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Getting a massage is one of life’s greatest joys—and they don’t just feel good, they’re good for us. As massage therapist Nora Fantry points out, “A good massage helps with range of motion, flexibility, it’s great for your nervous system, and it helps your body relax so when you go back to being active, your muscles contract well. If you’re always contracting your muscles, they can’t function as well as when you also release them.”
Despite the many benefits and pleasures of massage, though, most people don’t get them regularly. “Cost can be a prohibitive factor for people,” admits Fantry. “And, people often also have fear around being vulnerable or treating themselves to something they think is a luxury item, which can stop them from coming in.” A massage chair, then, can be a great way to get regular massages in the comfort and privacy of your own home. If you’re in the market for a quality one, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the best massage chairs out there.
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Comhoma’s massage chair reclines, rocks, massages, and heats, plus it has a footrest and built-in drink holders. It’s crafted out of soft leather and offered in three color options, all for under $300. The multi-point massage system and 151-degree recline feature is essential for relaxation. This chair looks and feels like a quality massager—it’ll have your friends and family asking if they can take a turn.
A comfortable modern massage chair that looks and feels good. Perfect for anyone looking for next-level relaxation.
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When it comes to a portable massage chair, you want something substantial enough that it still delivers a quality massage, yet is also lightweight enough to be moved around. This device fits easily onto a chair but also cradles your entire back and glutes, and is lightweight to boot. Simple straps that fit most any chair allows for ultimate flexibility with this mobile massager.
A convenient modern massage cushion that works almost anywhere. This massager is competitively priced, easily adjustable, and always effective.
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Osaki is known for quality, and its OS-4D Escape is a luxurious model with a bunch of features, most notably the 4D feature. This technology maps the curvature of your back and allows the user to control the length of the rollers. Loaded with up to nine manual and six massage modes, few chairs can compete with this level of quality. Lumbar heat therapy and specialized foot rollers will help you feel less stressed in no time.
For top-of-the-line massage chairs, Osaki provides a rare experience.
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The Osaki brand is known for quality, and this chair comes with a number of top tier features, like full-body air massage, 3D technology, zero gravity, and unique foot rollers. The specialized Auto Body Scan can help ensure the optimal amount of pressure applied during the massage. Inspired by NASA technology, the zero-gravity position is the perfect way to enjoy your massage. Heating pads in the lumbar add to the loosening of muscles.
Despite being a large initial investment, few chairs offer the comfort and full body massage benefits of the Osaki Os-Pro Admiral AS. Multiple massage styles and zero gravity availability make this chair one of the best on the market.
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A zero-gravity chair puts your body in a reclined position where your legs are elevated above your heart. This position can help alleviate pressure from the spine and impart a relaxing, weightless sensation. This massage chair has three zero-gravity levels, allowing you to personalize your zero-gravity experience. While generally safe to use, Fantry notes that anyone with blood clots, or anyone who is taking blood thinners, should speak to a doctor before using a zero-gravity chair.
For an all-around massage chair with a breadth of features and zero gravity recline capability, the iRest massage chair is a good option.
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This chair is sleek and luxurious, packed with features, yet relatively lightweight and slim compared to other top of the line models. Deep circular kneading massage movement offers superior comfort in a convenient setting. With a clean, modern look, it should easily fit in with other furniture.
Great value for anyone looking for an all-around massage chair with plenty of features.
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Your entire body will be cradled and massaged with this ultra-luxurious 4D massage chair. It features true zero-gravity recline, a wireless charging pad, and 4D technology to mimic the hands of a professional massage therapist. An easy-access joystick, Bluetooth connectivity, and onboard nature sounds are the type of features you’d expect in this premium product. Using triple-shiatsu rollers and intelligent voice control, the Kyota Yutaka M898 is one of the best at helping you relax.
For top of the line massage chairs, the Kyota Yutaka M898 is unbeatable in quality and offers enough programmability and features for anyone.
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This chair features airbag massagers, a bluetooth speaker, vibrating smart body scanning, heating, calf massage and feet rollers, plus six different auto programs for the ultimate relaxation. The manual mode allows you more individual customization over your massage, while the built-in sensor measures the length of your spine, helping the chair know exactly where to massage. Multiple massage modes and Smart Body Scan technology make this a can’t-miss chair everyone should consider.
BestMassage’s Full Body Electric Shiatsu Massage Chair is a gorgeous chair loaded with useful massage features to help you feel relaxed again.
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Rich faux leather combined with heating functions and zero gravity technology make this chair the ultimate in heated relaxation. With full-body airbag massage and a built-in heater, it’s hands down one of the best full body massage chairs available. Bluetooth music connection allows you the ability to create your own soundtrack, helping you more quickly reach tranquility. The extendable footrest allows a better fit for taller users and makes this a great option for those looking to unwind.
For a well balanced massage chair that hits nearly all the marks, Latitude Run’s Electric Faux Reclining Massage Chair is a serious contender. With a reasonable price and regal look, it’s one of the finest on the market.
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Many traditional massage chairs are large or bulky, and don’t blend into a typical living room’s design, but this recliner goes with any decor, making it a great option. This chair also has multiple modes and a range of vibration levels, as well as heat, so it’s not only easy on the eyes and light on the wallet, it’s also the perfect way to treat yourself at the end of the long day. Plus, it has pockets for your remote!
If you’re looking for an elegant massage chair that could fit easily into any room, this Best Choice Faux Leather Recliner is an amazing choice. The reasonable price adds to the already soothing experience.
To select the massage chairs on this list, we started by consulting experts for their insight and recommendations. We then researched the top massage chairs on the market, reading reviews and comparing the list of features against the advice of our experts, and used this information to compile our guide to the best massage chairs for ultimate relaxation.
If you found this guide useful, you may also be interested in our guides to the best recliners for back pain, the best recliners for neck pain, the overall best recliners, our picks for the best modular sofas, and the best places to buy furniture.
If you’re planning to use your massage chair to treat your pain, consider what type of pain you're experiencing, and make sure your massage chair includes features that will help alleviate it. Nicole Reiss, physical therapist and clinic manager at Potrero Physical Therapy in San Francisco, explains that, “People with arthritis or muscle pain can really benefit from heat. Or as a different example, with a stenosis issue in your lower back, sometimes that patient is more comfortable in a slightly more lumbar-flexed position, so a chair that provides that sort of arch might be more comfortable for that person. So it depends on where and how you’re experiencing the pain.”
Some massage chairs are enormous, bulky, or have a high-tech appearance, while others are sleek and designed to fit into the decor of the room. So, when shopping for a massage chair, consider your priorities and space. If you’ve got room to spare, and your top priority is grabbing a chair that’s packed with all the best features, you might want one with a bulkier or more high-tech appearance. But if style is your top priority, there are many chairs available that are beautifully crafted.
Some massage chairs are designed to massage the entire body, from feet and calf muscles up to the neck, while other chairs target the full back, or just certain parts of the back. Typically, the higher up the price scale you go, the more full-body massage options you’ll find.
The biggest advantage of a massage chair is the convenience factor: After the initial upfront investment, a massage chair allows for unlimited free massages in the comfort of your own home.
On the downside, a massage chair lacks the knowledge and insight of a trained professional. As Fantry explains, “Sometimes when you press down on a place that’s sore, while it might feel good, pressing too hard can actually cause you harm, because it can inflame or irritate something that’s already an issue. So you want to be careful not to overdo it, and if you’re in consistent pain, it might be time to seek out a licensed massage therapist.”
When it comes to massage chairs, “zero gravity” refers to the chair’s recline position: A zero-gravity chair elevates the feet and reclines the back to take pressure off the spine. It is designed to mimic the weightless feeling of floating in zero-gravity conditions in space. Says Fantry, “It can be helpful for anybody who gets fatigued in their legs, and for people experiencing disc herniation, because it takes some pressure off of their spinal column.” However, people with a history of blood clots or are on blood thinners should check with their doctor before using a zero-gravity massage chair.
In a 3D massage chair, the capabilities of the massage rollers are expanded to include an in-and-out motion as well as the traditional up-and-down and side-to-side motions, thereby giving you a three dimensional massage. In a 4D massage chair, those capabilities are expanded one step further: Here, the user controls the movements, enabling a self-directed massage on your exact pain points.
Some great massage chair brands to check out include Osaki, iRest, and Kyoto. You can also take a look at Amazon for massage chairs on both the high and low end of the price scale.
A massage chair can be a great way to relax and alleviate some pain. If you’re not sure whether a massage chair will work for you, try before you buy.
Budget massage chairs can start as low as $250, but for most models, expect to pay at least $800 for a chair with high-quality, modern features, and a top-of-the-line model might fall between $2,000 and as much as $10,000.
According to Fantry, “For a professional massage, it’s great to go as often as once a week if you have the means and the time. For a massage chair, if it makes you feel good, you could use it every day, but try not to use it for more than 20 to 30 minutes at a time.”
A high end massage chair should last at least 10 years, and up to 20 years, on average. Be aware that one of the pitfalls of buying a cheaper model is that it may not have the same longevity as a more expensive model would.
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