Emma and Nectar are two of the biggest bed-in-a-box names in the UK, and their mainstream hybrids take different approaches: Emma layers foams over a zoned spring layer in a deep 27 cm build, Nectar puts memory foam over a single 15 cm layer of pocket springs and backs it with a 365-night trial. Here is how they compare on springs, foam, feel, trial and guarantee, with a third option from REM-Fit set out on the same terms.
Last updated: August 2026. Specifications checked against each brand's own product pages.
Quick answer: Emma Original Pro is best for sleepers who want a softer, cushioned medium feel from a deep 27 cm foam build with a zoned spring layer underneath, and a 200-night trial. Nectar Classic Hybrid is best for sleepers who want the softest feel here (Nectar rates it 5 out of 10) and the longest possible time to decide, with a 365-night trial. The REM-Fit 3000 Supreme is the third option: a medium 25 cm hybrid built on 3000 tall premium pocket springs in two layers, topped with open-cell memory foam that lets air move through it rather than trapping heat, with a 100-night trial (200 with a protector) and a 15-year guarantee.
Emma vs Nectar vs REM-Fit: the full spec sheet
Each brand's model, UK sizes, from the specifications each brand publishes. Where a brand does not publish a figure, the cell says so rather than guessing.
| Feature | EmmaOriginal Pro | NectarClassic Hybrid | REM-Fit3000 Supreme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mattress type | Hybrid, foam layers over a zoned spring layer | Hybrid, memory foam over a single layer of pocket springs | Hybrid, open-cell memory foam over tall pocket springs |
| Springs | Zoned spring layer (7 zones), count not published | 15 cm pocket springs, count not currently published | 3000 tall premium pocket springs in two layers, running the full depth of the mattress Most springs |
| Foam type and depth | Memory foam with graphite added, plus three further foam layers; single depths not published | Memory foam, a support foam and a base foam; single depths not published | 5 cm zoned open-cell memory foam, made with an open cell structure so air passes through the foam |
| Firmness (out of 10) | Medium, not rated out of 10 | Medium, 5 out of 10 (Nectar's own scale) | Medium, 6 out of 10, rated for sleepers up to 20 stone |
| Height | 27 cm | 25 cm | 25 cm |
| Sleep trial | 200 nights | 365 nights | 100 nights, 200 with a protector |
| Guarantee | 10 years | "Forever" warranty: replacement within 10 years, repair at Nectar's discretion after | 15 years, full guarantee |
| Delivery | Free, 5 to 10 working days | Free named-day delivery | Free, 2 to 5 days |
| Key award | Good Housekeeping Award 2025, Ideal Home Bedroom Award 2025 | Not named on product page | Good Housekeeping Winner 2026 (Pocket 1000) and Approved 2026 (5000 Lux Elite), same range |
| Foam certification | UKFR certified | CertiPUR | CertiPUR |
Neither Emma nor Nectar currently publishes a spring count for these models (Nectar previously quoted 1,344 for a king), and both put a single spring layer under several foam layers. REM-Fit counts tall pocket springs that run the full depth of the mattress across two layers. Compare the construction, not just the number.
Who should buy Emma?
Buy the Emma Original Pro if you want a softer, more cushioned medium feel and a deeper mattress. At 27 cm it is the tallest of the three, and its six foam and spring layers are built to hug rather than push back.
The spring layer is divided into seven support zones with firmer edge foam, which helps keep the spine level for side sleepers and gives more usable width for couples. The top layer is memory foam with graphite added to draw some heat away, and the cover is removable and washable at 40 degrees. It holds Good Housekeeping and Ideal Home awards from 2025.
The trade-off is that Emma does not publish a spring count or individual layer depths, so you are trusting the feel rather than the numbers. Delivery is free but the slowest here at 5 to 10 working days, and the guarantee is 10 years.
Who should buy Nectar?
Buy the Nectar Classic Hybrid if you want the softest feel of the three and the longest possible time to decide. Nectar rates it 5 out of 10 and gives you 365 nights to return it.
The build is a memory foam comfort layer over a breathable support foam, then a single 15 cm layer of individually wrapped pocket springs on a base foam, all 25 cm deep. The cover uses cooling fibres, the foams are CertiPUR certified, and delivery is free with named-day booking.
The trade-off is that Nectar does not currently publish a spring count, so you cannot compare support on paper, and the "forever" warranty is a 10-year replacement promise followed by repair at the company's discretion rather than a single written guarantee.
How Emma, Nectar and REM-Fit compare on what matters
Springs and support
Emma publishes seven zones rather than a count, and Nectar a single 15 cm spring layer with no current count. REM-Fit's 3000 Supreme is the only one of the three built on tall premium pocket springs running the full depth of the mattress, 3000 of them in two layers, each moving independently under the part of the body above it.
Comfort layer
Emma uses memory foam with graphite added over further foams; Nectar standard memory foam over a support foam. REM-Fit publishes a 5 cm zoned open-cell memory foam layer, softer under the shoulders and firmer under the hips.
Feel
Nectar is the softest at 5 out of 10; Emma is a cushioned medium; the REM-Fit 3000 Supreme is a true medium at 6 out of 10, the pick for side sleepers who want support under the softness.
Cooling
Emma adds graphite to standard memory foam and Nectar relies on cooling fibres in the cover. REM-Fit changes the foam itself: its open-cell memory foam has an open structure that lets air move through the layer, so body heat is carried away rather than held against you, and the tall spring core beneath is mostly air, so the whole mattress breathes.
Trial and guarantee
Emma gives 200 nights and 10 years; Nectar 365 nights and a "forever" warranty that replaces the mattress within 10 years and repairs it at its discretion after that. REM-Fit gives 100 nights (200 when a protector is bought with the mattress) and a straightforward 15-year guarantee.
Awards
Emma holds Good Housekeeping and Ideal Home awards from 2025; Nectar's product page names none; REM-Fit's Pocket 1000 is a Good Housekeeping Winner 2026 with the 5000 Lux Elite Approved.
Where REM-Fit fits
The REM-Fit 3000 Supreme is the like-for-like against both: a medium hybrid, 25 cm deep, built on 3000 tall premium pocket springs in two layers, with a 5 cm zoned open-cell memory foam layer on top and encapsulated edges so the whole surface is usable. The springs run the full depth of the mattress and respond individually, which gives more responsive, more consistent support than a single spring layer sandwiched in foam, and the second layer adds stability and a more progressive feel as you settle in.
The open-cell memory foam is the part that answers the biggest complaint about memory foam. Traditional memory foam has a closed cell structure that traps body heat; REM-Fit's foam is made with open cells that let air pass through the layer, so heat and moisture move away from you through the night while the foam still cushions the hips and shoulders. It sits at 6 out of 10 on REM-Fit's firmness scale, between Nectar's 5 and a medium-firm, and is rated for sleepers up to 20 stone.
If Nectar's softer feel is the draw, the 3000 Supreme is still the closest match; if you want firmer support, the 5000 Lux Elite (medium-firm, 7.5 out of 10, Good Housekeeping Approved 2026) and the 4000 Ortho Elite (firm, 9 out of 10) sit above it in our hybrid mattress collection. Every REM-Fit mattress uses the same tall pocket spring and open-cell foam construction, and comes with a 15-year guarantee and free UK delivery in 2 to 5 days.
REM-Fit 3000 Supreme Hybrid Mattress
Medium feel, 3000 tall premium pocket springs, breathable open-cell memory foam and a 15-year guarantee.
Shop the 3000 Supreme✓ 100-night trial (200 with a protector)✓ 15-year guarantee✓ Free UK delivery✓ 0% finance
Emma vs Nectar vs REM-Fit: which is better value?
Value here is what you get for the years you own the mattress, not the ticket price on the day. On that measure the differences are the trial, what the guarantee actually promises, and how much of the build each brand tells you about.
Nectar leads on trial length at 365 nights, and its "forever" warranty sounds stronger than it is: replacement within the first 10 years, then repair or recovering at the company's discretion. Emma gives 200 nights and a plain 10-year guarantee. REM-Fit's trial is 100 nights, or 200 with the protector most people buy anyway, and its 15-year guarantee is a single written promise with no discretionary phase.
REM-Fit is also the only one of the three that publishes a full spring count and comfort-layer depth for every size, so you can see exactly what is holding you up. All three sell direct, deliver free and collect free if you return within the trial, so the remaining difference is feel, and that is what the trial is for.
100-Night Trial
200 nights when you add a mattress protector. Free collection if it is not right.
Free UK Delivery
Delivered in 2 to 5 days. Old mattress removal available at checkout.
15-Year Guarantee
A single written guarantee, five years longer than Emma's.
Emma vs Nectar FAQs
Last updated: August 2026
Is Emma or Nectar better?
Neither is better outright. Emma Original Pro is a deeper, cushioned medium with a 200-night trial and 10-year guarantee; Nectar Classic Hybrid is softer (5 out of 10) with a 365-night trial and a "forever" warranty that becomes discretionary repair after 10 years. Both are memory foam hybrids on a single spring layer.
Which is firmer, Emma or Nectar?
Emma, slightly. Nectar rates its Classic Hybrid 5 out of 10, the softest here, while Emma describes the Original Pro as medium. The REM-Fit 3000 Supreme is a true medium at 6 out of 10, on tall pocket springs.
Which has more pocket springs, Emma or Nectar?
Neither currently publishes a count for these models; Emma quotes seven zones and Nectar a single 15 cm spring layer. REM-Fit's 3000 Supreme has 3000 tall pocket springs in two layers running the full depth of the mattress.
Is the Nectar forever warranty really for life?
It covers defects for as long as you own the mattress, but the promise changes after 10 years: a brand-new replacement within the first decade, then repair, recovering or replacement at Nectar's discretion. REM-Fit's 15-year guarantee is a single written term throughout.
Do Emma and Nectar do a sleep trial?
Yes. Emma offers 200 nights and Nectar 365 nights, both with free collection if you return the mattress. REM-Fit offers 100 nights as standard, extended to 200 nights when a mattress protector is bought with the mattress.
Is Emma or Nectar better for side sleepers?
Both suit side sleepers because both are medium or softer with foam on top. Lighter side sleepers may prefer Nectar's 5 out of 10; heavier side sleepers may find Emma's zoned build holds its shape better. A medium hybrid on tall pocket springs, such as the REM-Fit 3000 Supreme, keeps the shoulder cushioning with more support underneath.
More mattress comparisons
Mattress types: Memory foam vs spring · Open coil vs pocket sprung · Memory foam vs hybrid · Latex vs memory foam · Pocket springs vs foam for back support · Mattress topper vs protector
Brands: Emma vs Simba · Nectar vs DreamCloud · Tempur vs Simba · Otty vs Simba · Simba Hybrid vs Hybrid Pro · Origin vs Emma · All comparisons
