With so many mattress brands all promising ultimate cosiness at the best price, it can be hard to choose the best mattress for you. Emma is one of T3's favourite brands with a choice of different mattresses at a variety of price points.
After trying out many Emma mattresses, I've learnt a few things about Emma mattresses so before you invest, I wanted to give shoppers a better idea of what to expect from the Emma brand.
Whether you want to know what mattress is best for side sleepers or just the differences between the different Emma offerings, here are the 5 essential things you need to know before buying an Emma mattress.
1. There are three styles of Emma mattress
First things first: Emma mattresses are not all created equal. There are actually three different price points to choose from. First off is the Emma Original Mattress which starts at an RRP of £499, the Emma Hybrid Premium which starts at £799, and then the slightly confusingly titled Emma Premium Mattress which also starts at £799. The Emma Premium is the newest addition to the range and not included in as many discounts as the other two.
Where the Emma Original is entirely memory foam based, the Emma Hybrid Premium has a layer of metal coils. The Emma Premium though has hundreds of 12.5cm springs that Emma calls 5 Zone CarbonFlex Springs. These tall springs deliver a significantly more solid sleep experience that while still in the medium range, does err on the firmer side of things. If you're not sure what mattress style is for you, check out our guide to memory foam vs springs.
2. Side sleepers are welcome
Which leads me to my next point. All three Emma mattresses are suitable for a variety of sleep positions but given that the Emma Original is the softest, it’s definitely one of the best mattresses for side sleepers.
The memory foam is ideal for the pressure points created by your hip and shoulder and has the bonus of movement isolation, so you won’t feel it if your sleeping partner is restless or gets into bed a little later. It’s a complex balance to find just the right firmness for side sleepers.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Personally, I found that once I had broken in the Emma Premium, it was equally comfortable for side sleeping but it’s an extra element to take into account. It’s also possible to ask for a free soft or firm topper from Emma so you can rest even easier.
3. Warmth can be an issue
Despite all kinds of temperature-based promises in their layer breakdowns, all three Emma mattresses aren’t for those who run hot. If you’re a particularly warm sleeper, you might want to go elsewhere as all three retain heat which is ideal if you’re a cold snoozer and need all the heat you can get in winter, but it’s not for everyone.
For temperature regulation you’d definitely be best going for the Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress which has inventive tech to keep you cool all night.
4. Unwrapping is easy
The nice thing about taking delivery of an Emma mattress is just how fast it is to get it out of the box and onto your bed. Emma says it can take a few days to fully inflate but you can sleep on the mattress within two hours of unboxing. All you need to do is unwrap the plastic and unroll. You can even leave it on the bed to inflate and there’s no strange smell that so often comes with a new bed in a box mattress. I was personally exceptionally impressed by just how easy it all is.
5. Look out for sales
Finally, just like all the other mattress brands out there, it’s definitely best to wait for a big discount day before investing in an Emma mattress. You won’t even have to wait until Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day!
These big ticket days do tend to guarantee bigger deals but there are always Emma discount codes to make sure you can be cosy for a lot less than the RRP. Check out our Emma sales and deals page to stay up to date with the current offers.
P.S. If you're interested in another mattress brand, check out 5 things I wish I'd known before buying a Simba mattress for more advice.
Louise Blain is a journalist and broadcaster specialising in technology, gaming, and entertainment. She has a weekly consumer tech slot on BBC Radio Scotland and is the presenter of BBC Radio 3's monthly Sound of Gaming show. She can also regularly be found on BBC Radio 4, BBC Five Live, and The Evolution of Horror podcast as well as writing for GamesRadar and NME. Louise loves finding ways that tech can make our lives better every day and no, she doesn't have enough smart lighting yet.
-
Best mattress 2025: cozy beds for all types of sleepers and budgets
Find the best mattress for you, including memory foam, springs and hybrid options
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Last updated
-
Emma mattress sales, deals and discount codes for January 2025: your guide to the best Emma sales
Looking for an Emma mattress deal? Find all the best Emma sales, deals & discount codes in this guide...
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Last updated
-
Emma Original mattress review: super-comfy and good value
The Emma mattress offers a dreamy sleep at a price that won't keep you awake at night. Find out more in our Emma Original mattress review...
By Julia Sagar Last updated
-
The new Tesla Model Y is here but you can’t have one (yet)
With a facelift giving Cybertruck vibes, this new Tesla is only available in China and Australia – at least for now
By Alistair Charlton Published
-
Full Nintendo Switch 2 announcement could be just days away
Reliable industry expert claims the Switch 2 will be unveiled later this week.
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Hatch’s latest sunrise alarm clock finally has a phone-free design – and I’m obsessed
Hatch launches the Restore 3 wake-up light and it could drastically improve your mornings
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
This ERA mattress topper can turn your mattress into a smart sleep tracking device
The ERA Smart Layer is my favourite wellness product from CES 2025
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
Withings’ smart mirror combines a smartwatch and scales into a full-length health scanner
Withings debuts new conceptual smart health mirror at CES 2025
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
Amerisleep launches its most cooling mattress yet – but it’ll cost you
Amerisleep’s new AS6 Black Series could be its best mattress yet for temperature regulation
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
6 gadgets to get you through Dry January
With Christmas and New Year out of the way, we take a look at some of the best gadgets to use for Dry January
By Max Slater-Robins Published
-
This pillow flip sleep hack can help you beat Christmas insomnia – and it takes seconds
If you love the cold side of the pillow, you’ll love this quick sleep hack
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
Therabody SleepMask review: soothing vibrations that send you to sleep
Therabody’s new SleepMask promises a good night’s sleep – but does it work?
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
I spent 24 hours with the new Loop Switch 2 earplugs – here's my honest take
From fun to focus to calm...I tried them in every scenario
By Lizzie Wilmot Published