The best bedding for rabbits and guinea pigs is dry, dust-free and safe to nibble: hay for both species, plus either dust-extracted wood shavings, paper-based bedding or wood pellets underneath. Avoid cedar, dusty material and anything scented. Which base layer suits you depends on your budget, how often you clean and how your animals behave.

Below we compare the main options, explain the cedar and pine question, give a cost per week example and set out how often to clean. For other animals, see our bedding comparison for horses, poultry and small animals.

What does good bedding need to do?

Rabbits and guinea pigs spend most of their lives on their bedding. They eat it, dig in it, sleep in it and urinate on it, so it has to meet four needs:

Low dust. Both species have sensitive airways. Dusty material can cause sneezing and respiratory illness.
Absorbency. Urine should soak in and stay away from fur and feet.
Safety if eaten. Small animals chew and swallow bits, so avoid fluffy fibres, scented products and treated wood.
Comfort. Guinea pigs in particular need a soft surface and should not stand on wire.

The RSPCA says rabbit bedding should be comfortable, warm and safe to eat, and lists dust-free straw, dust-free hay and shredded paper, with newspaper or dust-free, non-cedar wood shavings as absorbent layers underneath (RSPCA, rabbit environment).

How do the main bedding types compare?

Bedding	Dust	Absorbency	Odour control	Cost level	Notes
Wood shavings (dust-extracted)	Low	Good	Good	Low to medium	Soft, easy to spot clean, avoid cedar
Wood pellets (unflavoured, untreated)	Low until broken down	Very high per kg	Very good	Low per week	Hard when dry, turns to fine sawdust when wet
Paper-based bedding	Very low	Good	Fair	Medium to high	Useful for sensitive animals
Hay	Low if good quality	Moderate	Fair	Medium	Food and bedding must always be available
Straw	Medium	Low	Poor	Low	Fine for rabbits, coarse for guinea pigs.

Are wood shavings good for rabbits and guinea pigs?

Dust-extracted shavings are one of the most common choices. They are soft, absorb well and are easy to scoop. Always buy bagged, kiln-dried shavings and keep them dry, because damp shavings grow mould.

The RSPCA guidance for guinea pigs recommends dry, dust-free, absorbent wood shavings supplemented with hay and cautions against softwood products such as pine, which it says can cause illness (RSPCA, Guinea Pig Environment). Keepers and suppliers take different views on kiln-dried pine, so ask your vet if you are unsure. If you prefer to avoid softwood entirely, choose paper-based bedding or a hay-based setup instead.

If you do use shavings, buy a dust-extracted grade. Our pine wood shavings, wood shavings and mixed wood shavings are sold as animal bedding. Check the product page for the species, dust level and pack size before you order.

Why is cedar a problem?

Cedar contains aromatic oils that can irritate the airways of small animals. The RSPCA specifically asks for non-cedar shavings for rabbits. We also sell cedar wood shavings for other uses such as storage spaces but do not use them as bedding for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters or birds.

The same caution applies to scented or “aromatic” bedding of any kind. If the bag smells strongly, leave it out of the hutch.

What about wood pellets as bedding?

Bedding pellets are compressed wood. Add moisture and they swell and crumble into soft, absorbent sawdust. A bag goes a long way, and used areas are easy to scoop out. Many keepers use a thin layer of pellets as a base, then cover it with hay so the animals do not stand directly on hard pellets.

Pellets have trade-offs. Dry pellets are hard on delicate feet, and once they break down, the fine sawdust can be dusty. Never use flavoured pellets or any with additives. If you consider our biomass wood pellets, check the product specification first to confirm they are plain wood with no additives, and ask us if you are unsure whether a product suits animal use. Heating pellets are sold as fuel, not as tested pet bedding.

Is paper bedding worth the cost?

Paper-based bedding has very little dust and suits animals with respiratory problems or allergies. It costs more per week than shavings or pellets and is less effective at controlling odour, so it needs more frequent changing. Shredded paper and newspaper work as a cheap lower layer, but avoid glossy or heavily printed sheets.

Where does hay fit in?

Hay also serves as food. For both species it is the main part of the diet, and it keeps teeth worn down and digestion moving. The RSPCA recommends dust-free hay as bedding material and as food for guinea pigs, scattered around the enclosure to encourage foraging. Because animals eat it, hay is almost always needed regardless of which base layer you choose.

Choose green, sweet-smelling hay with no dust or mould. Straw suits rabbits as bedding, but the RSPCA warns that coarse straw can cause eye injuries in guinea pigs.

What does bedding cost per week? An example

Prices vary by country and supplier. The figures below are example prices only, not our shop prices, and show how to compare options by weekly use rather than by bag price. The example assumes a pair of guinea pigs in a large cage, with a full clean once a week.

Option	Example price per kg	Example use per week	Example weekly cost
Wood shavings	EUR 0.80	2 kg	EUR 1.60
Wood pellets	EUR 0.60	1 kg	EUR 0.60
Paper-based bedding	EUR 3.00	1.2 kg	EUR 3.60

The hay cost comes on top and is the same whichever base you choose. The pattern is what matters: pellets are usually cheapest per week because they absorb so much, shavings sit in the middle and paper costs most. Work out your own figures from the bag weight, price and how long a bag lasts in your setup.

How often should you clean?

Spot clean toilet areas every day. The RSPCA advises cleaning rabbit toilet areas daily and giving the whole home a thorough clean around once a week. For guinea pigs, it advises deep cleaning at least weekly with daily spot cleaning. More animals, a smaller space or a damp climate mean cleaning more often.

Signs that you should clean sooner: an ammonia smell, wet patches that stay wet, or animals with dirty fur and sore feet. Wet bedding left in place is a health risk because it contributes to skin and respiratory problems and can attract flies in warm weather.

Disposal

Used wood shavings, pellets, hay and paper from healthy herbivores can go on a compost heap, which suits their droppings well. Mix the soiled bedding with other garden material and let it mature for several months before using it on beds.

Key takeaways

Use hay for both species in all cases, plus a dust-free absorbent base layer.
Avoid cedar and any strongly scented bedding. Ask a vet about softwood for guinea pigs, since the RSPCA cautions against it.
Pellets usually cost the least per week, shavings sit in the middle, and paper costs the most.
Spot clean daily and do a full clean at least weekly.
Keep every material dry and store it off the floor.

FAQ

Can I use sawdust instead of shavings?

We do not recommend it. Fine sawdust is dusty and can irritate small airways. Shavings that have been dust-extracted are a better option.

Is there enough as the only bedding?

It can be, but it absorbs less than shavings or pellets and has to be replaced often. Many keepers use hay on top of an absorbent base so that the animals have food and a soft surface in one layer.

Are wood pellets safe for rabbits?

Plain, unflavoured, untreated pellets sold for animal bedding are commonly used. Do not let rabbits eat large amounts of pellets, and check the specification of any pellet before use.

How deep should the bedding be?

For a base layer, a few centimetres is usual, with hay on top. Rabbits and guinea pigs that like to burrow may need a deeper area.

What should I avoid putting in the cage?

Avoid cedar, fluffy cotton-type nesting, scented products, treated wood and dusty bedding. These can cause respiratory problems or blockages.

See our wood shavings for animal bedding and ask us if you want advice on grades. We deliver across Europe.

Best Bedding for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs: Shavings, Pellets, Paper or Hay