Flame retardants
Chemicals added to foam, fabric and electronics to slow ignition. They migrate out of the product into household dust rather than staying in it, and several classes accumulate in the body. Many were added to meet a flammability standard that has since been revised.
Definition and health context from NIEHS.
We checked 11,795 products and found flame retardants reported or likely in 61 of them.
Where flame retardants turns up
Categories we grade, worst first, as a share of what we scored in each.
| Category | Flagged | Scored | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couches | 74 | 89 | 83% |
| Recliners | 11 | 15 | 73% |
| Office Chairs | 7 | 15 | 47% |
| Carpet | 37 | 82 | 45% |
| Mattresses | 7 | 19 | 37% |
| Artificial Turf | 18 | 67 | 27% |
| Outdoor Furniture Cushion Protectants | 63 | 357 | 18% |
| Curtains | 2 | 15 | 13% |
| Throw Pillows | 2 | 15 | 13% |
| Mattress Protectors | 17 | 153 | 11% |
| Snow Pants | 1 | 15 | 7% |
| Wireless Chargers | 1 | 15 | 7% |
| Area Rugs | 1 | 15 | 7% |
| Waterproof Earbuds | 1 | 16 | 6% |
Where we found real evidence
Reported or likely, lowest scoring first. Not plausibility.
Polyester tents typically require flame-retardant finishes to meet US flammability standards. Ozark Trail does not disclose whether they use brominated, chlorinated, or phosphorus-based systems. Halogenated FRs can accumulate in indoor air and dust if coating
Storm-FIT DWR is not publicly disclosed as PFAS-free. Most polyester athletic apparel DWR finishes remain fluorinated; degradation or wash-out may release these compounds over the jacket's lifetime.
US furniture flammability standards (16 CFR 1633) require flame retardants in upholstered seating. Macy's does not specify which class is used in the Radley 86. Older brominated formulations (decabromodiphenyl ether, TDBPP) carry neurodevelopmental and thyroid
US furniture flammability standards (16 CFR 1633/1634) require most sofas to meet ignition resistance; Macy's does not disclose whether brominated compounds, organophosphates, or other additives are used. Polyester blends often receive chemical flame retardant
Polyester residential carpets typically receive flame-retardant treatment to meet fire codes; Stainmaster does not specify which chemistry is used. Brominated retardants and some phosphate compounds have been linked to developmental effects in animal studies,
Outdoor furniture textiles sold in North America typically receive flame retardant treatment to meet fire codes. The specific chemical is not disclosed by Rejuvenation; common types include halogenated, antimony, or phosphorus-based compounds.
Polyester carpet tiles almost universally contain flame retardants to meet flammability codes. Phenix does not disclose which class (brominated compounds or organophosphates). Some brominated retardants are developmental/reproductive concerns; organophosphates
Artificial turf infill (crumb rubber, sand treatment) and polyurethane backing commonly contain brominated or chlorinated flame retardants to meet CPSC flammability standards. Exposure via hand-to-mouth contact (especially children) or dust inhalation is possi
US flammability regulations require sofas to resist ignition, nearly always triggering flame retardant chemicals in the foam layer. Off-gassing of these compounds, particularly in warm indoor environments, has been documented in furniture chemistry literature
US furniture flammability standards (16 CFR 1633-1634) typically require flame retardant barriers in upholstered seating. Haverty does not disclose which flame retardant chemistry is used (e.g., halogenated, phosphate-based, mineral); many formulations carry o
Sofas sold in the US and EU typically contain flame retardant foam to meet fire safety standards. IKEA does not specify which flame retardant class is used in the KIVIK. Legacy brominated or chlorinated retardants carry documented health concerns; modern phosp
Polyester upholstery with stain/water treatment almost certainly includes flame retardant additives required by furniture flammability standards; Ashley does not disclose which class. These can off-gas and migrate to household dust, particularly in the first w
What to buy instead
Highest scoring products with no flag for it, in the categories where it is worst.
- Rug Doctor Pet TruDeep Cleaner75
- Thomasville Furniture Thomasville Lowell 8-piece Modular Sectional75
- Victoria Rug Classic / 2x4 / Hearth Rust75
- Daltile Flooring75Check price
- Daltile ProSeries Loften 20 mil Spa Fabric - 24 x 2475
- Style Selections Believer Shadow Gray Polyester Textured Indoor Carpet 7l9130050275
Answers about flame retardants, with every source linked
The other chemicals we screen for
Every product here is checked against all of these, so a product that clears flame retardants may still be flagged for one of them.
Common questions
What is flame retardants?
Chemicals added to foam, fabric and electronics to slow ignition. They migrate out of the product into household dust rather than staying in it, and several classes accumulate in the body. Many were added to meet a flammability standard that has since been revised.
Which products contain flame retardants?
Of the 11,795 products we have graded, 264 are flagged for it and 61 on reported or likely evidence rather than plausibility. Upholstered Furniture is the worst category at 83% of what we scored there.
Is flame retardants in upholstered furniture?
More than in anything else we grade. 74 of the 89 upholstered furniture we scored carry a flag for it, which is 83%. The full breakdown per product is on each product page.
What can I buy instead?
In the categories where it turns up most, the highest scoring products with no flag for it are Rug Doctor Pet TruDeep Cleaner at 75, Thomasville Furniture Thomasville Lowell 8-piece Modular Sectional at 75, Victoria Rug Classic / 2x4 / Hearth Rust at 75. Every one of those was graded on the same rubric as the products above.
How do you know?
We do not lab test. Every grade here is built from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, brand disclosures, recalls and third party lab results where those already exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so, and where a brand publishes nothing we score the silence rather than guessing.
2% of everything we grade carries a flag for flame retardants. See every hazard we track or browse the full products list.