Comparison Chart - Compare all Massage Tables

You can lick on each massage table name above to go to each product webpage and product video.

See descriptions below which explain each heading above.

Brand
We receive requests from brands all around the world to stock their massage tables but we will only stock high quality brands that offer excellent value and that we as therapists would be happy using.
There are other high quality brands we would be willing to stock based on the quality but they don't offer good value to UK customers.
Affinity offer a very high quality professional grade massage table and are a UK brand.
Porta-lite cater to all budget and quality levels, offering both an economy entry level grade of massage table and a very high quality professional grade massage table to cater for all budgets.
Earthworks offer the highest quality massage tables the world over and also care for the earth by using renewable resources and plant a tree for every massage table sold to replace the wood back into the earth.

Weight
The weight of the massage table itself without any carry case or accessories
Weight is really only important when you need to do mobile treatments.
Around the 11kg mark is where you want to be if you are a mobile therapist.
Semi static massage tables are from 14-16kg where you can use them for mobile treatments now and again but any more than that and it will become bothersome
Portable but non-mobile massage tables are really those that weigh greater than 16kg.

Width
The width of the massage table is important for two reasons:

1. The client's comfort. Generally speaking the wider the massage table the more comfortable the client will be. 
2. The therapist's posture. If you are short in height and do not have good postural training then using a wider massage table can make it easier for you to strain your back in the long term. 

But you can get a therapist who is under 5' using a 76cm wide massage table comfortably because they have been trained well and they consistently watch their posture.
However it is common for therapist's who are closer to 5' to go for a 25 inch or 63.5cm wide massage table.
Another thing to consider when choosing the width of the massage table is the narrower the width the lower the weight of the massage table.
If the weight is more important than the client comfort which it may very well be for a fully mobile therapist then it can sometimes make sense to go for the narrower option of a particular massage table.
68-71cm wide massage tables are the most common and are what most therapist's choose to work with.

Length
This is the massage table length without any extensions. If it has a face cradle extension you can add 29cms bringing the massage table to 213cms
185cms is standard length.

Height
Brands do a lot of research into their dimensions so that they do not exclude any therapists from purchasing their massage tables. Every massage table we sell should fit every therapist be they 4'5" or 6'5"!
To get a good measurement of the height you will probably work with…..
Stand straight with your fists clenched. Measure (or get someone to measure!) the distance between your knuckles and the ground - this is generally the height you will have your massage table at
or some therapists like to work with the massage table including the client at this height.

Working Weight
The working weight is very high on all massage tables we sell. It is over 32 stone and It would be very difficult to test the limits of any professional grade massage table.
In some ways this limit is unnecessary as a person who was approaching this weight would not be agile enough to get on and off a massage table.

Foam
HD=High Density
5cms foam is the standard across the industry and although you will see 4cms on some massage tables on the market, 5cms is the minimum thickness we will stock.
Thicker foam is not essential but does offer greater comfort. You will see different brands state different marketing terms for foam such as therafoam, memory foam, triple layer etc but the two things that matter is the density and the type of foam e.g. semi firm, soft, hard etc. If you see high density foam on an entry level massage table it will not be the same as high density on a professional grade table.
Professional grade massage tables have the highest density foam available to the massage table industry and are usually semi-firm offering the greatest comfort and support available on any massage table.

Upholstery
People spend a lot of time worrying about the type of upholstery but it really does not matter. What does matter is the quality of the relevant type of upholstery.
There are two types of upholstery - PU & PVC.
PVC is the most common type and feels harder than PU.
PU is synthetically the closest feel to real leather and is softer to feel than PVC.
But within both PU & PVC there are different levels of each. As with everything in life the higher the price the higher the quality.
Don't worry too much about whether a massage table has PU or PVC. The higher priced massage tables in the "professional grade" will have the highest quality upholstery available on a massage table which make it harder to damage
and is much more durable and should last your entire career as long as it doesnt come into contact with any sharp objects.
At Massage Warehouse we have minimum quality levels which we will not go below which is why you wont see very cheap massage tables with the cheapest level of upholstery. It is difficult to tell the quality level
simply from a picture on the internet which is why word of mouth and customer reviews are important to us in spreading the message about the quality of our products.

Standards
With the CE marking on a product the manufacturer ensures that the product is in conformity with the essential requirements of the applicable EC directives. The letters "CE" stand for "Conformité Européenne" ("European Conformity")

Grade
Massage tables can generally be split into two categories across all retailers.
Entry level generally go up to £150 and the components of the massage table will be lower in quality than the Professional grade massage tables. Components include absolutely everything on the massage table including the upholstery,
the foam quality and density, the wood or aluminium and everything even down to the screws and hinges.
Professional grade massage tables have the highest quality components. The wood chosen in the frame will be free from knots. The aluminium used will be aircraft grade offering the highest strength.
The upholstery will be very high quality and the foam will be high density and of very high quality to provide firmness yet softness. Overall the build quality will be much higher.
When deciding which level you want to go for, we realise people are on budgets in these harder times. Entry level will suit light commercial use and a lot of people get by fine at this level.
If you are a professional and want to portray a high level of professionalism and the massage table is getting a lot of use it will make more sense in the long run to go for the professional grade of massage table as you may decide
a few years down the line you want to upgrade anyway if you originally went for the entry level. After all the price difference is often only the cost of 2-3 extra treatments

Easy access end panels
With easy access end panels it allows you to put your knees under the massage table easily. If the massage table doesn't have easy access panels but a bar running across the end of the legs you can still put your knees
under the massage table by putting you feet under the bar and on a therapists rolling stool roll forward and pivot at your ankles so your knees roll forward. But having easy access panels is much easier!!

Lifting Back Rest
A lifting back rest allows you to use the massage table for seated treatments such as reflexology and facial treatments. It also allows you to raise clients up to remain seated for a few minutes after the treatment to catch themselves-Particularily useful for elderly clients.
There is one downside however The support mechanism for the back rest will add roughly 2-3kgs to a table so massage tables with lifting back rests are usually not very good for mobile work.
When you do a lot of mobile work it is better if you go for a massage table without a lifting back rest. If you absolutely must have a lifting back rest and you do mobile work there are 4 options available to you:
1) Buy a massage table trolley cart to wheel your heavier massage table around.
2) Buy a flat lightweight massage table and use pillows in the clients hoe to prop them up
3) Buy a flat lightweight massage table and also buy a wedge bolster (http://www.massagewarehouse.co.uk/items/massage-supplies/bolsters~body-cushions/massage-table-wedge-bolster-cushion-detail.htm) which can act as a backrest and is light enough to carry with you.
4) Buy the lightest available massage table with a lifting back rest and choose a narrower option to reduce the weight further. You can get the Affinity Marlin and the Portalite Aluminium 25 inch wide options, which weigh 14.5kg and are the lightest massage tables with back rests available on the market with suitable dimensions.

Built in breath hole
This is the breath hole with bung inside the main section of the massage table.
This has traditionally been the main form of face hole used. The benefit of this is that you don't have to carry an extra face cradle.
However, an extending face cradle at the end of a massage table offers more comfort to the face and cheeks but also greater access for the therapist to the shoulders and neck.
Some massage tables have both but if you have to choose one then the extending face cradle option is much better.

Face Cradle Extension
A massage table with an extending face cradle at the end of the massage table offers greater comfort to the face and cheeks but also greater access for the therapist to the shoulders and neck than the built in breath hole option.

Side Arm Extensions
These add around 14cms to each side of the massage table. They are removable and can be used only when needed.
With a standard width massage table they are not needed although some therapists do prefer them especially for larger clients to hang their arms out the sides of the massage table.
Some massage tables come with them or they can be purchased separately.

Have any questions or comments about anything above? Please let us know in the comments below!

You can lick on each massage table name above to go to each product webpage and product video.

See descriptions below which explain each heading above.

Brand
We receive requests from brands all around the world to stock their massage tables but we will only stock high quality brands that offer excellent value and that we as therapists would be happy using.
There are other high quality brands we would be willing to stock based on the quality but they don't offer good value to UK customers.
Affinity offer a very high quality professional grade massage table and are a UK brand.
Porta-lite cater to all budget and quality levels, offering both an economy entry level grade of massage table and a very high quality professional grade massage table to cater for all budgets.
Earthworks offer the highest quality massage tables the world over and also care for the earth by using renewable resources and plant a tree for every massage table sold to replace the wood back into the earth.

Weight
The weight of the massage table itself without any carry case or accessories
Weight is really only important when you need to do mobile treatments.
Around the 11kg mark is where you want to be if you are a mobile therapist.
Semi static massage tables are from 14-16kg where you can use them for mobile treatments now and again but any more than that and it will become bothersome
Portable but non-mobile massage tables are really those that weigh greater than 16kg.

Width
The width of the massage table is important for two reasons:

1. The client's comfort. Generally speaking the wider the massage table the more comfortable the client will be. 
2. The therapist's posture. If you are short in height and do not have good postural training then using a wider massage table can make it easier for you to strain your back in the long term. 

But you can get a therapist who is under 5' using a 76cm wide massage table comfortably because they have been trained well and they consistently watch their posture.
However it is common for therapist's who are closer to 5' to go for a 25 inch or 63.5cm wide massage table.
Another thing to consider when choosing the width of the massage table is the narrower the width the lower the weight of the massage table.
If the weight is more important than the client comfort which it may very well be for a fully mobile therapist then it can sometimes make sense to go for the narrower option of a particular massage table.
68-71cm wide massage tables are the most common and are what most therapist's choose to work with.

Length
This is the massage table length without any extensions. If it has a face cradle extension you can add 29cms bringing the massage table to 213cms
185cms is standard length.

Height
Brands do a lot of research into their dimensions so that they do not exclude any therapists from purchasing their massage tables. Every massage table we sell should fit every therapist be they 4'5" or 6'5"!
To get a good measurement of the height you will probably work with…..
Stand straight with your fists clenched. Measure (or get someone to measure!) the distance between your knuckles and the ground - this is generally the height you will have your massage table at
or some therapists like to work with the massage table including the client at this height.

Working Weight
The working weight is very high on all massage tables we sell. It is over 32 stone and It would be very difficult to test the limits of any professional grade massage table.
In some ways this limit is unnecessary as a person who was approaching this weight would not be agile enough to get on and off a massage table.

Foam
HD=High Density
5cms foam is the standard across the industry and although you will see 4cms on some massage tables on the market, 5cms is the minimum thickness we will stock.
Thicker foam is not essential but does offer greater comfort. You will see different brands state different marketing terms for foam such as therafoam, memory foam, triple layer etc but the two things that matter is the density and the type of foam e.g. semi firm, soft, hard etc. If you see high density foam on an entry level massage table it will not be the same as high density on a professional grade table.
Professional grade massage tables have the highest density foam available to the massage table industry and are usually semi-firm offering the greatest comfort and support available on any massage table.

Upholstery
People spend a lot of time worrying about the type of upholstery but it really does not matter. What does matter is the quality of the relevant type of upholstery.
There are two types of upholstery - PU & PVC.
PVC is the most common type and feels harder than PU.
PU is synthetically the closest feel to real leather and is softer to feel than PVC.
But within both PU & PVC there are different levels of each. As with everything in life the higher the price the higher the quality.
Don't worry too much about whether a massage table has PU or PVC. The higher priced massage tables in the "professional grade" will have the highest quality upholstery available on a massage table which make it harder to damage
and is much more durable and should last your entire career as long as it doesnt come into contact with any sharp objects.
At Massage Warehouse we have minimum quality levels which we will not go below which is why you wont see very cheap massage tables with the cheapest level of upholstery. It is difficult to tell the quality level
simply from a picture on the internet which is why word of mouth and customer reviews are important to us in spreading the message about the quality of our products.

Standards
With the CE marking on a product the manufacturer ensures that the product is in conformity with the essential requirements of the applicable EC directives. The letters "CE" stand for "Conformité Européenne" ("European Conformity")

Grade
Massage tables can generally be split into two categories across all retailers.
Entry level generally go up to £150 and the components of the massage table will be lower in quality than the Professional grade massage tables. Components include absolutely everything on the massage table including the upholstery,
the foam quality and density, the wood or aluminium and everything even down to the screws and hinges.
Professional grade massage tables have the highest quality components. The wood chosen in the frame will be free from knots. The aluminium used will be aircraft grade offering the highest strength.
The upholstery will be very high quality and the foam will be high density and of very high quality to provide firmness yet softness. Overall the build quality will be much higher.
When deciding which level you want to go for, we realise people are on budgets in these harder times. Entry level will suit light commercial use and a lot of people get by fine at this level.
If you are a professional and want to portray a high level of professionalism and the massage table is getting a lot of use it will make more sense in the long run to go for the professional grade of massage table as you may decide
a few years down the line you want to upgrade anyway if you originally went for the entry level. After all the price difference is often only the cost of 2-3 extra treatments

Easy access end panels
With easy access end panels it allows you to put your knees under the massage table easily. If the massage table doesn't have easy access panels but a bar running across the end of the legs you can still put your knees
under the massage table by putting you feet under the bar and on a therapists rolling stool roll forward and pivot at your ankles so your knees roll forward. But having easy access panels is much easier!!

Lifting Back Rest
A lifting back rest allows you to use the massage table for seated treatments such as reflexology and facial treatments. It also allows you to raise clients up to remain seated for a few minutes after the treatment to catch themselves-Particularily useful for elderly clients.
There is one downside however The support mechanism for the back rest will add roughly 2-3kgs to a table so massage tables with lifting back rests are usually not very good for mobile work.
When you do a lot of mobile work it is better if you go for a massage table without a lifting back rest. If you absolutely must have a lifting back rest and you do mobile work there are 4 options available to you:
1) Buy a massage table trolley cart to wheel your heavier massage table around.
2) Buy a flat lightweight massage table and use pillows in the clients hoe to prop them up
3) Buy a flat lightweight massage table and also buy a wedge bolster (http://www.massagewarehouse.co.uk/items/massage-supplies/bolsters~body-cushions/massage-table-wedge-bolster-cushion-detail.htm) which can act as a backrest and is light enough to carry with you.
4) Buy the lightest available massage table with a lifting back rest and choose a narrower option to reduce the weight further. You can get the Affinity Marlin and the Portalite Aluminium 25 inch wide options, which weigh 14.5kg and are the lightest massage tables with back rests available on the market with suitable dimensions.

Built in breath hole
This is the breath hole with bung inside the main section of the massage table.
This has traditionally been the main form of face hole used. The benefit of this is that you don't have to carry an extra face cradle.
However, an extending face cradle at the end of a massage table offers more comfort to the face and cheeks but also greater access for the therapist to the shoulders and neck.
Some massage tables have both but if you have to choose one then the extending face cradle option is much better.

Face Cradle Extension
A massage table with an extending face cradle at the end of the massage table offers greater comfort to the face and cheeks but also greater access for the therapist to the shoulders and neck than the built in breath hole option.

Side Arm Extensions
These add around 14cms to each side of the massage table. They are removable and can be used only when needed.
With a standard width massage table they are not needed although some therapists do prefer them especially for larger clients to hang their arms out the sides of the massage table.
Some massage tables come with them or they can be purchased separately.

Have any questions or comments about anything above? Please let us know in the comments below!