So you’re in the market for the best rabbit bedding for your furry little friend?
Well, I have some great news for you: you’ve found the right place!
We’ve done a ton of in-depth research to bring you THE complete guide to finding the very best rabbit bedding. It will make providing your rabbit with a warm, safe, and comfortable bed a breeze… no need to waste countless hours roaming Amazon!
Even more good news: we’ve also written a short buyer’s guide to rabbit bedding. You know, just in case you’re a bit confused and need a little more help with your purchase. It’s after the product reviews, but feel free to jump directly to it with our convenient table of contents!
Note: If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we may receive a commission but at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
The Nine Best Rabbit Bedding Options of 2021
We’ve decided to break down our top nine list by the material used to manufacture the bedding.
Why?
There’s just a ton of confusion out there on the market about what’s what. It’s so easy to get lost.
Our list will cut through the chaos and give you a clear picture by highlighting the pros and cons of the best bedding materials available.
But don’t worry:
You won’t need to go out and struggle to find a specific product: we’ve already done all the homework! Each section includes a recommendation for the best bedding in that category, along with a link to Amazon so you can order with just a couple of clicks.
Now enough with the introduction, let’s get busy finding your rabbits the best bedding solution tailored to their needs and personalities!
The top 5 Rabbit Bedding Options: At a Glance
Note: Clicking the above links will take you to further information, current prices and customer reviews on Amazon.
1. Paper Pulp Bedding
Coming in first place is shredded paper bedding! Just one glance at the pros and cons list below should be enough to tell you that this our favorite material 😀
It is a fantastic all-around choice if you want to keep your bunny comfy, dry, and relaxed during their beauty sleep. Just make sure to pick a product that is 100% natural and unbleached like our recommended selection. Once your rabbit is finished with it, you can even compost it, very eco-friendly!
Pros
- Very soft on rabbit paws
- Highly absorbent (up to three times its weight in liquid)
- Virtually dust-free
- Encourages digging, burrowing, nesting, and playing
- Good odor control
- Excellent value
Cons
- Not suitable for rabbits that are prone to eating their bedding as ingesting paper might cause tummy issues
Our Favorite Paper Pulp Rabbit Bedding:
- Clean & cozy bedding is safe for all small pets including rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas and gerbils
- Absorbs 6x its weight in liquid
- 99.9% dust-free
- Odor control guaranteed
- Made of material that meets FDA standards
2. Fleece Bedding
If your rabbit’s comfort is the most important factor in your decision, then you just have to pick a fleece bed!
They are also great if you are sick and tired of seeing a bedding mess in and around your bunny’s cage… or if you are allergic to the current bedding. There’s a catch though:
Tons and tons of laundry…
But if that doesn’t bother you, then it will be smooth (and very soft) sailing!
Pros
- Unbelievable cozy
- 100% dust-free
- No mess inside/outside of the cage
- Hypoallergenic
- Inexpensive as you’ll only need to buy it once (even though we suggest you get two, so you won’t need to wash and dry immediately)
- Environmentally friendly
- Often antibacterial
Cons
- High maintenance as you’ll need to change it and wash it every few days
- Best suited for litter box trained rabbits (definitely get one with a waterproof backing just in case of an accident)
Our Choice for Fleece Rabbit Bedding:
3. Hay Bedding
Going with hay for your bedding needs is always an excellent choice.
Why?
Out of all the types of bedding we cover in this article, hay is by far the simplest to source. You are already buying plenty of high-quality hay (like Timothy) to keep your rabbits well feed and healthy, so you might as well add a couple more bags to your next order and use it as bedding too!
Pros
- Safe and healthy to eat bedding – rabbit see, rabbit chew!
- Holds heat very well ensuring extra warmth
- Great for outdoor hutches
- Dust-free
- Decent odor control
- Cost-effective
Cons
- Needs to be changed every other day as hay gets moldy quickly
- Not very absorbent, so you’ll need to combine with a more absorbent type of bedding
- Not quite as soft as our top two picks
Our Preferred Hay Bedding for Rabbits:
- Naturally grown without pesticides and grown specifically for small animals
- Grown specifically for small animals
- High fiber to support digestive health
- America’s #1 Hay Brand
- All-natural non GMO Ingredient
4. Straw Pellet Bedding
Next up are straw pellets!
Most people overlook them because non-pelleted straw has a reputation (and rightfully so) for not being the best bedding for rabbits. Regular straw is a bad absorbent and it has stiff ends that are really uncomfortable and potentially dangerous if they poke your rabbit’s eyes, nose, ears, and/or paws.
BUT:
Pelleted straw is one of the best choices out there for rabbits that love nibbling on whatever you give them. Unlike paper bedding, it’s 100% edible making for a tasty snack! And by the way, it’s also great for keeping your bunny warm in an outdoor hutch.
Pros
- Healthy to eat
- Good odor control
- Absorbent up to three times its weight
- Low dust (but not completely dust-free)
- Biodegradable & compostable
Cons
- Quite pricey
- Not the softest bedding option
Our Choice for Straw Pellet Rabbit Bedding:
- nontoxic
- no odor or dust
5. Paper Crumble Bedding
Are you looking for a product that’ll really capture and lock away the unpleasant smells coming from your rabbit’s cage?
Then paper crumble is the best bedding for you!
But it’s not just great at keeping a cage odor-free for a long time, it’s also excellent at absorbing moisture and urine. These two characteristics guarantee you less frequent bedding changes and a lot less work. Win-win!
Pros
- Phenomenal odor control
- Extremely absorbent, expanding up to three times its weight
- Soft on rabbit feet
- Effective for long periods
- Biodegradable & compostable
- Often made from 100% recycled paper
Cons
- Prone to being dusty
- Not suitable for rabbits that enjoy nibbling on their bedding as ingesting paper might cause tummy issues
- Not the cheapest option
Our Pick for Paper Crumble Rabbit Bedding:
- SUPERIOR ODOR CONTROL: Up to 14 days of odor control to keep your home and your bunny, chinchilla, guinea pig, or hamster's home smelling clean and fresh
- EXTRA ABSORBANT: Fresh World is heavier and more absorbent than normal bedding with up to 3x expansion, making it paper bedding small animals and their parents can rely on
- SAFE AND COMFORTABLE: Extra soft for easy comfort, 99.5% dust-free, and free of baking soda. No more sneezing for your small pet, no more worrying for you
- ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: Made from 100% real recycled paper that you can see and smell. Biodegradable and compostable
- LOW MAINTENANCE: With regular spot cleaning, the Ultra Strength formula can control odor for up to 14 days. Change bedding when wet, or once the odor blocker is no longer effectively controlling odors
6. Paper Pellet Bedding
Paper pellets are very similar to paper crumble bedding, but there are a couple of key differences to highlight.
Pellet bedding is slightly easier to clean because it doesn’t break up or cake at the bottom of rabbit cages. It’s also free from any dust that might bother you or your bunny. However, this comes at a cost.
Pellets don’t guarantee the same level of amazing odor control and softness as paper crumble rabbit bedding. Make sure to decide on which features are most important before you make the call!
Pros
- Very absorbent
- Easy to clean and dust-free
- Biodegradable & compostable
- Often made from 100% recycled paper
- Good odor control
Cons
- Not suitable for rabbits that like to eat their bedding as ingesting these pellets might cause tummy issues
- On the pricier end of the market
Our Favorite Paper Pellet Bedding for Rabbits
7. Aspen Bedding
If you’re looking for inexpensive rabbit bedding made from wood shavings, don’t look any further than aspen.
It’s a safe alternative to pine and cedar bedding. These commonly-used and cheap softwood shavings are actually unsafe for all types of rabbit breeds as they might contain aromatic oils or phenols.
So don’t cheap out and pick aspen wood shavings for happy, healthy rabbits!
Pros
- Non-toxic (100% safe wood shavings)
- Very well priced
- Soft, odorless, and absorbent
- Recyclable and compostable
Cons
- Not as absorbent as paper bedding or fleece
- Not the fluffiest choice
- Tends to be dusty
- Can be messy
Our Preferred Aspen Rabbits Bedding:
- Only the Best for You and Your Furry Friend: The ideal Bedding for your rabbit, guinea pig, gerbil, hamster, chinchilla, rat, mouse, snake, reptile, or any small animal; Small Pet Select Premium Small Animal Aspen Bedding is a very low-dust, safe, high-quality product that will last
- 100% Heat-Dried All Natural Aspen Shavings: Made in the USA without any harmful dyes, chemicals or additives; Made from wood shavings directly off the tree - so no potentially dangerous fibers that may cause respiratory problems or other health issues; Breaks down easily and organically for safe disposal in your garden, compost, or organic waste bin
- Comfy Is Key: Super cozy and fluffy but still super absorbent; We have developed this product for optimal absorbency which aids in odor control without any added artificial scents; Safe for your pets and for you!
- Recommended Use: Line the bedding inside the pet's habitat; Remove and replace as used; Damp bedding can cause urine scald, so we recommend removing damp spots or soiled areas between changes and replacing the paper bedding every one to two days (or fluffing to prevent large damp areas where your animal stands); Store in a dry place
- Pawtastic Products for Your Pet: When it comes to pet care, quality should never be compromised; Small Pet Select is a family-owned company that handpicks each of our products with love; We aim to deliver the safest, most effective, and highest-quality pet essentials
8. Wood Pellet Bedding
Wood is the last type of pellet to squeeze onto our list of the best rabbit bedding.
These Wood pellets are a good buy despite being a bit more expensive than straw or paper pellets. But if you are willing to pay the premium, you’ll enjoy that they’ll fill your room with a lovely wood scent and they don’t get stuck to your rabbit’s fur.
Pros
- Incredibly absorbent
- Easy to clean
- Decent odor control
- Not dusty
- Pleasant natural scent
Cons
- Can be messy as it crumbles together into a sort of sawdust powder when wet
- Needs to be replaced or topped up regularly
- On the expensive side
- Too heavy for large cages that need to be picked up and moved often
Our Pick for Wood Pellet Bedding for Rabbits:
- Get more absorbency per pellet
- Made from safe clean Pine, with no additives or irritants
- Free of the toxins associated with Wood stove pellets
- Recyclable and compostable
9. Woven Grass Mat Bedding
Are you looking for something a bit different for your rabbits?
Get them a quality woven hay mat as bedding!
These are fast becoming a popular choice amongst rabbit owners as they closely reproduce the sensation of sleeping in the wild. They’re also a fantastic (and healthy) toy for heavy chewing rabbits that are destroying your carpets, rugs, walls, or any other property!
Pros
- 100% dust-free
- Double purpose – bed and toy
- Affordable
- Natural grass scent
- Comfortable to sit, lay or lounge on
- You can place them anywhere – even right on top of the rug that your rabbit is merrily destroying 🐰
- Full of fiber
Cons
- Doesn’t encourage burrowing or digging, so best if used in tandem with another type of bedding from this list
- Rabbits will destroy thin woven mats quickly, so get a thick one like our recommended product
- Not absorbent and requires another layer to be placed underneath them if your bunny isn’t potty trained
Our Choice for a Woven Grass Mat:
- Oxbow Timothy Mat 2 Packs, Large Size: 15.7 x 11.4 inches
- 100% All-Natural Timothy Hay Accessories are hand-woven to perfection
- Environmental enrichment is as vital as nutrition to the health of small animals
- Edible construction offers your small pet the high fiber he needs and craves
- Contains no chemicals, wire, or thread for your small pet to ingest
Buyer’s Guide to Bedding for Rabbits
Are you still struggling on which one of these nine rabbit bedding products is right for your furball?
No worries! We’ve already thought that this might happen…
Read on to get answers to the most important questions we asked ourselves when putting together this ultimate guide to the best rabbit bedding. We guarantee that they’ll help you come to the right decision.
Do I Really Need to Use Bedding?
Generally speaking, the answer is no, you don’t need to. Especially if your rabbit is toilet trained and won’t go potty everywhere.
However, it is highly recommended as bedding makes rabbits feel comfortable, warm, safe, and fuzzy inside 🐰
But if your rabbit lives outdoor during the cold season, you’ll definitely need it to make sure they stay warm!
How Do I Pick the Right Type of Bedding for My Rabbit?
By carefully considering the following points:
- Will your rabbit be living indoors or outdoors? Providing warm, safe-to-eat bedding is key if your bunny will live outside!
- Have you considered your budget over the long term? Bedding might seem cheap now, but it slowly adds up over time!
- Do you mind cleaning up often? If you do, pick something that will minimize bedding changes!
- Do your rabbits eat their bedding? If yes, ensure the bedding you’re thinking about is non-toxic!
- Do you need to pick a dust-free option? Consider any potential allergies or rabbit health conditions!
- How important is odor control in your case? Some products are much better at masking the smell coming from your bunny cage, so think about whether it worth investing in them!
How Often Should I Change My Rabbit’s Bedding?
You’ll need to spot clean your rabbit’s bedding every day and then fully change the bedding between once a week and every other day. Exactly how often will depend on the type of bedding you have chosen as some stay fresh for longer (like paper crumble or woven hay mats) and others for less (like hay and fleece).
Are There Any Special Age-Related Considerations?
Yes.
Because young bunnies and kits still have baby fur, they need a warmer environment to keep their body temperatures stable. They also sleep a lot and have no bladder control whatsoever. This means you’ll need to pick a really absorbent, soft bedding that won’t break the bank as you’ll be changing it often. We suggest fleece or paper pulp.
Senior rabbits will also need special looking out for. Their aging bodies deserve extra comfort and softness. Fleece, paper-based bedding, and woven mats will do the trick!
Summing It All Up
You are now a rabbit bedding expert, congrats! 🙌
You should be able to confidently make the right decision on which bedding will make your bunny feel right at home in their enclosure. Safe, cozy, and happy!
But don’t stress out if your rabbit doesn’t like your first choice. Some furry little fellows are very picky… just come back to this article and try the next best option. You’ll be sure to find the ideal formula in no time!
