that most sleepers will find support on the Birch Elite to be excellent.

Design

The Birch Elite is a 13.50″ latex hybrid mattress that comes in a single firmness option—Medium-Firm.

Within the Birch collection, this is the most high-profile mattress we’ve tested from them, significantly thicker than both the Birch and Birch Luxe.

Design FactorData
Type Latex Hybrid
Thickness 13.50″
Cover Type Pillow Top
Weight 133 lbs.
Has Handles No
Fiberglass-Free Yes
Ships in a Box Yes

It is 13.5″ thick, with a pillow top design and is shipped compressed and rolled into a box.

The mattress is free of any fiberglass and contains high amounts of natural organic latex.

Birch Elite Front
Birch Elite Front

There are no carrying handles on the sides of this mattress, which certainly would have been a nice add, but that feature aside, this is by all standards, a luxury natural mattress.

Materials

The Birch Elite is 13.50″ thick and contains a combination of latex foam, microcoils, and pocketed coils. From top to bottom, here is a full list of the materials used in this mattress:

Layer TypeThicknessLayer Specs
Pillow Top1.75″Not Available
Latex Foam1.50″Not Available
Microcoils0.75″Not Available
Latex Foam1.50″Not Available
Pocketed Coils8.00″Not Available
Birch Elite Material Layers
Birch Elite Material Layers

The Law Tag outlines the full breakdown of materials included in this mattress.

  • TAG 1
    • Materials
      • Base
      • Coil Spring Unit
      • 95% Polyurethane Foam
      • 5% Blended Fiber Batting
  • TAG 2
    • Foam insert
      • 100% Latex Rubber Foam
    • Made For: Helix Sleep Inc. 30 Irving Place 9th Floor, New York, NY 10003
    • Finished size: 80in x 60in
    • Net Weight of Filling Mat: 133 lbs 9 oz
    • Manufactured by: 3Z Brands 5301 W Bethany Home Rd.
    • Date of Manufacture: 08/20/2025
    • Model ID: HEBELZ-3050
    • Made In: USA

The Cover

The Birch Elite has an organic cotton cover with a pillow top design. It uses a diamond-stitching pattern to hold the material tight against the surface of the mattress.

Birch Elite Cover
Birch Elite Cover

Organic cotton is known for its breathability and moisture-wicking properties. Quilted within the cover itself is a thin layer of natural wool, sourced from New Zealand, increasing the natural makeup of this mattress.

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer is 5.50″ thick and made of two layers of latex, sandwiched by a layer of microcoils.

Both layers of latex foam are 1.5″ thick and GOLS certified, speaking to the high standard of this material.

Birch Elite Foam Below Cover
Birch Elite Foam Below Cover

The microcoils themselves are 0.75″ thick and sandwiched by two thin layers of fabric that help to keep the coils in place.

Microcoils are a great addition to improve pressure relief, as they help a sleeper’s weight be more evenly distributed across the surface of the mattress.

What Is CoolForce?

The comfort layer is also the area where you can add the optional CoolForce Layer. CoolForce is a series of cooling bands that are added to the mattress on top of the top latex foam layer. It adds $279 to the total cost of the mattress if you add this layer.

We’ve tested the CoolForce layer on the Helix Plus Elite, which is a sister-brand to Birch.

Helix Plus Elite 2025 Coolforce Layer
Helix Plus Elite Coolforce Layer

In our tests of the Helix Plus Elite with CoolForce that mattress earned a 10/10 for cooling performance. However, much of the cooling performance should be attributed to the cooling cover. Based on our tests, I expect these cooling bands are having a positive impact on cooling performance, though it seemingly was fairly minor.

The Support Layer

There is a visual separation between the comfort layer and the support layer.

Within the support layer, there is an 8.0″ pocketed coil base, which contains a zoned coil unit. The design of these coils provides better support at the edge of the mattress as well as within the center of the mattress, where heavier weights are more likely to be present.

Birch Elite Measuring Support Layer
Birch Elite Measuring Support Layer

Product Evolution

Birch has been around since 2019, with the original Birch launching in 2019 and Birch Luxe was added to the collection in 2021.

The Birch Elite was added in 2025 as the top-tier mattress within their natural latex hybrid lineup.

As of publishing this review, there have been no notable changes to design or materials on the Birch Elite.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Birch Elite is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated latex hybrid mattresses for alternatives you may want to consider.

For Performance

Saatva Latex Hybrid Material Layers

Saatva Latex Hybrid

Minimal Sinkage, High Bounce

The Saatva Latex Hybrid is a 12″ latex hybrid mattress available in 1 firmness level—medium-firm. The Saatva has higher overall performance and uses a 3.0″ organic latex slab instead of splitting it into two separate layers. This mattress has less sinkage and would be a great pick for back or stomach sleepers looking for less hug.

Read Review

For Value

Birch Luxe Material Layers

Birch Luxe

Birch On A Budget (Under $2K)

The Birch Luxe is an 11.5″ latex hybrid mattress available in 1 firmness level—medium-firm. It has deep sinkage and extremely high bounce. The Luxe is only 11.5″ thick, notably thinner than the Elite, but still has fantastic performance and a value-packed price.

Read Review

For Budget

Avocado Eco Material Layers

Avocado Eco

Medium Firmness, 5 out of 10

The Avocado Eco is a 10″ latex hybrid mattress available in 1 firmness level—medium. The Avocado only uses a 2.0″ latex foam comfort layer, notably thinner than the Elite, but it lacks nothing in performance. Priced under $1500, the Eco is the mattress to beat for an organic latex hybrid on a budget.

Read Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Birch Elite mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.

How much does a Birch Elite mattress cost?

Here are the current prices, with any sales or promotions reflected below:

Twin: $1,899
Twin XL: $2,099
Full: $2,499
Queen: $2,999
King: $3,399
Cal. King: $3,399

*Note: Sales prices are subject to change without notice or warning.

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