The 8 Best Back Massagers We've Tested, All Approved by a Chiropractor (2024)

An effective back massager can do it all: soothe, relax, and release the tension you've been carrying—and who wouldn't want that? We researched back massagers from various brands (at all prices) and tested more than a dozen to determine the best one for your lifestyle.

Tailoring the massage to your body's needs is key, according to chiropractor Dr. Robert Hayden. He encourages us to buy customizable massagers, including handheld options to really target sore spots.

"Multiple power and speed settings are important to get just the right comfort level for the condition you are treating," Hayden says.

During our testing, we evaluated each massager's attributes, like durability, effectiveness, portability, and overall value. After hours of testing, we determined our eight favorites, which by the way, double as great gifts for busy moms, best friends, or even for yourself for a little self-care.

Our list of recommendations includes inexpensive and splurge options, but know that a lower price tag might mean sacrificing a setting or two.

What We Like

  • Hot and cold settings with five intensities

  • Lightweight and portable

  • Becomes hot or cold almost instantly

What We Don’t Like

  • Difficult to target certain parts of the body

During testing, the Bob and Brad mini percussive massage stood out as our top choice thanks to its unique (and impressive) hot and cold settings. From the moment we turned it on, we felt the heat and cold immediately, providing instant relief to sore muscles.

We used this massager on our shoulders during testing, and 10 minutes post-use, we still felt profound relaxation and tension relief. There are five intensity settings, though we found the maximum intensity level a bit too intense. The other four attachments are not hot or cold, but they’re designed to target different body parts, including your feet.

Weighing just under a pound, this is the smallest and lightest massager we tested, making it perfect for bringing with you on trips or even days in the office. However, the compact design can make it difficult to target specific parts of your body, especially your lower back. If that’s your main target for a massager, get a friend to help you or consider our best massager for your lower back.

Size: 5.7 x 3.3 x 1.8 inches | Weight: 15.2 ounces | Heated: Yes | Cordless: Yes

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How long should you use a back massager?

To avoid overstimulation of injured tissues, you should limit usage to perhaps every two to four hours for no longer than 15 to 20 minutes, advises Dr. Hayden.

What We Like

  • Interchangeable massage heads

  • Optional heat

  • Targeted massage

What We Don't Like

  • Heavier than other handheld models

  • No battery for cordless operation

You don't have to spend a fortune to relax and unwind with the HoMedics Percussion Action Massager. It won us over during testing with its simple operation, interchangeable massage heads, and optional heat setting.

It’s not the most robust or full-featured massager we tested, but multiple heads offer another layer of customization to your massage experience—which we love.

There are two interchangeable caps included that alter the feel of the massage heads, giving you a choice between a firmer and softer sensation. However, we found them tricky to attach the first few times and had to consult the manual to make sure we were doing it correctly.

Luckily, it was only slightly heavier than the other handheld models we recommend (the Theragun Sense and the Body Back Buddy Classic). All three can also be easily stored in a closet or packed in a suitcase, earning high scores for portability.

This massager took about five minutes to warm up, which was slightly frustrating, considering most back massagers are recommended for only 15-minute sessions. We also wish this handheld massager was cordless for greater freedom of movement during use.

Size: 17.13 x 5.94 x 5.51 inches | Weight: 2.48 pounds | Heated: Yes | Cordless: No

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What We Like

  • Hands-free experience

  • Lots of customization options

  • Easy to control remote

What We Don’t Like

  • Lacking heat function

Our favorite cushion, the Homedics Total Recline Shiatsu Massager, is a chair-style back massager that uses four massage nodes to tend to the upper, lower, or full back. We loved the chair design during testing, which makes it easy to unwind while working from home or catching up on your favorite shows.

We felt relief almost immediately using this massager. The remote controls every aspect of the massage, transforming your office chair or living room couch into a massage chair. There are two intensities, three massage nodes, and vibration options to choose from.

There’s no built-in timer, like our best massager for your lower back, which automatically turns off after 30 minutes, so you simply have to press the on/off button to operate it.

While we found the neck massage a bit too intense, it might be perfect for someone else—which is why personalization is so important. This massager does have a heat function, but we found it rather faint and not the most impressive feature. But overall, we still love this option for a hands-free, customizable massage.

Size: 29.9 x 8.3 x 17.9 inches | Weight: 18.5 pounds | Heated: Yes | Cordless: No

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What We Like

  • Detachable arm for reaching your lower back

  • Easy-to-read LED screen

  • Five intensity levels

What We Don’t Like

  • No heat or timer settings

If you ever had to contort your body to reach one sore spot on your lower back to no avail, you need the Renpho Massage Gun. When testing, we loved the extendable handle, which lets you reach your lower back, calves, and other hard-to-reach places without intense effort.

The extendable arm was a lifesaver when tested on an individual with limited shoulder mobility. The massager easily reached their legs and back without causing additional pain. Plus, it comes with four attachments to target different parts of your body.

Once charged, the device is cordless so you can use it anywhere in your home. Then, you can easily toggle between five intensity levels on the LED screen at the top of the massager that displays a number from 1 to 5, so you know exactly what intensity you’ve chosen. It also shows your battery capacity so it won’t run out of juice in the middle of a massage session.

While we wish there was a heat setting or timer function, we like the simple, easy-to-use percussive massager that’s great for those hard-to-reach areas.

Size: 5 x 2.6 x 14.5 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds | Heated: No | Cordless: Yes

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What We Like

  • Includes wall and car charger

  • Easily folds into included storage bag

  • Touch controls give you options for heat, intensity, and massager direction

What We Don't Like

  • No way to secure it around your back or waist

  • Produces minimal heat

If you want to soothe your neck and back, choose a back massager equipped for both, like this option from Resteck. It uses a shiatsu-style massage to work tight neck muscles or gently loosen your back, depending on where you place it.

During testing, the Resteck massager rested comfortably across the shoulders, delivering pressure and heat to the neck. It was super easy to position lower, too, for specific attention on the shoulder blades or lumbar region.

When not in use, the massager folds up and can be stowed in the included carry bag, which impressed us. This, combined with the fact that the Resteck massager comes with a wall and car charger, earned it a perfect score for portability.

The multiple speed settings were great for adjusting the massager's intensity, which we love for customization. We wished the heat setting were more intense, noting that it was barely noticeable through a T-shirt—this is best for someone prioritizing an intense and adjustable massage rather than a strong heat setting.

Size: 15.94 x 9.45 x 7.09 inches | Weight: 4.59 pounds | Heated: Yes | Cordless: No

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What We Like

  • Companion app with guided routines

  • Five intensities and four attachments included

  • Guided breathing routines available

What We Don’t Like

  • Could be too intense for some users

  • Long charging time

The Theragun Sense takes all the guesswork out of using a back massager. During testing, we used the accompanying app to follow different recovery and warm-up routines. If you want to skip all the fuss, you can use the massager as is for removing knots or tension with the different attachments and settings.

Immediately, we noticed that this massager was more intense than our best massager overall (even on the lowest setting) so it’s best for severe knots. But, the massager is very comfortable to hold and long enough to target your back without recruiting a friend to help.

This massager does take a long time to charge—we found that it only gained about 10 percent battery after 20 minutes of charging. Therefore, we recommend charging it before your workout so it’s ready to go when it’s time to recover.

Overall, the high price tag and smart features make this suited for serious athletes who want an intense massage at home—but we still think casual users would benefit from the easy-to-use features and smartphone capabilities.

Size: 8.3 x 6.3 x 2.6 inches | Weight: 1.6 pounds | Heated: No | Cordless: Yes

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How often should you use a back massager?

You can use a back massager about three to four times a week. While back massagers may provide quick relief and increase circulation, keep in mind that the overuse of a vibrating massager is possible.

What We Like

  • Adjustable Velcro strap

  • Heat settings to use with or without massage

  • Cordless with magnetic charging cable

What We Don’t Like

  • Lack of heat function on the core

Delivering an effective lower-back massage yourself can be difficult, but that's where the HydraGun Heat Pulse Back and Core Massager can help. During testing, we fell in love with this massager's portability and ease of use. The belt uses Velcro to secure around your waist and lower back and quickly gets to work.

The belt arrives pre-charged, so all you have to do is attach the magnetic charging pad to the belt, fit it around yourself, and use the four buttons to get started. The buttons deliver heat to your back, your core, or both. You can adjust the vibration and heat intensity by pressing those buttons up to three times for maximum intensity, which is 131°F for heat.

Once it’s fully charged (with the included USB-C charging cable), the belt is fully portable. We found it comfortable to wear while sitting, standing, walking, or lounging back on a couch. Plus, the Velcro belt lets you move it along your torso to target pain or tension.

The massager automatically shuts off after 30 minutes, which is great. Plus, the manufacturer claims that a single charge lasts 3.5 hours, so you can use it seven times before needing to reload. All in all, we can't recommend this enough for an effective lower back massager with heat that you can benefit from while doing chores or walking around your house.

Size: 50.8 x 10.6 inches | Weight: 2.1 pounds | Heated: Yes | Cordless: Yes

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What We Like

  • Doesn’t require a power source

  • Three types of massage nodes

  • Durable and strong

What We Don't Like

  • Must apply pressure during use

  • Awkward shape for storage

The Body Back Buddy Classic proves massagers don’t need all the bells and whistles to be effective. In our testing, the effectiveness and durability of this manual massager impressed us. We found it especially useful for soothing and relaxing neck and shoulder muscles while working great on other tight spots, like sore, tired feet.

Much to our surprise, the Body Back Buddy Classic is equipped to supply target relief to specific areas of the body. It features three round knobs for covering large muscles, three-pointed knobs for deep tissue action, and a pair of nubs for use on the back.

However, the various sizes and shapes of the knobs on the tool add to its versatility and its ability to target your whole body, not just your feet. While it’s oddly shaped for placing it on a shelf or taking it to go, it could be stored under a bed or stand upright in the closet.

Size: 25 x 16 x 1 inches | Weight: 1.255 pounds | Heated: No | Cordless: Not applicable

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Final Verdict

The Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini Massage Gun is our top pick for the best back massager because it’s lightweight, easy to use, and comes with a hot and cold attachment for the ultimate recovery. For a more affordable option, the HoMedics Percussion Action Massager delivers targeted relief for your back, shoulders, or other muscles.

How We Tested the Back Massagers

To make this list, we purchased 20 popular massagers and put them through their paces at The Lab. Using a curated methodology, each massager was evaluated based on its performance in multiple sessions.

  • Setup: We unboxed each massager to see how long it took to set up each product before you could start your massage. This meant determining how each massager operated, whether it needed batteries or plugged into the wall or neither.
  • Effectiveness: We used each massager for at least 15 minutes, evaluating its effectiveness. We noted whether we experienced any pain, the intensity of the massage, and how our muscles felt afterward.
  • Features: For complex massagers with multiple intensities and features, we made sure to use all of them, changing the intensity, adding heat, or using it on different body parts. We noted how long it took to heat up and how long the heat lasted for heated options.
  • Portability: Some models were portable and lightweight, while others were heavy and more likely to be used at home versus on the go. We noted how heavy each pick felt and if we would consider it portable.
  • Overall Value: After using each massager and testing it on all of these qualities, we compared it to other massagers we've tested and determined whether it was worth the price.

What to Look for in a Back Massager

Style

When shopping for a back massager, consider the style that suits your specific pain and lifestyle. Those seeking a more precise massage on a certain area of their back might best benefit from a handheld back massager, like our best massager overall, the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini Massage Gun.

If you're looking for a way to relax while working, a massage chair or cushion, like the Homedics Total Recline Shiatsu Massage Cushion, may be a good fit. If you have general back pain, a massage belt—like our best massager for lower back option, the HydraGun Heat Pulse Back and Core Massager—might help.

All the handheld massagers on our list come with multiple attachments and many have helpful features.

"Multiple attachments come in handy when using the instrument on different body parts, contours, and hard-to-reach places," Dr. Hayden says.

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Features

Keep an eye out for special features, like:

  • Power and speed settings: Our best handheld model, the Renpho Massage Gun, has five speed settings to ensure a strong and targeted massage based on your preferences.
  • Heat setting: Many options on this list include an optional heat setting to increase relaxation and improve your overall massage experience. Our best massager for lower back option, the HydraGun Heat Pulse Back and Core Massager, was the most impressive heat option during testing, delivering the highest heat output out of all the massagers we collected.
  • Hot and cold setting: Even more impressive, our best massager overall, the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini Massage Gun, has a heat and cold setting. The removable attachment heats or cools almost instantly, delivering the exact temperature you need to recover or prepare for your workout.
  • App compatibility: Intensive athletes may like the features of our favorite smart massager, the Theragun Sense. On the compatible app, you can follow breath work and performance routines based on your favorite exercise method.

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Portability

This is an important factor to consider before choosing a back massager or foot massager: do you want something handheld and portable or stationary, like a chair cushion?

Our best manual massager, the Body Back Buddy, weighs just over 1 pound, so it's easy to travel with and use on you or a friend. Our best massager overall, the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini Massage Gun, is the lightest on our list at just under 1 pound. It has all the features of a traditional percussive massager with the addition of heat and cooling capabilities.

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Price

We found that back massagers range in price, with simpler manual options costing under $50 and more advanced models costing over $300. Determining where you want to target and what settings are important to you (like heat, varying intensity levels, or even straps to secure it to your chair) can help narrow down the options within your budget.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Julia Fields, an associate commerce editor for The Spruce focusing on gifts and other self-care products for the past three years. For this article, she participated in hours of testing with several of these massagers to find the best options for back massagers based on style, area of focus, and budget.

She often uses percussive massagers at home and personally tested the Theragun Sense and the Bob and Brad Q2 Pro Mini Massage Gun, especially targeting her shoulders. She loves the innovative features of both options and looks forward to continually researching and testing the latest technology.

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