Emma Performance reviewed

The Emma Performance is one of the coolest and most comfortable Emma mattresses we have tested. It is one mattress sold in three heights, 26, 28 and 30 cm. Every version puts Emma’s AirGrid polymer lattice and two memory foam layers over zoned pocket springs, and the medium-firm 26 cm starts at £779 for a UK single.

26, 28 or 30 cm: what the extra height buys

According to the FAQ on Emma’s Performance collection pages, the three heights share the same layer structure. Only two layers grow, the firmer MemoryAdapt foam and the SupportBase foam beneath it. Both are support layers, so the extra height goes into depth of support, while the AirGrid top and the softer memory foam above the firmer layer stay the same. We slept on the 26 only, so for the 28 and 30 we judge from that construction.

Across the seven sizes the 28 costs 9 to 13% more than the 26, and the 30 costs 37 to 43% more. These are Emma’s regular UK prices, checked on 5 October 2026. Two of the seven sizes, 140x200 and 160x200, are continental sizes that do not fit a standard UK frame.

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. It is heavy, 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

Our test mattress was the 26 cm, and it 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. The 200 kg/m³ AirGrid and the 55 kg/m³ firmer memory foam are strong figures for a premium mattress.

For back pain, the firm-but-not-hard support of the 26 is the point. A review of 47 studies by Caggiari and colleagues, published in July 2026 in the Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, found that the evidence most consistently favours medium-firm mattresses over very firm or very soft ones, linking them with better pressure distribution and sleep quality, less morning stiffness and lower back pain intensity.

Temperature

Breathability was excellent in our test, and this is the Emma we would point warm sleepers to first. Emma backs that with a figure: it says the Performance 26 showed a 72% higher capacity to level out temperature spikes than an all-foam mattress, in thermal tests Emma commissioned in early 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 height to choose

The 26 cm we tested suits average builds, and average and heavier side sleepers did best on it. Our team considers the 28 cm the best balance for most sleepers and for couples, judging from its construction, and the 30 cm is for heavier or tall sleepers who want the deepest support. Very light sleepers who want something softer should look at the Emma Original Elite, which Emma rates medium soft, rather than a taller Performance. As the Caggiari review notes, body type, age and sleeping position should shape the final choice.

Emma publishes no weight limit for any height. A 30 cm super king weighs 59.6 kg on its own, so check that your bed frame can carry it, and use slats no more than 7 cm apart, as Emma specifies for all three. Whichever height you pick, Emma includes a 200-night trial, a 10-year guarantee and free delivery in 2 to 5 working days. The 200 nights start on the day of delivery, and if the height you chose feels wrong, you book a return through Emma’s returns portal, its courier collects the mattress for free and Emma refunds you in full.