Emma’s mattresses are responsible for many people’s good night’s sleep – myself included.
The brand has four hybrid mattresses (the original, the original pro, the original elite and the original lite), all of which are made of layers of springs and foam but have varying depths and tensions. Over one month, I slept on each of the brand’s hybrids to find out which one I recommend.
When buying a bed from the brand, you enjoy a 200-night trial period (a relief, given it has very few stores) and a 10-year warranty as standard. Your mattress will arrive folded, rolled and wrapped in a box. And after unpacking, they are ready to sleep on the same day.
I found that no two Emma mattresses were the same in terms of tension, construction and cost. Which is the best for your sleep style, body and budget? Keep reading to find out.
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Emma original elite
Best: overall
Why we love it
- Premium cover
- Comfortable and supportive in all the right spots
- Good edge support
- Exceptional temperature regulation
- Side handles to rotate and manoeuvre
Take note
- Expensive
- Heavy to manoeuvre
Of all the Emma mattresses I tested, the original elite was best. It is at the top of the range, and it will cost you, but you get what you pay for. The mattress consists of seven layers of more premium materials, and it is by far the most comfortable Emma mattress I have slept on.
As a side sleeper, I found that my joints felt relieved of pressure and my body was comfortable every night while testing the mattress. I felt supported with no resistance from the mattress. I also found it comfortable when lying on my front and back, making it a great all-rounder.
Edge support was also good, with very little dipping in the middle or edge of the mattress when any weight was applied. And the motion isolation is another area in which it excelled. I didn’t feel my husband changing sleeping position throughout the night, making it an easy recommendation for couples.
Similarly, the breathability is very good. While I’m not a hot sleeper, the elite passed my mattress breathability test with flying colours. I didn’t wake hot and bothered in the night, and my temperature felt regulated when I woke in the morning.
The removable, washable cover feels more premium than the other three Emma mattresses tested, with its pillowed top and nice yellow trim. This makes the overall finish look much more high-end and instils more confidence that it’ll reach the expected 10-year lifetime. However, bear in mind that the layers of spring and foam amount to a hefty weight to shift every six months.
Key specifications
Buy now £999, Emma-sleep.co.uk
Emma original lite mattress
Best: budget Emma mattress
Why we love it
- Ideal for lighter people or back sleepers
- Good edge support
- Exceptional temperature regulation
- Side handles to rotate and manoeuvre
Take note
- May be too hard for some
- Not enough cushioning and support for side sleepers
- Thin overall mattress depth so those with mobility issues may struggle to sit and stand
Previously known as the Emma hybrid original mattress, this is the newer generation of the brand's bestseller. It comes with an attractive price. When not reduced, a double costs only £289, making it the most affordable in the range and a great option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly mattress for a guest bedroom or your first home.
It has four layers of spring and foam, and the shallowest overall depth, at 22cm. I’m not sure whether it would provide enough support or pressure relief if you have a larger stature over a long period.
Throughout testing, I found that the layers of memory foam and pocket springs provided a stable base to get some kip. I didn’t notice when my husband switched sleeping position, and there was no dipping in the middle of the bed when I sat up in the morning to enjoy a brew. Given the price, I was also impressed by how well it regulated my temperature throughout the night.
The advertised medium-firm tension was certainly on the firmer side. As a side sleeper, I found the mattress lacked the comfort and support I craved. There was no cushioning around my body, and I didn’t feel any relief in my neck, shoulders and hips. But for back sleepers, this firmer base should provide support and prevent the hips from sinking.
Key specifications
Buy now £289, Emma-sleep.co.uk
Emma original mattress
Best: soft mattress
Why we love it
- Bouncy yet supportive
- Ideal for lighter people or front sleepers
- Good edge support
- Exceptional temperature regulation
- Side handles to rotate and manoeuvre
Take note
- May be too soft for some
- Expect some motion transfer when sharing the bed
The Emma original (formerly known as the hybrid premium mattress) is the brand's best-selling mattress, and I can see why. At £469, it’s bang on most people's budgets, and you do get a good mattress for the money.
While comfortable, it’s not as supportive as the advertised “medium-firm” tension. In fact, I found it too soft when lying on my back, and I didn’t feel supported when sitting up in bed. But if you prefer a cushioned mattress, this could be a good option.
It might not be a great pick for light sleepers, as I could feel my husband rolling over in the night. However, the edge support was good and, with a mattress depth of 25cm, getting out of bed wasn’t a problem. My temperature felt stable throughout the testing period, too.
Key specifications
Buy now £469, Emma-sleep.co.uk
Emma original pro
Best: for temperature regulation and breathability
Why we love it
- Comfortable for all sleeping positions
- Brilliantly breathable
- Good edge support
- Exceptional temperature regulation
- Side handles to rotate and manoeuvre
Take note
- Firmer than the advertised “medium” tension
- Expect some motion transfer in the middle of the bed
The original pro (formerly the hybrid thermosync mattress) has six layers of spring and foam, and a double will cost you £799, making it the second-most expensive in the range.
It’s not as “springy” as the original mattress, so it provides more support. That said, this mattress was comfortable to sleep on in all sleeping positions – front, back and side – with no dipping in the middle and only a marginal dip when sitting on the edge of the bed.
The breathability was also very good, which is likely thanks to the layer of graphite-infused, expertly engineered foam. I’d certainly recommend it to hot sleepers.
However, my husband and I did experience some motion transfer as we switched sleeping positions through the night. I didn’t notice when he was getting in or out of the bed, though, so the motion was more isolated to the middle of the mattress.
Key specifications
Buy now £699, Emma-sleep.co.uk
What is the best Emma mattress?
All things considered, the Emma original elite is the best Emma mattress you can buy. It's top of the range for a reason. I found it comfortable and supportive, with good motion isolation and temperature regulation. I love the premium cover; it’s another layer of comfort and it gives the mattress an extra dose of quality. I feel more confident that the elite will last the 10-year guarantee, as the materials seem of better quality, whereas I could sometimes feel the springs through the foam layers on the other mattresses tested.
That said, I appreciate that the elite may be outside the constraints of some budgets. Based on my experience, I would recommend the lite for occasional use in the guest bedroom, the original for those who like softer tension, and the pro for lighter-weighted bed sharers.
How I tested Emma mattresses
I tested all four Emma hybrid mattresses at home for one month. I first tested the Emma original mattress, then the original pro mattress and original elite mattress, before concluding with the original lite mattress.
From the point of ordering and unboxing through to sleeping on each mattress, I followed a set of stringent testing criteria, as outlined in our IndyBest mattresses testing guide. Here is a breakdown of the areas I paid attention to.
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