A massage table is the better choice if you'll give full-body massages several times a week, have room to keep it set up, and want to stand at the right height while you work. A bed headrest is the better choice if you want to massage each other on the bed you already own, without finding space, money, or a closet for a table. Both solve the biggest problem for the person lying down: somewhere to put their face.

Below is the side-by-side, then who each one suits. If you haven't set up a massage at home before, how to give a massage at home, on your bed covers the basics either way.

Key takeaways

  • A massage table suits frequent full-body massage, a giver who wants to stand, and a home with room to keep it.
  • A bed headrest suits couples who want massages on the bed they already own, without giving up floor space.
  • Portable tables cost about $150 for budget models and $300 to $1,000 for professional ones, and many weigh 25 to 35 pounds.
  • On a bed, the giver works at bed height: they kneel and lean in with body weight instead of standing.
  • Either way, the person lying down needs somewhere to put their face. A pillow alone twists the neck.

The short comparison

Portable massage table Bed headrest
Typical cost About $150 or less for budget tables; $300 to $1,000 for professional-grade portable tables (Beauty & Bodywork Insurance) Ours is $129.99 for the Basic Set at the time of writing
Size when set up Most are 28 to 30 inches wide and 72 to 73 inches long (Finding Dulcinea) No extra footprint; it uses your bed
Weight to carry Around 25 to 35 pounds for many portable tables (Pure Spa Direct) Nothing to carry between rooms; it goes on the bed you're already using
Storage Folds in half, to roughly 3 feet long; it needs a closet, a wall, or under-bed space Folds when you're done
Setup Unfold, lock the legs, set the height, attach the face cradle, add a sheet Clamp it to the bed, adjust the cradle
Height for the giver Adjustable; for example, 24 to 34 inches (Pure Spa Direct) Fixed at your bed's height; the giver kneels on the bed or beside it
Room to work Walk all the way around One side of the bed, plus kneeling space on the mattress
Firmness Firm, so pressure goes into the muscle As soft as your mattress
Best for Frequent full-body massage, standing givers, training Couples, small homes, occasional to weekly massage

Where a massage table wins

Let's be fair to tables: they're built for massage, and it shows.

  • The giver stands at the right height. This is the big one. A table's height adjusts, so the person giving the massage can stand straight and lean in from the hips. A bed is lower, and its height doesn't change. On a bed, you kneel beside your partner or kneel on a cushion at the edge. That works, but if the giver has knee or back trouble, a table is kinder.
  • You can reach everything. You can walk around a table to reach both sides, the legs, and the feet without climbing on anything.
  • It's firm. A table's padding is firm, so your pressure goes into the muscle instead of into the mattress. On a soft bed, you need slower, leaning strokes to get the same feel.
  • Massage is a regular thing for you. If you're training as a therapist, massaging friends and family, or giving long full-body massages several times a week, a table earns its space.

One honest limit of the portable kind: they're built light so they can be carried, and a well-known table maker notes that portable tables tend to flex a little compared to stationary ones (Earthlite). Cheap tables also have thinner padding.

Where a bed headrest wins

  • Space. A table set up takes a bed's worth of floor. Most homes don't have a spare room for it, so it gets folded and stored, and then it rarely comes back out.
  • Cost. You're not paying for legs, a frame, and a carry case. A bed headrest uses the mattress you already own, and your own sheets and pillows do the job of table linens and bolsters.
  • Setup time. Clamping a headrest to the bed is quicker than unfolding, levelling, and dressing a table. That matters more than it sounds: the easier the setup, the more often you'll actually do it.
  • Comfort for the person lying down. A mattress is softer and warmer than a table, and you're in your own bed, not on a narrow table. Afterwards, nobody has to get up.
  • It's built for two people at home. Couples who want a massage at the end of the evening don't need a professional setup. They need the face problem solved.

The trade-off: the giver works at bed height. How to give a massage without hurting your hands covers how to use body weight so that doesn't wear you out.

What about just using the bed with pillows?

You can, and for a quick back rub it's fine. The problem shows up after a few minutes: with no opening for the face, the person lying down turns their head to one side or presses their face into a pillow. Rolled towels in a "U" shape help, and how to lie face down comfortably for a massage shows how. But towels flatten and slip, which is the reason face cradles exist.

Which one should you choose?

Choose a massage table if:

  • You'll give full-body massages several times a week.
  • You have a room where it can stay up, or don't mind setting it up each time.
  • The giver has knees or a back that don't like kneeling.
  • You're learning massage seriously, or massaging people outside your household.

Choose a bed headrest if:

  • You want to massage each other at home, mostly back, neck, shoulders, and scalp.
  • You don't have space for a table, or don't want one in the bedroom.
  • You'd rather spend less.
  • You want something you'll set up on a normal Tuesday, not just on special occasions.

If you're still unsure what a bed headrest actually is, face cradle for a bed: what it is and how to pick one explains the different kinds.

Where NorthPalm fits

We make a bed headrest: the NorthPalm bedside massage headrest. It clamps to the side of every bed frame, holds your partner's face in a padded, adjustable cradle, folds after, and sets up in under a minute. If you want a table, buy a table; if you want massages on your own bed, this is what we built it for.

Questions people ask

How much is a massage table? Budget portable tables run about $150 or less, and professional-grade portable tables run $300 to $1,000, according to Beauty & Bodywork Insurance. Stationary and electric tables cost more.

Is it OK to give a massage on a bed? Yes. Use the firmest side of the mattress, give the person lying down somewhere to rest their face, and have the giver kneel close so they can lean in with body weight.

What can I use instead of a massage table? Your bed with a face cradle or rolled towels for the face, a pillow under the hips, and a towel under the ankles. A thick blanket on the floor also works if the giver's knees are up to it.

Is a massage table worth it for home use? It's worth it if you'll use it often and have space for it. If it would spend most of its life folded in a closet, a bed setup is usually the better buy.

Sources

Skip the table, keep the face hole. The NorthPalm headrest turns the bed you already have into a comfortable place for a massage, then folds away. Try it for 60 days with a full refund if it's not right. It fits your bed or your money back, it has a 1-year warranty, and shipping is free. See the headrest