Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
What is the best bedding for hamsters?
Unscented paper bedding is the safest all-round choice. PDSA puts paper-based bedding first on its list, alone or mixed. It is soft, low in dust, holds a tunnel when pressed down, and is safe if your hamster stuffs some in its cheek pouches.
Paper bedding on its own can be springy, so burrows sometimes collapse. PDSA suggests mixing dust-free aspen, spruce or hemp into paper bedding for stability. Keep paper as the base and mix the wood or hemp through it. The Hamster Society Singapore suggests keeping aspen to no more than half of the enclosure, because it can stick to long-haired Syrians.
Press the bedding down firmly as you add it, a layer at a time. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation recommends gently compacting it so burrows hold their shape, and a hamster that can build a lasting tunnel is a calmer hamster.
Safe hamster bedding compared
| Bedding (substrate) | Safe? | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unscented paper bedding | Yes | Main bedding, soft, low dust | Springy on its own; buy unscented |
| Aspen shavings (dust-free) | Yes | Mixing into paper so tunnels hold; good at hiding smells | Keep to about half the cage; sticks to long fur |
| Hemp bedding | Yes, mixed | Adds structure and absorbs well | Mix with paper rather than use alone |
| Spruce shavings (dust-free) | Yes, mixed | Adds structure | Listed by PDSA as fine when dust-free and mixed with paper |
| Soft hay | Yes, as an extra | Nesting and a natural feel | Must be soft; stiff stalks can poke cheek pouches |
| Unscented toilet paper | Yes | Nesting material, cheap | Does little for smell on its own |
| Coco fibre (coir) | Yes, in a dig box | A digging tray or one corner | Keep it to a separate area |
| Pet-safe soil | Yes, in a dig box | A natural digging area | Must be free of fertiliser and chemicals |
| Paper pellets or soft granules | Only as a top-up | A toilet corner | Too loose for burrows or nests |
| Sawdust and dusty wood shavings | No | Nothing | Dust harms skin and airways |
| Pine and cedar shavings | No | Nothing | Aromatic oils can harm breathing |
| Scented or odour-control bedding | No | Nothing | Added scents irritate airways |
| Cotton wool, kapok, bamboo fluff | No | Nothing | Can block the gut and tangle legs |
| Newspaper | No | Nothing | Ink can be harmful |
How much bedding does a hamster need?
At least 25 cm (10 in) of depth across the cage, according to PDSA. Other UK groups give slightly lower floors: Wood Green and the RSPCA Solent branch say at least 15 cm (6 in), and the Bunny Jackpot Foundation says 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in). Wood Green adds a deeper digging area of 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in). We follow PDSA's 25 cm, because the deeper figures are where hamsters show the most natural digging.
Depth makes a measurable difference. The Hamster Society Singapore reports that Syrian hamsters with 40 cm (16 in) or more of bedding chewed bars and raced their wheels less than those with shallow bedding. Wild hamsters dig burrows far deeper than any cage allows.
For volume, multiply the floor by the depth. A 100 × 50 cm cage filled 25 cm deep takes about 125 litres (4.4 cubic feet) of loose bedding. Paper bedding is sold compressed, so check the expanded litres on the pack, not the weight. Your cage needs sides or a base tall enough to hold all of it, which is why our hamster cage size guide looks at base depth as well as floor space.
Is sawdust safe for hamsters?
No. Wood Green warns that wood shavings and sawdust can be extremely harmful to a hamster's skin and airways, and PDSA also lists them to avoid because they are dusty. Hamsters spend their lives with their noses in their bedding, so fine dust goes straight into their lungs.
The RSPCA allows dust-free wood shavings, and several charities accept aspen. The difference is dust and aromatic oils: aspen is a hardwood with neither when it is dust-extracted, while sawdust is mostly dust. If you use any wood bedding, buy a dust-extracted, unscented brand and shake it out before use.
Is aspen bedding good for hamsters?
Yes, dust-free aspen is safe and works well mixed with paper. The Hamster Society Singapore calls aspen the only safe wood-based bedding and praises it for odour control, though PDSA also accepts spruce and hemp. Aspen is easy to tell from pine and cedar by its pale colour and lack of strong smell. If a wood bedding smells strongly of pine, do not use it.
Pine and cedar shavings are not safe for hamsters. Their aromatic oils can harm a hamster's breathing. PetMD and the Hamster Society Singapore both warn against them, and they are easy to confuse with aspen in a pet shop.
Carefresh, Kaytee Clean & Cozy and Chipsi: are they safe?
The Bunny Jackpot Foundation lists Carefresh, Kaytee Clean & Cozy, Chipsi Classic, Megazorb and FitchFirst as safe hamster beddings. The one catch is the version: it warns against scented or odour-control versions, so pick the plain, unscented pack of any brand. Kaytee Clean & Cozy and Carefresh are both paper beddings.
The same rule works for any shop's own brand, whether from Pets at Home, Asda or another store. Check the label for three things: paper, aspen or hemp as the material, "unscented", and "dust-extracted" or "dust-free". If it says sawdust, pine, cedar, "fresh scent" or "fluffy", leave it on the shelf.
What is the best nesting material for a hamster?
Unscented toilet paper, paper-based nesting or soft hay. PDSA lists unscented toilet paper as a cheap, safe option, and the RSPCA lists good-quality hay, wood wool, shredded paper and cardboard. Leave the nesting material outside the nest box: PDSA notes hamsters like to carry it in and build the nest themselves.
Avoid cotton wool, kapok, bamboo fluff and anything fluffy. The RSPCA and PDSA both warn they can cause harm if eaten and can tangle around legs.
Not sure whether a nesting material is safe? Drop a piece in a glass of water. The Hamster Society Singapore suggests that safe material breaks up easily, while fibres that stay strong in water will not break down in a hamster's gut either.
What can I use instead of hamster bedding?
Unscented toilet paper torn into strips is the cheapest safe stand-in for a day or two. PDSA lists it, and the cheapest plain kind is best. For the long term, a mix still works better than one material: coco fibre or pet-safe soil in a dig box, soft hay for texture and paper bedding for the main floor. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation also suggests textures such as moss, cork granules, beech chips and meadow hay in hides and dig boxes for variety.
How to lay hamster bedding
- Put heavy items on platforms first. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation advises raising wheels, sand baths and big hides on legs or platforms, so they do not sink or crush a burrow.
- Add bedding in layers. Pour in 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in), press it down gently, then repeat until you reach 25 cm (10 in).
- Build a deep corner. Pile one end higher for digging, up to 30 cm (12 in) or more if the sides allow.
- Bury a hide or two. Set a hide on the floor and cover its roof with bedding, so it becomes a ready-made burrow.
- Leave nesting material in a pile. Put toilet paper or soft hay near the hides and let your hamster carry it in.
Our hamster cage setup guide shows where everything else goes, and our hamster sand bath guide covers the sand you need alongside the bedding. For the hides themselves, see the best hamster hides.
How often should you change hamster bedding?
Spot clean wet and dirty bedding every day or two, and change only part of it at a time. PDSA says a small cage may need a full clean weekly but a large setup only every few weeks. Keep a few handfuls of clean old bedding to mix back in, so your hamster's home still smells like home. Our guide to cleaning a hamster cage has the full routine, and our complete hamster care guide covers everything else.
Hamster bedding questions
What bedding is bad for hamsters?
Sawdust, pine and cedar shavings, scented or odour-control bedding, newspaper, and fluffy nesting such as cotton wool, kapok or bamboo fluff. Dust and aromatic oils harm a hamster's airways, and fluffy fibres can block the gut or wrap around legs. PDSA, the RSPCA and Wood Green all warn against them.
Can I use cat litter for a hamster?
Only plain paper pellets, and only in a toilet corner. We would not use clay or clumping litters, silica crystals or scented litters at all: they are made for cats, can be pouched or swallowed, and some are dusty. Paper pellets are too loose to burrow in, so they cannot be the main bedding.
Can hamsters use towels or fleece as bedding?
Not as the main bedding. Hamsters need loose material deep enough to dig in, and fleece or towel gives them nothing to burrow into. Loose threads can also catch on toes. Paper bedding with soft hay or toilet paper for nesting is much better.
Is corn cob bedding good for hamsters?
The RSPCA lists granulated corn cob without preservatives as suitable, but it is hard and loose, so it does not hold tunnels or make a soft nest. We would use it only as a small extra, not the main bedding. Paper bedding mixed with aspen or hemp holds burrows far better.
Do dwarf hamsters need different bedding from Syrians?
No. The same safe beddings suit every species. Dwarfs still need deep bedding, at least 25 cm (10 in), because they dig just as keenly. Long-haired Syrians are the only ones to watch, as aspen can stick in their coats.
Can I freeze hamster bedding?
You can, though it is optional. The Hamster Society Singapore notes some owners freeze new bedding to kill any bugs. If you do, let it come back to room temperature and dry fully before you put it in the cage.
