Best Massage Chairs (2025): 5 Expert-Tested Choices For Relaxed Recovery
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After a taxing day at work, or an intense training session, there’s nothing better than getting a head start on your recovery, whether it be in the best home sauna, a cold plunge, or even the subject of this article—a massage chair. Using a massage chair can be a great way to unwind after long days, as a 2024 review1 says potential benefits can include a reduction in stress, improvement in muscle stiffness, some relieving of pain, and other quality-of-life benefits.
If you’re in the market for massage chairs, we have you covered. Our team of experts have researched, tested, and recovered in some of the best massage chairs on the market. After multiple sessions in these chairs, our team of certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and lifelong athletes have compiled our top picks for home use.
As with all products we test—supplements, cardio machines, and strength equipment—we performed hands-on testing with each massager, scoring the different massage chairs on several factors, including:
- Materials
- Footprint and portability
- Features and extras
- Performance and experience
- Ergonomics
- Overall value
So kick off your boots and stay awhile as we go into the best massage chairs today.
Best Massage Chairs
- Best Massage Chair Overall: Relaxe Zero-Gravity Shiatsu Massage Chair
- Best Zero-Gravity Massage Chair: Costway Therapy 22
- Best Portable Massage Chair: Homedics Shiatsu Elite II
- Best for Lower-Back and Foot Massages: Human Touch WholeBody 8.0
- Best Budget Massage Chair: Synca Wellness CirC Massage Chair
Best Massage Chair Overall: Relaxe Zero-Gravity Shiatsu Massage Chair
Good for: People looking for a deep-tissue massage with premium features and high value
With three different reclining positions and tons of adjustable massage modes, speeds, and intensities, the Relaxe Zero-Gravity Massage Chair is a high-quality massage chair with a mid-range price. It claims to support people up to 6 feet and 4 inches in height and up to 330 pounds in weight, but the chair encloses around the shoulders, which could be an issue for people with broader shoulders. Still, with the capacity for a full-body massage from neck to feet, this is a high-value massage chair for its price point.
What our tester says:
“The intensity could definitely be too much if I wanted it to be, which is perfect—I scaled back in some areas. It’ll take several uses to figure out what works best for you, but I thoroughly enjoyed the several preset programs I tried.”
Best Zero-Gravity Massage Chair: Costway Therapy 22
Good for: People looking for a recliner chair that leans back into a zero-gravity mode
With eight auto-massage modes and quite a few ways to customize your experience, the Costway Therapy 22 is a massage chair with three different reclining positions, including a zero-gravity recline. It’s a sizable massage chair, as it can support up to 352 pounds of weight, and users can be up to 6 feet and 3 inches tall. Costway offers white glover delivery, which is nice considering it’s 251-pound product weight.
What our tester says:
“The materials seem very high quality. The upholstery is PVC leather. Everything feels built to last and resistant to wear and tear.”
Best Portable Massage Chair: Homedics Shiatsu Elite II
Good for: Those looking for a massager without needing a ton of extra space
For anyone who wants the benefits of a massage chair without having to make room for a new bulky recliner, the Homedics Elite Shiatsu II may be your solution. This inexpensive back massager can be secured onto most any chair and used to massage your back, neck, and shoulders. With a few preset modes, and the ability to adjust the height and width of certain massage nodes, there’s good functionality packed in a compact massager.
What our tester says:
“It massaged the spots in my back pretty well and felt powerful enough to get a decent massage. It’s a little short due to my taller frame, however, as it only gets to my upper back and not quite my neck or shoulders.”
Best Massage Chair for Lower-Back and Foot Massages: Human Touch WholeBody 8.0
Good for: Anyone who prioritizes lower body massages
The Human Touch WholeBody 8.0 is a reclining massage chair that offers five auto-massage modes, as well as heating options and a foot and calf massager. The calf massager can be rotated and stowed away when not in use, making the chair just a comfortable recliner. It provides a massage up to the upper back and shoulders, although it won’t be as full-body as the zero-gravity chairs that wrap around your shoulders.
What our tester says:
“I’m 6’3″ and felt like it was decently comfortable, although I wouldn’t have minded a bit more padding overall.”
Best Budget Massage Chair: Synca Wellness CirC Massage Chair
Good for: People needing a compact massage chair for a relatively low price
The CirC Massage Chair from Synca Wellness is a compact and budget-friendly massage chair that features SL-tracking from the neck to the buttocks. It can support users from 4 feet and nine inches tall to 6 feet and 2 inches tall; however, the weight limit is a little low at 250 pounds. Still, with ambient side lighting and heating options, this can be a nice inexpensive massage chair that could fit into most people’s budgets. If not, financing options are available.
What our tester says:
“This chair would be perfect for a small space. It weighs only 70 pounds, so you could move it on your own easily enough, plus it’s compact overall at about 21 inches wide and 37 inches tall.”
Other Massage Chairs We Researched
In compiling our roundup for the best massage chairs, we looked at many on the market before ordering and testing out a selection of them. Here are a few chairs that look promising, but didn’t make our top picks for one reason or another.
- Osaki OS-Pro 4D DuoMax SL-Track Massage Chair: This 4D massage chair offers a more comprehensive experience than popular 3D massage chairs, as body-scanning sensors can adjust the speed and intensity on massage rollers to focus on tense muscles as needed. Still, we haven’t tested it and have a hard time recommending a $13,000 chair until we have.
- Infinity Riage CS Compact Shiatsu Massage Chair: This massage chair from Infinity boasts a compact design that’s still able to recline into a zero-gravity position. Still, this massage chair is currently sold out on Amazon, so we haven’t been able to test it out.
- Human Touch Super Novo Zero Gravity Massage Chair: The Super Novo Massage Chair looks straight from the set of a Star Trek movie, with a sleek futuristic design, 38 different programs, and full-body massage capabilities. It also has a $10,000 price tag, which makes it a little less enticing for any budget shoppers.
How We Picked and Tested the Best Massage Chairs
In our research and testing of the best massage chairs and other recovery, strength, or cardio equipment, we follow a multi-point methodology that scores each product on several criteria. In it, we make sure to use each product extensively to get a good bearing on the good, bad, and the ugly of each machine we review.
Here are the features we looked at to test, rate, and pick our list for massage chairs:
- Value: With massage chairs priced from $500 to over $10,000, you’ll find a variety of features and massage experiences. We compare the price of each massage chair with its quality and features to make sure that the chair is priced fairly, or even competitively.
- Materials: Like the price, materials can vary from chair to chair as well. We scored this on how durable the materials are, particularly those used in the frame, cushioning, and upholstery.
- Footprint and portability: Not every massage chair will be easy to move in your house, so higher scores here went to chairs with smaller footprints and product weights, as well as chairs that offered compact solutions.
- Extra features: OK, every massage chair should massage, but what else can they do? Extras include heat therapy, air compression, zero-gravity reclining, body scanning, Bluetooth speakers, and more. More features mean a higher score.
- Experience: Our testers took each massage chair through several massage sessions (typically lasting 15 to 20 minutes) to determine their overall experience. This was based on how comfortable and effective the session was.
- Shipping, delivery, and set-up: This is a score based on the ordering process, from website to your home. We looked at fair delivery options and helpful services like white-glove delivery and assembly. Minimal assemblies also scored high here.
- Speeds and massage modes: We looked here at the many massage modes offered: speeds, techniques, programs, intensities, and more. Top scores were given to massage chairs with a variety of customization, as well as preset programs.
- Power and motor quality: Here, we looked at the specs of the motor along with how the power felt while in use. Ideally, we want multiple motors being used in a massage chair, so that there’s less chance of the motor stalling during deep tissue massages.
- Range of motion: How much of the body can be massaged? Some massage chairs run from the shoulders to the low back, while others can cover the legs and feet, and also get the neck, too. More areas mean a higher score.
- Ergonomics and adjustability: This was a score on our tester’s comfort level, as well as adjustment options. Adjustments can be reclining options, leg extensions, or even width adjustments on the massage rollers.
- Customer service: Along with contacting customer service, we take a look at policies for these massage chairs: warranty, financing options, and return policies.
- Customer reviews: We take a look at what consumers are saying about these products, and rate them based on scores from website reviews, plus reviews from online retailers like Amazon.
After calculating these scores, we average them out to find an overall score for each massage chair to determine our final list of massage chairs.
Benefits of Massage Chairs
Sure, a massage feels good, but is there any benefit to them? The short answer is yes. The long answer is: Yes, but let’s dive into a few of the larger benefits that you can get from massage chairs and massage therapy in general.

Cost-Effectiveness
A massage chair can be a hefty investment, but so can regular visits to a massage therapist. With a 60-minute session costing as much $150, a massage chair might be a worthwhile investment if you find yourself seeking massage therapy often.
That said, a massage therapist can pinpoint and target specific areas during your massage session, something that very few massage chairs can replicate. But just like a home gym can save you on a gym membership over time, a massage chair will help you save money over time from a massage therapist, especially if you’re trying to visit a therapist multiple times a month.
RELATED: Home Gym Vs Gym Membership
Improved Circulation
Massage therapy can help improve blood flow to the skin or muscles—depending on the depth of your massage. In particular, a 2014 clinical trial3 used a combination of massage therapy and Graston technique (muscle scraping) on 28 participants’ calves, using their other calves as a control. There was a significant increase in skin temperature after massage therapy, which is an indicator of increased blood flow in the area.
An increase in blood flow can help bring fresh blood and oxygen to the muscles, as well as flush out waste and lactic acid, which can help improve recovery. A 2017 trial4 found just that: An increase in blood flow was able to help cyclists recover better between high-intensity training sessions.
Pain Relief
To tell the truth, the jury is still out on the effectiveness of massage on pain relief. However, a systematic review from 20165 concluded that while the efficacy of massage therapy on pain relief is unclear, using it as a pain management option is better than no treatment whatsoever.
Still, massage does seem pretty effective on short-term muscular pain relief and muscle recovery. One review6, although from 2005, suggests that massage therapy after exercise can help reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery, although much of the effects seem to stem from psychological benefits, like relaxation and stress reduction.
Stress Reduction
Massage therapy helps reduce stress and get clients to relax, which can help in improving sleep quality, according to an August 2023 review7. In the review, massage was given to critically ill patients; they found subjective sleep quality improved after two nights of massage—particularly foot massages.
Another review from May 20238 tried to find benefits of massage therapy on athletic performance. Interestingly enough, there weren’t any benefits to motor skills, aside from improved flexibility. However, athletic performance indirectly benefited from these massage sessions because it helped reduce depression, stress, and anxiety in athletes, along with their perception of fatigue. Their increased mood and relaxation helped them perform better.
Buying Guide: What to Look for in Massage Chairs
With so many massage chair brands, models, and prices, it can be a little daunting to know where to start. Because it’s hard to know the overall experience you’ll have with a massage chair just by looking at a product page on a website, I’d recommend trying out a few chairs locally, either at a store or a showroom.
This can help you figure out a few brands you like, as well as some of the features you prefer to see in your massage chair purchase. Another good idea is to check out customer reviews to see how their experience is with the massage chairs.
With that in mind, here are a few of the top items to consider when purchasing your massage chair.

Cost
One of the first things to do is to determine your budget. With the wild price difference between massage chairs—as little as $500 to as much as $10,000 or more—it’s important to know how much you can spend, as this will impact the features you can realistically look for in your massage chair.
- Budget options range up to $1,500 and have limited functionality and features.
- Mid-range options typically cost up to $3,500 and have more massage modes, possibly have basic heat therapy and air compression, and can recline.
- Premium massage chairs cost above $3,500 and include luxury features like zero-gravity reclining, body scanning, full-body air compression, heat, and advanced programs.
Features and Customization
What kind of features are you looking for in a massage chair? Even budget-friendly options should come with a few preset programs that allow you to hop in and get started; however, they should also allow for some customization to the intensity and speed of your massage. Some allow for you to choose the type of massage technique you’ll feel, too, from kneading and tapping to a rolling or Shiatsu massage.
The complexity and customization of massage chairs is often described as being 2D, 3D, or 4D massage chairs. Most common is a 3D massage chair, although premium massage chairs will be 4D.
- 2D massage chairs provide basic movement, with massage rollers moving up and down or left to right.
- 3D massage allows for deeper massages by moving massage nodes in or out to change the intensity of the massage.
- 4D massage chairs incorporate speed and rhythm to the massage, which can create a more personalized experience closer to a real massage. Sensors can actually detect tight areas and slow down to work on those problem spots.

Massage chairs can have extras, as well. Most have some level of heat therapy, while others can have adjustable air compression, a foot and calf massager, or zero-gravity reclining. Higher end models will have Bluetooth speakers and body-scanning equipment to automatically adjust the massage width and height to fit your frame. That said, more features generally means a higher price tag as well.
Massage Areas and Range
Depending on your budget and needs, you may want something just for your back, or you may prefer a high-end chair that gets your feet up to your neck. When looking at massage areas and the range of a massage chair, it’s good to look at the track of the massage chair.
While some have fixed massage nodes, many massage chairs have a track along the back of the chair that follows usual contours and moves massage rollers up and down your back. There are generally three types of tracks, each one progressively longer:
- The S track is the shortest, usually starting at the neck and reaching down to the lower back, following the wave shape of your spine.
- An L track extends the area covered, moving from your head down below the low back and into the glutes and hamstrings. However, this track doesn’t follow contours as well.
- The latest track design is an SL track, which combines the contour of the S track with the extended coverage of the L track. This is definitely the most popular option in higher-end massage chairs.
Along with these, some massage chairs will also have foot and calf massagers, as well as airbags for arms and shoulders.
Comfort
No matter what chair you get, you’ll want it to be comfortable. Take a look at any height or weight limits to determine if a massage chair is suitable for your frame. Also, consider the amount of padding on the massage chair. A good amount of cushion will go a long way in keeping you comfortable throughout your massage session.
Customer Service
Take a look at the policies available to you, particularly the delivery and shipping options. Some companies will offer free white-glove delivery so you don’t have to worry about assembly or installation at all. Others may charge extra for it; otherwise, you’ll get curbside delivery and you’ll be responsible to get it in your house.
As far as other policies go, financing options should be available and flexible, as several of these massage chairs are big investments. Warranties ideally are multiple years, and returns should be 30 days at least. That said, some companies offer a 365-day risk-free trial, where if you’re not satisfied in your first year of use, you can initiate a refund and return.
Experts Who Contributed To This Article
FAQs About the Best Massage Chairs
Are massage chairs worth buying?
Massage chairs can be a worthwhile investment to people who experience chronic or frequent muscle tension and back or neck pain. It’s a convenient and simple way to relieve those symptoms; however, the price tag is hefty, with budget options still costing $1,000 or more. If the price point is too costly, you can try some other cheaper alternatives, like the best massage guns or foot massagers.
How many years does a massage chair last?
Although 3 to 5 years is a common warranty period on mid-range and premium massage chairs, a well-constructed one can last 10 years or more, depending on its construction, durability, and frequency of use. Better quality materials will last longer in general, but more frequent use can begin to wear on the massage chair’s motors. Standard daily use shouldn’t be an issue, however.
Is Titan or Osaki better?
Two titans in the massage chair industry (pun intended) are Titan and Osaki. Both are actually owned by the same company: OTA World. Because of this, they’re similarly designed, and therefore there’s little difference between the two brands. As a whole, Titan provides some newer models with more advanced technologies than Osaki, like outer shoulder and toe massage functionality.
References
- Youn, B. Y., Cho, H., Joo, S., Kim, H. J., & Kim, J. Y. (2024). Utilization of massage chairs for promoting overall health and wellness: A rapid scoping review. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 20(3), 285–297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2023.10.002
- Al Zoubi, O., Misaki, M., Bodurka, J., Kuplicki, R., Wohlrab, C., Schoenhals, W. A., Refai, H. H., Khalsa, S. S., Stein, M. B., Paulus, M. P., & Feinstein, J. S. (2021). Taking the body off the mind: Decreased functional connectivity between somatomotor and default-mode networks following Floatation-REST. Human brain mapping, 42(10), 3216–3227. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.25429
- Portillo-Soto, A., Eberman, L. E., Demchak, T. J., & Peebles, C. (2014). Comparison of blood flow changes with soft tissue mobilization and massage therapy. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 20(12), 932–936. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2014.0160
- Borne, R., Hausswirth, C., & Bieuzen, F. (2017). Relationship Between Blood Flow and Performance Recovery: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 12(2), 152–160. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2015-0779
- Crawford, C., Boyd, C., Paat, C. F., Price, A., Xenakis, L., Yang, E., Zhang, W., & Evidence for Massage Therapy (EMT) Working Group (2016). The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part I, Patients Experiencing Pain in the General Population. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), 17(7), 1353–1375. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnw099
- Weerapong, P., Hume, P. A., & Kolt, G. S. (2005). The mechanisms of massage and effects on performance, muscle recovery and injury prevention. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 35(3), 235–256. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200535030-00004
- Fang, C. S., Chang, S. L., Fang, C. J., & Chou, F. H. (2023). Effect of massage therapy on sleep quality in critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of clinical nursing, 32(15-16), 4362–4373. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16660
- Dakić, M., Toskić, L., Ilić, V., Đurić, S., Dopsaj, M., & Šimenko, J. (2023). The Effects of Massage Therapy on Sport and Exercise Performance: A Systematic Review. Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 11(6), 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11060110
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