Emma Zero Gravity Mattress review

[UPDATE (May 2024): The price of this product in all sizes has dropped, so we've edited the price section to reflect that change. We have also edited parts of the original review in relation to this change.]

Emma is a German company that has won awards worldwide for affordable yet comfortable mattresses, and is one of the more popular brands in Australia. Emma doesn't just sell mattresses — there is also a large range of other related products available, such as beds, bedding, bedside tables, couches, tables and more. 

The Emma mattress lineup has three models beyond the original Comfort mattress, which all offer premium features. There's the upgraded Emma Comfort Premium, the Diamond Hybrid mattress, and then the latest offering — the Zero Gravity mattress. Emma has a standard 100-night trial period, so you can make sure the mattress is just right, or return it for free and get a full refund. Delivery is free (and next day in most metro areas), which is good news, as there is no option to check the mattress out in person before purchase. 

Emma sent us the queen size Zero Gravity mattress for this review and, just to make sure we tested it thoroughly, we slept on it in both a house and a houseboat. 

Emma Zero Gravity Mattress review in brief

• AirGrid layer for airflow
• Removable and washable cover
• 10-year warranty

Everyone has their own sleep style, so the perfect mattress for one person might not suit another. The Emma Zero Gravity mattress tries to solve this by making it all about airflow. That's thanks to a fairly unique AirGrid layer, as well as underlying pocket springs. The idea is that it’s more breathabe for those who tend to sleep hot, in both summer and winter. If you opt for a return within the trial period, the mattress will be donated to charity, and a full refund issued. The Zero Gravity mattress comes in single, king single, double, queen and king sizes. 

We made sure to include both sweltering summer heat and cool autumn nights in our testing. As promised, the mattress was noticeably cooler than foam or even other hybrid mattresses we've tested. The increased breathability is especially apparent on scorching nights, where the bit of extra heat transfer makes getting to sleep much easier. In cooler weather, we found it helped reduce the chances of waking up clammy — especially after inadvertently snuggling under too many layers.  

From the top down, the Zero Gravity mattress has a removable, washable cover, then a (non-removable) netting over a layer of  what Emma calls “Point-elastic Airgocell” foam that helps regulate temperature by absorbing and evaporating sweat. Under that is the Zero Gravity AirGrid layer, which provides cushioning while maintaining open channels for better air circulation. The AirGrid is supported by a layer of HRX foam to distribute pressure and, under that, the mattress has individually encased pocket springs, followed by another layer of HRX foam. The result is a very uniquely constructed mattress that stands out compared to its closest competition. 

The mattress is described as “like floating in space” and while we would not go that far, it is very comfortable. It's by no means a soft mattress, but the Zero Gravity isn't too firm either, and mixes comfort and support well. The AirGrid and other layers performed as promised, and we found the mattress cooler than any other mattress we've tested.

We found that it took longer than expected to adjust to the mattress. It wasn’t uncomfortable in any way, but did have quite a different feel, and the AirGrid layer creates a noticeable texture and tiny amount of noise when moving. Overall the Zero Gravity mattress did a great job of maintaining spine alignment no matter how we slept, as well as helping ease lower back pain. While we loved having a zip-off removable cover, the quality of the fabric and stitching on the cover did not match the premium pricing. The mattress cover has side handles, but the single row of stitching used to attach them is rather weak. We also found the edge support on the mattress lacking. 

On the plus side, movement isolation is excellent, which means restless sleepers won’t disturb a partner easily. The hybrid nature of the Zero Gravity mattress leaves it heavier than most mattresses that have a similar 25cm height, and the queen size we tested weighs in at a hefty 46.7kg. As a comparison, both the other Emma hybrid pocket spring mattresses in a queen are about 15kg lighter. We tested the mattress on both solid slats and a lift-up storage bed, and on the latter, the pneumatics struggled to support the weight. The single-sized version weighs 25.1kg, the king single is 32.2kg, the double is 38.5kg and the king is a whopping 56.4kg. 

The RRP of the Zero Gravity mattress is quite high, but Emma has a range of discounts available regularly that make the price much more palatable. Read on for our full thoughts, because our experience with the Emma Zero Gravity mattress was not without faults. But overall it’s a pretty good option — especially for those who tend to sleep hot.

Emma Zero Gravity Mattress review: price and deals

• On the higher end of the price scale
• Discounts available during sales and major events
• 100-night trial

Compared to the other Emma mattresses, the Zero Gravity mattress offers a lot of premium features — albeit for a much higher price. For example, at the time of writing, the Comfort mattress in a queen has an RRP of AU$1,249, while the Diamond Hybrid mattress is AU$1,719 and the Zero Gravity mattress is AU$2,899. Emma pricing can be confusing, and the website RRP dropped while we completed this review. There are also additional discounts available for signing up to the Emma mailing list and, during the test period, there were offers ranging from 20% up to 55%. Students can get a 10% discount using Student Beans, but the offer can’t be combined with any other code, so has limited use. 

To make comparisons between models more complex, the Comfort and Diamond Hybrid mattresses also offer a “premium” upgrade version that is not shown on the Emma website mattress comparison page. 

While Emma mattresses are typically available for much less than the RRP, the cheapest we saw the Zero Gravity mattress in a queen was still over AU$2,000. In the broader mattress market the pricing is higher than other competing premium mattresses, though provides a unique set of features not found elsewhere. As a comparison in a queen size, the Eva Premium Adapt Mattress has an RRP of AU$1,640.

The price of the Emma mattresses includes free delivery, as well as a 100-night trial period that starts the day the mattress arrives. That's a pretty normal length of time in relation to most competing brands, though some bump that up to 120 or even 365 nights. If you do want to return the mattress, it is as simple as contacting Emma customer support, who will organise a free pickup by a charity if you live in a metro area. 

The Emma mattresses come with a 10-year warranty, which includes any sag more than 2.5cm, or any cracks or hollows in the foam. That’s pretty standard, depending on the mattress type, and gives decent peace of mind that your Emma mattress is going to be comfortable for a long time, or if not, you can have it replaced.

Emma Zero Gravity Mattress review: materials

• Washable cover
• Improved airflow
• Pocket spring support

The Emma Zero Gravity mattress is a hybrid mattress that combines a pocket spring layer, with foam and a rubber-like grid to create a mattress that provides a unique form of comfort. Foam mattresses are often valued for their soft, motion isolating properties, but can be quite warm. Pocket springs give better internal airflow so the mattress can breathe better, but don’t give that soft, cocooned feeling foam is known for. 

Hybrid mattresses attempt to blend the best of foam and pocket spring mattresses. The Emma Zero Gravity mattress takes it a step further and replaces some of the foam with unique internal layers to further improve airflow. The Emma Sleep website lists the materials used in the mattress, but not in great detail, and does not specify what exactly the Zero Gravity layer is made of. The site also doesn’t list the material certifications, as it is still going through the process of getting it all certified. 

From top to bottom, the mattress features a polyester and elastane cover, a fire sock cover, Airgocell Foam, the AirGrid Zero Gravity Layer, HRX foam, pockets springs, and then a final layer of HRX foam. 

So what is the AirGrid Zero Gravity Layer exactly? The Emma boffins are hush-hush on the exact formulation, but it’s a soft, rubber-like elastic polymer. This type of material has been used in the medical field for a long time, including in beds designed to help prevent and treat pressure ulcers. It’s also found in all sorts of other uses, such as cushioning in shoes, and more recently has started to be incorporated into home bedding products. 

The advantage of the AirGrid layer is that it has large open spaces to allow for air to circulate, transferring heat. It’s also highly elastic, and springs back into shape much more rapidly than foam. This means that when you move, it almost instantly conforms to your new body position. Compared to foam that tends to get harder the further it is squashed, the AirGrid material gives a very similar level of support even as it is compressed. This helps avoid any pressure points, while still giving excellent support overall. 

The downside is that the rubbery material has quite a different texture to foam and other plush materials, and the air channels mean it does not feel as even and smooth as foam. It also makes a little bit of noise when compressed deeply, as the rubbery surfaces ‘squeak’ on each other. By encasing the AirGrid layer in foam, Emma has mostly limited the downsides, while still capturing the supportive, breathable properties of the material.

Emma Zero Gravity Mattress review: Firmness and Comfort

• Increased breathability
• Tom’s Guide firmness rating of 6 out of 10
• Floating feeling

The Zero Gravity mattress is rated as medium-soft, and while we agree, it is definitely on the firmer end of the medium-soft scale. The top foam layers on the mattress have a reasonable amount of give, but you don’t sink in too far before feeling the layers underneath. They are still quite giving, and settling down into the mattress allows the AirGrid layer to do its job, and the mattress ends up feeling a lot softer than the first impression might suggest. Combined, the layers do a great job of adapting to your body and giving even support. This reviewer tends towards the occasional lower back issues, and the Zero Gravity mattress was above average at helping avoid aches and pains.   

Importantly for side sleepers, we found the mattress didn’t create any particular pressure points on our hips or shoulders. We did, however, find the mattress felt very slightly higher in the middle, and very slightly lower at the ends. This gave a distinct, and at first almost disconcerting, floating feeling compared to a more traditional mattress. If adjusting position, the faster rebound and linear support at depth provided a buoyancy not experienced with foam or pocket springs. It wasn’t bad in any way  — just different. 

We did a lot of careful testing on varied bed bases to confirm that as expected, the mattress is almost perfectly flat, and spine alignment was great. The effect we felt was most pronounced when first switching to the unique support style of the Zero Gravity mattress from a previous mattress, and slowly went away with time. We had a variety of people lay on the mattress to compare, and the effect is more noticeable for taller or heavier people (this reviewer is 6’6”), who naturally sinks further into a mattress. 

Fortunately the feelings of buoyancy did not change comfort levels, or lead to disturbed sleep. Once we had adapted, all that was left was excellent comfort and support. Notably, when sleeping on a different mattress after the review period, we noticed the opposite effect — our once perfectly comfortable mattress felt low in the middle, and movements felt sluggish and heavy. Overall, after adjusting, we preferred the feel of the Zero Gravity mattress.

The Zero Gravity mattress is meant to give maximum airflow, so considering it has a washable top layer, it could be used without a mattress protector. However, we found a breathable cotton or bamboo protector did not have an adverse effect during hot weather, and made it easier to keep the mattress clean. We also tested some of our favourite summer and winter mattress toppers. These combined well (and Emma also sells mattress protectors and toppers) with the mattress, though of course did reduce the overall breathability.

Emma Zero Gravity Mattress review: Performance

• Cool in hot weather
• Minimal motion transfer
• Great spine alignment

Some aspects of mattress comfort are very subjective, whereas other performance metrics are more easily quantified. We’ve gone through all the important factors to help provide a deeper understanding of the Emma Zero Gravity mattress features, and how they might help improve your sleep. 

It’s important to note that the Zero Gravity mattress is specifically aimed at those who want a more breathable mattress, so some buyers might prefer a warmer option, such as the Koala foam range.  Emma recommends buyers test the mattress for at least 3 or 4 weeks before considering a return, but we suggest you double that, as we found some comfort aspects only became apparent after a longer time period. Having a normal mattress to switch back to even for a night also really helps highlight the difference in feel.

Setup

Score: 4 / 5

For those who have not had the mattress-in-a-box adventure, it can be a fun experience. The Emma Zero Gravity mattress comes in a single large box, with handle cutouts on one end, and wheels on the other. The mattress is delivered to your door, but having two people available to actually set it up is very helpful. Keep in mind the heavier-than-average nature of the Zero Gravity mattress, which makes handling a little harder if you need to move it upstairs. 

The delivery and unpacking is a large part of the experience, and considering the Zero Gravity mattress is positioned as an “elite” option, we wish the box was a little stronger with better handles for carrying it around. On the plus side, it was otherwise decent, with no sharp bits or exposed metal that could damage your floors or walls during moving or setup. Once the mattress is out of the box and on the bed, it’s simply a matter of unrolling it, using the included cutter on the plastic wrap, and letting the mattress expand. It only takes a few minutes to reach almost full size, but the last little bit of expansion to the full dimensions can take a few hours — though it is fine to sleep on almost immediately.

The Zero Gravity mattress has side handles, though no end handles. This is a disappointment on a higher priced mattress — especially a hybrid model that’s above average in weight. Having both side and end handles would help a lot when positioning the mattress, or when later moving it on the bed frame to unzip the cover. Unfortunately the handles themselves are also a disappointment, and are not up to the task of moving such a heavy mattress.

The Zero Gravity mattress does list any restrictions on use, such as needing a solid rather than sprung bed base. While not prohibited under the warranty terms, there is no support listed for adjustable bed bases. The mattress is slightly lower than average at 25cm tall, so normal fitted sheets will be just fine. 

Off-gassing

Score: 4 / 5

Any volatiles trapped within the mattress are released when it’s opened, so a plasticky odour is not unexpected. The Emma Zero Gravity mattress is very good in this regard, with only a small amount of odour, which dissipated quite quickly. You can sleep on the mattress right away without an issue, and within a day there was very little odour even pressed up close to the surface. We could detect a very faint smell for a few days, but this too faded.  

The Zero Gravity mattress does not have any certifications listed for the materials used. Emma support has said these certifications are in progress, and as the materials used are already certified in other Emma mattresses, it is a reasonably safe bet the Zero Gravity mattress will also pass muster in time.

Pressure relief

Score: 4.5 / 5

Two reviewers of different height and weight slept on the Emma Zero Gravity mattress during testing. Overall the mattress is very good at pressure relief — though the slightly unique feel took some getting used to. The mattress tended to initially feel firmer than it really was, and the varied layers did an excellent job of being both supportive, but allowing protrusions such as hips to sink lower without undue pressure.

For side sleepers, the Emma Zero Gravity mattress performed well at maintaining spine alignment. Stomach and back sleepers will also find that the mattress maintains appropriate sleep posture and alignment. With prolonged testing, we found the Emma Zero Gravity mattress did an above average job at reducing back pain and stiffness, and we experienced no downsides to the unique combination of support materials used.

Temperature regulation

Score: 5 / 5

While some people love to snuggle into a warm mattress, for others the trapped heat makes sleep unpleasant. It’s not just during scorching summers either — a warm mattress can make for a humid sleep in winter. Ideal is a mattress that maintains a steady sleep temperature and wicks away moisture to avoid a clammy feeling. 

The Emma Zero Gravity mattress stood out by doing an excellent job of maintaining airflow and heat transfer during hot weather. The AirGrid layer combined with the overall mattress design certainly achieves the improved breathability goals, without sacrificing comfort or support. In cooler weather, the mattress doesn’t feel cold, and the design reduces the chance of waking up clammy — especially when the air is humid.   

While the removable, washable top layer on the mattress means you can do without a separate mattress protector, we found a quality cotton or bamboo protector didn’t unduly reduce the breathability of the mattress. The cover layer is relatively thin, so the extra wicking from a mattress protector will be appreciated by hot sleepers.

Motion transfer

Score: 4.5 / 5

Nothing beats a pure foam mattress for reducing motion transfer, but hybrid options such as the Zero Gravity mattress come close. Pocket springs will tend to transfer more motion, as will firmer foam layers. But overall the Zero Gravity mattress layers combine very well to reduce motion. While it is covered by foam, we found the AirGrid layer absorbs a lot of movement without passing it on, and helped reduce motion transfer a bit more than other hybrid mattresses we have tested.

The relatively thin, stretchy cover on the Zero Gravity mattress also doesn’t pull when pressure is put on it. The soft edges of the mattress also tend to absorb the motion of one sleeper getting in and out. Overall the lack of motion transfer on the Zero Gravity mattress should satisfy all but the most easily disturbed sleepers. 

Edge support

Score: 3.5 / 5

The Emma Zero Gravity mattress includes a layer of firmer HRX foam all the way around the pocket springs, which provides edge support. This works quite well, but the layers on top are much softer, and while the AirGrid portion of the mattress does get foam edging, the top half of the mattress has comparatively little edge support. The end result is a mattress where the edges are noticeably too soft when getting in and out. 

The effect is less pronounced when sleeping on the mattress, but the softness does tend to make the mattress feel slightly smaller overall, as you cannot lay right to the edge. For those who love to use the end of their bed as a place to sit (or those who like to lay right to the edge), the Zero Gravity mattress likely won’t provide the full support you crave.

Durability

Score: 3 / 5

The Emma website does not list information such as the weight rating for the Zero Gravity mattress, or any specific restrictions for use. It is covered by a 10-year warranty that includes the mattress not expanding to the correct size within two weeks as well as any manufacturing faults in the cover. For the mattress itself, any permanent sags or dips over 2.5cm are covered under the warranty. The Emma website does note that any cracks or hollows in the mattress need to be reported within six months of receiving your mattress for them to be identified as manufacturing faults. Of course it is a good idea to remove the cover for washing in that six-month period and check the mattress over, but keep in mind the warranty terms don’t supersede a customer's rights under the Australian Consumer Guarantee.

Our review mattress had no obvious faults, and the physical mattress itself is durable and well made. Unfortunately the mattress cover and handles are disappointingly weak. Just lifting one side of the mattress to fine-tune the position or sliding it over to make it easier to remove the cover resulted in disconcerting stretching and noise from the stitching. Physically moving the mattress by the handles resulted in the stitching starting to pull free entirely.  

While Emma support was happy to replace the cover, the issue we experienced was considered a manufacturing flaw, rather than a design issue. That does not match our experience, and the problem stems from the row of stitching that both attaches the lower end of the handle, as well as joins the sidewall and underside of the mattress together. We carefully inspected an undamaged handle and the stitching had no flaws, but still later started to fail. The relatively small amount of stitching used is simply not strong enough to handle the loads experienced — especially since the fabric itself is quite thin and stretchy. The method used to attach the handles on the cover appears the same as used on the 29kg queen-sized Emma Comfort mattress, and inadequate to support the 46.7kg heft of the Zero Gravity mattress. 

The zipper on the cover is smooth and easy to operate, with large rubberised pull tabs. The fabric alongside the zipper is covered with quality beading on the outside of the cover, but not the inside, where the loose ends had a tendency to occasionally catch in the zipper and jam it up. This frustrating but not overly problematic omission is acceptable in a lower-end mattress cover, but not what is expected at the price point of the Zero Gravity mattress.  

On the plus side, the cover is included in the 10-year warranty (and it specifically mentions faulty stitching), so if the handles do fail, or the zipper is damaged from jamming, a warranty replacement should be easy. One might even consider this a silver lining, as an older, worn cover will be replaced with a brand-new one if the handle stitching happens to fail when the mattress is moved, or the cover removed. 

Emma Zero Gravity Mattress: User reviews

The Emma Zero Gravity mattress is quite new so, at the time of writing, there were no user reviews online, or many other reviews at all. There are a number of websites that appear to offer legitimate mattress reviews (including of the Zero Gravity mattress), but it is quickly apparent that most of these sites only use the manufacturer's images, and don’t actually show any in person photos or hands-on testing of the mattresses. There is also an European version of the Emma Zero Gravity mattress, but it uses a somewhat different arrangement of the internal layers, so is not a direct comparison.  

There are plenty of user reviews for other Emma mattresses in Australia, such as the Comfort mattress and the premium Diamond Hybrid mattress. While not directly applicable, they do give some useful feedback. Most of the negatives are about the mattresses being firmer than expected, but there is a notable number of reviewers that are unhappy with the Emma customer support system. One common issue is a lack of replies to emails, as well as substantially delayed delivery compared to the quoted estimates during purchase. The Emma customer support team are quite responsive to reviews, and there is also decent feedback from users who had had their issues sorted after leaving a review. In our experience, the Emma customer support team was excellent, including responses via email within 24 hours.

Should I buy the Emma Zero Gravity Mattress?

If shopping for a new premium mattress, the Emma Zero Gravity is worth adding to the short list. Even more so if you are a warm sleeper, and will appreciate the increased breathability and washable cover. While the mattress is certainly not perfect overall, it does a great job at creating excellent sleep comfort. Still, we found the foibles of the Zero Gravity mattress cover rather frustrating considering the premium focus and high price tag. The Emma system of very variable discounts is also rather off putting.  

The 100-night trial makes it easy to test the mattress for yourself, but keep in mind it is important to sleep on it long enough so your body can adapt, so you should try and stick it out to the end. The mattress may not suit those with gas-lift storage beds, or those who want firm edge support. If you don’t need the extra airflow provided by the Zero Gravity mattress, then the other Emma premium offerings are also worth a look. 

Overall the Emma Zero Gravity mattress stands out against the competition due to its unique mix of materials and focus on cool, comfortable sleep. Just make sure you keep an eye out for big sales as the mattress is much more appealing at a lower price.