Our Favorite Foot Massagers for Tried and True Relaxation (2024)

Sometimes a little kneading and massaging are what our feet need after a long day, and a good foot massager will be well-equipped to relax overworked feet. We've tested over a dozen top-performing foot massagers, examining them based on factors like effectiveness, design, and overall value to find the perfect pick for your feet.

Through our testing, we learned the best foot massagers offer a personalized massage experience. More heat, massage, and intensity options lead to the perfect massage every time. However, we also found manual massagers offer customization as you move the massager around to target certain pressure points.

We learned massages are a personal experience, so a pressure that works for one person may be too intense for another. Therefore, this list aims to provide a comprehensive guide on foot massagers for everyone, with an emphasis on customizable for a personalized massage.

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Our Top Picks

What We Like

  • Easy to customize your massage

  • Washable sleeve

  • Non-slip bottom

  • Long cord

What We Don't Like

  • Fairly large and heavy

For a customizable massage every time, we love the Best Choice Products Shiatsu Foot Massager. While most foot massagers focus solely on your feet, our best overall pick can be used up to your ankles, too. We love the flexibility the long cord provides, plus the ability to customize your massage with pulsing, kneading, and rolling motions.

The different massagers on this device can target different reflex points on your feet, and the changing directions feel great against your skin. This pick fully envelops your feet, so the tops and sides of your feet feel the massage as well as the soles, which we love.

You can adjust the settings via its remote control, which separates it from the rest. The device is designed to target key pressure points in the foot, and the open-ended foot spaces are high enough to massage tired ankles.

It’s worth noting how intense the pressure is: While we generally liked this level of intensity, it could be a drawback for some since you cannot adjust the intensity. It's also quite large, making it difficult to store (and lug from storage to room), but we assume most people intend to use their foot massagers in the comfort of their own homes, so this shouldn't be a huge issue.

Size: 22 x 10 x 12 inches | Weight: 13.5 pounds | Heated: No

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What We Like

  • Open style is good for large feet

  • Easy to target certain spots

  • Heating function

What We Don't Like

  • Lacks settings

  • Requires counter-pressure, which limits relaxation

Those with larger feet might have difficulty finding an appropriate foot massager, especially when browsing full-enclosed options. This option, however, operates more like a mat, so all foot sizes are welcome. It delivers a perfectly adequate massage, though you will sacrifice the number of settings. It simply turns on and off and offers (optional) heat.

Rather than placing your feet inside a device like other classic foot massager designs on this list, this option allows you to move your feet manually over the rotating nodes to target different areas that may be sore or fatigued, so anyone can use it, no matter their foot size.

Since there are no foot pockets, it’s a great option for anyone who gets particularly sweaty with an intense heat setting. Because of this, the machine doesn’t hug your entire foot, which means you need to deliver a bit of counter-pressure for a more thorough massage.It also won't target the sides or tops of your feet like other models.

Size: 15.75 x 14.17 x 3.15 inches | Weight: 7.63 pounds | Heated: Yes

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What We Like

  • Easy to store

  • Includes a reflexology chart

  • Can target pressure points

What We Don't Like

  • Only massages the bottom of the feet

Manual massagers like the TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller aren't fancy, but this one does a great job relieving foot pain and tension. In fact, we were surprised at its effectiveness even though it wasn't big or fancy and didn't heat up. Nonetheless, we found that this little wooden device delivered a great targeted massage.

There is one row of ridged rollers arranged in an arch that mimics your foot’s natural position. The ridges are optimally spaced to press into trigger points on your feet and hit all the right spots for pain relief. We also love the anti-slip strips on the bottom to keep the massager from moving.

Because the massager is manual, it's easy to adjust the pressure and comfort level depending on how firmly you place your feet down. That said, you can't sink back into the couch during use—you have to actively move your feet to get results.

We love this massager for anyone looking for a portable, daily-use device. It's easy to slip into a backpack or suitcase for vacations or even roadtrips. It's definitely more active than other models and less focused on relaxation.

Size: 6.3 x 2.76 x 1.5 inches | Weight: 0.3 pounds | Heated: No

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What We Like

  • Highly versatile

  • 5 different modes

  • Heats as it massages

What We Don't Like

  • Takes 10 minutes to heat up

  • Heavy, which limits portability

While the Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager is undoubtedly pricier than other picks, it’s extremely versatile, providing not only a foot massage but also one for your ankles and calves, too. It uses Shiatsu therapy-style massage (a Japanese massage style that targets pressure points) and mimics human hands, combined with heat, to more fully pamper after a tough day.

We gave the machine near-perfect scores in both design and efficacy, largely due to the wide range of settings and the powerful nature of the massage it delivers to three different areas on your legs. What’s more, the massage is two-fold—inflatable pads apply pressure, while the machine kneads and vibrates your muscles in one of five different modes.

There’s an additional built-in heat function to warm up your toes during the massage, making it the perfect product for people who are always cold, but it does take quite a while to warm up—10 minutes, to be exact.

Because of the multiple intensity levels, we think this massager is great for a family home where multiple people can use it and customize the experience to their liking. While it is more expensive, you're paying for the multiple settings, whereas someone buying for themselves can afford less expensive options with fewer options that work just for them.

Size: 22 x 11 x 17.7 inches | Weight: 22 pounds | Heated: Yes

What We Like

  • Remote control

  • Targeted pressure points

  • Easy to clean

  • Accomodate up to a size 13 foot

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn't target the top or sides of feet

Shiatsu massagers are meant to relieve tension in the body and often target different pressure points. For a foot massager that does these things, we love the Miko Shiatsu Home Foot Massager Machine. It will leave your feet feeling relaxed and pampered. Plus, we love that it has various features to give you a customized massage. The ease of setup and intensity levels make it worth the price.

The Miko device features two separate foot chambers with washable cloth covers. Once you slip your feet in, you can operate the massager via the control panel on top of the machine or with the included remote—a great bonus feature, since it allows you to adjust settings, but still stay relaxed.

At certain points, we felt we were getting a professional 15-20-minute massage and appreciated the varied pressure levels. However, we noticed that while the massager applied a lot of pressure to the front of the foot, the heels and arches weren't getting the same love as they would with an option that fully envelops your foot like our best overall pick, the Best Choice Products Foot Massager.

Size: 17 x 17 x 9 inches | Weight: 12.85 pounds | Heated: Yes

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What We Like

  • Heats up quickly

  • Three different attachments

  • LED display

What We Don't Like

  • Short cord

Sometimes you might want a little soaking action along with your foot massage, and on those days, the Ivation Foot Spa Massager has you covered. This foot spa has built-in massage rollers in the bottom of the tub, allowing you to work your feet while they soak in warm water.

We found the controls and LED screen interface incredibly easy to use, but the device was on the heavier side compared to other foot spas on the market, weighing 6.7 pounds before adding water. However, for an experience at home that rivals a professional pedicure, we think it's worth the extra weight.

The Ivation Foot Spa Massager can heat water to 122 degrees Fahrenheit for a toasty foot bath. We loved how quickly the water heated up and maintained its temperature. It vibrates to relieve tension in your feet and legs, and multiple water jets circulate bubbles throughout the tub.

As you soak, two built-in, motorized massage rollers at the bottom work out kinks in your arches and toes, but you'll have to move your feet over the massagers yourself, similar to our favorite manual option, the TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller.

The foot spa comes with three different attachments for the center divider between your feet that you can also move your feet across for three different massage experiences, totaling four varied massages in addition to the water and heat function. The kit also includes a pumice stone to remove calluses for a pedicure-like experience at home.

Size: 16.5 x 14.9 x 9.2 inches | Weight: 6.7 pounds | Heated: Yes

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What We Like

  • Cozy and warming

  • Lightweight

  • Charming design

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn't massage, just vibrates

While testing, we found some massages too intense and only suitable for intense pain. This pick from Sharper Image, however, is extremely gentle and accessible for all feet and pain levels. We love the cozy pockets on this massager—it feels really luxurious to slip your feet into at the end of a long day, almost like a pair of slippers—but the machine doesn’t deliver a full-on massage.

Rather than squeeze and knead the feet, this at-home foot massager gently vibrates at two different speeds while it heats your feet, so there's an extra-gentle option if applicable. It’s a great option for anyone who wants a small, relaxing treat while they watch TV or read.

We also think it could be a great option for elderly individuals or anyone who wants a little bit of comfort.The machine is nice and lightweight, so you can easily move it from place to place. Just note that it accommodates up to a size men's 12.

Size: 13 x 12 x 4 inches | Weight: 1.62 pounds | Heated: Yes

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What We Like

  • Very powerful

  • Has an impressive array of settings

  • Can be used on other parts of the body

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn’t heat up

For people who need a foot and calf massager that’s a bit more intense, the MedMassager Foot Massager Machine will surely provide relief. Unlike other foot massagers, this device focuses on reflexology which targets different pressure points on your feet to make your whole body feel better. This type of massage is designed to improve circulation and reduce chronic pain. As such, it’s meant to be used over time to improve any condition plaguing you.

It's worth mentioning that this massager is not only suitable for the feet but can also be used on other areas of the body. We love that you can rotate the massage machine between three positions, so you can easily rest your feet and legs at varying angles, delivering a specially targeted massage to the areas you need it the most.

The device vibrates rather than kneads, but comes with 11 impressive settings. Even at the lowest settings, the machine was so powerful that it felt like your feet were still vibrating long after you had turned it off, so those with sensitive feet should consider a different option.

Size: 16 x 12 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 11 pounds | Heated: No

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Final Verdict

For a soothing and all-around effective, well-designed foot massager you can use at home, we recommend the Best Choice Products Therapeutic Shiatsu Foot Massager. It treats a variety of pressure points on your foot and ankle, has a built-in heat function, and even comes with a remote for convenience. If you’re on a budget or looking for something a bit more portable, you’ll love the TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller. Though it is manual and requires constant attention, it delivered the most effective foot massage of the bunch—plus it weighs less than 2 pounds and has a very small overall footprint.

How We Tested the Foot Massagers

We consulted pedicurists and podiatrists and spent hours researching top-rated foot massagers from notable brands. We then ordered more than a dozen foot massagers to test in 20-minute sessions in our Lab in New York City.

During each test, we considered factors like:

  • Ease of Setup: We took note of the steps needed to set up the machine, including adding batteries, plugging in the machine, heating time, and adding water (if necessary).
  • Size: Some foot massagers are lightweight and easy to move around your space while others are clunky, heavy, and require a lot of space to store.
  • Versatility: For foot massagers that envelop your entire foot, we noted if the holes felt snug or wouldn't be able to accommodate individuals with larger feet.
  • Effectiveness: During the massage, we noticed if it felt firm or gentle, used all of the customizations and settings if possible, and noted any discomfort if the massage was too intense or frustration if the massage was lacking.
  • Value: After conducting all of these tests and using multiple massagers for over 15 minutes each, we determined whether each massage was worth the price.

After adding up each score and assessing the overall value of each product along with our research, we chose our top nine picks.

What to Look for in a Foot Massager

Variety of Massage Methods and Options

Foot massagers employ several different modes and methods to soothe sore feet, including shiatsu massage, manual massage, air compression, water jets (as seen on the Ivation Foot Spa, our best foot spa), and electric massage rollers.

Some machines use a combination of these techniques. However, shiatsu, like that found on our best overall option, the Best Choice Products Shiatsu Foot Massager is considered to be most similar to a massage you’d receive from human hands.

Most massagers will also offer a variety of patterns and intensities to suit your personal preferences.

Adjustable Heat Settings

Many foot massagers use heat to increase effectiveness and relaxation. Look for adjustable heat settings to make sure that the experience is comfortable in all seasons and temperatures.

For example, our favorite splurge option, the Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager provides that soothing warm feel but may take a few minutes to heat up. Of course, our best manual option, the TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller, skips the heating function, so evaluate whether the convenience of a portable massager is worth losing the power of heat.

Controls

While some foot massagers come with a remote control (think: our best shiatsu pick, the Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager) to adjust settings, many only have a control pad mounted to the machine. This means you’ll need to lean forward to adjust the speed and intensity.

For some people, this is a major interruption to their relaxation routine while others don’t mind pausing to adjust settings.

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FAQ

  • How do you clean a foot massager?

    Most foot massagers can be wiped down or even spot-cleaned. Some massagers even come with removable, washable linings. This is great if you plan to use the machine often and want the convenience and ease of keeping it clean.

  • How often can you use a foot massager?

    For those who simply want a bit of relaxation, once a week is great. However, for anyone who's on their feet a lot, more frequent use can provide some relief. Just be careful: "An overuse of the foot massager can overstimulate the muscles, causing pain and cramping," says Marcela Correa, owner of Medi Pedi NYC. She suggests up to 30-minute sessions two to three times a week.

  • What's the difference between a foot spa and foot massager?

    While both devices aim to help soothe tired feet, foot spas include a water element that helps users accomplish more cosmetic goals, like smoother skin.

    Foot massaging devices offer various heat settings and massage nodes without necessarily having to get your feet wet.

Why Trust The Spruce?

To make this list, associate commerce editor Julia Fields spent hours researching and testing foot massagers to find the best option for every recipient. She's been writing about the best gift-worthy home products for the past two years, including foot massagers, back massagers, and other self-care essentials.

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