Emma Original Topper reviewed

The Emma Original Topper is a 6 cm foam topper you can flip: one side is softer and more cushioning, the other firmer and flatter, so you choose the feel that suits you and turn it over if you change your mind. Prices start at £169 for a UK single, with a 100-night trial and a 10-year guarantee. We have not slept on this one; our view comes from its build and from our test of the thicker Original Pro Topper. Think of it as a way to fine-tune a mattress that is nearly right, a touch too hard or a touch too soft, and as the cheaper of Emma’s two toppers.

How the Original Topper works

Emma’s Original Topper product page describes two foams. The breathable Airgocell side is for side sleepers who want more give at the shoulders and hips, and the HRX ZeroGravity side is for back and stomach sleepers who want a firmer surface. Emma’s FAQ puts both foams at about 2.5 cm, so the two feels are equally deep. The 6 cm height includes a 1 cm cover of 98% polyester and 2% elastane, which zips off and washes at 40°C, and the underside has an anti-slip coating.

Emma’s two toppers compared

Regular prices at Emma, checked on 28 September 2026.

When a topper helps, and when it does not

A topper changes the feel of a mattress but cannot repair it. Bed Advice UK, the consumer site of the National Bed Federation, recommends a topper at least 5 cm deep, since anything thinner is unlikely to make a noticeable difference, so the Original Topper clears that bar by 1 cm. The same guide warns that on a mattress with deep dips, any topper will quickly follow those dips. Emma’s own FAQ says the same, and adds that a topper makes most sense when a mattress is simply too firm.

The two-sided design is the main advantage over one-feel foam toppers, particularly if you are unsure whether you want softer or firmer. The downside is practical. Turning and refitting a double topper is a two-person job, and there is no cooling layer, so warm sleepers are better served by the 9 cm Emma Original Pro Topper with its graphite foam.

Sizes and terms

Emma’s trial page gives toppers a 100-night trial and its guarantee page promises up to 10 years on toppers. Delivery is free in 2 to 5 working days, and the topper arrives rolled, so give it a few hours to recover its shape before you sleep on it.