Finding a quality massage chair under $200 is no easy task. As I mentioned in my previous article, a good massage chair under $100 is next to impossible to find. For under $100, it’s best to stick with massage chair pads and cushions. Once you slip into the under $200 price range, there are a handful of options that give you excellent value for the money.
In this article, I share the top 5 chairs under $200 that are worth the money. This year, I’ve reviewed, analyzed, tested, and investigated just about every type of massage chair on the market. This has allowed me to understand the features in each price range and to know what to look for. With my guide, you’ll quickly learn how to spot a good deal in the under-$200 range.
Along with my top picks, I share reviews and the pros & cons of each chair according to my observations and owner reports. After you take a few minutes to check out the pros & cons and top models, you’ll know which chair is the best fit for your home, office, and even your car. Let’s start with the Top 5 chart below that lists the key specs.
Product | Description |
#1) BestMassage Folding Shiatsu Massage Chair |
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#2) Mellcom Chaise Longue Massage Chair |
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#3) Comfier Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager |
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#4) Furniwell Recliner Chair |
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#5) Lentia High-Back Office Massage Chair |
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Top Massage Chairs Under $200 Reviews
The top chairs in this price range do offer a range of options to choose from. You have recliners with vibration massage, high-back office chairs with vibration, folding shiatsu massage chairs (my personal favorite), and massage cushions with air compression. The main thing to consider is that full-size massage chairs with rollers and footrests do not exist in this category. The first place you’ll find those is in the under $500 range, and depending on what you plan to spend, you might not want to go that high.
Having said that, there are some brilliant options in the under $200 range that get the job done. What I look for in this category are shiatsu massage rollers. That’s the most premium feature you’ll find in this category. There’s a big difference between massage rollers and simple vibrating massage motors. Rollers provide a massage that’s closer to a real deep-tissue massage than vibrating motors. However, some people find massage rollers are too intense, and they prefer vibration massage.
If you’re someone who prefers a vibrating massage over a more intense shiatsu massage experience with rollers, you get more bang for your buck when it comes time to choose your chair. There are office chairs and recliners in the under-$200 range with vibration.
Now that you’ve considered those points, let’s move to the individual reviews below.
BestMassage Folding Shiatsu Massage Chair
BestMassage is one of the top budget massage chair manufacturers, and I like several of their models. Currently, the best model BestMassage offers under $200 is a shiatsu folding massage chair. What I love most about this type of chair is portability. Since you can fit this chair in your car, you can bring it with you almost anywhere. It only takes seconds to fold it up or unfold it for use. Unlike massage chair pads that take time to attach to different seats, a folding chair takes just seconds to get going.
This chair is no slouch when it comes to features. It offers full back & hip vibration, 2 massage rollers with 4 total nodes, optional heat in the back area, and a heavy-duty frame that reclines to a max angle of 132º. The included remote makes it easy to switch between massage modes and intensities. There’s even a pouch in the back of the chair to store the remote during your massage.
Another feature I like is the removable headrest. This makes massages more comfortable while doing different activities. The seat cushion features a vibrating massage motor with 3 intensity levels. All in all, this folding shiatsu massage chair will give the most thorough massage of the chairs in this guide, and for the price, it’s an absolute steal.
- The motor is strong
- The massage is comparable to a real full-size massage chair
- Plenty of warmth from the heat setting
- An awesome space saver
- Reported pain relief
- Super convenient and portable
- Covers the whole back
- Not as comfortable as a real recliner for sitting long periods
- No footrest
- No dedicated neck massager
- BestMassage doesn’t provide clear warranty information
The video below gives you an idea of how this type of chair works, but it’s not the exact same as the BestMassage model above:
Mellcom Chaise Longue Massage Chair
This chaise longue chair by Mellcom is perhaps my personal favorite massage chair under $200. It combines the already-relaxing chaise lounge design and makes it even better by adding massage motors. The truly amazing part is that it also has an optional heat setting for this price. Compared to a folding shiatsu massage chair, a chaise lounge massage chair is better for sitting in for long periods and napping. If you have enough space for it or your home has a screened-in porch, this chair is certainly worth a look. It’s perfect for people who like to lounge while reading.
In total, there are 8 vibrating massage motors throughout the chair to target the shoulders, back, buttocks and legs. There are 5 modes to experiment with to find your sweet spot. The chair itself is very sturdy, and it’s rated to safely support up to 300 lbs.
One feature I like a lot is the positioning of the heating element in the lumbar. If you suffer from lower back pain like me, you’ll love this feature. The one thing to keep in mind before buying this chair is it’s vibrating massage with heat only. There are no massage rollers that travel up and down your back.
- Very easy to assemble, no reason to be intimidated
- Comfortable enough to sit in the whole day while watching TV
- The price is unbeatable for a chair of this quality
- Easy to clean
- Good customer service marks
- The massage function is awesome for relaxing after work
- The optional heat is a nice touch, and it works
- The massage motors might be a bit loud for you
- You might be underwhelmed by the vibrations and heat
- A couple of durability issues reported
Comfier Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager
You might be thinking, What is a massage pad doing in a massage chair buyer’s guide? Well, the answer is, I couldn’t help myself. The CF-2309A massage pad is my personal favorite currently available, and at the time of this writing, it costs less than 200 bucks. Compared to other popular massage pads, this model by Comfier is fully-loaded. It features the most types of massage techniques, including air compression therapy. You won’t find a quality full-size massage chair under $200 with air compression. They just don’t exist…yet.
To give you an idea of how versatile this massage is, it features the following massage techniques: shiatsu, kneading, rolling, air compression, kneading, rolling, vibration and heat. That’s even better than what the folding shiatsu massage chair offers. Plus, there are dedicated massage rollers in the neck. What more can you really ask for in this price range? The answer is not much.
One feature I like a lot that helps to eliminate the discomfort some users experience from a shiatsu massager is the flexible massage nodes. There are springs in the massage nodes that flex as they move along your body. Without this flex technology, you may experience discomfort in some areas of the back, while other parts feel great. The flex tech gives you a better chance of experiencing a discomfort-free, even back massage. Additionally, there’s a detachable intensity control back flap that dampens the rollers when you’re not craving a deep massage.
The final highlight is the airbags that provide air compression therapy around the hips and waist. When I first saw these, I figured they wouldn’t work well, but Comfier actually got it right. They work quite well, and people love them. The final consideration is the warranty period. Compared to other chairs in this price range with iffy warranties, the CF-2309A offers a full 24-month warranty for quality-related issues.
- Of the options in this guide, the CF-2309A gives you the most thorough massage
- Choose between 2D and 3D shiatsu massage techniques
- The flexible rollers feel great along the entire back
- You might be surprised by the quality of the air compression
- Vibration and heat settings both work well
- The option to change the direction of the rollers between clockwise and counterclockwise
- Spot massage options
- Easy to move it between an office chair, sofa, recliner, and rocking chair
- The neck and back rollers may stop in an awkward position when the massage stops
- Users over 6’3″ may not get full back coverage
- The heat may not get high enough for you
- Some quality control issue reports
Furniwell Recliner Chair
Finding a good recliner massage chair under $200 is a tough assignment. The good news is this chair currently costs about a hundred bucks. The bad news is it’s not the best choice for big & tall individuals. If you’re on the small side, this chair is great value for the money. There are similar models that range in price, and at the time of this writing, the Furniwell edition is the cheapest I could find.
My favorite thing about this chair is it reclines a full 170º and still manages to feature a massage function for a ridiculously low price. 170º isn’t zero gravity, but it still feels great nevertheless. The key consideration to make before buying this chair is it features just 2 vibrating massage motors in the lumbar region. This is enough to get a relaxing vibrating massage, just don’t expect the world from the vibrating motors. There’s also no heat.
With the right expectations, this is a great little reclining massage chair for the money. Despite its small size, there are more than a few big & tall individuals who approve of its use as a small recliner. People who were let down by its size upon arrival didn’t consider the dimensions before they bought it. Be sure to consider its 29.2″ x 20.7″ x 38.7″ (L x W x H) dimensions before you buy it.
- The chair itself is super comfortable with soft materials
- Approved by several big & tall individuals over 6′ and 250lbs
- Excellent for relaxing after work
- The vibrating massage is great for relieving back tension
- Sturdy construction
- A good massage chair for a motorhome
- Very easy to set up
- It may feel narrow
- The footrest may not be as sturdy as you’d like
- Too small for adults according to some owners
Lentia High-Back Office Massage Chair
The final type of massage chair under $200 in this guide is the high-back office chair. These are great for people who work at their desks for long hours or people with a home office. What I like the most about this type of chair is that I don’t even have to move when I’m ready to take a break and get my massage on. All I have to do is grab the remote, choose my settings, then sit back and let the massage motors go to work.
One drawback to consider with all office massage chairs is that they must be plugged into an outlet. If you’re like me and like to roll around a lot while you work, you may find that the cord can get a bit annoying. However, if you mostly stay in one spot, there’s no reason to worry about the cord. Plus, there’s always the option to unplug the chair when you’re not using the massage function.
My favorite feature offered by the Lentia chair is the extra-long max massage period of 60 minutes. Most cheap massage chairs switch off after 15 minutes max to avoid overheating the motors. The Lentia chair offers 15, 30, and 60-minute massage periods. That’s a nice feature to see in this price range. In total, there are 6 vibrating massage motors, 5 massage modes, and 4 massage zones to choose from. The modes are Pulse, Press, Wave, Auto, and Normal.
Another feature I like is the flip-up armrests. People with low desks will enjoy this feature to avoid any interference, and this feature even makes the Lentia chair a good massage chair for gaming. The final highlight is the 1-year free replacement warranty that’s a lot better than what most chairs in this range offer.
- Approved by gamers
- Easy to assemble
- The chair itself is quite comfortable (comfortable enough to fall asleep in)
- The massage settings deliver a soothing massage that delivers on its promise
- Very soft materials
- Good size, no more hunching over while working at your desk
- The option to put the armrests up or down is great
- The ability to recline to 105º
- It may feel narrow
- The cord could be longer
- The vibration massage may not be powerful enough for you
Bottom Line
Now you’ve learned how to choose a massage chair under $200 and the features that are available in this price range. It’s certainly a big step up from the under $100 price range, and it’s the first price range that includes full-size chairs. The most important thing to do is not to expect the world from a chair in this category. The people who get let down are the people who expect a chair in this range to function as a luxury massage chair. With the right expectations, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy one or more of the chairs in this guide.
Lastly, remember to look for shiatsu massage rollers because that’s the most premium feature in this range. If you’re a deep tissue massage fan like me, you’ll definitely prefer to stick with the Comfier or folding shiatsu chair models for a better, more thorough massage than vibrating massage motors offer. Cheers, and enjoy your new chair!
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