OEKO-TEX Mattress Certification Explained
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 tests textiles for harmful substances by product class, with the strictest limits for baby items. What it covers on a mattress, and what it doesn’t.
OEKO-TEX is a family of textile certifications; the one you will see on mattresses and bedding is STANDARD 100. It tests textile components against limit values for a long list of regulated and suspect substances, and it grades by product class — the closer a textile sits to skin, and the younger the user, the stricter the limits.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is certified? | Textiles and textile components — covers, ticking, quilting, sheets |
| What is tested? | Limit values for harmful substances, including regulated and not-yet-regulated ones |
| Product classes | Class I (baby items) has the strictest limits; classes step down by skin contact |
| Out of scope | Foams and coils as such, organic content, indoor emissions in a room |
| How to verify | Every certificate has a number and issuing institute you can check |
What STANDARD 100 tests for
Testing covers substances such as regulated azo colorants, formaldehyde, certain heavy metals, pesticides, chlorinated phenols, phthalates in relevant articles and specific allergenic dyes. The list is updated annually and includes substances that are not yet legally restricted, which is the program’s main argument for itself. Every certified article carries a certificate number and the name of the issuing institute.
Why product class changes the meaning
Class I applies to articles for babies and toddlers and carries the strictest limits; subsequent classes apply to items with direct skin contact, then without, then furnishing materials. A mattress cover certified in a stricter class has cleared tighter thresholds than the same fabric certified in a looser one. When shopping a crib or kids’ mattress, ask which class the certificate names — not just whether OEKO-TEX appears.
What it does not cover on a mattress
STANDARD 100 is a textile program. It does not certify a polyfoam core, a coil unit, or organic content, and it is not a chamber-emissions test for your bedroom. So a bed can be OEKO-TEX certified on its cover while the rest of the build is undocumented. For emissions, look at GREENGUARD Gold; for organic content, GOTS and GOLS; for foam, CertiPUR-US.
OEKO-TEX on bedding, where it matters most
Sheets, pillow covers and protectors are almost entirely textile, so a STANDARD 100 certificate covers most of what touches you. That makes it more comprehensive on bedding than on a mattress. Our bedding comparison records certifications alongside measured results for the sheets and pillows we have tested.
Verifying a certificate
Ask for the certificate number and issuing institute, then confirm it is valid and covers the article you are buying. Certificates have expiry dates and are renewed annually, so a screenshot from three years ago is not proof of current status. Where we cannot confirm a live certificate, our records say “not disclosed.”
Related guides
Back to the Mattress Certifications & Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is OEKO-TEX the same as organic?
No. It limits harmful substances in textiles regardless of whether fibers are organic. OEKO-TEX also runs a separate organic-cotton program, which is a different certificate.
Does OEKO-TEX cover the foam inside?
No. It is a textile certification. Foam falls under programs such as CertiPUR-US.
Which OEKO-TEX class should a crib mattress have?
Class I is the class for baby and toddler articles and carries the strictest limits.
Do certificates expire?
Yes. They are issued for a limited period and renewed, so ask whether the current certificate is valid.
Sources
Certification descriptions reflect each program’s published requirements at the time of writing; programs update their criteria, so verify a current certificate before purchase. Yawnder does not issue or administer any certification.