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

Our Top Picks

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}

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}

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}

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}

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}

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}

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}

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}

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.