Buying a Massage Chair: How to Choose the Best Massage Chair for You
Your muscles will thank you.
Before buying a massage chair, it's important to consider which elements mean the most to you. From price to design to a variety of massage functions meant to target specific muscles, there are so many factors that will help narrow your search for the perfect massage chair. In this guide, we'll walk you through what to look for when shopping for a massage chair so you can choose the best massage chair for your space, budget, and massage needs.
What Is a Massage Chair?
What to Look for When Shopping for a Massage Chair
What Is a Massage Chair?
A massage chair is a type of reclining chair that has built-in, pre-programmed massage functions. These chairs are usually electric and plug into standard household outlets. They also usually come with a remote control or control panel that activates their specific massage or reclining functions. Learn more about massage chair benefits in Your Guide to the Benefits of a Massage Chair.
What to Look for When Shopping for a Massage Chair
Buying a massage chair is exciting when you know what to look for! Below, we've outlined key areas to focus your search to ensure you find the right model for your needs.
1. Appearance & Design
When shopping for a massage chair, there are so many aesthetic options to choose from! Some look like standard recliners or accent chairs with ottomans that fit right into your living room’s aesthetic, while others pull out all the stops with leather upholstery, foot rollers, a wingback frame, deep-set seats, and head and neck support features.
In addition to appearance, you also have a variety of design options when it comes to massage chairs. These do not necessarily influence the appearance of the chair itself, but full-body massage chairs are usually more high-tech looking due to their multitude of massage features. You can also opt for reclining or zero-gravity designs if you want the opportunity to nap. There are even massage chairs designed with built-in heaters to help relieve muscle aches and pains.
2. Size
Before buying a massage chair, you also need to think about what size will work best for your space and lounging needs. Consider the size of the spot where you want to put a massage chair and whether you want to be able to recline it or achieve a zero-gravity position. For reference, small massage chairs are under 30" wide, standard massage chairs are 30"–35" wide, and large massage chairs are 35" wide or wider. Simpler designs with one or two massage functions usually take up less room than state-of-the-art full-body massage chair models.
Tip!
Maximize your comfort by going with a massage chair that has an adjustable seat width.
Now for the fun part! You get to decide which massage techniques, regions, or specialties speak to your needs. Most massage chairs come with multiple techniques and massage regions, but we've broken each of them down for you so you can determine which ones you can't live without. You can tailor your search on Wayfair by checking one or more boxes under the "Massage Types'' filter located to the left-hand side of the product page.
Massage Techniques
Massage chairs come pre-programmed with one or multiple massage techniques to help relieve pain and muscle soreness. Learn about your options, below:
2D, 3D, or 4D: When deciding on massage chairs for your home, you might come across the terms "2D, 3D, and 4D". These refer to where massagers are located on the chair and how detailed they are in their functions. The 2D massage chairs are standard in that they have a horizontal and vertical massager mechanism (one to target your shoulders and across your back and the other to target along your spine and neck). The 3D massage chairs have the same design but the massagers jut out a bit more to access your muscles better than 2D massagers. The 4D massage chairs provide the ultimate massage experience because they incorporate flexible rollers that can rotate and change up pressure. Some even have body-scanning technology so they can apply more pressure to areas that need the most help.
Kneading: Kneading massagers provide circular movement and pressure along your back, spine, or neck to increase blood flow, reduce soreness or pressure, and provide gentle movement.
Rolling: Rolling massagers help stretch and work out knots in your back, neck, and leg muscles. Depending on the model, some massage chairs might have a single or double rolling massager to target muscles along the spine.
Compression: Compression massagers typically use built-in air bags to inflate and compress around the hips, legs, or arms. This can help relieve sciatica, arthritis, and other joint or muscle pain.
Tapping: Massage chairs with tapping massagers are great for loosening up tight muscles or for breaking up scar tissue. Tapping massagers can also help promote blood flow through gentle muscle stimulation.
Vibration: Vibration massagers help create a relaxing ambience and are usually used in tandem with other massagers to help loosen muscles, increase blood circulation, and lower stress.
Stretch: Massage chairs can also have stretch functions to help relax and loosen stiff muscles or joints. Depending on the model, stretching massagers can consist of one or two sets of rollers that roll away from each other to help stretch the muscles in your back.
Massage Regions
When buying a massage chair, you can browse by massage region to target the areas of your body that need the most relief. These can include rollers, kneaders, compressors, vibrations, and other massage functions that best support the part of the body it's targeting. Remember that most massage chairs come with more than one massage region, but it can help to search by the area that you typically experience pain, tightness, or soreness.
Neck: If you have knots or pressure points in your neck, a neck massage feature might be just what you need in a massage chair. Neck massagers will help roll and knead the neck area to help reduce tightness.
Upper or Lower Back: Massage chairs that feature upper or lower back massagers have rollers, kneaders, and other mechanisms aimed at relieving spine and shoulder pain or tightness.
Arm or Foot & Calf: If you're on your feet all day or work with your hands, these massage chairs might be for you. Massagers for arms or feet and calves use compression techniques and rollers among other techniques to help relieve pain and inflammation while working out pesky knots or sore muscles.
Full Body: Full-body massage chairs massage your back, neck, legs, and arms simultaneously or target specific areas by using the remote control/control panel.
Massage Specialties
Some home massage chairs come pre-programmed to provide specific massages! Here are two massage specialties your chair can come with:
Shiatsu: Shiatsu massage chairs are pre-programmed to provide a similar experience to the well-known Japanese massage technique. This massage specialty incorporates rollers and acupressure techniques to release tension from the body and improve your physical and mental well-being.
Swedish: Massage chairs with a Swedish specialty have a pre-programmed Swedish massage function that mimics that gentle technique using a combination of rollers, kneaders, stretchers, and vibrations. This massage is designed to increase blood flow, reduce joint or muscle pain, and relieve swelling.
4. Massage Rollers & Tracks
Beneath the upholstery of a massage chair, mechanical rollers are hard at work to provide the human-like massage experience you deserve. These rollers are situated on a track and programmed to roll up and down to target specific areas and provide relief. Here's an overview of the types of tracks you can choose from:
L or S Track: S-track massage chairs have a pre-set track with rollers that go up to the neck and down to the lower back. This makes them ideal for anyone who experiences neck or back pain. In contrast, L-track massage chairs have a longer track that allows rollers to target your back and hamstrings as well, which makes them a great choice for anyone with tight hamstrings, hips, or sciatica.
4-Way Roller Massage: 4-way roller massage tracks are used with 4D massage techniques. This track design makes it possible for rollers to rotate and change up pressure as they roll from the neck and down through the hamstrings, helping to loosen up tight muscles. If you want the most human-like massage, a 4-way roller configuration is the way to go for your massage chair.
In addition to massage functions, there are a bunch of helpful features to be on the lookout for when choosing a massage chair.
Audio Speakers: Some massage chairs come with built-in speakers so you can listen to music or watch TV as the massage chair does its work. These speakers are usually programmed to work via Bluetooth.
Bluetooth Technology: If you want the ultimate high-tech experience, try a massage chair with Bluetooth technology. You can turn the Bluetooth on for your massage chair via the remote control or built-in control panel. Then, connect your massage chair to your smart phone's Bluetooth and play music through the chair's speakers to relax and unwind.
Zero Gravity: Zero-gravity massage chairs are designed to recline to about 130° during massaging. This design keeps you in a seated position but reclines so that your feet are higher than your chest and heart unlike standard reclining chairs where your upper body stays somewhat upright. This position takes the weight off of your spine and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood through your body.
Adjustability: Massage chairs can also come with adjustable features that make it easy to tailor the seat and massage settings to your liking. Consider an adjustable headrest to optimize your head and neck position, or opt for a massage chair with adjustable foot and backrest features so you can recline without propping up your legs or stay upright while using the foot rest if desired.
Massage Intensity: Speaking of adjustability, you can also choose a massage chair based on its massage intensity modes. A lot of massage chairs have more than one massage intensity setting so you can choose whether you need a light Swedish massage or a deep tissue massage. However, you can guarantee a chair has the intensity setting you need by browsing for specific massage intensity options. Check out each massage intensity mode, below:
6. Price
Budget should be another important consideration when shopping for a massage chair. So, how much is a massage chair and how much should you be ready to spend? It depends on the manufacturer, the upholstery material, and of course the massage functions included. Simple massage chairs with one or two massage functions may only cost $500 or lower, while state-of-the-art full-body massage chairs can be up to $1000 or more. However, full-body massage chairs are well worth the price as they target multiple muscle groups and have a variety of massage settings to tailor your experience.
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