Our In-Depth Emma Bed Review for 2024

Who We Recommend The Emma For: 

• Hot sleepers – The Emma offers traditional memory foam pressure point relief combined with cooling Airgocell® technology to keep air flowing through the material. The convoluted design serves the dual purpose of increasing airflow and support.
• Co-sleepers – This bed features an all-foam construction that includes memory foam. All-foam beds, particularly those containing memory foam, tend to lead the way with motion isolation, which means if your partner moves, you shouldn’t feel it on your side of the bed. Therefore, we think this bed could be good for co-sleepers.
• People with back pain – Emma’s HRX material layer is specially formulated to supply counter pressure and support both shoulders and lower back. This means whether you are a back or side sleeper, your spine should be in optimal alignment.

Who We Don’t Recommend The Emma For: 

• Stomach sleepers – Stomach sleepers usually need a firmer mattress that can support the hips and shoulders in alignment. The Emma may be too soft to keep your hips from sinking too deeply into the comfort layers, especially if you’re closer to 230 pounds.
• Heavy sleepers – This product only has a 286-pound weight limit. If you are significantly heavier, you may not receive the support you need.

First Impressions: Firmness & Feel

Firmness Scale: 5/10

We rate this bed as a 5 out of 10 on our firmness scale, with 10 being the absolute firmest feel possible. This places the mattress in the medium-soft firmness range, which should help relieve pressure throughout the body without causing you to sink in and get stuck in the mattress.

While many traditional memory foam beds can sometimes make repositioning a lengthy process, Emma’s top layer is made with Airgocell® foam, which is extremely responsive without increasing bounce. This means tossing and turning should not feel like an uphill battle.

How Does It Feel?

The memory foam layer is not so deep that it’s undetectable. Its heat response should softly cradle pressure points without trapping sleepers. As the memory foam is only a few inches thick, we feel most of the bed’s structure is bolstered by the bottom layer of support foam.

This mattress is not very bouncy on the top layers. However, the deeper we press into it, the more counter-pressure we feel, though the memory foam cancels out most surface bounce.

What We Like About the Emma 

• The pressure relief – This is an all-foam mattress, and they’re known for their excellent ability to relieve pressure. Testing the bed, we felt no pressure building up, even when sleeping on the side. 
• The affordability – The Emma is an affordable mattress made with quality materials. The mid-range price makes it an excellent option for budget shoppers looking for a quality mattress. 
• Trial and warranty – The Emma comes with a 10-year warranty on material and craftsmanship defects. However, what really stands out is the 365-day trial, giving you ample time to test it.

Our Emma Complaints

• The lack of edge support – When we tested the Emma, we noticed it lacks edge support. Although this is common for softer all-foam beds, it’s a con for those who like to sleep near the edge. 
• Not for heavy sleepers – Heavy sleepers over 230 pounds are likely to find this bed too soft. We think this group should focus on a firmer bed, possibly one with an innerspring coil unit for added support.
• Too soft for stomach sleeping – We think most stomach sleepers would find the Emma mattress too soft. The foam does a good job of relieving pressure but may not support the hips well enough in this position. 

Testing the Emma Mattress: How It Performed 

When we test mattresses, we focus on certain factors to help sleepers evaluate if a particular model would fit their needs. First, we check how it feels in various positions. Does it support the heaviest points? Does it relieve pressure in sensitive areas? 

We also test other preference-based features like temperature regulation, bounce, edge support, and motion isolation. 

For more on our testing methodology, visit our product review process page.

Sleeping Positions for Different Body Types

This bed has a weight limit of 286 pounds, which is important to remember if you sleep with a partner Although its weight limit is not an issue for lightweight people, average-weight partners may exceed this limit. 

Going over what the manufacturer claims is its weight limit may alter the way this mattress performs. Heavier people are unlikely to find it supportive enough, and the mattress may sag faster. 

Weight	Side SleepersIcon	Back SleepersIcon	Stomach SleepersIcon
Lightweight Sleepers (-130 lbs)	★★★	★★★	★★★
Average-Weight Sleepers (130-230 lbs)	★★☆	★★☆	★☆☆
Heavyweight Sleepers (+230 lbs)	☆☆☆	☆☆☆	☆☆☆

Side Sleepers

• Lightweight Sleepers – We think this mattress is ideal for petite side sleepers, especially those with shoulder tenderness. The targeted support should allow them to sink in for pressure relief while the hips remain elevated for proper spine alignment.
• Average-Weight Sleepers – Average-weight side sleepers should feel the same benefits, although those closer to 230 pounds are likely to prefer a firmer mattress. 
• Heavyweight Sleepers – Heavy side sleepers would sink too deeply into the bed’s comfort layer, making it harder to reposition and likely throwing the spine out of alignment. 

Back Sleepers

• Lightweight Sleepers – Lightweight back sleepers should feel nicely supported by the Airgocell® layer. We think they’re a perfect group to experience a balance of pressure relief and support. 
• Average-Weight Sleepers – Some average-weight back sleepers may prefer more support in the lumbar area, but we think most should experience a healthy sleep posture with their spine neutral. 
• Heavyweight Sleepers – We think heavy back sleepers need a firmer bed that offers more support for the lower back. 

Stomach Sleepers

• Lightweight Sleepers – Lightweight stomach sleepers should enjoy the feel and firmness of this bed. Most people under 130 pounds should feel nicely hugged by the comfort layer that also keeps their hips from sinking too deeply. 
• Average-Weight Sleepers – We’d recommend a firmer mattress to average-weight stomach sleepers, especially those closer to 230 pounds. Emma is likely too soft to support the hips in this position. 
• Heavyweight Sleepers – We think heavy sleepers are better off using a firmer, more supportive bed for stomach sleeping. 

This bed is a great fit for people with pressure buildup as long as you’re comfortable with the deeper cradle. The bed aims to be able to support any type of sleeper with its intuitive pressure relief, but if you are carrying extra weight or prefer a firmer feel, it might feel a little too soft. The foams do a good job of relieving pressure as they offer a deep cradle in all the sensitive areas like the hips, shoulders, and knees. 

Is the Emma Mattress Good for Pain Relief? 

The Emma’s firmness is right on the middle of our scale, but we’d say the feel is overall softer than a true medium. As mentioned, we feel it’s more of a medium-soft feel. As such, Emma can be good at relieving pain, but this depends on what kind of pain you’re experiencing, as well as your body shape, weight, and preferred sleeping position. 

Emma’s softer foams cradle the hips and shoulders to help pain and pressure from building up in these areas. However, it may not be best for back pain in certain cases.

Back Pain 

People with back pain, especially back sleepers, often seek a firmer bed that doesn’t allow as much sinkage. If you’re closer to 230 pounds, your hips are likely to sink too deeply into the mattress, causing lower back pain. However, the medium soft feel should feel nice for most side and back sleepers weighing up to 150 pounds. This group is likely to experience a balance of support and sinkage thanks to the HRX materials combined with softer foams on top.

Hip Pain 

Hip pain can make it impossible to sleep on the side, but we think this Emma mattress should help relieve some of this discomfort for side sleepers. The softer foams shape around your body to cradle the hips. Depending on your exact weight, you may sink more or less, so be careful because if you’re too heavy for the mattress and your hips sink too deeply, you could wake up in even more pain.

Shoulder Pain 

Shoulder pain is another common issue. As with hip pain, it’s typically worse when sleeping on the side, especially if you prefer the side of your problem shoulder. In this case, the Emma mattress can help cradle the shoulder, similarly to how it cradles hips and other sensitive pressure points. If you switch to the back, you should experience enough support to keep the shoulders aligned with the hips.

The Emma is an all-foam bed, and they don’t usually offer as much support as hybrids or innerspring mattresses. Firmer foam mattresses do, but the Emma is on the softer side, so you’ll likely find more sinkage on this one. 

We think this bed is perfect for those who want to feel like they’re sleeping ‘in’ the bed more than ‘on’ it. The foams cradle the body, creating that cozy, deep hug, but you won’t feel any support until you pass the comfort layers. When pressing into this mattress, we were able to push through to the third layer, which is the bed’s support layer made of HXR material.

So, yes, you should feel supported but also cradled, especially if you’re closer to 150 pounds and above. That being said, it’s not going to be as supportive for those above 150 pounds, who will want something firmer and more substantial to keep them lifted.

For those who share their beds with a partner, restless children, or pets, motion transfer is not a feature to gloss over. Emma’s layers of soft memory foam absorb shocks, allowing average motion isolation. Motion isolation means that movement on one side of the bed is isolated to that area.

However, because the Emma is on the softer side, it may still carry more movement than firmer all-foam beds. When we tested it for motion isolation, we noticed the glass on the other side of the bed moved a little, which means you may feel some of your partner’s movement if you’re a light sleeper.

All-foam beds are typically not very cooling, which is why most brands use additional features and materials to help with temperature regulation. The Emma is made entirely out of foam, but the company incorporated cooling Airgocell® technology to help the air move through the mattress. This gel-like foam is designed to pull heat away from your body so that you don’t feel it building up on the mattress’s surface. 

Although this helps, it may not be enough for extremely hot sleepers. Those who tend to overheat and sweat during the night may want a cooling cover or a coil design for added breathability.

When pressing into the top layers, you can feel the counter-pressure coming from the lower foams. There’s not much bounce on top. This is somewhat common for memory foam mattresses since the material does a good job of absorbing most of the movement. 

the Emma is softer, so you may notice the foams return to their shape faster than in the case of firmer beds, but we wouldn’t call it a bouncy mattress. 

Bed-in-a-box options, especially all-foam ones, are not generally known for their strong edge support, and Emma performs on par with the industry standard.

This softer bed allows sleepers to sink in and cozy up without overheating, but for those who prefer to sleep right on the edge, the sinkage might not provide enough support. We think solo sleepers and couples who like plenty of space may consider getting a larger size so no one has to sleep right on the edge.

Most couples look for features like motion isolation, cooling, edge support, and possibly a little bounce. We think this Emma mattress may be a good fit for some couples, although those with particularly different sleeping habits might prefer something more versatile. 

For example, the Emma is softer, so if your partner is heavier or a stomach sleeper, they may not like it. On top of that, it doesn’t have the best motion isolation, which can be a problem if your partner is a restless sleeper.

Preference-Based Features

• Removable Cover

The Emma comes with a soft-to-the-touch cover that adds a touch of luxury and enhanced comfort. However, what really stands out is that it’s removable, which makes it a breeze to wash. 

• Bed-in-a-Box Shipping

Bed-in-a-box shipping is highly popular, even among luxury brands. The Emma comes wrapped in plastic and packed in a box, so it’s not as cumbersome and difficult to move from your front door to the bedroom. 

• Vegan Materials

The Emma is an all-foam bed that features certified foam and no animal-based materials or glues. The mattress is completely vegan.

• Adjustable Base Compatible

This 10-inch bed works on all kinds of foundations and bases, including an adjustable one.

Construction: What’s Inside the Emma? 

The climate-regulating top cover is made with polyester and spandex that is designed to breathe and increase air circulation while keeping out heat and moisture. The durable cover is intended to completely protect the mattress, and it can be zipped off and put directly into a washing machine. As the cover is durable, additional protection is likely unnecessary for most circumstances.

After decompressing, the bed stands 10 inches high and is made up of three layers of foam.

• The comfort layer is made of Airgocell® foam that was designed to quickly respond to movement and pressure. This technology helps to increase the responsiveness of the material while contouring to cradle curves. The structure of the foam was specifically created to act like gel as it conducts heat away from the body.
• The transition layer is made of Visco-Elastic memory foam, allowing you to sink into a deeper cradle that should specifically match the pressure you apply to the bed. This foam is meant to be progressive, meaning it should supply the correct level of support for each body type.
• The support layer is made of HRX material, which provides counter-pressure to relieve pressure points while offering targeted support in the shoulder and lower back regions. This should allow side and back sleepers to sink in only in the right places for optimal spinal alignment.

Unboxing & Off-Gassing

This bed arrives in a box, which we think makes it easier to move from point A to point B. However, the box may still be heavy for many people, so we suggest you have a friend or a family member help you move it around. 

The mattress is compressed inside this box, so you’ll have to let it reach its full size before using it. This should take several hours, but we suggest you give it a full day. This way, any off-gassing odors will also dissipate during this time.

Certifications

• Eco-Friendly Certifications – The foams in this bed are CertiPUR-US® certified. CertiPUR-US® is a third-party program that ensures the foams meet rigorous health and safety standards. This means they don’t contain harmful substances like ozone depleters, PBDEs, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates. They should also have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

Coupons, Trials, Warranties, and Shipping

• Shipping – Emma ships for free throughout the continental United States.
• Trial – Emma changed their trial period, now offering 365 nights instead of 100 nights. 
• Warranty – Every Emma mattress, including the Emma Original, comes with a 10-year warranty covering the dimensional stability and durability of the core materials.
• Return Policy – Returns are free, so you can return the bed at any point during the trial, and the company will refund your money. 

Sizes & Prices

Size	Dimensions (inches)	Price (w/o discount)
Twin	39” x 75” x 10”	$599
Twin XL	39” x 80” x 10”	$835
Full	54” x 75” x 10”	$889
Queen	60” x 80” x 10”	$1,053
King	76” x 80” x 10”	$1,325
Cali King	72” x 84” x 10”	$1,325

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is the Emma Original mattress good?

We think the Emma Original is a good mattress that could fit certain sleepers, particularly lightweight people and some average-weight sleepers. Additionally, it’s a more budget-friendly option for those looking to not spend too much on a new bed.

Is the Emma bed worth it?

We think the Emma bed is worth it if you’re a lighter-weight sleeper and are after an affordable mattress that provides good pressure relief. However, this bed won’t work for everyone so be sure to check our recommendations for weight and sleep position to get a better understanding of whether this mattress is right for you specifically. 

How many years does an Emma mattress last?

The Emma mattress should last between eight and 10 years with proper care and use. We suggest you rotate the mattress occasionally to ensure even wear and tear and avoid jumping on the mattress to prevent early sagging. 

Emma vs. Other Brands

Emma vs. Bear Original

Who We Recommend the Emma For

• Lightweight people
• Side sleepers
• Single individuals

Who We Recommend the Bear Original For

• Couples
• Athletes
• Back sleepers

Read our Bear Original mattress review if you think the Bear Original is right for you

Emma vs. Nectar Memory Foam

Who We Recommend the Emma For

• Those who want a removable cover
• People with pressure buildup
• Sleepers with hip pain

Who We Recommend the Nectar Memory Foam For

• Hot sleepers
• Those who want a Split-King size
• People interested in a longer warranty

Check our full review of the Nectar mattress if you think this bed is right for you

Emma Original vs. Other Emma Models 

Emma Original vs. Emma Hybrid Comfort

Who We Recommend the Emma For

• Memory foam fans
• People with shoulder pain
• Budget shoppers

Who We Recommend the Emma Hybrid Comfort For

• People who prefer a hybrid bed
• Those who want a taller bed
• Hot sleepers

Check our Emma Hybrid Comfort review if you want to learn more about this bed

Emma Original vs. Emma Shift Mattress

Who We Recommend the Emma For

• People who prefer softer beds
• Those after a traditional memory foam feel
• Those who need more size options

Who We Recommend the Emma Shift Mattress For

• Hot sleepers
• Couples
• People who want multiple firmness options

Our Verdict 

We think this mattress excels at pressure relief, especially for lighter-weight sleepers who often struggle to find beds that can adequately provide this for them, and thanks to the 365-night trial, there’s more than enough time to try it out.

The product’s unique materials and technology separate it from traditional bed-in-a-box options, providing a cooler memory foam bed for a more comfortable night’s rest. 

Although it doesn’t have the highest score, it still offers some great qualities for specific shoppers, such as lightweight sleepers, people seeking pressure relief, and consumers on a budget. The Emma earned an overall score of 3.3 out of 5. 

Olivera Jancikin

Content Writer

About Author

Olivera is a content writer for Sleep Advisor and is enthusiastic about sleep. She firmly believes in the benefits of daytime naps on top of getting a full 8-hour sleep at night.

Combination Sleeper