The Very Best Electric Back Massagers

Photo: Marcus McDonald

If you don’t have the budget for regular massage treatments — or your partner gets easily bored working out your shoulder knots — an electric back massager is a great stand-in. Whether you’re using a Shiatsu-style massage pillow, a percussive massage gun, or a full-on massaging chair cover, the benefits are mostly the same as a traditional hands-on massage. Meera Watts, founder and CEO of Siddhi Yoga, says that a good electric massager will relax your tense muscles and provide immediate comfort, and it may also keep you from developing future strains since tense or injured muscles often create a feedback loop of awkward postures and overcompensation in other areas. But not all electric back massagers are created equal.

As with any other piece of technology or medical device, you should look for a high-quality product that you can use often and will last for a very long time. Kevin Cronin, owner of ARC Physical Therapy, says that in general you get what you pay for. He also cautions that improper use and overuse (especially with percussive massagers) can lead to injuries, including bruising and nerve damage. His advice is to avoid any areas close to the bone and go for an off-and-on type of application to avoid injury — “20 to 30 minutes is adequate.” To help you find the very best electric back massagers, we talked to eight experts, including Watts and Cronin, about the back massagers they recommend and use themselves.

If you already know what you’re looking for, use our clickable table of contents to skip ahead. But if you need a bit more guidance, read on for all of our experts’ electric back massager recommendations.

What

we’re

looking

for

Type of massager: Electric back massagers come in a bunch of different styles and configurations — including pillow-shaped Shiatsu massagers, percussive massage guns, scarflike Shiatsu massagers that drape around your neck and shoulders, long-handled wand-style massagers, and massage chair covers that work all areas of the back, neck, and shoulders. Deciding which type to buy is, of course, a matter of personal preference, but it may also depend on what area of your back needs relief and how flexible you are. “I really like massage pillows or massage chair covers for people who are in pain or have an injury. Instead of twisting and turning to use a handgun on your back, you can stay neutral by sitting against or on the pillow or chair cover,” says Dr. Kimberley Maugeri, chiropractor and founder of Skōp. Cronin prefers Shiatsu-style massagers in any form because the rotating segments inside the device help to move fluid around and relax muscles in a similar way to traditional hands-on massage. According to Jakob Roze, founder and CEO of RozeFit, massage guns use high percussive force to access deep knots and tension in your muscles just like a massage therapist would do with deep-tissue massage. This makes them very effective at relieving intense stiffness in the back muscles, but using them requires knowledge and care to avoid injury and a lot of flexibility, long arms, or a second person to help you reach certain areas. Wand-style back massagers typically have long ergonomic handles that help you reach your own lower or upper back easily. Most wands use percussive force to relieve deep muscle tension. Before making your pick, think about how and where you’ll use it most, whether you prefer a strong pounding massage or a slower kneading massage, and if you have a friend, roommate, or partner who’d be willing to help.

Multispeed and multifunction: “More than one speed is really important when looking for a back massager,” says Maugeri, adding that she also really likes massagers that include different-shaped heads so you can customize the experience. Most massage guns and wands will come with different heads and should offer multiple speeds or intensities (the faster the speed, the more intense it will feel). But when it comes to pillows, chair covers, and other passive massagers, they should include at least a few speed and direction options. These extra features let you tailor your massage to your exact needs — slower or faster, not too hard or not too soft, and up and down or side to side.

Heat: Both Cronin and Melissa Kotlen, a lactation consultant, labor and delivery nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital, and manager of the Boram Postnatal Retreat, recommend choosing a back massager with a heat option because adding heat to massage helps to relax muscles even more and will increase blood flow to the affected area. “Because my focus is on postpartum women, there are quite a few factors that should be considered when buying an electric back massager,” Kotlen explains. Aside from price, she looks for one that is “heated, durable, versatile, and focuses on those stressed/painful areas that affect new mothers, particularly the upper back and neck as they tend to hunch while breastfeeding.”

For the most part, massage guns do not offer this feature, but many pillow and chair-cover massagers do. Cronin notes that people should always be careful not to leave the heat on for extended periods of time, especially if you are prone to falling asleep while using your device. Some pillow and chair massagers may also have an auto-off function to prevent this.

Best overall electric back massager

RENPHO Back Massager with Heat

$180

$200

now 10% off

$180

Shiatsu chair cover | 4 massage zones and 4 massage types | 3 speed settings | Heat option

If you’re looking for an all-in-one type of back massager, this Renpho Chair Massage Pad is an excellent choice. It is designed to target multiple zones, including neck and shoulders, upper back, and lower back, and it even has a vibrating seat cushion to relax the backs of your thighs. The main portion of the chair features multidirectional nodes that combine Shiatsu, kneading, and rolling functions with or without heat. For the neck and shoulders, the chair has a removable massage pillow, the position of which can be adjusted to match your particular height. Cronin gave his wife a Shiatsu massage chair cover like this one for her birthday and told us she loves it. When deciding which one to purchase, he considered several different products on Amazon, looking for something from a reputable company with lots of positive reviews that wouldn’t look like an eyesore, and provides many different types of heated massage. Renpho was mentioned by several of our experts, including professional ballet dancer Kate Byrne of My Ballet Coach, who has struggled with muscle pain and back spasms her whole career. Though neither Byrne nor Cronin singled out this particular chair massager, it meets both of their criteria, comes in black or taupe easy-to-clean faux leather, and has over 1,300 five-star ratings on Amazon.

$180

at Amazon

Buy

$180

at Amazon

Buy

Best (less expensive) overall electric back massager

Mighty Bliss Deep Tissue Back and Body Massager

$29

$46

now 37% off

$29

Percussive wand | 6 massage heads | Variable speed dial | No heat option

For a less-expensive option that takes up less space, Watts recommends the Mighty Bliss Deep Tissue Cordless Back Massager. She uses it before bed to help relax her muscles and get a good night’s sleep, and appreciates the versatility you get with six different massage heads. Because of its long ergonomically designed handle, this massage wand is easy to use alone without having to twist awkwardly to reach different areas of the back. To increase or decrease the speed or intensity of your massage, simply turn the dial in either direction.

$29

at Amazon

Buy

$29

at Amazon

Buy

Best electric back massager pillow

Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager

Zyllion Shiatsu Back & Neck Massager

$85

now 29% off

From
$60

Shiatsu pillow | 4 rotating nodes change direction every 60 seconds | One speed | Heat option

Massage pillows are best for use on the neck and shoulders or lower back, and they offer the convenience of being hands-free. This massage pillow is a Strategist favorite and comes recommended by Kotlen as well as former Strategist senior editor Casey Lewis, who bought one to help her aching work-from-bed back. Lewis convinced a handful of her fellow Strategist staffers to buy one, including me. Personally, I find it’s most effective as a lower-back massager, and I use it sandwiched between me and a bunch of propped-up pillows while watching TV in bed. Kotlen recommends it for relieving lower-back pain in new moms. “As babies get older and heavier, the lower back tends to feel the effects as Mom usually gravitates toward holding them on one hip. I find the Zyllion massager most helpful in my postnatal care work with new mothers who complain of back pain, because it is very portable, versatile, and ergonomic,” she says. That said, if you are looking for something with lots of different speeds or massage styles, this particular pillow may not be your best choice. It has just one speed, and the rotating Shiatsu nodes change direction automatically after 60 seconds. I bought mine thinking I would be able to use it for my low back, neck, and shoulders. It works wonders on my low back, but it doesn’t fit my neck in a comfortable position and the nodes actually dig into my shoulder blades rather than targeting the muscles.

From
$60

at Amazon

Buy

Best (less expensive) electric back massager pillow

HoMedics 3D Shiatsu and Vibration Massage Pillow

$66

now 24% off

$50

Shiatsu and vibration pillow | Circular kneading combined with 3-D in-and-out motion | One speed | Heat and vibration options

Byrne says that, aside from seeing a physiotherapist, using an electric back massager is what has helped most with her recurrent muscle pain. In addition to the two she has at home, she uses this massage pillow from wellness brand HoMedics at her physiotherapist’s office. Like the Zyllion pillow above, it offers multidirectional Shiatsu massage and heat in one speed. In addition, the nodes on this massager move in and out as well as rotate, and it features optional vibration to further relax stiff muscles.

$50

at Amazon

Buy

$50

at Amazon

Buy

Best electric back massager for the neck and shoulders

Resteck Massager for Neck and Back With Heat

$65

Scarf-style Shiatsu massager | Circular kneading nodes change direction automatically | 3 speed settings | Heat option

Former Strategist senior writer Karen Adelson also purchased an electric back massager to sort out her aching back while acclimating to working from home. But instead of a simple pillow Shiatsu massager, she went for this scarf-style massager that you wrap around your neck and shoulders and hold in place via ergonomic hand/wrist loops at each end. This design allows you to use the massager mostly hands-free so you can work or read a book at the same time, and the harder you pull down on the ends, the more intense your massage becomes. Back in 2021, Adelson called it the best thing she bought all year and said she used it several times a week to relax muscles and stop tension headaches in their tracks. A set of four buttons on the side of the massager lets you add heat, change the speed of the massage, and turn it off and on, though it automatically changes direction every few minutes and shuts itself off after 15 minutes.

$65

at Amazon

Buy

$70

at Walmart

Buy

Best electric massage gun

Hyperice Hypervolt Cordless Vibration Massager

$200

Percussive massage gun | 5 massage heads | 3 speed settings | No heat option

This Hypervolt massage gun comes recommended by Maugeri as well as professional surfer Kelly Slater and drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova. “I love my Hypervolt. I use it in my office, at the gym, and at home. The different speeds are great for different parts of the body and I love how quiet it is,” says Maugeri. Zamolodchikova calls the Hypervolt “a great splurge,” saying it has paid for itself in just four tries because getting a massage is expensive. Though you can do it yourself, she says she gets her trainer to help reach her glutes and lower back. “There’s various levels of intensity and also different attachments to target different things. There’s a flat one, a round one, and a prong that looks torturous — and is — to accommodate the different shapes of the musculature. I use the big round ball the most. It’s like a catchall. It’s good for everything,” she says. According to Slater, massage guns are really big at surf competitions. But he uses his Hypervolt anytime his body needs some loosening up: after surfing, after sitting for hours on a plane, or after a hot bath. “I had a Theragun before this, but I found it to be really loud — and if I’m being honest, too expensive. The Hypervolt is half the price, and much quieter,” he says. Because percussive massage is more intense than vibration or Shiatsu, several of our experts recommend starting on the lowest setting and using caution around sensitive areas like the neck.

$200

at Amazon

Buy

Best (less expensive) electric massage gun

Turonic GM5 Massage Gun

$160

$180

now 11% off

$160

Percussive massage gun | 7 massage heads | 5 speed settings | No heat option

In addition to the Zyllion pillow massager, I have this Turonic G5 massage gun at home. I originally bought it with my fiancé in mind because he bikes to work every day and has been wanting to try a massage gun on his tired legs and feet. It’s great for that, but I have also started using it (or asking him to use it) on my lower back and shoulders. It comes with more heads than any of the other massagers on this list and even includes a flat metal one that’s meant for use with massage oil. I haven’t tried that yet, but I’m curious. I like the soft round-ball head best, and I only ever use it on the lowest or second-lowest settings — both are plenty intense for me. It’s very quiet and comes with a zipper case that conveniently fits the massage gun and all the massage heads, as well as the charger. But I hardly have to use the charger because the battery lasts for such a long time. Best of all, the Turonic G5 lets me and my fiancé give each other massages that are actually effective, without getting bored or wearing out our hands.

$160

at Amazon

Buy

$160

at Staples

Buy

Our

experts

• Meera Watts, founder and CEO of Siddhi Yoga
• Kevin Cronin, physical therapist and owner of ARC Physical Therapy
• Dr. Kimberley Maugeri, chiropractor and founder of Skop
• Jakob Roze, founder and CEO of RozeFit
• Kelly Slater, professional surfer
• Drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova
• Melissa Kotlen, lactation consultant and labor and delivery nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital, and manager of the Boram Postnatal Retreat
• Professional ballet dancer Kate Byrne, of My Ballet Coach

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