Emma, Eve or Simba? The best boxed mattresses for 2024

Not sure what size bed-in-a-box mattress to buy? See our guide to UK mattress sizes.

Emma mattresses

Emma's direct to consumer range of mattresses seems to be forever changing; you can currently buy the Elite mattress, Luxe Cooling mattress and NextGen Premium, but the Original has now been discontinued.

Emma also sells the Emma Smart Hybrid, the brand's first mattress that was available to buy in the shops, rather than online-only. This has been followed by the Diamond Hybrid and the Emma Helix Hybrid. Note that the Emma Hybrid is no longer sold by Emma directly, but you might find it for sale through other retailers.

• How much does an Emma mattress typically cost? Emma NextGen Premium RRP: single £449, double £659, king £739, super king £849.
• Emma mattress delivery Free shipping and free returns in the UK.
• Emma mattress trial period 200 nights. If you decide to return the mattress, Emma will collect it for free and offer a full refund.
• Emma mattress guarantee 10-year guarantee for mattresses purchased on the Emma website or through licensed partners (unless otherwise stated)
• Other products Pillow, mattress protector, mattress topper, duvet.

See our full Emma NextGen Premium double mattress to see whether it really can offer full support.

Why are there no Best Buy Emma mattresses?

While Emma mattresses are popular with shoppers and tend to score well in our lab tests, Emma is currently being taken to court by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s consumer and competition regulator, regarding its online sales practices. As of October 2024, we are not recommending any Emma mattresses as Best Buys pending the outcome of the CMA’s legal action.

Emma customers have also been experiencing customer service issues and delivery delays but Emma says these have now been resolved. The brand provided us with the following statement:

“Emma – The Sleep Company would like to apologise to customers who are facing longer than usual delivery times right now when ordering our sleep products. We appreciate that this is causing some frustration and inconvenience, and this experience does not live up to the high standards we expect at Emma. "   

“These delays in delivery are being experienced by some customers due to the transition to a new supply chain structure, that will deliver improved service level from our partners to elevate Emma´s service level to what our customers deserve. We have teams working around the clock to have this transition finalized in the next days and we would like to express our sincere gratitude to customers affected for their patience during this time.”

If you've been affected, please read our guide on what to do if your delivery or online order hasn't arrived.

Eve mattresses

Eve Sleep was bought by Bensons for Beds in 2022. It's range of mattresses, with the eye-catching bright yellow trim, included a number of hybrids, however many of these have discontinued, as Eve Sleep launched a brand new range of mattresses called the WunderFlip, which we've now tested.

• How much does an Eve mattress cost? The Wunderflip hybrid mattress RRP: single: £599, double £749, king £849, super king £949 (0% APR finance packages are available).
• Eve mattress delivery Free delivery within seven days. Eve does not deliver to: Scottish Highlands or Islands, the Isle of Wight, The Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland. 
• Eve mattress trial period 200 nights, and for at least 30 night. If you decide to return the mattress, it's free within the first 40 nights, or you'll have to pay to send it back afterwards. Eve offers a full refund, but you may be charged for any free items (such as pillows).
• Existing mattress removal Available for an additional £50 fee, after the delivery of your Eve mattress.
• Eve mattress guarantee 10-year limited warranty covering manufacturing faults.
• Other products Cot mattress, pillow, mattress topper, mattress protector, bed frame, bedding (two bundles available).

You can view and purchase the full range of Eve mattresses direct online.

Otty mattresses

Otty has five mattresses in its range including the Otty Aura Hybrid, Original hybrid, Otty Hybrid Pure bamboo and the Pure+ hybrid.

The brand claims that its Otty double hybrid mattress has a patented memory foam/foam/pocket spring combination, which eliminates overheating with a cool gel and airflow technology.

• How much does an Otty mattress cost? Otty Original Hybrid List price: single £529, double £699, UK king £799, super king £899 (0% financing available).
• Otty mattress delivery Free shipping depending where you live, £10 to £50 for premium shipping and other options including next day and to the room of your choice.
• Otty mattress trial period 100 nights. If you decide to return the mattress during this time, Otty will give you a full refund.
• Existing mattress removal Optional, depending on your area.
• Otty mattress guarantee 10-year limited warranty.
• Other products Pillows, mattress topper, duvets, bedding and bed frames.

You can view and purchase the full range of Otty mattresses direct online.

Will this mattress give you a decent night's sleep? Read our full Otty Original Hybrid review to find out.

Silentnight mattresses

Silentnight has a large range of deliverable rolled mattresses (think bed-in-a-box just without the box). These cover pocket-sprung, hybrid, latex and memory foam options, so there's something for everyone.

If you like trying out a mattress before buying, Silentnight is one of the few brands available online as well as on display in a large number of retailers – including Bensons for Beds, Dreams, Furniture Village and John Lewis.

• How much does a Silentnight mattress cost? Doubles range from £179 to over £700 depending on the model. Our most popular mattress from this brand is the Silentnight Studio Gel: single £409, double £515, king £569. This mattress is also called the Just Bliss when bought direct from Silentnight: single £480, double £560, king £620.
• Silentnight mattress delivery Free shipping within 48 hours (Monday to Friday).
• Silentnight trial period 60 to 365 nights, depending on the mattress. If you decide to return the mattress, Silentnight will give the option of exchanging your mattress for another, but won't offer a full refund.
• Existing mattress removal Optional, depending on your area.
• Silentnight mattress guarantee Five-year or 10-year limited warranty (depending on where you buy).
• Other products Beds, bedding, pillows and duvets.

You can view the range of Silentnight's mattresses on its website, or compare Which?-tested Silentnight mattresses from other retailers below:

See our full list of Silentnight mattress reviews and find out how our members rate them by reading the results of our latest customer survey of mattress brands.

Simba mattresses

One of the stalwarts of the bed-in-a-box mattress market, Simba prides itself on its combination of memory foam, foam and pocket springs. Simba's mattress range seems to have exploded over the past year or so. There are plenty of mattresses to choose from and Simba now divides its mattresses between a deluxe, comfort and Earth range.  Here, you'll find the Simba Hybrid, Simbatex Essential Foam MattressSimbatex Foam Mattress as well as it's newly launched Earth Apex and Earth Source mattresses. The CMA had investigated Simba due to the numerous sales it's often seen promoting.

Its mattresses are available to try in a number of retailers, including John Lewis and Argos. Buying direct from Simba means you'll get a 200-night sleep trial included. Check what sleep trial (if any) is included before you buy from a retailer, as it could be different.

• How much does a Simba mattress cost? Simba Hybrid: single £599, double £799, king £899, super king £999 (0% finance packages available)
• Simba mattress delivery Free next-day delivery. A VIP service is available for £50 extra. Simba does not deliver to some areas of Scotland and any offshore islands.
• Simba trial period 200-night trial. If you decide to return the mattress during this period, Simba will offer a full refund.
• Existing mattress removal Optional selected at check out (£50 extra)
• Simba mattress guarantee 10-year limited warranty covering manufacturer faults.
• Other products Bunk-bed mattress, pillow, duvet, topper, mattress protector, fitted sheet, weighted blanket and bed linen.

If you're thinking of buying a Simba mattress, you can view the full range, or compare prices for Simba mattresses we've tested from major retailers below:

Tempted by a Simba mattress? Read full test results for all the Simba mattresses we've tested and see if they're long-lasting and durable.

How to buy a mattress online

Buying a mattress online might be cheaper and more convenient, but unless you’re buying a bed-in-a-box or a rolled up mattress or one with a home sleep trial, it’s always best to try before you buy if you possibly can. 

When trying out a mattress in-store, wear comfortable clothing and remove your outdoor gear. Lie on a mattress for at least 10 minutes, in positions you normally sleep in and trying turning over.

If you can't get to the shops, however, here are our top tips for buying online:

• Research your mattress before you buy When you buy online, you’re protected by consumer law. But do your research first: read our reviews and go for a model that best fits your sleeping style.
• Use trial night offers on mattresses Find out whether your chosen mattress has a trial period, how long this lasts and how you return it once the trial is up. Look for any hidden costs involved, and whether you have to return the mattress back in the original packaging Read more about mattress sleep trials.
• Check the guarantee/warranty on your mattress Make sure you know what your rights are if there's a problem with your mattress. Most guarantees for mattresses won't cover gradual wear and tear, which can lead to loss of support. You should also check whether there’s anything in particular, such as removing labels or using a base other than a recommended one, that would invalidate the guarantee. Read more about mattress guarantees.
• Know your rights when buying a mattress If you change your mind, you’re entitled to a 14-day cooling-off period from the date you receive goods. This means you can cancel your order at any time from the moment you place your order up to 14 days from the date it arrives, and the seller is obliged to refund you.

Find out more about your rights to returns and refunds. 

Prices updated Sept 2024. Prices may change at short notice.