Comparing Top Massage Chair Brands of 2024
In the quest for relaxation and wellness, choosing the right massage chair can be daunting. Today, we're diving into the world of top massage chair brands to help you find the perfect fit. When it comes to massage chairs, an important question to ask is:
This includes the design, manufacturing of parts and assembly.
Brands vary, from entirely made in China, offering cost benefits but often lower quality, to luxury brands that mix components from more advanced countries like USA and Japan for higher quality and longevity. Different massage chair brands do things differently, and it plays a big role in shaping their unique strengths and setting their place in the industry.
For example, numerous brands complete the entire process of designing, engineering, and manufacturing their chairs exclusively in China. This strategy gives them a significant price benefit, although it often leads to products with lower quality and durability.
An inside look at Luraco Massage Chair's factory in Arlington, Texas, USA.
On the other hand, several companies adopt a blended approach. They conduct the design and engineering phases in countries known for their technological advancements, like Taiwan, Japan and the USA, ensuring the crucial parts are produced in these advanced nations, while the assembly is completed in China.
Alternatively, there are manufacturers who handle all aspects of design, engineering, and assembly within a developed country, choosing to source only the less vital components from China. These products represent the higher end of the market. They are often associated with luxury brands, characterized by superior quality, longer lifespan, and typically come with enhanced customer support.
See also: American vs Chinese vs Japanese Massage Chairs Comparison
It all boils down however, to your personal preferences and needs. So, what are you specifically looking for? If price is your main concern, you might want to go for brands that handle all their manufacturing processes in China. However, if you prioritize higher quality and customer support and don't mind spending a little extra, then brands that source only the less crucial components from China would be more suitable for you.
A major consideration with brands that assemble their products in Chinese facilities is the challenge of consistently maintaining strict quality control. This is precisely why high-end brands prefer to assemble their products in their own countries.
Let’s explore some of the most popular major massage chair brands to better understand their unique attributes and help make your choice clearer.
To start off, let's set our eyes on brands owned by American and Japanese companies, as a number of these are manufactured in their home countries, despite sourcing parts from different locations. Generally, these are the brands that the industry considers as high-quality massage chairs, and surprisingly, their number is larger than you might know.
Luraco, a high-end brand, is renowned for its outstanding quality. Its design and engineering, as well as the critical components, are predominantly sourced from the United States, with some minor, non-essential parts being imported from Taiwan. Luraco holds the unique distinction of being the only brand certified as "made in USA". This brand is specifically aimed at therapeutic users, offering specialized features that cater to their needs.
Design and Engineering are mostly conducted in the US, with support from Japan, and the chairs themselves are manufactured in China. Human Touch chairs are of consistently high quality, but they are primarily known for their impressive and innovative design aesthetics.
Daiwa's approach to massage chair manufacturing involves engineering and design processes taking place in the US and Japan. For its assembly and non-critical parts, it relies on resources from China. These chairs are particularly geared towards therapeutic users, emphasizing comfort and therapeutic benefits.
Kahuna's massage chairs are conceptualized and developed in the United States, while their components and assembly are handled in China. Kahuna is notably recognized for two key aspects: their chairs are specially designed for individuals who are tall or have a larger build, and they are renowned for their "Yoga Body Stretch" massage programs, which is widely acclaimed as one of the best in the market.
Infinity, similar in its approach to Kahuna, handles its engineering and design activities within the United States. However, the manufacturing and sourcing of parts for Infinity chairs are predominantly carried out in China.
Inada is one of the few companies that have maintained their manufacturing base in Japan. This commitment to Japanese manufacturing is part of what sets Inada apart in the massage chair industry. Chairs from Inada come with a higher price tag, but they justify this with exceptional design quality, durability, and outstanding customer support.
Previously, Panasonic chairs were designed and manufactured in Japan. However, over a decade ago, Panasonic shifted their manufacturing operations to China. Despite this move, the quality of their chairs has remained largely consistent and not noticeably diminished.
Osaki / Titan, recognized as the #1 selling massage chair brand in sales across the USA, offers quality and value-for-money chairs that are solid, though not necessarily in the same level of exceptional as the other brands mentioned previously. The entire process of design and manufacturing for Osaki chairs is conducted in China. Within the realm of Chinese-made massage chairs, Osaki's products can be seen as premium, representing the best of the best of what is currently achievable in Chinese manufacturing.
Ogawa is mainly an Asian massage chair brand with roots in Malaysia. Ogawa has its own design team located in California, while its manufacturing and assembly processes largely occur in China.
Final Thoughts
Generally speaking, the top-tier brands are those that manage most of their operations (such as design, engineering, and assembly) in developed countries like Japan and America. However, this is more of a general guideline and there are certainly exceptions.
It's crucial to remember that associating a massage chair to a specific country shouldn't be your sole criterion when making a purchase. The value of each massage chair will largely depend on your specific needs and the budget you have in mind. More importantly, it would be beneficial to acquaint yourself with the brand's history and reputation, and reviews from real customers before making a decision.
Our Top Picks
Our extensive experience in this industry equips us to understand which brands and models have consistently satisfied our customers. The following brands stand out as our highly commendable choices:
Choosing any of these brands is a wise decision. It's important to note, however, that this is only a broad evaluation. Also, many chairs currently in production by other brands may offer models that are highly regarded, so thorough research is still recommended.
Feel free to consult with us for free personalized and expert advice. Our goal is to make your massage chair shopping easy, convenient and as hassle-free as possible.
