Last Updated on February 28, 2022
Our editors independently research the best products online to produce this list. We may receive commission on purchases made from the links below but this will never affect our product choices.
Top 10 Best Massage Chairs
- More4Homes Chester Heated Manual Recliner (Editor’s Choice)
- More4Homes Caesar Electric Rise (Luxury Choice)
- HoMedics ShiatsuMax 2.0 (Best Value)
- Bramley Store Reclining Leather (Best for the Office)
- Medisana MCN Pro Shiatsu
- SNAILAX Shiatsu with Heat
- HOMCOM Faux Leather Massage Recliner
- PULUOMIS Grey Swivel (Best for Gamers)
- LUCKRACER 360° Swivel (Best Reclining)
- ELFORDSON with Footrest
Many people suffer from tight and painful muscles, stress, and tiredness, affecting their back and neck. This type of pain can be debilitating and can impact your sense of wellbeing. It can be caused by several things such as old injuries, unsuitable working conditions, carrying children, or doing heavy manual work. Whatever the cause, you are likely to be looking for an effective, accessible, and inexpensive solution.
So, whether it is through work, gaming, or if you spend a lot of time seated, a massage chair offers you the perfect, convenient solution to receiving a full body massage and the opportunity to improve blood circulation.
You do not need to find the time in your already busy schedule to visit a massage parlour; you need to relax in your favourite massage chair and enjoy the massage techniques it can provide.
Massage chairs don’t need to be very expensive items to purchase if you take a look through our best massage chair reviews, and they often double as an office, gaming, or lounge chairs, making them very cost-effective.
Many massage chairs have different massage zones that will provide stress relief to different body areas, from a neck massage to the Japanese massage technique called shiatsu that can be applied to all back sections. Whether you have a specific issue or find the idea of the health benefits that home massage chairs can bring appealing, there will be a massage chair for you in our top ten best massage chairs. We have also set out some of the key features you can expect to find in massage chairs in our buyer’s guide to help you find the best massage chair in the UK stores have to offer!
How we Compared Massage Chairs
To find the right massage chairs we considered multiple factors, including:
- Type
- Massage techniques
- Key features
- Height and weight capacity
Our team independently examined and compared hundreds of products to help satisfy different needs. We spent our time researching massage chairs and consulting customer reviews to ultimately bring you what, in our opinion, are the best options on the market right now.
To find out more about our editorial process, take a look here.
Massage Chair Reviews
More4Homes Chester Heated Manual Recliner (Editor’s Choice)
The More4Homes massage chair provides comfort, support, and massage, all in one, earning it our editor’s choice position!
This massage chair has a heating pad in the lower back section to provide soothing heat therapy while you sit and relax. A preset timer will ensure that the massager turns off after either 30 or 60 minutes.
This premium massage chair can also provide a deep tissue massage for your lower and upper back, thighs, and calves. A release mechanism on the chair’s arm allows you to recline the backrest, and the footrest extends and raises so that you can sit back and completely relax tense muscles.
A controller stored neatly in a pocket on the side of the chair allows you to control the heat and the massage function, provided by eight massage points distributed throughout the chair to give you an all-over body massage. Additionally, the padded foam in the back and headrest make this a very supportive and extremely relaxing chair.
The bonded leather material is high quality and makes this a stylish-looking armchair that will fit well with other black leather furniture you may have at home.
On the other hand, this chair must already be fully installed when delivered, so it might be challenging to manoeuvre it and fit through doors. Also, some users find the massage to be too much and already feels like a vibration.
Pros:
- Heat pads for the lower back
- Massage function
- It comes with a controller
- 12-month warranty
- Padded head and backrest for support
Cons:
- The chair may be delivered in one package, meaning it is not easy to fit through doors or manoeuvre it
- The massage may feel like a vibration
- The leg rest may not be easy to put back into its down position while seated
More4Homes Caesar Electric Rise (Luxury Choice)
This luxury chair is perfect if you have mobility issues or find it challenging to get into and out of a chair.
The More4Homes Caesar Electric Rise has a raise and reclines function, controlled by a motor mechanism. When raised, it almost comes to standing height, helping you sit down into it or rise to stand in one fluid movement.
This premium massage chair is covered in bonded leather and therefore looks and feels like a luxury. The recline position is perfect if you want to use it to sleep in. Additionally, the heat and massage features are adjusted from a controller, which fits neatly away in a pocket on the side of the chair.
There is a heated base in this best massage chair, so you can ease those tight muscles and warm yourself through on a cold day while you relax. Additionally, you can select from several options from your eight-point massage nodes in the back and base of the chair, increasing blood flow and relieving chronic back pain.
This massage chair comes in two easy to assemble parts and has a 12-month warranty from the manufacturer.
However, some users find this chair a bit uncomfortable as the chair is too upright for them. Also, the leather might be too firm.
Pros:
- 12-month warranty
- Bonded leather upholstery
- Raise and recline function for easy sitting and standing
- Massage and heat function
- Two-piece delivery and easy assembly
Cons:
- The leather may be very firm with little give at first
- The chair is very upright when in that position which may not be comfortable
- It may be possible to feel the massage points beneath the leather
HoMedics ShiatsuMax 2.0 (Best Value)
Next on our best massage chair in the UK reviews isn’t an actual chair. Still, something incredibly versatile: this massage cushion can be used over almost any chair and doesn’t involve having to accommodate a bulky massage chair permanently in your room! All you need to do is attach the strap around the back of the chair you put the shiatsu massage cushion on, tighten it, and then you are good to go.
There are an impressive 14 massage modes and a demo mode, all controlled through the remote controller, which is included with the chair. The massage types can be varied between a rolling vibration and deep kneading, depending on whether you are looking for ultimate relaxation or more targeted pain relief.
The shiatsu massage chair also includes a ‘spot shiatsu’ function that allows you to adjust the massage nodes until they are in just the right place to provide a targeted massage. Finally, you can add heat into the mix to truly relax those tired muscles in your back and shoulders!
Meanwhile, the main disadvantage of this massage chair is that you may not be able to have your back and neck massaged simultaneously. Also, you may find it challenging to position the chair as its power cord is quite short.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Flexible for use on almost any office or computer chair
- 14 massage settings
- Heated seat pad
- Targeted function
Cons:
- The massage rollers may not go low enough to reach your lower back
- It may not be possible to have your neck massaged at the same time as your back
- The power cord may be too short of having the massage chair in any position
Bramley Store Reclining Leather (Best for the Office)
This leather massage chair is designed for use as an office chair and looks the part whilst also providing a body massage while you work! The chair is high-backed, has twin armrests, and is double padded, all for your comfort, and it has a 360° swivel.
Like many office chairs, this one can recline and has a tilt and lock feature, and the height is adjusted with a gas mechanism so that you don’t have to pump the seat up if you need to raise it!
In terms of massage, six massage rollers can massage your legs, buttocks, and back. Also, you can turn on the heat function so that your stresses melt away in the warmth of a relaxing massage. Finally, a supplied remote control allows you to select from five preset massage functions and be stored neatly away on the side pocket.
While it can be considered the best massage chair in the UK, the Bramley Store Reclining Leather has some disadvantages. A common complaint of users is that the shiatsu massage feels like more of a vibration massage.
Pros:
- Office chair with massage function
- Recline option for when you want to relax
- 360° swivel
- Five preset massage settings
- Heat function
Cons:
- The padding may move and flatten in time, making it less comfortable than when new
- It might provide a vibration massage rather than a shiatsu massage
Medisana MCN Pro Shiatsu
This Shiatsu massage pad has three massage zones and is flexible to attach over almost all chairs, giving you a professional massage feeling from your choice of location!
You can choose between having just the upper or lower back massaged or opt for the whole back to receive the massage therapy. Additionally, the vibration setting in the seat pads can be set to three different intensities, and there is also red light heat therapy to soothe tired, tight muscles with warmth. A safety feature will turn the heat off after 15 minutes to prevent overheating.
You can adjust the neck massage to your height to get the best massage for you, meaning that it can also be used and shared by family members, and everyone can experience an individual massage session.
We love this massage chair because the massage heads rotate and move back to front, up and down, and side to side, giving you a proper 3D body massage that penetrates even the tightest of muscles!
However, it is important to note that this massage chair is not ideal for you if you are over 185 cm in height. Also, it does not include a targeted feature to massage a particular area of your back.
Pros:
- Vibration massage with three intensity levels
- Detachable and easy-to-wash neck cover
- Adjustable neck height
- Safety setting to turn the heat off after 15 minutes
- Three massage zones
Cons:
- It may not be suitable for use if you are over 185 cm in height
- The strength of the massage setting for the back may not be strong enough for some people
- It does not include a targeted feature to massage a particular part of your back
SNAILAX Shiatsu with Heat
This ultimate massage chair has a lot to offer and is about the middle of the range of our top ten best massage chairs in terms of cost! It provides shiatsu massage in three zones, the upper, lower, or whole back, and is perfect for increasing blood circulation and relieving back pain.
Another feature that makes this the perfect massage chair is that it provides a spot massage by targeting the area the nodes knead, so if you have a particular problem area, you can concentrate the massage there. There is also a removable ‘intensity control flap’ that gives you a more intense massage experience when it is not in place.
The two vibration pads on the seat provide a massage for the thighs and hips. Additionally, you can adjust the massage nodes in width and according to your height: these adjustments make the chair flexible for use by the whole family.
However, a recommended height limit of 180 cm may mean that this chair is not suitable for you if you are tall as the massager may not reach your whole back.
Pros:
- Spot point massage to target specific problem areas
- Three zones, upper, lower, and the whole back
- Intensity control flap for a more or less intense massage, depending on if it is in place or not
- Heat function to relax knotted muscles
- Adjustable massage heads
Cons:
- It may not be suitable if your height is over 180 cm
- The rolling back massage may not reach low enough to massage the lower back area
- May not have the reach to massage the neck effectively
HOMCOM Faux Leather Massage Recliner
This massage chair by HOMCOM includes no fewer than ten massage points! These are spread out across the chair with six on the backrest, plus a heat point, two under the seat pad, and two on the separate footstool.
A remote control allows you to select from nine preset massage options and adjust the heat temperature or manually adjust the settings to find the best massage for you. The massage chair is set on a swivel mechanism which allows it to rotate by 360°, and it can also recline to give you the ultimate full body massage in a relaxed position.
The armrests are padded, and there is a pocket for neat storage of the remote control.
There are no wheels on this chair, just a circular base, so it is not as easy to manoeuvre as some massage chairs in our review. Also, a lead attaches the footstool to the main chair, which you cannot remove.
Pros:
- The backrest can be adjusted to recline
- Separate footrest
- Adjustable heat setting
- Remote control to adjust settings
- Ten massage points
Cons:
- The instructions may not be very informative
- It may be noisy when the higher massage intensity is used
- The chair may not be height adjustable
PULUOMIS Grey Swivel (Best for Gamers)
This is a stylish-looking chair, perfect for long periods of sitting due to its massage cushion for lumbar support and thickened memory foam seat. In addition, there are two massage heads within the lumbar support cushion, which will massage your lower back while gaming!
The seat can recline between 90 and 150°, rock forwards and backward by 30°, and has a 360° swivel function. This versatile massage chair also has silent coaster wheels for easy manoeuvrability. Additionally, the seat height and armrests can be adjusted, and there is a footrest for when the chair is in a reclined position.
The chair has a strong steel structure and a five-legged base in a star shape for stability and robust weight-bearing. It can take up to 150 kg! There is also a two-year warranty with the massage chair, should anything go wrong.
Unfortunately, the screws of this massage chair may come loose over time. Also, it may not be that flexible for tall people.
Pros:
- Reclines, rocks, and swivels
- Lumbar and neck cushions
- Massage for the lower back
- Thickened memory foam seat cushion
- 2-year warranty
Cons:
- The screws may loosen over time and need retightening
- The chair may not be adjustable sufficiently for tall individuals
- The padded memory foam seat may flatten over time
LUCKRACER 360° Swivel (Best Reclining)
The LUCKRACER massage chair is another of our best massage chairs reviews suitable for the serious gamer or those who work long hours at their desk. If you are prone to back pain, the massage pillow eases your back while providing an ergonomic seating position.
The massage chair can recline between 90 and 150° and has an adjustable neck pillow to compliment the lumbar support pillow. Unlike some other massage chairs, it is possible to adjust the height by 10cm, so it is suitable for all family members.
The chair will swivel a full 360°, and the coasters are multi-directional and designed to be silent. Additionally, there is a retractable footrest for when the chair is in a reclined position that can then be put back away when not in use. There is also a 2-year warranty with this massage chair, for full peace of mind!
One thing to note is that the massage pillow requires a USB power source to plug into for use.
Pros:
- 2-year warranty
- Reclines up to 150°
- Retractable footrest
- Massage lumbar support cushion
- Height adjustable
Cons:
- You may need a USB power source to use the massage pillow
- The chair may creak a little when being reclined
- The back support may be uncomfortable and hard to sit back against, apart from the neck and lumbar cushion
ELFORDSON with Footrest
The ELFORDSON massage chair is the best massage chair in the UK for several reasons.
It is designed for professionals who spend long working hours at their desks and deserve a little bit of massage therapy but are short on available time. There is a massage zone for the lower back and another for the upper back. Additionally, there are five massage modes and three intensity levels you can select from, making this an ideal massage chair.
The massage chair also has sprung pocket support for total comfort, can recline up to 150°, and has a retractable footrest for when you want to kick back for a bit. A gas lift adjusts the seat height by 10 cm, and the chair can swivel a full 360°.
One thing to note is that the massage function works by plugging a USB lead into a port, so you need to be sitting close to a power source for this to work.
Pros:
- Two-year warranty
- Height adjustable seat
- Reclines to 150°
- Retractable footrest
- Two-zone massage
Cons:
- The seat pad may not be very comfortable over a long and may require additional padding
- There may be issues with holes for screws aligning when constructing the massage chair
- The massage function may feel more like a vibration
Buyer’s Guide
There are several different massage techniques offered by massage chairs, along with many other features to choose from, so we have set out some of the considerations and options available to you in our buyer’s guide below.
Do you Have space for a Dedicated Massage Chair, or Does it Need to be Multi-Functional?
You have a few different options when selecting the best massage chair. It is important to have considered whether you want a chair that is suitable for other uses or are looking for a dedicated massage chair.
There are office chairs that also offer massage and heat features, and similarly, gaming chairs offer the same. These will be designed with the primary use in mind and will include massage chair pads or neck rollers as an extra.
Massage chairs can be quite bulky items, and so if you do not have the space for this, you could also look at a massage cushion, which you can place over almost any chair or onto a sofa.
Electric Massage Chairs or USB Charged?
There are two main types of massage chairs, and it is important not to get caught out by this. Many massage chairs are electric and come with a power lead. However, there are models in which the massage function is charged by a USB connector which requires a USB power hub.
The impact of this is that you need to have your chair placed near to somewhere where you have a USB hub, which may be more limiting than having a plug socket nearby.
Massage Techniques
The main massage techniques you can expect from a massage chair are either a vibration-style massage to relieve tension by relaxing the muscles or a shiatsu massage. This replicates a Japanese style of massage where the fingers or palms are used to apply pressure to different parts of the body to soothe and ease ailments.
The best massage chairs will have massage nodes that can move in all directions, giving you a deep massage. There are a couple of massage chairs in our review which include key features such as ‘spot shiatsu’ functions which allow you to target a specific area of pain or tense muscle and focus the deep kneading massage on that area.
Key Features
Many chair massagers have an optional heat function which provides a relaxing warmth to help de-stress tired muscles. Other key features to look out for are whether your massage chair has a neck massager, a footrest, or maybe foot rollers.
The number of massage areas or massage heads also significantly differs from the massage experience you get when sitting down and relaxing. Our luxury massage chairs have up to ten massage points, providing an all-over massage from your neck, down your upper and lower back, and into your thighs.
In addition to massage features, the best massage chairs can recline the chair back to as much as 150º and have extendable and retractable footrests. This allows you to relax and unwind after a long and stressful day fully.
They may also swivel by 360°, and many gaming chairs can rock up to 30° as well. Lastly, you want to ensure that your massage chair includes a remote control so that you can change the setting at the press of a button and then place it away neatly into a pocket at the side of the chair.
Height and Weight Capacity
Some massage chairs have a maximum height limit that they are suitable for. This tends to be between 180-185 cm. So, if you are tall, it is worth checking that your massage chair can reach and provide a massage to your shoulders and neck.
In our reviews, you will find some massage chairs with a maximum weight capacity (going up to 150 kg), so be mindful of this too before choosing the best massage chair for your needs.
Conclusion
We hope you have been able to navigate the many different features and massage techniques offered by massage chairs by reading the advice given in our buyer’s guide and the top ten best massage chair reviews. Hopefully, you have been able to select the right one for you, but if you are still undecided, why not try our editor’s choice – the More4Homes Chester Heated Manual Recliner.
The More4Homes massage chair offers comfort, support and massage, all in one chair, which is why we gave it our editor’s choice accolade! If this is your first massage chair, then this is a great place to start! It looks like a leather armchair and will blend in well with other black leather furniture in your home.
This premium massage chair provides a deep massage to the whole of your back, thighs, and calves. The massage chair also has a heating pad in the lower back section to provide heat therapy while you sit and relax. The heat and massage functions, provided by eight massage points evenly distributed throughout the chair, give you an all-over body massage. You can easily adjust these using the remote control, which stores neatly away into a pocket on the side of the chair.
A release mechanism on the chair’s arm allows you to recline the backrest, and the footrest extends and raises so that you can sit back and completely relax tired muscles while letting the blood flow around your body. Additionally, the padded foam cushioning in the back and headrest makes this a supportive chair and relaxing.
There is little not to like about this best massage chair in the UK; it costs less than a good quality armchair that come with so much functionality and features.
Enjoy de-stressing and relaxing in your own home and on your own time on your new massage chair!
Additional Resources
Tania is a full-time writer and home product enthusiast. She loves helping readers not only get the most out of their home but to also pick the right products for their needs.
