Emma Performance 26 reviewed

The Emma Performance 26 is the slimmest mattress in Emma’s premium Performance line: 26 cm of AirGrid polymer lattice and two memory foam layers over zoned pocket springs, sold from £779 in a UK single. We tested this exact model at home. It is medium-firm, one of the coolest Emma mattresses we have slept on, and priced well above the Original range.

Performance 26, 28 and 30 compared

All three Performance depths share the same layers. According to the FAQ on Emma’s Performance 26 product page, only the firmer MemoryAdapt layer and the SupportBase layer get thicker as the mattress gets taller, and taller means plusher. Prices are Emma’s regular prices, checked on 28 September 2026.

Unboxing and setting up

The Performance arrives with a welcome box holding samples of the AirGrid lattice and the MemoryAdapt foam, and the mattress itself comes in a large carry bag with handles. A UK double weighs 38.4 kg according to Emma, so set it up with two people. Emma asks you to allow 24 hours for full expansion and to air the room for up to 72 hours.

Comfort and firmness in our test

The Performance 26 is not a mattress you sink into. The top is comfortable, the support underneath is serious, and the AirGrid layer follows the body without leaving a dip. On your back the pelvis and lower back are well held. Average and heavier side sleepers get the most from the comfort layers, while very light sleepers may find it firm at first. The pocket springs limit how much you feel a partner move.

Emma’s website says little about densities, but the booklet with our test mattress does. It lists 200 kg/m³ for the AirGrid layer, 32 kg/m³ and 45 kg/m³ for the two parts of the MemoryAdapt layer, 55 kg/m³ for the firmer MemoryAdapt and 32 kg/m³ for the SupportBase foam. Those are good figures at this price.

For back pain, the firm-but-not-hard support is the point. A randomised trial of 313 adults in The Lancet (Kovacs et al., 2003) found that a medium-firm mattress led to better outcomes for pain in bed (odds ratio 2.36) and disability (2.10) after 90 days than a firm one.

Temperature

It was one of the coolest Emma mattresses in our test. Emma says the Performance 26 showed a 72% higher capacity to level out temperature spikes than an all-foam mattress, in thermal insulation tests by an accredited institute in Kiel in January and February 2026. Heat matters for sleep quality, because a review in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology (2012) found that heat exposure under bedding increases wakefulness and cuts slow-wave and REM sleep.

Cover and care

The cover is one of the nicest we have seen from Emma, soft with an elegant quilted pattern. The white top, in 67% polyester, 32% polyethylene and 1% elastane, washes at 40°C, while the grey base is dry clean only. At this price we would have liked a more premium fabric such as Tencel, and we would use a mattress protector from day one.

Which depth to choose

The 26 cm is the most affordable Performance and suits light to average builds who want support without extra plushness. The Performance 28 is the most versatile, and the Performance 30 gives the deepest cushioning. All three come with a 200-night trial and a 10-year guarantee.