Saatva Memory Foam vs Birch Natural: Which hybrid mattress is right for your sleep?

The image shows the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid mattress on the left and the Burch Natural Mattress on the right in a side by side comparison
(Image credit: Saatva/Birch)

Hybrid mattresses are a fantastic choice for many sleepers, with the layers of foam and coils providing both comfort and support. The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid and Birch Natural are both luxury hybrids, but which one is best suited to you?

Like many of the best mattresses on the market, the Saatva and Birch both offer high-quality materials and design. Saatva has a reputation as a luxury mattress maker, but the Birch Natural is also a premium mattress with fantastic eco-credentials. Both are included in our guide to the best hybrid mattresses of the year. Regular mattress sales also mean that you shouldn’t need to pay full price for either mattress (although Saatva currently don’t have any sale on, so you’d be wise to wait for the next one before buying.)

In this Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid vs Birch Natural Mattress comparison, we’ll look under the covers at the price, design, support and temperature regulation of both mattresses to help you decide which one is best suited to you. Let’s get started…

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid vs Birch Natural Mattress: Price & Trial

  • Regular sales knock between 12-15% off the price of the Saatva
  • The Birch Natural is never sold at MSRP and has an evergreen 20% discount
  • Saatva’s benefits are superior, with a 365-night to the Birch’s 100 nights

Regular Saatva mattress sales mean that you’ll usually get between 12-15% off the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid, taking a queen down to between $1,760 and $1,700. There are a few periods of the year though where the Saatva isn’t discounted (generally in the summer months and straight after major sales events), which means you’ll pay the full MSRP of $1,999. In this case, we’d recommend waiting for the next sale – bookmark our sales page to keep up with the latest discounts.

The Birch Natural has an evergreen sale, which means that you’ll never pay full MSRP for the mattress. The usual discount is 20% off all sizes of the mattress, meaning you can pick up a queen for $1,499 (MSRP $1,873.75). You’ll also get two free eco-rest pillows when you buy the mattress. This is a great price for one of the best organic mattresses we’ve tested and is cheaper than the Saatva.

Extras wise though, the Saatva is the winner here, with a 365-night trial, lifetime warranty and free white glove delivery and removal of your old mattress. In comparison, Birch’s extras are a little thin, with a 100-night trial, 25-year warranty and free shipping.

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress: from $1,349 at Saatva

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress: from $1,349 at Saatva
Saatva mattresses are all in the luxury bracket, but the Memory Foam Hybrid is the brand’s cheapest offering. Hold out for a Saatva sale and you could get the mattress reduced to $1,700 in a queen size. You’ll get fantastic extras, with a 365-night trial, lifetime warranty and free white glove delivery.

Birch Natural Mattress: $1,373.75$1,099 at Birch

Birch Natural Mattress: from $1,373.75 $1,099 at Birch
Organic mattresses are usually expensive, but with its evergreen discount the Birch Natural is in the upper mid-range price bracket, which is great value for a natural mattress. A queen size is reduced to $1,499 and you’ll also get two free pillows, along with a 100-night trial, 25 year warranty and free shipping.

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid vs Birch Natural Mattress: Materials & Design

  • The Saatva is 11.5” high with five layers and a top cover
  • The Birch Natural is 11” high and has five layers with a top cover
  • Both mattresses are hybrids, made with a combination of foams and coils

The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid starts with an organic cotton cover that’s been treated with the brand’s Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment, designed to help prevent bacteria, mold, and mildew. We’d still recommend using a mattress protector to safeguard from spills and stains.

Underneath this is Saatva’s patented lumbar zone quilting that gives more support in the middle third of the mattress to keep the spine aligned. Next up are two layers of memory foam – a half-inch gel-infused memory foam lumbar crown plus a 1.5-inch layer of ‘waved’ memory foam to create airflow. This is followed by a layer of 8-inch pocketed steel coils with the edges wrapped in high-density foam to provide better edge support. At the base is an inch of support foam to stabilize the mattress.

Saatva memory foam hybrid mattress layer by layer

(Image credit: Saatva)

The Birch Natural also starts with an organic cotton cover, followed by a double layer of natural wool for fire protection and cushioning. These sit on top of a layer of natural eco-INSTITUT certified Talalay latex for pressure relief. Underneath this is a layer of individually wrapped coils that provide the mattress with stability, and the mattress is finished off with a base layer of wool to stop slippage and provide durability to the structure.

Birch Natural mattress

(Image credit: Birch)

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid vs Birch Natural Mattress: Comfort & Support

  • The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid is a medium firm mattress, rated at 7.5-8/10
  • The Birch Natural is also medium firm, rated at 6-7/10
  • Both mattresses provide contouring support, but you’ll lie on them rather than sinking in

Both the Saatva and Birch are top-rated hybrid beds, suiting a range of sleepers. Saatva rates the Memory Foam Hybrid as a medium firmness but in our Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid mattress review, our testers felt that the mattress slept firmer, rating it at 7.5-8/10.

Although you’ll get plenty of contouring around pressure points, the mattress offers responsive support, pushing back against the body and ensuring your spine is kept aligned in any sleeping position. Saatva’s patented lumbar zone support also means that this mattress is a great choice if you suffer with aches and pains. The mattress will suit most sleepers, but lighter side sleepers might find the mattress a little too firm and lacking in the plushness they want at pressure points.

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid

(Image credit: Saatva)

In our Birch Natural mattress review, our testers found the mattress slightly softer than the Saatva at 6-7/10. However, you will still lie on top of this mattress as well, rather than sinking in. The Birch Natural has a tauter and bouncier sleep surface thanks to its latex layer, but you’ll get excellent pressure relief and contouring around pressure points.

We felt that this mattress was particularly suited to side sleepers, who will find it easy to change position throughout the night. But, as one of the best medium firm mattresses, the Birch is also well suited to back and stomach sleepers, who will find their spines are kept aligned and hips lifted. As with the Saatva, lightweight side sleepers may find the Birch a little too firm.

Photo of the Birch Natural mattress in a bedroom

(Image credit: 3Z for Tom's Guide)

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid vs Birch Natural Mattress: Temperature Regulation

  • The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid uses the brand’s AirCradle foam, along with gel memory foam and coils to keep sleepers cool
  • The Birch Natural uses naturally breathable cotton, latex and wool
  • Both mattresses did a good job of keeping sleepers cool

Saatva’s AirCradle foam has breathable air pockets, which help to prevent heat from being trapped in the mattress. This is combined with gel-infused memory foam and well-spaced coils to aid airflow. There’s also a breathable cotton cover to wick away moisture. The Saatva did an excellent job of keeping our sleepers cool, with no one overheating or feeling warm at night.

The Birch Natural also does an excellent job of keeping sleepers cool. It’s one of the best cooling mattressesyou’ll find in the organic category, thanks to its natural and breathable materials. The organic cotton cover and organic wool layers are both breathable and help to wick away moisture, while the latex layer offers extra ventilation. Finally, coils help to promote airflow.

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid vs Birch Natural Mattress: Which should you buy?

Buy the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid if...

You experience back pain: The enhanced lumbar support system in Saatva mattresses does an amazing job of soothing and correcting back pain, with support in any position.

You have a bigger budget: The Saatva is more expensive than the Birch, but it is a premium mattress that’s made from high-quality materials and you’re paying for that extra touch of luxury.

You want better extras: The Saatva comes with a 365-night trial and lifetime warranty, giving you plenty of time to try it out, along with piece of mind if anything goes wrong. You’ll also get white glove delivery and removal of your old mattress without any extra charges.

Buy the Birch Natural if…

You want an eco-friendly mattress: The Birch Natural uses organic materials and is GOTS and GREENGUARD GOLD Certified.

You’re a combination sleeper: The bouncier feel of latex means this mattress is a great choice for combination sleepers, who will be able to adjust position easily throughout the night.

You are on a smaller budget: The Birch Natural is still a premium mattress, even with the evergreen discounts, but it is cheaper than the Saatva and you’ll also get two pillows included free of charge.

Jo Plumridge
Mattress tester and sleep writer

Jo Plumridge is an experienced mattress reviewer with several years' experience covering all things mattresses and sleep, and who tests memory foam, hybrid and organic mattresses. What Jo doesn't know about a boxed mattress isn't worth knowing, so naturally we tasked her with producing a series of features for Tom's Guide looking at all aspects of mattresses, from how to pick between latex and memory foam (it's a tricky one), to the seven mistakes people make when buying a mattress for the first time. When testing the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid for Tom's Guide, Jo said: "I loved the back support and pressure relief it offered. Plus, it looks far more expensive than it is." When she isn’t writing about sleep, Jo also writes extensively on interior design, home products and photography.