How To Pick The Best Massage Chair, According To A Massage Therapist

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This 4D zero-gravity massage chair provides top-tier physical relief and helps ease away muscular tension and mental stress in one session. It has luxury features like aromatherapy, chromotherapy, lower back and calf heating, and a space capsule cover for your head. We were particularly impressed by S-track massage rollers, which contour to the curvature of your back, allowing for a more even distribution of pressure.

While there are not a ton of reviews for this chair yet, customers are writing home about the sleek design and range of intensities it offers. That said, if you don’t like a super-deep massage, this might not be the chair for you. One customer writes, “The pressure is pretty darn strong as I haven’t figured out just yet how to adjust. It’s fine for me because I like deep tissue massage, my wife however can’t handle the low back deep pressure. I own an $800 chair as well and it will be getting shipped to my son as there is no comparison in quality.”

If these compression boots are good enough for LeBron James, they’re good enough for us. Also featured in our best compression boots for recovery, these were made with a unique patented precision pulse technology designed by an M.D., Ph.D., and with input from top pro athletes and sports medicine professionals. The brand uses durable nylon and biomimicry to replicate the natural muscle pumps, and dynamic air compression to maximize your recovery, training, and performance. This model is meant for your legs, but you can also purchase attachments for your arms and hips. While these compression boots are a less expensive option than a full massage chair, they don’t skimp on quality or tech savviness.

There aren’t many reviews on the brand’s website yet because this is a newer model, but the existing feedback (58 reviews) is overwhelmingly positive. The boots have a 4.8 out of 5-star rating overall. , “What I like about this product is the customization it offers on the recovery boots. The handheld controller has a few settings—pressure level, zone booster, and time selection, but the app offers a few extra settings which I found extremely helpful to target my sore calf muscles. This feature specifically allows you to target sore muscles post-workout. Also, the app has specific routines that you can pick from—warm-up, post-workout recovery, sore muscle treatment, etc. Now I use the recovery boots to warm up before my endurance runs and noticed my recovery time has dropped with this routine!”

While there’s definitely value in investing in a high-quality massage chair if you can, a massage chair pad is another great option. It’s not quite the same as sinking into a full-body experience, but if neck and back relief are what you’re after, a pad could actually suit you better! Lay this massage pad on top of your chair or couch, and choose between shiatsu, rolling, or vibration massage. We love that the intensity and height are adjustable, so different body types can be accommodated.

Nearly 8,000 Amazon shoppers gave this massage pad a perfect 5-star rating. With an overall rating of 4.4, there are thousands of reviews raving about how easy, affordable, and effective it is. One person says, “[It’s] the massage chair I thought I could never afford! I work in a high-stress job and need a good way to take a quick break to relax, help with neck pain and rejuvenate. I found it with the Snailax massager. The strength is exactly what I needed to relax my back and neck muscles and work the stress out of my neck from looking at multiple computer screens all day!” Some people note that, depending on your height, you may have to adjust your posture to get relief from the massage nodes.

There’s something to be said for a massage chair that you can use all day long, and not just during dedicated work breaks. While this folding chair isn’t as luxe as some of the other options on our list, you can take it with you to the office, on trips, or to different rooms in your house. You can even fold it up and easily store it away if it’s interfering with the feng shui of your living room. It packs a lot of power in a lightweight package, and it’s an affordable option compared to full-body massage chairs. Plus, it has multiple massaging nodes, heat therapy, a reclining back, and is adjustable.

There are some pretty impressive Amazon reviews for this portable massage chair, and with a 4.4 rating overall, there were few to no complaints. “Comfier provides abundant relief with a vigorous, but never rough or painful, rotating ball set. I was very happy with the massage strength and used it almost daily due to my frequent exercise schedule. If you need to dial down the intensity, the chair comes with convenient removable padding on both the back and neck massage mechanisms,” one reviewer writes.

If you have a tight lower back, you might want to consider a zero-gravity massage chair. This type of chair gently tilts to create a feeling of weightlessness and take pressure off of your spine, which helps relax the muscles in your neck and back. It’s not hard to see why zero-gravity massage chairs have skyrocketed in popularity. Research has linked them to improved circulation, reduced varicose veins, and reduced chronic pain.

This massage chair has two sets of rollers that mimic a two-handed, professional massage, plus three levels of heat, and compression airbags from head to toe. In addition to a standard compression massage setting, it also offers shiatsu, kneading, and knocking, and three levels of intensity and heat—all of which can be controlled and customized using your voice or the chair’s LCD monitor. It also has a Bluetooth-compatible speaker so you can listen to your favorite playlist or podcast while you’re relaxing. Plus, it’s less expensive than a lot of other zero-gravity massage chairs.

Customers are raving about this faux leather massage chair’s full-body massage experience—and it has nearly 4,000 perfect 5-star ratings on Amazon. Some reviewers do mention that assembly can be difficult, but others say it comes together easily. One reviewer writes, “Both my husband and I work out 5-6x a week, which leaves us sore and in need of some muscle relaxation. This is an amazing massage chair for sore or tight muscles and has a great price compared to other similar products. My favorite setting is using the zero gravity, with the heat on, airbags on, neck and waist settings on kneading at mixed speed, and the foot massagers on = 👌 it’s amazing. Also, it is shipped in two boxes. My husband said the directions were easy to follow and assembly took maybe 30 minutes tops.” If you’re hesitant about the self-setup, the company will assemble it for you upon delivery for an added charge.

It turns out nice things can come with lower price tags. This massage chair might not have the same bells and whistles as the last (like smart voice control and multiple massage tracks), but it has all the features of a standard zero-gravity massage chair, and it’s even more affordable.

With six different modes and eight massage heads, meant to target your neck, back, and waist, it can definitely help you slip into that much-needed relaxation mode.

A highly rated pick, this massage chair has more than 800 5-star ratings on Amazon. People love the value it offers for the price, and one reviewer says, “This chair is worth every penny. I’m not one to leave feedback unless it’s something mind-blowing, and this massage chair is all that. I love [that] you can control the strength of how hard you want [it]. Another exceptional thing about the chair is the great-sounding built-in speakers that you can connect to Bluetooth and enjoy a very relaxing massage.” Many reviewers warn that shorter folks might need to sit on a pillow to reach the shoulder massage.

With three levels of zero gravity and outstanding automatic body scan technology to give you the personalized massage you’ve been dreaming of, this is one of the most impressive massage chairs on the market today. It has two pairs of massage tracks that simulate a professional hands-on vibration, and 12 automated massage functions, including whole-body soothing, fatigue recovery, and stretching. Oh, and AI voice control allows you to switch between the 12 functions without lifting a finger.

Although this is one of the priciest options on this list, it’s within the average range for a high-quality massage chair. With a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Amazon and loads of reviews to back up this brand’s integrity, this is clearly a fan favorite. One reviewer writes, “We tried the different massage auto programs, twelve in all, each gives a different massage type. I normally like a strong massage while my wife likes a gentle massage, which makes it difficult to choose a chair, however, we both enjoyed the massages, a couple were gentle enough for my wife. I really enjoyed the variety of massage and stretching programs. I definitely recommend this massage chair.” Note that the height requirements for this chair are 5.25 to 6.23 feet.

For an ergonomic and outfitted massage chair that’s reasonably priced, we like Costway’s zero-gravity full-body massage chair. It has 12 preloaded programs, five massage techniques and speeds, three width adjustments, and three levels of pressure intensity for compression therapy. Smart features include voice control, LCD remote control, and Bluetooth.

With on the Walmart website, this massage chair has earned a 4.7 out of 5-star rating. One satisfied customer raves, “Let me tell you, it can really squeeze and dig into all the right areas if you want it to. It has intensity levels you can adjust. I love it FULL INTENSITY!” Most people commented on its ease of installation, comfort, and value for the price.

If you’re able to splurge on a luxury massage chair, this is the one to get. It has a 3D roller system for precision targeting, smart body scanning for personalized treatment, 24 preloaded massage programs, five speed settings, five levels of compression strength, and three zero-gravity recline positions. The AI voice control and touchscreen remote make customizing your massage easy, and the chair’s memory function remembers your preferences for future uses. Other standout features include all-over heating, Bluetooth speakers, and rollers for calves and feet. It arrives fully assembled and comes with a two-year manufacturer warranty.

This chair has only a handful of reviews on Amazon so far, but each of them comes with a 5-star rating. One person writes, “The massage is better than an actual human. It feels realistic, but more enveloping than a traditional massage.” Another adds, “Beautifully designed chair with an amazing remote that has plenty of presets for every part of your body. I enjoy the upper back and neck presets. The heat option is also amazing. I highly recommend this massage chair.” While there are no reviews with less than 5 stars, the specs note that the height requirements are 5-foot-1 to 6-foot-3. So if you’re shorter or taller, you might consider a more height-suitable chair.