The Best Non-Toxic Clothing of 2026
8 of the 9 clothing products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 88.9% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 1 that passes. The highest graded is Levi's 501 Jeans at 80 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is clothing non-toxic?
1 of the 9 clothing products we graded clear our screen and 8 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on clothing products in this category are microplastics, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, pesticide residue. The highest graded here is Levi's 501 Jeans at 80 out of 100.
Why Levi's 501 Jeans wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 3 products it beats, so you can see exactly where the 60 points between the top and the bottom of this clothing ranking come from.
The winner
- +30Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
20risk points in total, which is a grade of 80
What the grade does not fix. Nothing specific to this product adds risk, so what remains is the category baseline that every product here starts from, and our graders recorded 4 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +30Category baseline
- -10Brand-stated PFAS-free. The brand states this product is PFAS-free. We have not verified the claim.
55risk points, a grade of 45
What puts it behind. Unknown / proprietary coating, +25 points. A coating is recorded with no disclosed chemistry. The winner carries no such factor.
- +30Category baseline
- +25Unknown / proprietary coating
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
70risk points, a grade of 30
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +30Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
80risk points, a grade of 20
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in clothing
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 9 clothing products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 6 of these clothing products. EPA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 7 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 7 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
- Heavy metals
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 6 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. ATSDR
- Pesticide residue
What remains on or in a crop after treatment, and in the textiles made from it.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 1 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
The safest clothing we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- Azo dyes in indigo coloring
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Questions people ask about clothing
The clothing we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 20Bad
- 20Gore-Tex Rain JacketBad
Azo dyes and colorant toxicity
- 20Bad
What we check on clothing
- Formaldehyde / VOCs. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. ATSDR
- Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. NIEHS
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
Common questions about PFAS in clothing
Is clothing PFAS free?
8 of the 9 clothing products PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 88.9% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 1 that passes. The highest graded is Levi's 501 Jeans at 80 out of 100. The lowest graded is Columbia Waterproof Jacket at 20 out of 100.
Is clothing non-toxic?
1 of the 9 clothing products we graded clear our screen and 8 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on clothing products in this category are microplastics, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, pesticide residue. The highest graded here is Levi's 501 Jeans at 80 out of 100.
What is the safest clothing to buy?
On our grades, Levi's 501 Jeans at 80 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which clothing grades best for PFAS?
Levi's 501 Jeans, at 80 out of 100, which we band as Excellent.
Which clothing should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Columbia Waterproof Jacket at 20, Gore-Tex Rain Jacket at 20, REI Co-op Rain Jacket at 20. The problem with the first is that medium-high risk. Waterproof coating likely contains PFAS; no brand transparency.
How can you tell if clothing contains PFAS?
In this category we check for formaldehyde / VOCs, endocrine disruptors. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Do you lab test clothing?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
More clothing and outdoor categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to clothing.
- Best non-toxic outdoor furniture cushion protectants357 graded
- Best non-toxic tents323 graded
- Best non-toxic ski jackets217 graded
- Best non-toxic ski wax210 graded
- Best non-toxic fishing line147 graded
- Best non-toxic activewear86 graded
- Best non-toxic cycling jackets84 graded
- Best non-toxic running shoes83 graded
Get the graded list, free.
The products we score each week, and the best-graded alternative in every category.
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We also wrote this up at length. Are PFAS Bans Working to Cut 'Forever Chemicals' in Your Clothes in 2026?
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 9 clothing.