Here at GGR, we spread the home gym gospel far and wide, and trust us when we say that we really love fitness equipment. It’s much more than surface-level puppy love, though—we go deep into testing and research to ensure that what we’re recommending is the best of the best for your personal goals and needs.
To come up with a list of the best massage chairs on the market, we executed the same playbook we use with any other product category: Our team of experts—including certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches, Olympic athletes, MDs, physical therapists, and more—spends hours actually using the products, evaluating them via an in-depth, category-specific testing methodology, reviewing the latest related peer-reviewed research, and talking with trusted industry sources about what makes certain products better than others.
Why all the effort? Well, here’s the reality: At the end of the day, review sites are a dime a dozen, and so are the influencers on social media hocking products with little knowledge. What sets GGR apart is our commitment to thoroughness and neutrality, where we recommend the best equipment there is based on the factors that matter.
Massage chairs are a new category for us, and we’re getting more chairs into our facility to test and examine as we speak. But even so, we’ve helped 50 people (and counting) purchase a massage chair this year. Could you be next?
Our Values
Massage chairs are an absolute joy to test—relaxing on the job, anyone? However, we still take the process very seriously. Not only do we consult with physical therapists and MDs on the potential benefits of massage chairs, but our testers are also certified personal trainers and everyday athletes who take recovery just as seriously as their workouts. Additionally, we test related products, like the best massage guns, thoroughly to further our understanding of the percussive therapy category as a whole.
In addition to hands-on testing, we dive deep into the available research on massage therapy as it relates to pain relief, stress reduction, athletic performance, and more to determine if a massage chair can actually be effective in bettering your health—spoiler alert, it can—and what your protocol should be. We spit the truth here, too—if a product’s effectiveness hasn’t been proven, we’ll say that, while still providing options that could work for different types of people.
Our Process
When we’re creating a new best-of list, we start by compiling a roster of products to explore. We scour the internet to look for popular massage chairs and poll our staff and trusted industry friends to see if they’ve used any that they love. We also look to trusted brands to see if they offer anything in the category. Once we have a working list, we add to cart, then test and rate to determine an overall GGR rating for each chair on a scale of 1 to 5.
Only massage chairs that have a 3.5-star overall rating or higher make our roundup lists; we’ll call out other products we tested that didn’t quite meet the mark—and explain why they didn’t—toward the end of each roundup, as well. We also look at average specs across the product category to help us decide which massage chairs are best for which people.
| Category | Average Massage Chair We Test |
| Dimensions | 52.15” L x 27.65” W x 43.75” H |
| Weight | 158.5 lbs |
| Weight capacity | 308 lbs |
| Massage roller tracks | 43.5” SL track |
| Rated voltage | 120 V |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Lastly, we reevaluate our best-of lists on a monthly basis to ensure we’re providing you with the freshest recommendations.
Massage Chair Performance Testing
We evaluate massage chairs in 12 different categories to provide a comprehensive rating of a product’s standout features and flaws. Here are the hardware-specific categories we look at.
Value
Massage chair prices can range from entry-level (as cheap as $500) to premium (upwards of $10,000). While we naturally take the price into consideration, we really examine the cost relative to the chair’s features. Massage chairs that score the highest provide more benefits compared to other chairs in the same price range.
Materials
This category assesses the overall quality and durability of the materials used in the upholstery, frame, and cushioning. Do they feel like they’ll last, and are they comfortable? Chairs rated a 1 or a 2 here are made with materials that feel flimsy and will wear down quickly, while a 5-star rating means the materials are high-quality and durable.
Size, Portability, And Space Requirements
Some massage chairs are large and need a dedicated space, while others are much more portable. If a chair is on the larger side, will it fit through a standard home doorway, and does it recline without needing excessive floor area? Can you also move it on your own?
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To get an average 3-star rating here, the massage chair should fit in most rooms but does require careful placement, while a 5-star rating in this category means the product has a space-saving design and is easy to move.
Extra Features
In addition to massage modalities, massage chairs can also offer compression, heat therapy, zero-gravity reclining, Bluetooth speakers, and more. To get a 1 or 2 in this category, there are minimal or zero extra features to speak of, while a 5-star rating means the product offers a range of extra modes and conveniences that elevate the experience.
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Experience
This is a subjective score that evaluates how the tester felt while using the product. Is the chair comfortable and effective? Does it deliver the expected results of a massage chair in terms of intensity, pain relief, and relaxation? Massage chairs that earn high marks in this category deliver in all areas—the intensity is well-balanced, the rollers, compression, and heat are effective, and the chair works well from a mechanical and technological standpoint.
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Speeds and Massage Modes
Are there multiple speed levels and programs offered in this massage chair? Do they address specific areas of the body well, or even injuries? Is the intensity adjustable and, as a whole, too much, too little, or just right? To get a 3- or 4-star rating, there are several speeds and preset programs available but the variety is limited.
Power, Force, and Motor Quality
Most high-end (and some mid-range) massage chairs use a DC brushless motor, which are quieter and more durable, while entry-level chairs typically use brushed DC motors, which can be cheaper and noisier. Most massage chairs also have multiple motors, which can affect the perceived force across certain muscle groups. That said, massage chairs that score a 5 in this category have a powerful motor(s) capable of strong and deep massage without any stalling.
Amplitude and Range of Motion
In this category we evaluate stroke length and placement, meaning does the massage chair reach the important areas—neck, back and lower body—fully and effectively? To get a 1 or a 2 here, the chair has a short stroke length and can’t efficiently target common problem areas, while a 5-star rating means the chair fully covers the neck to the lower back, as well as the glutes, calves and feet.
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Ergonomics and Adjustability
In this category we consider comfort, adjustability, and build quality. Can you recline, adjust the intensity, or position the rollers right where you need them? We also consider the user’s height and weight here and if the chair felt comfortable to them while in use. To get high marks here, the chair is highly ergonomic and accommodating with multiple adjustment points and supportive cushioning.
Customer Experience Testing
In addition to the actual massage chair, we also evaluate the experience that occurs before the product is set up and ready to use, as well as interactions we (and others) have had with the company.
Ordering, Shipping, Delivery, And Setup
Here, we examine the whole process from ordering to setting up the chair in your home. Is there financing available, and how was the shipping speed? Were there ample delivery options, namely room-of-choice or professional assembly service, and how difficult was the actual setup? An average 3-star rating here means that ordering was straightforward and there were reasonable delivery options, but assembly took a moderate amount of effort.
Customer Service
We want to know how responsive and helpful the brand is. First, we assess how many modes of contact they offer—phone, email, chat, or all—then we interact with them to see how quick and helpful the response is.
We also evaluate available financing, warranty, and returns policies in this category. An average warranty for massage chairs is two years on parts and one year on labor. A 3-star rating also indicates there are some financing options available, as well as a 30-day return window.
Customer Reviews
For this rating, we take into account customer reviews from Amazon, the company website, or other third-party review platforms. While our own proprietary testing and data is important, we also like to see what the masses think about a product. High marks here go to products with overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Overall Score
Once we rate all of the categories above, we formulate an overall rating—also known as the GGR score—for the massage chair in question. This is a good representation of how well-rounded a massage chair is and should give you an indication of how well it may work in your own home gym.
