10 Best Massage Chair Under 1000 (Review) in 2021

Buying just any massage chair at a good price won’t do that trick. You need to know what you want from a massage chair and which areas you want to focus on. Here are some of the basic features you need to keep an eye out for when picking out the best massage chair under $1000.

Massage Features and Variations- This is the most important feature when looking for a massage chair. If your massage chair does not give you a satisfactory massage, the chair loses its purpose.

A massage chair under $500 will usually focus on full-body relaxation. Meaning, the char has massage points all over the surface so that every part of your body, starting from your shoulders to feet, is worked on. If you have no specific problems that you want to target, this can be a great overall option.

Also, keep an eye out for massage variations such as pulsing, rolling, acupuncture, and vibrations. The better the massage chair, the more the massage programs. Variations will make the chair useful for your full family.

Reclining Angle- If your chair can recline quite far back, you’re in luck. These chairs are the most comfortable and prevent backaches from sitting on a soft cushion for a long time.

Everyone likes their massage a bit differently. Some like to be seated straight, some like to be reclined at an angle, and some prefer lying down completely. As different massage variations require you to change your position, getting a chair that gives you good reclining angles is a good idea.

Some chairs are capable of elevating and reclining forward for the elderly to get off the chair easier. Sitting on a chair for a long time makes standing up again tough. With this feature, they won’t need any extra help getting up after their massage is over.

Zero Gravity- The feeling of floating in thin air is something that we all fancy. Besides being super fun, this feature also helps take off pressure from your joints. Zero-gravity chairs distribute your weight as evenly as possible, mimicking the pressure and weight distribution you would have if you were in space.

Best known for reducing tension from joints and muscles, this feature also helps relieve stress. Most of the modern massage chairs have this zero-gravity feature.

Heat Massage- The heat helps loosen your muscle and relieve you if you have any stress knots in your body. The feature also helps improve blood circulation helping more oxygen reach your muscles. Heat massages are great if you have any inflammation or injuries.

People who hit the gym quite hard will find significant improvement in energy and relief from soreness. Get a chair that lets you choose the level of heat.

You will need to adjust this yourself as the tolerance differs from person to person. No one wants to sit in a pile of their sweat. What you need is a gentle and soothing temperature to help you ease up.

Airbags- Airbags are placed all over the chair aligned to the pressure points of your body. These deflate and inflate, giving you rolling massages. A chair with an airbag feature is the closest to a real massage. The feature stimulates a squeezing technique that most massage parlors use. Airbags will easily become your favorite feature.

Do keep in mind, massage chairs that have airbags are usually louder.

Size- Always take a look at how big the chair you are getting is before purchasing. You need to ensure that you have enough space for the thing in your room, both in a normal stance and reclined. Don’t worry if you don’t have much space to spare. There are lots of compact massage chairs that work great.

Reclining and rocking massage chairs will require more space than still ones. Besides how much space you have, also take into consideration how tall you are. Smaller chairs will let your feet dangle off. This disrupts the massage and makes it less effective.

If you would like a chair that you can move to change the location of your massage, get a chair that has wheels. Being lightweight also helps in this scenario.

Leg Rest- Your massage chair should come with its leg rest. Some high-end massage chairs also provide foot massages. If you’re investing in an at-home massage device, why not go all-in? Foot massages are known to provide instant relaxation and can lift your mood in seconds.

If your feet dangle off of the chair, the massage won’t be as satisfactory.

Weight Capacity- If the massage chair you are getting does not have a good weight capacity, the thing won’t last too long.

With everyday use, you will notice permanent indentations on the cushions which you will then need to replace. Many of the features, such as elevating and rolling, might not work as great with a lower weight capacity massage chair. Never settle for a massage chair that does not support at least 300lbs.

Extra Features- Getting a boring old chair that is only good for massages is a thing of the past. Nowadays, you can get chairs that are like mini chill zones. Always keep an eye out for extra features when buying a massage chair. If you’re spending more than $500 on them, you deserve some bonuses.

These extra features could be as small as a cup holder to as large as full-blown speakers. Magazine holders, little trays that help you hold your food, and compartments to store massage oils are also great to have.

Try and get your hands on a massage chair that has a USB connection. This way, you can charge your phone or tab while enjoying a movie.

Speakers on the side of your chair will allow you to connect your phone to the massager for some relaxing music. You could also play rock or death metal if that calms you down.

Material- You have many options to choose from when it comes to the material of your massage chair. The price range is flexible so you can choose a material according to your budget and still end up with a good quality massage chair.

The most popular option is PU leather. This material is a mixture of leather scraps and polyurethane. Sometimes vinyl and adhesive are also added to the mixture. The result of this mix is a material that looks as classy as leather but is more durable and requires less maintenance.

For durability, no material can beat microfiber. It is thick and does not cut, tear, or wear off easily. Microfiber is also softer to touch.

Chenille is a fancier choice. This material is thicker than cotton but soft. It will cost you a lot, but the material makes any chair look thousands of times more than what it is. When getting chairs made with chenille, you need to be careful not to get any stains as they are harder to clean.

Other options that you might be interested in are split-grain leather or genuine leather.

Frame- Besides which material the exterior of your massage chair is made of, another factor that has similar, if not more important to the durability of your chair, is the frame. Typically all massage chair frames are constructed of wood. Which type of wood is what makes the difference in quality.

Cheaper frames are made of softwood, such as Pine or cedar. You’ll get these at an unbelievable price, but the chairs won’t even last you a year. You risk getting bugs and the frame-breaking mid-massage.

Always consider hardwood for the frame of your massage chair. This can be anything like beech, mahogany, or maple.

With stronger frames, you get more weight capacity, and there is less risk of accidents. No maintenance is needed, and the chair with a sturdy hardwood frame lasts more than 5 years.