Unwind and sleep easy with one of these non-toxic and eco-friendly bed frames that you know was sourced consciously, both in respect to your own health and the health of our common home: Mother Earth.
What is a Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Bed Frame?
Just as with other eco-friendly furniture, the key elements to consider when it comes to bed frames are the materials, finishes, general production practices, and durability.
Materials
If you’re looking for a natural bed frame and want it to be non-toxic, it’s typically best to go the solid wood route if you can.
Most plywood, particleboard, or engineered wood is made with glue that contains added formaldehyde. As a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and probable carcinogen, formaldehyde is an environmental and health risk for yourself and the workers producing that product. While all wood naturally contains formaldehyde, pressed wood contains higher concentrations of it.
Another material to consider if you’re looking for non-toxic furniture is solid metal, due to its durability, easy maintenance, and recyclability. However, this option isn’t as eco-friendly if that metal was newly mined, rather than recycled.
Sourcing
Of course, although wood is renewable, it’s not always sustainably sourced. Look at a company’s About or Sustainability pages to see what information they can provide about how the wood they use is harvested and where it is sourced from. Look for things like:
- Local sourcing. This minimizes the product’s carbon footprint and typically means that a company has more transparency into their supply chain.
- FSC-certified. While not perfect, the Forest Stewardship Council seal is the most widely used third-party verification for sustainably-sourced wood.
- Reclaimed wood. Finding a bed frame made from repurposed materials is a fantastic option if you can find it. Not only does using reclaimed wood reduce waste, but it minimizes the need to cut down additional trees.
Finishes
Most conventional finishes used on furniture contain VOCs, which can cause a myriad of short-term and long-term health impacts. Look for non-toxic bed frames with low-VOC or even better, zero-VOC finishes.
Other Production Practices:
- Renewable energy use. Does the company use wind or solar power for its operations? Do they purchase Renewable Energy Credits?
- Waste reduction. How does the company handle material waste such as leftover wood? Do they work to minimize water use and energy use?
- Donations. Does the company give back to an environmental organization through a group like 1% for the Planet? Do they plant more trees than the number of trees cut down to produce their products?
Durability
One of the all-too-often left out elements of sustainability is durability and longevity! The longer the bed frame lasts, the longer it stays out of the landfill, and the fewer new bed frames you’ll have to consume.
How can you determine durability? Look for sturdy materials, good construction, check out the reviews for the brand’s products, and see what sort of warranty the brand offers. Some brands offer 1-year or 5-year warranties, and some even include a lifetime guarantee! The longer a brand commits to standing behind its products, the better.
If you’re planning to move around often, you may also want to consider how well the bed frame can be deconstructed and reconstructed. Fast furniture brands with poor construction — and that may use plastic in places that should be supported with metal — may not hold up after a few moves.
A Quick Note on Certifications
Certifications aren’t the full story in sustainability, but they can provide an important added layer of verification to a company’s claims.
- FSC Certified = the wood sourcing was responsibly managed (not perfect but generally recommended as a stronger standard that Sustainable Forestry Initiative)
- GOTS Certified = the fabric meets strict organic and safety standards; this applies to the textiles only (like any upholstery on a bed frame), not the wood or any foam
- GREENGUARD / GREENGUARD Gold Certified = the finished product was tested for low chemical emissions, with Gold representing the stricter tier;
- LEED Certified = verifies the environmental performance of the building or manufacturing facility itself (energy use, water efficiency, indoor air quality); this is a facility-level certification, not a claim about the product’s materials or emissions
- Carbon Neutral Certified = verifies that a company has measured its greenhouse gas emissions and offset or reduced them to net zero; this is typically a company-level claim, not a guarantee about any single product’s individual footprint
How to Find Sustainable and Natural Bed Frames
As always, shopping secondhand is a great way to source furniture sustainably and more affordably! Sites like Facebook Marketplace, local Buy Nothing groups, and Craigslist can be resources for finding cheap eco-friendly furniture — sometimes, you can even get a piece for free if you’re willing to take care of the pick-up.
I also recommend checking out EstateSales.net to find local estate sales happening near you! I have found some of my absolute favorite pieces of high-quality, preloved furniture at estate sales.
For a more curated selection of secondhand bed frames, check out AptDeco.
And if vintage furniture (usually defined by being more than 40 years old) is more your style, take a look at Chairish, EBTH, or 1st Dibs.
If you can’t find anything preloved, or you’d prefer to purchase a verified non-toxic bed frame, check out these brands below for sustainable bedroom furniture!
Note that this sustainable bed frame guide contains affiliate links, meaning we’ll earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through one of these links, which helps us continue to run this site. As always, all brands meet rigorous criteria for sustainability and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
Brands with Sustainable and Non-Toxic Bed Frames:
Our Top Overall Pick: Savvy Rest
Savvy Rest has everything you need to sleep more restfully, from organic mattresses to non-toxic bedroom furniture. The brand’s timeless all-natural platform beds — The Afton is their flagship platform bed and The Esmont is a platform bed with a customizable headboard — are made in their own Virginia workshop. Each bed is crafted out of sustainably-sourced maple and poplar wood and is available unfinished or with a zero-VOC finish.
They also have an adjustable bed frame crafted from responsibly-sourced solid red oak, featuring a mid-century modern headboard — the base comes with a wireless remote, Bluetooth connectivity, and a foldable design with head and foot articulation. This is a detail that stands out to me, as it’s not common to find special features like this from small businesses which usually have tighter curations than big box furniture companies.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainably-Sourced Wood, Zero-VOC Finishes, Local Production
Price Range: $1,049 (Twin platform bed) – $4,799 (King adjustable bed frame) | Use code CONSCIOUSSTYLE20 for 20% off
Shipping: Free White Glove delivery within continental U.S.; contact for quotes outside 48 contiguous states
Best Reclaimed Wood Bed Frame Options: Avocado
Made in their own GOTS-certified Los Angeles factory, Avocado Mattress makes eco-friendly bed frames with high environmental, health, and social standards. Each bed frame is made out of reclaimed wood or solid FSC-certified timber and zero-VOC finishes.
For the bed frames made from new wood, Avocado uses non-toxic Titebond wood glues. Though there are several brands with non-toxic and sustainable materials. What really makes Avocado stand out to me is their ethical labor standards, like producing in their own woodshop, paying living wages, and offering family healthcare for their factory team. These kinds of attributes that don’t always get communicated in splashy marketing campaigns tell you a lot about a company’s real priorities.
Conscious Qualities: Reclaimed or FSC-Certified Wood, Zero-VOC Finishes, Local Production in a GOTS-Certified Factory, Greenguard-Certified (Gold), Carbon Neutral Certified
Price Range: $750 (Twin platform bed) – $7,999 (California King frame with headboard)
Shipping: Ships furniture within the contiguous U.S.
Best Variety of Eco-Friendly Beds: Medley
Using only the highest quality non-toxic materials for their sustainable furniture, Medley has natural bed frames are made from domestically-sourced FSC-certified solid wood. Each wooden bed frame is made-to-order in Los Angeles using zero-VOC glue and zero-VOC all-natural furniture polish. (Note: Medley’s bamboo furniture uses low-VOC finishes.)
If I were furnishing a bedroom from scratch, the Buden Bed Base would be my pick — our primary bedroom’s closet is relatively small, so I’d appreciate the clever extra storage.
Conscious Qualities: Local In-House Production, FSC-Certified Wood, Natural Finishes, Made-to-Order
Price Range: $2,495 (Twin bed with headboard) – $6,595 (King bed with headboard and storage)
Shipping: Contiguous U.S. (contact Medley for quotes outside of the U.S.)
Best for Sustainable Upholstered Beds: Saatva
Saatva is a sustainable mattress company that has expanded into eco-friendly bed frames too. The company uses responsibly sourced hardwood that has been kiln-dried for maximum durability for the bed frame as well as plywood slats for additional support. (Note: I asked Saatva’s customer support team about potential toxins in the plywood, and they have told me that their beds are free of added formaldehyde.)
Probably the most impressive feature of Saatva’s beds is their attention to quality and proper support. They even offer a 180-day trial to make sure you love the bed, plus a lifetime warranty — a feature you definitely won’t find at most big box furniture stores.
Important to note: their “vintage velvet” and “bouclé” fabric options are both made with polyester fabric. That’s synthetic, plastic-based fibers. I’d suggest selecting linen instead.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainably-Sourced Hardwood, Natural Upholstery Option, Lifetime Warranty
Price Range: $795 (Twin platform bed) – $3,295 (King bed with leather headboard)
Shipping: Contiguous U.S; free in-room delivery
Best Design Forward Sustainable Beds: Cisco Home @ Urban Natural
Made to order with exceptional care in Los Angeles, Cisco Home is the real deal when it comes to quality sustainable furniture, including their eco-friendly upholstered or slipcovered beds. (Choose upholstered for a more classic style or select slipcovered for easy cleaning and maintenance.) Cisco’s cozy yet elegant beds will transform your bedroom into an aesthetically pleasing sanctuary.
Cisco Home’s default furniture options don’t automatically include their best eco materials, which could be a little confusing, so I want to flag it. For the most eco-minded and non-toxic option, select “Make it Organic” on the product pages which will ensure your bed gets made with only the highest quality earth-conscious materials: FSC-certified woods, organic latex, jute, hemp, organic cotton, and wool.
Conscious Qualities: Made In California, Made-to-Order, Low-VOC Stains, FSC-Certified Wood and Natural Materials (with Organic option)
Price: $3,588 (Twin upholstered bed) – $10,979 (King organic upholstered bed)
Shipping: Ships within contiguous U.S.; white glove delivery available with fee
Best Simple Sustainable Wood Bed Frame: Birch
Organic and eco-friendly mattress company Birch also has a natural wood bed frame made from responsibly-sourced hardwood. In fact, all of the wood in the Birch Wood Frame are from FSC-certified and LEED compliant sources, to verify their commitment to responsible wood harvesting and energy use.
Specifically, this sustainable bed frame is made up of Appalachian hardwood bed rails, solid Southern Yellow Pine wood slats, and Appalachian Maple legs. This minimal solid wood bed frame is finished with all-natural water-based VOC-free finishes. And in case you needed more reasons to love this non-toxic bed frame: it’s handmade in the USA, ships free, and comes with a 5-year warranty.
This is about as no-frills as a non-toxic bed frame gets, so if you just want solid, well-sourced wood without a lot of design flourishes, this is a straightforward pick. But if you want to curate a more design-forward bedroom interior, this wouldn’t be my pick.
Conscious Qualities: Solid Wood, Responsibly Sourced, Zero VOC Finishes
Price: $599 (Twin) – $978 (King)
Shipping: U.S. and Canada (fee applies to HI, AK, and Canada)
Best Affordable Eco-Friendly Bed Frame: Thuma
Minimal yet functional, Thuma’s eco-friendly beds are designed with intention — they are supportive and sturdy yet simple and easy to assemble. Each minimalist bed is made from repurposed rubberwood trees that are used for latex.
With nearly 21,000 reviews averaging 4.9 stars, this is the brand in this guide I’d feel most confident recommending sight-unseen. That is a rare volume of consistent feedback!
Conscious Qualities: GREENGUARD Certified, Repurposed Wood
Price Range: $895 (Twin bed, frame only) – $2,595 (King bed with upholstered headboard)
Shipping: Ships within U.S. and Canada (international customers can use freight forwarder)
Best Untreated Non-Toxic Bed Frame: My Green Mattress
MyGreenMattress.com has a simple sustainable bed frame made in the US from untreated domestically-sourced Poplar wood. The non-toxic bed frame does not have any wood stains, adhesives, or toxic chemicals. This slatted platform bed also eliminates the need for a box spring.
If you want the simplest possible answer to “is this bed frame non-toxic?” this is it. No stains, no adhesives, and nothing to question. It’s not glamorous, but it could be the most trusted one for you.
Conscious Qualities: Domestically-Sourced Wood, Non-Toxic & Untreated, Made in the US
Price: $799 (Twin without headboard) – $1,899 (King with headboard)
Shipping: Free shipping within U.S.
And that’s a wrap on our guide to sustainable and non-toxic bed frames. Thanks for reading, and for taking the time to be thoughtful about your next bedroom furniture purchase. And I hope that this guide saved you some time and research and you’re on your way to finding the right sustainably-crafted bed that suits your needs and interior aesthetic.
Complete Your Bedroom: Non-Toxic Mattresses | Eco-Friendly Pillows | Organic Bedding | Non-Toxic Nightstands
Shopping For Other Furniture? Browse These Guides:
The Best Sustainable Furniture Brands
Non-Toxic Furniture Brands For A Healthy Home
Actually Sustainable and Non-Toxic Sofas for Restful Relaxation
