Emma is one of the most recognisable mattress brands in the UK and is popular for crafting comfy, affordable beds for all sleeping styles. The Emma Hybrid Airgrid (previously called the Emma Elite), features Emma's signature Airgrid technology to deliver a cushioning and bouncy feel.
It provides excellent pressure relief for sleeping on your side, which is why it features in our guide to the best mattress for side sleepers. Since it's name change, the Emma Hybrid Airgrid is around 50% cheaper, with the RRP of a UK double currently being £1,008 (was £2,049).
Type: Hybrid
Materials: Memory foam, pocket springs, AirGrid technology and other foams
Brand-rated firmness (1-10): 8 (medium-soft)
Height: 27 cm
Trial period: 200 nights
Warranty: 10 years
RRP: from £679 at Emma
The 27cm tall, seven-layered mattress includes pressure-relieving foams that cradle your body for that deep cushioning feeling; a layer of ‘Infinity’ springs for spinal support. This is topped with the Airgrid layer: a top comfort layer made from a matrix of stretchy and responsive gel material.
We had the chance to test the Emma Hybrid Airgrid after its rebranding and analyse its performance again. Our full review will follow after a three week testing period, but here are my initial thoughts after sleeping on the Emma Hybrid Airgrid for a week…
Emma Hybrid Airgrid mattress: Price, trial, warranty
Before its name change, the the Emma Hybrid Airgrid previously came at a premium price (the RRP of a UK single being £1,389.) While this has reduced considerably, the Airgrid remains Emma's top-of-the-line model overall.
Below are the prices for the Emma Hybrid Airgrid as of May 2025:
- UK Single: £679
- UK Double: £1,008
- UK King: £1,314
- UK Super King: £1,667
The mattress comes with a free bedding bundle worth up to £337 which includes cloud pillows, a mattress protector and a cloud duvet. The addition of these sleep essentials makes it even better value at this price.
If you're hoping to buy an Emma mattress at the best possible price, we'd recommend waiting for major sale events such as Black Friday or Boxing Day when we typically see prices drop by up to 20%. It's always worth bookmarking our Emma mattress sales for flash sales and discounts.
The Emma Hybrid Airgrid comes with a 10-year guarantee, 200-night stress-free sleep trial and free delivery and returns. This is standard for a brand like Emma but it can't be deemed the best in the market, compared with Nectar and Dreamcloud which offer a 365-night trial with a lifetime warranty.
Emma Hybrid Airgrid mattress: unboxing and setup
Emma offers free no-contact delivery within 3-7 working days. We received timely updates from the representative which made it easier to keep track of the delivery process. My UK double size Emma Hybrid Airgrid mattress arrived on my doorstep all packed and rolled up in a box.
While I didn't expect a hybrid bed to be lightweight, I struggled to move the Emma (weighing 36.2kg) even an inch, let alone carry it upstairs to my room on my own. It seemed an impossible task and I had to seek help from my housemate. I definitely think this is a two-person job and hence would recommend getting help, especially if you have ordered a bigger Airgrid.
Once in my room, I was able to drag it and place it on my bed foundation. Most boxed mattresses do not come with any particular instruction but unboxing the Airgrid was fairly easy. The expansion was quick and appeared ready to be slept on, even though the brand recommends giving it a full 24 hours.
One concern I had at this stage was the potent off-gassing — the odour the mattress gives off while expanding. This was really strong, so much so that I had to crack open the window. So if you're not a fan of the smell, it might be wise to opt for our top mattress in the guide instead, the Simba Hybrid Ultra.
Emma Hybrid Airgrid mattress: My first week
Night 1: Adapting to a medium-soft hybrid bed
Height: 5' 4 1/2"
Weight: 141 lbs
Sleep style: Combi (side/back)
Sleep issues: Occasional lower back pain
Share a bed: No
The Emma Hybrid Airgrid is a bouncier and more plush mattress than the usual store-bought ones that I'm used to. This meant that I instantly loved it for side sleeping. Also, there wasn't any break-in time required to experience the full cushioning benefits of the Airgrid.
Emma previously rated the mattress to be a 7.5 out of 10 for firmness (10 being the softest on Emma's scale) but has updated this to 8 after the rebranding, and we agree. Like a softer feel to your bed? The Emma Airgrid might be your pick with the soft, moisture wicking and easily removable and washable UltraDry top cover being a great add-on.
The Airgrid technology is also designed to maintain a neutral temperature which I think delivered right on the first night.
Nights 2-10: Lacks targeted lumbar support for back pain relief
After over a week of sleeping on the Emma Hybrid Airgrid, I think it's a great mattress overall, which largely lives up to its claims. Comparing with my notes from the first night that I slept on the mattress, I still think it's perfect for side sleeping.
This is because of the five foam layers that are designed to provide adaptive comfort, support and cradling pressure relief. Being a combination sleeper, I've found that the mattress also delivers a "floating" weightless sensation, especially when I'm changing positions during the night, thanks to the bouncy yet supportive Airgrid technology.
While I loved it for side sleeping, I don't think the Airgrid lives up to the expectations of providing enough lumbar support (lower-back) to soothe aches or pains. Particularly on nights that I struggled with back pain, I felt my hips sinking in, which indicated that the low density and SupportBase foams weren't enough to achieve the right firmness to address this concern.
The Airgrid does not retain heat like a normal memory foam bed but that doesn't mean it's cooling, either. Due to my faulty heat settings, I did wake up once or twice during these few weeks while sleeping on the Emma Hybrid Airgrid. However, this wasn't an issue at all once I popped on a cooling mattress protector, which frankly gave me the perfect night's sleep.
The edge support, on the other hand, is average. I could feel that the edges weren't sturdy enough, but at no point did I slide off while trying to pick up a bottle of water kept on the side.
Emma Hybrid Airgrid Mattress: early impressions
After sleeping on it for a couple of weeks, I am indeed convinced that the Emma Airgrid is a great choice for those who love a soft, cushioning bed.
It conforms to your body and cradles your form, working particularly well for side-sleeping. This hybrid mattress provides a neutral temperature and also features a moisture-wicking soft top cover, which could potentially prevent any night sweats or discomfort. However, hot sleepers might need something that offers better breathability and cooling, such as the Panda Hybrid Mattress Pro.
While we do not recommend it for those who struggle with back pain, the Emma Hybrid Airgrid mattress itself will not cause aches or pains, thanks to the combination of comfy foams and supportive springs.
We'll be further analysing the performance of the Airgrid mattress, using our standardised in-house testing measures to gauge factors such as pressure relief and motion transfer, in the coming weeks. So stay tuned for the full review.
From what I've experienced so far, though, if you're back or side sleeper looking for a great all-rounder bed with a premium construction, the Emma Hybrid Airgrid mattress might just be what you need.
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