What is the Best Type of Latex?

Top Three Latex Types Ranked

Latex is one of the most durable, supportive, and breathable materials used in modern mattresses, but not all latex is the same. Shoppers often encounter terms like organic latex, natural latex, Dunlop, and Talalay without clear explanations of how these materials differ.

This in-depth guide ranks the three most common latex foam types used in mattresses using a transparent, criteria-based system. Rather than relying on marketing language, we evaluate each latex type based on real-world performance, material composition, environmental standards, and long-term value.

How This Latex Ranking System Works

Each latex type is evaluated across 10 critical performance categories that directly impact mattress comfort, durability, consistency, and sustainability.

Each category is ranked on a 1–3 scale

1 = top performer

2 = average performer

3 = lowest performer

The lowest total score ranks highest overall. This method allows strengths and trade-offs to balance naturally, producing a fair comparison rather than a one-dimensional “winner.”

The Three Latex Types Compared

Organic Dunlop Latex

GOLS-certified organic latex made primarily from certified organic natural rubber. Known for durability, support, and environmental integrity.

Original Talalay Latex

A blended latex foam made from natural rubber and synthetic rubber (SBR). Designed for softness, consistency, and a wide comfort range.

Natural Talalay Latex

Talalay latex made from 100% natural rubber with no synthetic latex. Not available as a GOLS-certified organic product.

Ranking Parameters

1. Additives

All latex foam contains some non-latex components. These are required for foaming, curing, washing, and stabilizing the rubber into a usable mattress material.

The key difference is how much is allowed and how it is regulated.

• Organic Dunlop latex is governed by the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), the only end-to-end certification that regulated content for every shipment of latex.
• Original Talalay latex uses synthetic rubber and stabilizers to improve uniformity and softness.
• Natural Talalay latex contains no synthetic rubber but still relies on more processing additives and lacks end-to-end batch certification.

Ranking

1. Organic Dunlop
2. Natural Talalay
3. Original Talalay

2. Breathability

All latex is an open-cell foam with pinhole construction, meaning it allows air to move through the material more freely than conventional polyurethane foam.

However, breathability is closely tied to foam density meaning lower-density latex allows for more airflow. The difference between latex type is imperceptible, but since Talalay latex is produced at lower densities, it has a modest edge in airflow.

Ranking

1. Original Talalay
2. Natural Talalay
3. Organic Dunlop

3. Firmness Options

Comfort range refers to how soft or firm a latex foam can be produced while remaining structurally stable over time.

• Organic and 100% natural latex have stricter design limits. Pure natural rubber becomes unstable at extremely low densities.
• Blended Talalay latex, which incorporates synthetic rubber (SBR), has a lower structural threshold. This allows for very soft feels without premature breakdown.

This is why the softest latex mattresses available are always Original Talalay.

Ranking

1. Original Talalay
2. Natural Talalay
3. Organic Dunlop

4. Consistency

Consistency is accounted for in two ways.

Vertically Within a Latex Core

• Organic Dunlop latex is poured and cured in one step. Gravity allows it to settle into its naturally strongest bonds, making the top of a 6” core marginally softer than the bottom.
• Talalay latex uses vacuum expansion and flash-freezing, producing uniform density from top to bottom.

Consistency Between Batches

• Organic Dunlop latex has wider tolerance due to the natural variation or organic latex polymers and strict regulation on additives.
• Talalay latex has a tighter tolerance due to the additional manufacturing steps combined with more uniform additives

Ranking

1. Original Talalay
2. Natural Talalay
3. Organic Dunlop

5. Durability

Density is one of the strongest predictors of foam durability. The Dunlop process was designed for natural rubbers. The Talalay process was designed for synthetic rubbers.

• Organic Dunlop latex, produced at higher densities, is extremely durable and more resistant to softening over time.
• At very soft firmness levels, blended Talalay latex often outperforms natural latex, as synthetic rubber improves structural stability.
• Natural Talalay latex tends to wear faster at the softest densities since it’s less dense than Dunlop and doesn’t have the cellular consistency of Organic Talalay.

Ranking

1. Organic Dunlop
2. Original Talalay
3. Natural Talalay

6. Sustainability

Environmental impact includes raw materials, certifications, and manufacturing processes.

• Organic Dunlop latex is the only latex foam certified organic at a commercial scale.
• Original Talalay latex contains petroleum-derived synthetic rubber.
• Natural Talalay latex uses only natural rubber but lacks end-to-end certification.

Talalay production uses CO₂ as a blowing agent, which is cleaner than many alternatives but still energy-intensive.

Ranking

1. Organic Dunlop
2. Natural Talalay
3. Original Talalay

7. Natural Rubber Content

• Organic Dunlop latex must contain at least 95% certified organic natural rubber.
• Original Talalay latex typically contains around 70% synthetic rubber (SBR).
• Natural Talalay latex only uses natural rubber but doesn’t have GOLS certification.

Ranking

1. Organic Dunlop
2. Natural Talalay
3. Original Talalay

8. Price and Value

Despite containing less natural rubber, Talalay latex is consistently more expensive at the wholesale level.

Possible reasons include:

• Higher production costs
• Fewer global manufacturers
• Premium pricing strategies

Organic Dunlop latex benefits from simpler processing and broader global supply.

Ranking

1. Organic Dunlop
2. Original Talalay
3. Natural Talalay

9. Pressure Relief

Softness is influenced by both material composition and manufacturing process.

• Talalay latex is softer overall than Dunlop latex at comparable firmness ratings.
• Original Talalay is softer than Natural Talalay.
• Pure natural rubber naturally produces a firmer, more elastic feel.

Ranking

1. Original Talalay
2. Natural Talalay
3. Organic Dunlop

10. Support

Latex supports the body through elastic response, not stiffness. This creates strong upward support while maintaining surface comfort.

This can be measured through the Support Factor metric.

• Organic Dunlop latex has the highest support factor of any bedding material
• Talalay latex ranks second
• Natural Talalay is slightly more supportive than Original Talalay

Ranking

1. Organic Dunlop
2. Natural Talalay
3. Original Talalay

Final Latex Ranking Table

Final Verdict: Which Latex Is Best?

When all ten performance factors are evaluated together, Organic Dunlop latex ranks as the best overall latex foam. It offers unmatched durability, support, environmental credibility, and long-term value.

Original Talalay latex ranks second, excelling in softness, consistency, and comfort range.
Natural Talalay latex ranks third, appealing to those seeking natural content but with trade-offs in price, durability, and certification.

The Real Takeaway

There is no single “best” latex for everyone. Even the “lowest” ranking latex is significantly better than the highest performing traditional material. It may also be the best for you depending on what specific categories you find important.  

The skill of the mattress makers themselves also plays a major roll. Expert builders using advanced modular techniques can maximize the pressure relief of Dunlop without leaning on synthetic shortcuts. They also won’t hesitate to strategically combine different types of latex to maximize the inherent performance characteristics of each. For example, Talalay for surface comfort and Organic Dunlop for deep support. 

We use all three types of latex and it makes no difference to us what you choose. The goal of this ranking system is to help you better understand the core differences between each type, allowing you to choose (or build) a mattress that fits your comfort needs, values, and budget.