If you’re looking for the best massage chair to help reduce stress and alleviate some of your back and neck pain, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’ve highlighted the top 5 massage chairs that we think are the best on the market right now.
If it’s your first time buying a massage chair, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of options. So, we’ve also included a guide on what features to look for to help narrow down your search for the best product that fits your needs.
Best Massage Chairs in 2021
RELAXONCHAIR MK-Classic Massage Chair
Pros
- Longest L-track system on the market
- 2nd generation intelligent body scanning
- Lumbar heat therapy
- Five unique massage techniques
- Comes fully assembled
Cons
- Foot roller massage can be too aggressive
The RELAXONCHAIR MK-Classic Massage Chair is designed for people who are 5′ 2” to 6′ 5″ tall. If you fall under that height, this chair will contour your back and glide to the lower part of your body perfectly using second-generation body scan technology. Furthermore, it comes fully assembled, so all you have to do is plug it in and enjoy. This top-rated massage chair works with electricity. You’ll need to simply plug it in, and it will be ready to use.
This RELAXONCHAIR massage chair reclines from 115 to 160 degrees. It also has seven automatic programs, which include stretch functions. If the auto programs don’t work for you, the manual massage functions will allow you to target specific areas of your back. You can also customize your massages with three levels of air pressure intensity and three speed settings.
What makes this the best shiatsu massage chair on our list is that it has an air massage system with a total of 42 airbags that are placed in strategic locations in the chair. This allows you to enjoy an exceptional full-body massage.
This massage chair also has a lumbar heat therapy feature, which is handy for those with chronic pain as it helps increase blood circulation. Besides having great features for a back massage, this product comes with an enhanced foot roller as well.
However, some users have complained about the foot roller being too aggressive. If that is the case for you, you can install shoe inserts or wear extra socks for cushion. Another feature that makes this our first choice for the best massage chair in 2021 is its handy backlit remote controller. Its backlit buttons allow you to control this massage chair in complete darkness.
Moreover, with its 30-minute timer, you can enjoy massages without interruption. You can also activate the sleep mode, wherein after you’re done with your massage, the chair remains in the zero gravity or reclined position so you won’t be interrupted if you fall asleep.
Real Relax Favor-03 Plus Massage Chair
Pros
- Affordable
- Bluetooth audio play
- Changing LED light
- Back heating
- Easy to move
Cons
- Limited color options
The Real Relax Favor-03 Plus Massage Chair is probably the best massage chair under $,1000. This massage chair comes in two boxes and with an instruction manual. Even though it doesn’t come fully assembled, it will be pretty easy to set it up.
Aside from having eight rollers for a neck and back massage, this Real Relax massage chair comes with 50 airbags for the shoulders, arms, hips, feet, and calves. A foot roller is also present, along with the airbags, for the perfect massage to relieve your feet of pain and tension.
If you came here looking for the best portable massage chair, this one comes close. It may not be entirely portable, but it comes with two back wheels, which allow you to easily move it around the house.
What’s more, the chair has a lower back or lumbar heating feature. You can also use the remote control to customize your massage to only specific parts of the body. Additionally, you can adjust the speed and strength of the massage as well as the angle of your back. There are three levels of intensity to choose from.
If you’ve been looking for the best massage chair for your neck and shoulders, the Real Relax Favor-03 Plus Massage Chair is worth looking into. With the press of a button, you can set the chair to zero gravity mode in order to feel weightless. The chair also has six auto modes to choose from. To top it off, its unique features include Bluetooth audio play and a changing LED light for the ultimate massage experience.
Osaki OS-4D Pro Paragon Massage Chair
Pros
- Enhanced 4D massage technique
- Voice recognition
- Heating on foot roller
- Bluetooth speaker
- Space-saving technology
Cons
- The remote is wired
The Osaki Pro OS-4D Paragon Massage Chair is a popular choice among those looking for the best 4D massage chair in 2021. The 4D massage technology differs from the usual 3D technology in that it comes closer to mimicking the movements of a masseuse — even to the point of controlling the rhythm and depth of the massage. It’s great for those suffering from chronic back and shoulder pain.
This massage chair is delivered in three boxes. Although you have to assemble it yourself, the process is relatively simple. If you don’t want to install it yourself, white glove delivery is available for a fee.
If you’re looking for the best massage chair for deep tissue massages, the Osaki Pro OS-4D Paragon Massage Chair won’t disappoint you. It allows four levels of adjustment so you can customize the massage to suit your needs and preferences. You also have five levels of speed and 13 auto massage programs to choose from.
Among all the other items on this list, the Osaki Pro OS-4D Paragon Massage Chair has the most unique features, including an app so you can control the chair from your smartphone, Bluetooth speakers, heating on foot rollers for a soothing kneading massage, and voice recognition. All of these unique features make this one of the best massage chairs on the market nowadays.
Aside from the app and voice control features, you can control this massage chair with a LED display remote control. The menu is easy to navigate, and you can set the timer from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. Although the fact that it’s a wired remote can be disappointing to some users, it can also be beneficial. It means you can never lose the remote!
Lastly, vying for the spot of best massage chair brand, Osaki provides its customers with a three-year warranty (one year of free labor, three years of free parts replacement) that can be extended to four or five years for a minimal fee.
Kahuna SM7300 Massage Chair
Pros
- Hybrid L/S track design
- Five air massage intensity levels
- Provides larger seating
- LED lighting
- Acupressure points
Cons
- Only one zero gravity position
The Kahuna SM7300 Massage Chair is likely the best zero gravity massage chair on the market. The zero gravity position spreads your weight across the chair, and it’s probably the best position for massages. It relieves stress and ensures a satisfying massage experience. It’s also more effective as the legs are positioned higher than your heart, thereby improving blood circulation.
This massage chair has five auto programs, including Athlete, Relaxation, Fast Recovery, Pain Relief, and Yoga Stretching, and four special programs, namely Golfer, Senior Mode, Dynamic Sport, and Office Person. All of the special programs are in the zero gravity position.
This chair is among the top massage chairs out there, with different techniques accommodating various parts of your body. Its massage techniques include knocking, kneading, tapping, shiatsu, and a combination of tapping and knocking. You can have a whole body massage or choose only a specific part. This Kahuna Superior Massage Chair also has five intensity levels.
In addition, this massage chair has a Bluetooth audio feature so you can play music from your phone and LED lights on its sides to help create a relaxing atmosphere. If you’re searching for the best massage chair with space-saving technology, this one should be at the top of your list. With its forward sliding mechanism, it only requires three inches off from the wall when transitioning to zero gravity position.
The Kahuna SM7300 Massage Chair has a lot of great features once you set it up. However, many users have complained that the manual is a bit confusing. So, if you have difficulty with assembly, it’s best that you contact customer support.
Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair
Pros
- Sleek design
- 3D FlexGlide Technology
- 55-degree swivel base
- CirQlation Figure-Eight Calf Massager
- Low power consumption
Cons
- No speed and intensity levels adjustment
Given that Human Touch is one of the best massage chair brands in today’s market, we had to include their WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair on our list!
This massage chair has a 55-degree swivel base, which means you’ll be able to enjoy your massage from almost any angle. Moreover, the chair has three basic massage techniques (stretch, flex, and tone) as well as a glide massage. You can even combine it with custom massage options. The Range button ensures a regular vertical massage, while the Position and Partial Glide options target specific areas of your body.
The chair has the best massage chair pad that features a patented 3D FlexGlide technology that delivers sensitive massage techniques and glides down your back smoothly without any friction. This can provide great relief after a stressful day.
If you have aching feet, you can choose to turn on only the foot and calf massager, which features the CirQlation figure-eight massage technology. This technology makes this massage chair the best full-body massage chair for people with aching feet because it massages your calves in an upward, wave-like movement that not only soothes your aching and tired feet, but improves blood flow as well.
The Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair doesn’t look bulky. With its sleek design, it could easily be mistaken for a recliner or gaming chair. Moreover, you’ll get plenty of massage options from a product that’s cheaper than most other massage chairs with similar features.
Finding the Best Massage Chairs on the Market: Features to Look For
It’s difficult to know which features are actually important when manufacturers put so many different things in product descriptions. Luckily, we did some research and gathered the vital features to look into when buying a massage chair.
The intensity of the massage
Many high-quality products will give you the ability to choose the intensity level of your massage. This is especially useful for people who want to target specific different areas of the body that don’t benefit from the same amount of pressure.
So, the next time you look for the best massage chair on Amazon, make sure to check out if it offers different massage intensity levels. We find that having at least three intensity options is considered best.
The roller technology
If you’ve spent some time researching massage chairs, you might have come across “2D”, “3D”, and “4D” specifications.
The 2D massage technology is the basic one you’ll find in most older chairs. Their rollers work on X and Y axes. That means they’ll be able to only move left or right and up or down. If you’re looking for the best massage chair without getting too deep into your muscles, then 2D massage rollers are right for you.
If you want a more intense massage, you can go with 3D massage rollers. This is the most commonly found in massage chairs nowadays, but they cost more than 2D massage chairs. In addition to moving up or down and left or right, it can also go in and out, pushing deep into your muscles.
Finally, the 4D massage rollers are great for a deep tissue massage as it can reach certain angles that other massage rollers can’t. The 4D massage technology can also slow down or speed up to concentrate on your aching muscles, thereby mimicking the work of a human masseuse.
The number of auto programs available
Before you start looking for the best massage chair for the money you’re willing to spend, you should think about the number of auto programs you want your chair to have.
If you’re a beginner, we advise you to opt for a product with multiple pre-programmed massage options. They will help you familiarize yourself with the device and see what works for you. Furthermore, you won’t have to spend too much time setting your massage as the program will do everything for you.
In addition, you can differentiate the best home massage chair from the basic options by the number of special programs they offer. This is beneficial for anyone suffering from specific body pains.
Final Thoughts
There you have it — a list of the top massage chairs with all the info you need to know about them. We made sure to do thorough research on some of the best options available on the market so you don’t have to. However, if you want to do some more exploring, we advise you to look into the best-rated massage chair products on the internet. That’s because users’ experiences are much more relevant than the manufacturers’ claims.
Additionally, if you want to search for massage chairs on your own, we have laid out the features to watch out for in a massage chair to make things easier for you. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with so much information on product descriptions. So, hopefully, we’ve narrowed down your search and made the process easier. Enjoy your new massage chair!
People Also Ask
It’s difficult to single out one brand that does the best job of producing massage chairs. A brand may come out with one perfect product and then come up with variations of the same chair at higher price points. That is why when it comes to massage chairs, you shouldn’t spend too much time researching the best brands. Instead, make sure a specific product has everything you need, regardless of who the manufacturer is.
The answer to this question really depends on your preferences. After extensive research, we picked out the top five massage chairs on the market. Some of them provide more customization options but are more expensive. Others are cheaper products without that many features, but they are still high-quality products. You should look into what you need from a massage chair and pick your favorite.
Most massage chair owners claim that these products are a great investment. They are much more convenient than getting regular massages as you’ll have access to them every day, whenever you need a massage. There is not much scientific proof about the actual benefits of massage chairs. However, research has shown that they can improve blood flow, relieving some of your pain and speeding up recovery.
As we mentioned, choosing the best massage chair is all about your own needs and how you want the product to address them. The cheapest massage chair on our list is the Real Relax Massage Chair, and it’s under $1,000. It’s a good product with raving reviews. However, it doesn’t have as many airbags for air massage, which could be a problem if you want to target specific areas of your body. So, at the end of the day, the best massage chair for you depends on your own preferences and your budget.