The Emma Black Friday deals are still live – but which Emma mattress should you buy?

Ruth Jones
·6 min read
The corner of an Emma Original mattress with bedding on top.
The corner of an Emma Original mattress with bedding on top.

Emma Sleep is a hugely popular UK bed brand brand, and it's starting to make waves in the US. Best known for its affordable memory foam mattress – the Emma Original – Emma has recently expanded the range with an equally affordable hybrid.

There's no better time to buy an Emma mattress than Black Friday, when the best mattress brands release some of the lowest prices we see all year. Our Cyber Monday mattress deals roundup is a handy way to navigate the best savings. But before you start 'adding to cart', we're here to help you discover the Emma range and find the perfect mattress for you, in the US and the UK...

We're focusing on the US here, but Emma also sells in the UK. The UK range is highly rated and hugely popular. In the UK, there's up to 65% off in the Black Friday sale.

Should you buy the Emma Original mattress?

The Emma Original mattress on a bed in a bedroom
The Emma Original mattress on a bed in a bedroom

Emma made a name for itself with the Original mattress, an all-foam design that uses thick layers of cushioning to create a sleep surface that really hugs the body. It's ideal for side sleepers who like to sink in to the bed. In our Emma Original mattress review, our tester said:

"The Emma Mattress is a reliable, well made, contouring all-foam bed-in-a-box. It's ultra-comfortable – especially for side sleepers who'll appreciate the gently cradling memory foam on their shoulders and hips – although can trap body heat slightly, so perhaps one avoided for very hot sleepers. Factoring in the regular sales, you're getting excellent value for money."

Buy the Emma Original if...

✅ You're on a budget: The Emma Original is a lower mid-range mattress, and in the Black Friday sale, it's even more affordable than usual. This is one of the lowest-priced mattresses we actually recommend, so perfect for those with a smaller budget.

✅ You like to sink in to your bed: This is a bit of a softer mattress, which allows you to sink in, relieving pressure on the hips and shoulders. This provides excellent cushioning around the joints, and is most comfortable for side sleepers.

✅ You share a bed: Layers of thick foam help prevent motion from traveling. The Emma Original's motion isolation is excellent, so if your partner tosses and turns, you won't feel it.

Don't buy the Emma Original if...

❌ You sleep hot: Despite the breathable mattress cover, the thick foam of the Emma Original can hold onto heat. If you struggle with overheating at night, here are some good alternatives:
– US: Cocoon Chill mattress,  35% off in the Black Friday sale (read our review)
– UK: Brook + Wilde Elite 55% off for Black Friday (read our review)

❌ You sleep on your front or back: If you sleep on your stomach or back, the deep cushioning of the Emma Original won't offer sufficient support, unless you're very lightweight. Here are some good alternatives:
_ UK: Emma NextGen Premium, 50% off for Black Friday (read our review)
_ US: DreamCloud mattress, up to 40% off (read our review)

Should you buy the Emma NextGen Premium mattress?

Publicity photo of the Emma NextGen Premium mattress in a bedroom
Publicity photo of the Emma NextGen Premium mattress in a bedroom

The NextGen Premium has a five-layer design that's mostly coils, with a little bit of foam. Most of the inside of this mattress is taken up by an 18cm layer of pocket springs of varying gauges, zoned to provide the right level of support for different parts of your body. Above this, you'll find three layers of foam, for cushioning and pressure relief. In our Emma NextGen Premium review, our tester had this to say:

"The Emma NextGen Premium mattress combines a deep spring layer with cushioning memory foam. I found it delivered excellent breathability and had no issues with overheating during my review period. The medium-firm feel should suit most people, although some lightweight side sleepers might prefer something softer. There is a little motion transfer and the edge support could definitely be improved, but overall it's a decent all-rounder, and good value if you buy during one of the regular sales."

If you don't mind the potential for a slightly warmer feel, lightweight side sleepers will likely get on better with the Emma Original (above), and the motion isolation is better on that model, too.

Should you buy the Emma Hybrid Comfort mattress?

A man lies on an Emma Hybrid Comfort mattress
A man lies on an Emma Hybrid Comfort mattress

The Emma Hybrid Comfort is an exciting change of direction from Emma, adapting their popular memory foam mattress into a hybrid design. The addition of pocket coils improves breathability and adds firmer support. There's 55% off in the Emma Black Friday sale, with the queen only $499.

Buy the Emma Hybrid Comfort if...

✅ You like to move around: The Hybrid Comfort uses 7 ergonomic zones to provide pressure relief where you need it most. The zones are designed to adapt to your movements, so tossers and turners stay supported.

✅ You overheat at night: While this isn't a specialty cooling mattress, the hybrid design keeps air circulating for a cooler sleep, while the UltraDry cover helps sweat evaporate.

✅ You want a hybrid on a budget: Hybrid mattresses don't come much cheaper than this, especially at this level of quality. Emma runs sales throughout the year, but we don't expect to see the Hybrid Comfort for a better price than this.

Don't buy the Emma Hybrid Comfort if...

❌ You want to sink into your bed: Emma doesn't give an official firmness rating, but it's a safe bet that the Hybrid Comfort doesn't have the super-hug of the Emma Original. Our Helix Midnight mattress review rated this softer hybrid bed highly for side sleepers, and the Black Friday offer takes 25% off MSRP.

❌ You want a premium feel: If you want a luxury sleep setup, the Emma Hybrid Comfort won't quite cut it. In our DreamCloud mattress review we were impressed with the premium feel of the affordable design. A queen is just $799 in the Black Friday sale.

Should you buy the Emma Shift mattress?

The Emma Shift is the most recent addition to the Emma line-up, and it's completely different from what came before. Moving away from the affordable comfort Emma is known for, this is a high-tech mattress at a premium price. The Emma Shift is an adjustable mattress – simply twist the valve to change the comfort. What's more, you can adjust both sides of the bed to a different firmness.

So, should you buy the Emma Shift? It's primarily aimed at couples with different sleep styles, but single sleepers with achey joints might find some benefit. If you and your partner can't decide on a mattress, this might be the perfect choice. Assuming you can get over the price. Even with the Black Friday discount, a queen is $1,439.