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If part of your new year’s goals is to give yourself some much deserved TLC or open up a one-stop beauty clinic, no self-pampering list is complete without a relaxing massage, facials, manicures, pedicures, and waxing treatments.
At least, in my opinion!
Beauty and pampering treatments have this magical power to relax our senses and make us feel more confident, cared for and more special (love thyself, eh?), no wonder people keep coming back for more!
But whether you prefer going to the office or maybe want a more private sesh right in the comfort of your own home, one thing can surely make or break this relaxing moment – the massage table.
Getting your face squished flat onto a table without facial rest or fearing you might fall off that flimsy, annoyingly squeaky table can surely dampen the whole experience.
So, if you’re a business owner or someone who’s planning to buy a massage table for personal use, do yourself a favor and invest in the best massage table!
It may seem a bit expensive but knowing that these tables can be used for a long time and in multiple ways (from doing professional facials, waxing and a lot more), you’ll surely save money in the long run while earning bajillions!
Sounds appealing, right?
Now, you may be wondering which are the best massage table brands to buy from or what is the ultimate best massage table to buy, read on and check out my reviews!
What to Look For in The Best Massage Table For Professional And Home Use?
Massage tables will be one of the biggest purchases you’ll have to make when starting a massage service, spa or salon.
With thousands of tables claiming to be the best, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and make a mistake of buying the wrong table for your business.
When buying a massage table, you have to consider the following:
- Your business
- Your customer
- Your therapist (allow me to explain further)
Your Business: (Value for Your Money)
Fixed or Portable
Are you planning to work out of an office or do home service? Your choice of getting either a fixed or portable massage bed depends on these two choices.
Fixed massage beds are popular for in-office massages or treatments as they are made out of heavy, durable materials (like wood) making them safe and stable.
Portable massage beds are also a crowd favorite for both office and home service owners for its ability to be snapped down to a transportable and easy to move size. Perfect for when you want to move your business elsewhere or when doing home service.
If you’re unsure which direction you want to go with your business, I highly recommend getting the portable massage bed.
Who knows, you can start off in an office now and accept house calls later on or vice versa, it’s a very versatile product!
Durability
Since these tables normally cost a fortune, you want to make sure that you get the most bang out of your buck.
Choose a more durable material for the frame (like oak and birch wood or aircraft grade aluminum) and the padding. Something that can stand the test of time and is easy to clean (sanitation is really important).
Carrying Case or Dust Bag
If you’re buying a portable massage table, then…
To ensure the cleanliness of the portable massage table and to protect it from outside elements, choose portable massage tables that come with a carrying case or dust bag.
Your Customer: (Safety and Comfort)
Padding Thickness
No one wants to feel like laying on a sheet of metal or wood. That is definitely uncomfortable especially for female clients (Newsflash: we’re squishing our boobs, that is painful especially during PMS!).
Get at least a 2-inch pad. Anything below that will put your clients at risk for injury. If you bought one that has thin padding, you can always get massage table toppers like this one from Therapist’s Choice (link to Amazon.com) to add to your existing pad’s thickness (and your customer’s comfort too!).
High-Quality Bolster
Bolsters are created to relieve tension from your neck, back, knees and ankles.
Some massage beds come with free bolsters and you want to make sure that the quality of these “freebies” is top notch.
Again, think long term. You want the finest quality that will last you till your grandkids take over your office, salon or spa (just kidding, but you get the picture, right?).
No bolsters included in your set? Don’t worry, you can get the best ones from the brand Earthlite.
You can choose from either their neck bolster, half jumbo (great for the back) or the full round bolster (perfect for relieving tension under the knees and ankles).
Links to Amazon.com:
Face Rest
One of the most important parts of a massage table is the face rest. It offers clients utmost comfort and ensures even distribution of pressure in the head and sinus area (especially when they’re having 30 minutes to an hour massage session).
It also ensures that the client is in a comfortable, straight spine position that is required for a back massage. I personally have tried tables with no face rest and man, it’s really uncomfortable with my face either planted on the pad or facing left or right.
It feels as if I’m putting myself at risk for injury with my neck twisted like that as the therapist applies pressure on different areas of my back and shoulders.
Please do us a favor and get one with a built-in face rest.
Locking Mechanism
As most massage tables come with a detachable or adjustable face rest and legs, a sturdy locking mechanism is required. A faulty lock can quickly result in injury not only for your client but also for your therapist.
Ensure all locking mechanisms are working properly.
Your Therapist: (Long term Occupational Health)
Right Size
Having the right size of the massage bed is important not only for your client’s comfort but more so for your therapist who spends most of their day working around that table.
Massage tables come in a variety of widths, from 28 to 32 inches (which is the industry standard).
Anything too narrow will put your client at risk of falling over. If it’s too wide, you’re putting your therapists at risk for back injuries as it’ll give them a hard time working around the table.
A good rule of thumb is to get 28 inches for shorter therapists and 30 to 32 inches for taller ones.
Weight
There are two types of weight to consider when choosing a massage table, especially if you want the best portable massage table: carrying weight and working weight.
Carrying Weight
Pertains to the actual weight of the table when disassembled for transport. It is an important factor especially if you’re offering home service.
Your therapists will be lugging these tables around often, thus putting extreme pressure on their body that over time can lead to serious occupational health issues.
Depending on the design and the material used, portable tables can weigh anywhere from 22 lbs. to 46 lbs.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, a person may lift an object weighing up to 51 lbs. provided that there’s no twisting involved. To calculate the recommended and safe lifting limit of an individual, you may check out this site.
Working Weight
This is the amount of weight the table can carry when in use. Consider the weight of your client, the additional pressure applied by your therapist and any accessories that may be put on top of your massage table (this includes bolsters, extra padding, and covers).
More about this later.
To conclude all of the above – the best lightweight portable massage table is one that is:
- of smaller size,
- made out of aluminum
- without an adjustable backrest (that mechanism adds up to the weight of the table).
More on weights here.
Frequently Asked Questions, and Quick Answers
What Is A Size Of A Standard Massage Table?
The industry standard massage table is 30 x 73 inches (W x L). However, for the occupational health of shorter therapists, a 28-inch width may also be chosen.
Compared to the standard 30-inch width, the 28-inch massage tables are much lighter in weight making them a popular choice for portable massage tables.
What Height Should A Massage Table Be?
Modern-day massage tables come with adjustable legs (especially portable ones), a good rule of thumb is to adjust the height till the table is parallel to your hip joint while providing some allowance depending on your client’s size.
How Much Weight Can A Massage Table Hold?
Back in the days, regular massage tables could take on up to 250 pounds of weight, but thanks to the latest innovations, designs, and materials, these tables can now take in as much as 800 pounds (up to 2000 lbs. and for a portable massage table!?! – mind is blown) depending on the design and materials used of course!
How Much Do Portable Massage Tables Weigh?
This would all depend on the size and material you’re choosing. It could range anywhere from 22 to 46 pounds.
See the considerations mentioned above when choosing the best massage table.
How Do I Clean My Massage Table?
Cleaning depends on the type of material your table and padding are made out of.
Manufacturers often include instructions on how to clean their tables. If yours didn’t come with one, check out the following cleaning recommendations:
For Vinyl Upholstery (most beds are upholstered with this material):
- Place a few drops of mild detergent on a spray bottle and mix with some water using a ratio of 4:1. Spray this solution on to your vinyl padding.
- Moisten a table napkin with water and wipe the soapy residue away.
- Dry with a clean, lint-free cloth
Some Do’s and Don’ts to Remember
Do:
- Use mild cleansers like Formula 409®, Fantastik®, or Green Windex® on your upholstery.
- Sterilize your fabric using Parker Labs Protex™, HealthLink® EZ-Kill® or Clorox® 10% household bleach solution.
- Use a soft, lint-free cloth for wiping the upholstery.
- Clean the wooden parts with wood safe cleaners.
Don’t:
- Use citrus, alcohol, bleach nor acetone based cleansers.
- Use abrasive materials.
- Expose bed under direct sunlight.
Still swimming in a sea of choices? No worries, I’ve collated my top picks of the best and most promising massage tables in the market.
You’ll surely be able to pick one depending on what your business needs and most importantly on your budget!
Top 5 Best Massage Tables 2019
Earthlite Massage Table
A portable yet multifunctional massage table that can be used for a variety of treatments, all thanks to its smart design and tilting backrest.
With a variety of colors to choose from, you’ll surely find one that will suit your spa’s aesthetics or plainly match your business’ color scheme.
Made with premium materials like maple wood and aircraft grade cables, this beauty is 100% sturdy and squeak-proof. Ahhhmazing!
Pros
- 30 x 73 inches
- 2 ¾ inches padding with oil and waterproof cover
- Self-adjusting face rest
- 34 lbs. carrying weight and 750 lbs. working weight
- Adjustable height
- Comes with a carrying case
Cons
- The quality is superb but is quite expensive compared to its competitors
- Quite on the heavy side due to the tilting mechanism. But if you insist on getting something that has that then this is the best portable table that you can get.
Sierra Comfort Massage Table
This is the Beyoncé of all massage tables. It has everything you’ll ever need for your treatments (the perfect massage table + accessories to boot!).
It’s the best at home massage table that you can get for personal use and the smartest purchase for your business.
Built with safety and comfort in mind, this table fits the industry standards and occupational health requirement without sacrificing your client’s comfort.
Who run the (massage) world? Definitely this table!
Pros
- Great price and value for money
- 28 x 72 inches (82 inches with face cradle attached)
- 5 inches high-density foam
- Removable face and armrests (has a built-in facial hole too!)
- 31 lbs. carrying weight and 450 lbs. working weight
- Adjustable height (23-33 inches)
- Comes with a carrying case, fitted sheets, semi-circle bolster, towel hanger, oil storage pouch, and disposable face sheets
Cons
- The headrest is a bit flimsy and needs some good adjusting before getting it in the right angle
- Assembling might be a challenge especially if you’re alone
Oakworks Massage Table
Looking for comfort and stability? Well, look no further because this massage table screams just that! With super comfortable 3 inch foam and sturdy reinforcements, you’ll surely transport your clients into a world of zen in no time.
What’s more? Clean up and set up is a breeze! The best massage table for home use and for on-call massage professionals.
Pros
- Affordable
- 30 x 73 inches
- 3-inch thick multi-density foam
- Adjustable face rest with Aero-Cel face rest crescent
- Up to 450 lbs. working weight
- Adjustable height
- Comes with a carrying case
Cons
- 45 lbs. carrying weight
Master Massage Galaxy Therma-Top Portable Massage Table
If we had the Beyoncé of massage tables earlier, this right here is the Rihanna of tables!
With its luxurious black Italian upholstery, black-stained European hardwood legs, and aircraft-grade support cables, girl, even Kim K will surely be jealous!
It amps up the heat with its amazing therma-top heating system keeping you warm and toasty during winter massages and gets your blood flow going during summer!
Quality and comfort meet sophistication, this is definitely the best-heated massage table you can find!
Pros
- Therma top heating system
- 30 x 84 inches
- 3-inch thick multi-layer foam
- Dream face cradle and memory foam face cushion
- 750 lbs. working weight
- Adjustable height
- Comes with a 4-pocket carrying case and Florida-style arm shelf
Cons
- Quite expensive but given its materials, features, and size, it’s really worth it!
- 40 lbs. carrying weight which is not too bad considering the size of this bed and the thick padding.
Portable Massage Table by Best Massage
Just starting out in the industry? Searching for something affordable yet of high quality? If your answer is a big YES, then this baby is perfect for you!
It has the perfect price to get you started without sacrificing on quality. Made with high-quality beech wood and reinforced hardwood corner blocks, you can rest assured that this is one hell of a stable table!
But don’t let all that wood fool you, this table is easy to set up and is light as a feather (OK, I’m just exaggerating there! It’s as light as a 24-month-old toddler!) perfect for both office based or home service businesses!
Pros
- Affordable
- 28 x 73 inches
- 2-inch thick padding
- Flexible face rest and armrest
- 28 lbs. carrying weight and 450 lbs. working weight
- Adjustable height (24-34”)
- Comes with a carrying bag and a detachable hand pallet
Cons
- Could use thicker padding. But you can place a massage table topper anyway (as mentioned previously above)
Putting It All Together
Massage tables complete the whole treatment’s experience. Be it a massage, facial, lashing and waxing, it is a piece of critical furniture that can make or break your business.
More than your business, you should also consider your customer’s safety and comfort as well as your therapist and technician’s occupational health when choosing the best massage table since they will be using and working around the table most of the time.
Regardless of your business needs and budget, choose your massage table wisely using the above-mentioned considerations.
Got any massage table horror stories or some great recommendations to share? Write them on the comment box below. Wishing Y’all business success and a fruitful year, ciao!
