8 Tester-Approved Back Massagers to Transform Your Home Into a Relaxing Spa (2024)

Our Top Picks

During testing, the Bob and Brad mini percussive massage stood out as our top choice due 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 anywhere the handheld massager can be targeted.

We used this massager on our shoulders during testing, and even 10 minutes after we finished using it, we still felt profound relaxation and tension relief. There are five intensity settings to choose from. We found the maximum intensity level a bit intense, leaving a lingering sensation similar to how you feel after a deep tissue massage—not necessarily painful, but a dull sensation.

The cordless massager includes a USB-C cable to charge it. However, it's important to note that you have to charge the hot and cold attachments separately, which can be annoying. Despite this, the temperature settings are effective and worth the fuss. The other four included attachments are not hot or cold, but they’re designed to target different parts of your body, including your feet.

All of the massager's buttons, whether you’re turning it on or changing the heat intensity, require you to hold down the button for it to work. Even on the hot and cold attachments, there are five intensities each to customize your experience.

Weighing just under 1 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 out, 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. We like the HoMedics Percussion Action Massager for 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.

While some basic massagers offer limited options in terms of massage intensity or speed, this model comes with two interchangeable caps that alter the feel of the dual massage heads, giving you a choice between a firmer and softer sensation. We found them tricky to attach the first few times and had to consult the manual to make sure we were doing it correctly.

Adjusting the intensity and controlling the heat function can be done from the massager's handle using push buttons. 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 wish this handheld massager was cordless for greater freedom of movement during use. Luckily, it was only slightly heavier than the other two handheld models we recommend (the Theragun Sense and the Body Back Buddy Classic), which are all under three pounds and easy to carry on the go. All three can also be easily stored in a closet or packed in a suitcase, earning high scores for portability.

_{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. During testing, we loved the chair design, which makes it easy to unwind while working from home or catching up with your favorite shows.

When using this massager, we found relief almost immediately. The included 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. We loved that you could target multiple parts of your back and neck simultaneously or individually, depending on your preference.

To start using this massager, you just need to plug it in. The cord was long enough to reach our chair without an issue. It has two Velcro straps to attach the cushion to your chair securely. We had zero issues with the cushion sliding or moving throughout our use, allowing for uninterrupted relaxation.

One standout feature of this unit is the remote, which has a helpful image of the massager that lights up different zones as you adjust the nodes. 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.

Personalization is so important because while we found the neck massage a bit too intense, it might be perfect for someone else. We particularly like the upper and lower back options. This massager does have a heat function, but we found it rather faint and not the most impressive feature. 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’ve ever used a handheld back massager and contorted your body to try and reach that 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.

When tested with an individual with limited shoulder mobility, the extendable arm was a lifesaver. The massager easily reached their legs and back without causing additional pain. Plus, the massager comes with four attachments to target different parts of your body. We appreciated the instruction manual, which had helpful information about where to use each attachment for the best massage possible.

Once charged, the device is completely 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.

If you want to bring it on the go, you can remove the detachable arm, leaving a mini, lightweight massager for quick use at the gym or office. While we wish there was a heat setting or timer function, we appreciate 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 treat your neck and back with a soothing session, choose a back massager that is equipped to do both. This option from Resteck uses a shiatsu-style massage to work tight neck muscles or gently loosen your back, depending on where you place the central massage pillow.

During testing, we found it rests comfortably across the shoulders, delivering pressure and heat to the neck. However, it was easy to position it lower on the back to give specific attention to the shoulder blades or lower 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.In testing this neck and back massager, we found the multiple speed settings easily accessible and helpful for adjusting the intensity of the massager, which we love for customization.

It also features bidirectional massage nodes, which give it a shiatsu-style action. We wished the heat setting were more intense, noting that it was barely noticeable through a T-shirt. So, it's 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 helpful accompanying app to follow different routines for recovery, warm-up, and more. If you want to skip all the fuss, you can use the massager as is for removing knots or tension from your back and shoulders with the different attachments and settings.

The first thing we noticed about this massager was the intensity. Even on the lowest setting, it was definitely rougher than our best massager overall, so it’s best for severe knots. The massager itself is very comfortable to hold in your hands and long enough to target your back without recruiting a friend to help.

Once you connect your massager to the Therabody app through Bluetooth, you’ll go through five guided routines with recommendations on where to use each of the four included attachments. It also takes you through a breathing and heartbeat routine. For these, you hold the device with two hands over the sensor and breathe in and out as directed. The vibration changes, which tells you to breathe in or out. The heartbeat one is meant to unwind before going to sleep.

The app makes it easy to adjust the intensity of your massager, while the LED screen on the massager itself is more difficult to use, in our opinion. You have to hold down the on button and then use the arrows to change between intensities, whereas the touchscreen on your smartphone is much clearer.

One thing to note is that this massager takes a long time to charge. We found that it only gained about 10 percent charge after 20 minutes of plugging in. 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 on yourself can be difficult, but the HydraGun Heat Pulse Back and Core Massager can help. We fell in love with this massager's portability and ease of use during testing. The belt uses Velcro to secure around your waist and lower back and gets to work massaging that area.

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.

We felt the heat more intensely on our back rather than on our core, which is where we preferred the heat to concentrate. You can also use the heat function without the massage, which we like as a recovery option. It works best when worn over a thin shirt; we definitely wouldn’t recommend wearing it over a thick sweater, as it simply wouldn’t be as effective.

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 we appreciate. 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 always need to have all the bells and whistles to be effective. In our testing, the manual massager impressed us with its effectiveness and durability. We found it especially useful for soothing and relaxing neck and shoulder muscles while also working great on other tight spots—like sore, tired feet.

This massager doesn’t make noise, require a power source, or rely on battery life, which offers flexibility in the location or duration of use, making this pick perfect for avid travelers or athletes constantly on the go. Instead, you supply the pressure and force to break up knots or soothe aching muscles. The benefit is more control over the massage experience, along with the freedom to use the massager anywhere.

This handheld massage tool features a double hook design, giving you more leverage when applying pressure to sore spots. 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. The ability to apply pressure to specific "trigger points" (areas of tight muscle tissue) was surprisingly effective and convenient. It’s not feature-rich, but we expected that from a manual back massager.

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 somewhat 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. It also comes with interchangeable massage heads and offers settings for intensity and heat.