If you have seen an OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 label on sheets, baby clothes or a yoga mat and wondered what OEKO-TEX Standard 100 means, this guide covers it in plain terms: what the label tests, what it does not cover, and how to check a label number yourself. The details below come from OEKO-TEX®’s own public pages.

NonToxicFinder is operated by Solved Labs LLC. This article has no affiliate links. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with OEKO-TEX® or the Environmental Working Group. Full disclosure →

What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Tests

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is a testing and certification system for textiles. According to OEKO-TEX®, items are tested against a list of more than 1,000 substances, and the testing applies “from yarn to finished product,” including every thread, button and accessory in the item.

Testing is modular. If every component of a finished item has already been tested successfully, the finished product does not need to be tested again as a separate step. OEKO-TEX® also states that it reviews its limit values at least once a year, and that the limits reflect regulations such as REACH and CPSIA.

The Four Product Classes

The standard sorts textiles into four classes. The more skin contact an item has, and the more sensitive the skin, the stricter the requirements.

  • Class I: baby and toddler items (up to age 3). This is the strictest class.
  • Class II: items that touch the skin directly, such as bed linens.
  • Class III: items with no direct skin contact, such as jackets.
  • Class IV: home textiles and decorative materials, such as curtains.

When you shop, check which class the label lists. A Class IV decorative fabric and a Class I baby item are held to different requirements, even though both can carry the same STANDARD 100 name.

What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Does Not Cover

The label is narrower than many shoppers assume. Based on OEKO-TEX®’s own materials:

  • It is not an organic certification. OEKO-TEX® states that STANDARD 100 does not certify or prove ecologically and socially responsible cotton production. Organic fiber claims need a separate certification. Our OEKO-TEX certified baby onesies guide explains why a tested product is not necessarily organic.
  • It does not cover production conditions. OEKO-TEX® describes STANDARD 100 as focused on the product. Its MADE IN GREEN label adds environmental and social requirements on top of a STANDARD 100 certificate, and its STeP program certifies production sites.
  • It is not a guarantee of any outcome. The label reports that an item was tested against defined limit values. We make no health or safety claims, and the label does not promise any health result for you or your child.

How Long a Certificate Lasts

OEKO-TEX® issues STANDARD 100 certificates for one year. A product that was certified in the past needs a current certificate to carry a current claim, which is one more reason to check the number instead of trusting the logo alone.

How to Verify an OEKO-TEX Label Number

The label usually shows a certificate or label number. To check it:

  1. Find the number printed on the product label, hang tag or the maker’s product page.
  2. Open the OEKO-TEX® Label Check.
  3. Enter the number in the “Certificate / label number” field. OEKO-TEX® notes that label numbers are case sensitive.
  4. Read the result and compare it to the item in your hand: the product type, the class and the company named should match.

If nothing comes back, OEKO-TEX® asks you to contact it. A number that cannot be confirmed is a reason to look for a different product, not to assume the label is fine.

Where This Label Shows Up in Our Guides

We cover OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 products one category at a time, and each product rests on one stated certification basis:

For a comparison with another certification program, see what MADE SAFE certified means.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does OEKO-TEX Standard 100 mean a product is organic?
No. OEKO-TEX® states that STANDARD 100 does not certify responsible cotton production. Look for a separate organic certification if that matters to you.

Q: What do the OEKO-TEX product classes mean?
Class I covers baby and toddler items, Class II items with direct skin contact, Class III items without direct skin contact, and Class IV home textiles and decoration. Requirements get stricter as skin contact increases.

Q: How do I check an OEKO-TEX label number?
Enter the number into the OEKO-TEX® Label Check on oeko-tex.com. Label numbers are case sensitive.

Q: Is NonToxicFinder affiliated with OEKO-TEX or EWG?
No. NonToxicFinder is operated by Solved Labs LLC and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with OEKO-TEX® or the Environmental Working Group.