Give Yourself a Pampering Treat With These 6 Spruce-Approved Foot Spas (2024)

A foot spa offers the opportunity to pamper yourself with a relaxing experience in the comfort of your own home anytime you like.

We purchased over a dozen foot spas and put them through a series of tests, evaluating each on design, effectiveness, ease of cleaning, and overall value to find the best fit for your budget, needs, and lifestyle.

Through our testing, we learned that temperature control and massage elements are the biggest differentiators between different foot spas. Some are more basic, offering a simple way to soak your feet at the end of the day, while others let you choose a specific temperature and offer vibrating or rotating nodes to massage your feet simultaneously.

With more added features comes a higher cost, but all of these options can help you unwind after a busy day.

Our Top Picks

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Best With Vibration:

Conair Foot Spa at Amazon$40

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What We Like

  • Large temperature range

  • Total of 14 massage rollers

  • Intuitive controls

What We Don't Like

  • Difficult to clean

  • Have to set to max temperature before lowering

During testing, the Medical King Foot Spa impressed us most with seven rolling massagers per foot, an impressive heat setting, and intuitive controls. The rollers were our favorite feature, providing a soothing, manual massage you can control with your feet. After using this spa, our feet felt rejuvenated, encouraging us to engage in the self-care ritual more often.

This foot spa can reach a temperature of 118 degrees, but we found 106 degrees was plenty warm for us, so we’re confident everyone can find their perfect temperature with this option. One gripe we found while testing is that you have to set the foot spa to the maximum temperature before you can lower it to your desired temperature. We didn’t mind since it allowed us to thoroughly warm up the water before bringing it down to a comfortable temperature.

The collapsible design makes this option easy to bring to and from your desk for a soak while working from home or your couch to wind down at the end of the day. At 7 inches tall, it easily slides under your bed or couch when you’re done.

We tested this spa with an individual who wears a size seven women’s shoe and found there was ample room to move around vertically and horizontally. The manufacturer doesn’t share the largest shoe size this foot spa accommodates, but we believe it should fit a large range of feet due to the roominess we found while testing.

There’s also a pumice stone in the middle of this foot spa, which is a nice addition. However, we found it a bit dull to do any serious exfoliating. It’s easy to remove if you don’t find yourself using it often.

At just over four pounds, this foot spa is easy to take to and from the sink for filling, but the multiple rollers make this pick difficult to clean. Soap can get stuck in the rollers if you’re not thorough, so that’s something to keep in mind when purchasing. Still, we think this is an excellent option for all foot spa users, and it comes at a reasonable price.

Dimensions: 16 x 13 x 7 inches | Weight: 4.3 pounds | Heated: Yes | Max Temperature: 118 degrees

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What are the benefits of using a foot spa?

There are many benefits to using a foot spa, from promoting relaxation to improving your overall foot health. The jets, heat, and vibration of these machines can help by soothing mild aches, increasing circulation, and providing comfort and relaxation, says Dr. Jackie Sutera, DPM, a board-certified podiatrist and member of the Vionic Innovation Lab..

What We Like

  • Lightweight and equipped with handle

  • Heats up quickly and stays warm

  • Rollers are great for your heels

What We Don't Like

  • No way to target arches

  • Only one jet

Our favorite benefit of the lightweight and collapsible Beinilai Foot Spa is its portability. At 4 pounds and 8 inches tall, this option is perfect for those looking to travel with their foot spa for use after hours in the office or on vacation. It even has a handle, so it’s designed to be carried. It takes a bit of effort to collapse the foot spa at first, but this speaks to the product’s durability.

Luckily, this foot spa does not sacrifice features for portability. During testing, we were pleased to find that the water stayed warm, starting at 80 degrees and rising to 90 degrees in just 10 minutes. We even felt a burst of heat five minutes in.

Like other options we love, this spa has rollers on the bottom for a manual massage. The massagers effectively released tension in our heels, but we wished there was a way to target the arches of our feet. The bubbles also caused a soothing sensation, although we think more jets are needed to create even bubbles throughout.

Similar to our best overall pick, the Medical King Foot Spa Massager, the rollers are not removable, which can make cleaning more difficult. We recommend storing this where it won’t get dirty or dusty because particles can get stuck in the rollers. However, the lightweight basin is extremely easy to fill and rinse if needed. This pick also comes with a pumice stone, but we could not determine how to remove it after testing. Nevertheless, this didn’t affect our positive experience.

Dimensions: 15 x 13 x 8 inches | Weight: 4 pounds | Heated: Yes | Max Temperature: 111 degrees

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What We Like

  • Toe-activated button

  • Soothing vibration

  • Removable cover is easy to clean

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn’t keep water warm

The Conair Foot Spa only has basic features, but during testing, we found that it has everything you need to unwind and relax tired feet. To start, you can turn the foot spa on and off with your toes, so you don't even have to lift a finger. The vibration offers a gentle massage that left our feet feeling rejuvenated.

Unlike the massage on our best collapsible pick, the Beinilai Collapsible Pedicure Foot Spa, these nodes covered the entire bottom of our foot, including our arches, which was a huge plus. This made a difference in the relaxation and effectiveness of this option, even though it is less feature-heavy than other models we tested. There’s an additional massage attachment between the foot holes, but we still found the nodes at the bottom most effective.

We found that the temperature dropped about 10 degrees during our 10-minute soak, so ensure your water is very hot to start. Just be careful putting your feet in. One plus is that the top of this foot spa is removable, so it’s very easy to clean every part. Plus, it’s a great affordable option—under $35.

Dimensions: 16.6 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 4.7 pounds | Heated: No | Max Temperature: N/a

What We Like

  • Stays warm for a long time

  • Massagers move themselves

  • Shiatsu massage

What We Don't Like

  • No specific temperature control

  • Heavy and bulky

During testing, we loved the HoMedics Shiatsu Bliss Footbath's heat and massage features, making it well worth the investment. We loved that it maintained a steady temperature and only took 13 minutes to reach its maximum heat, which was comfortable for soaking.

During our soak, the temperature ranged from 86 to 100 degrees. There’s only one button to turn the heat on and off, so we do wish there was a way to control the actual temperature better. Still, we found the steady heat comfortable and long-lasting.

The kneading massage elements on the bottom of the foot spa mimic a Shiatsu massage, which is a Japanese style of massage based on finger pressure. Unlike other foot spas on this list, the nodes move themselves with the touch of a button, allowing for a hands-free, relaxing experience. We loved that they covered the entire soles of our feet for a comprehensive foot massage as we soaked. The other two buttons turn on the heat and the bubbles with images on each one to make the controls very easy to use.

This foot spa is on the bulkier side, weighing more than nine pounds. It’s not a very portable pick, so we recommend this option for those with more space who know exactly where their foot spa will live in their home. With its durable construction and expansive features, we think it’s worth the extra weight.

Dimensions: 15 x 9.8 x 19.3 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Heated: Yes | Max Temperature: Not listed

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What We Like

  • Extensive heating controls

  • Automatic massagers that target arches

  • Timer setting

  • Good for larger feet

What We Don't Like

  • Only one massage speed

  • Bulky

The heating feature made a big impact when testing the Ivation Foot Spa Massager. The controls let you set the water’s temperature up to 122 degrees, the highest on this list. During testing, it took 12 minutes to reach 110 and stayed within three degrees of this range while we soaked. However, we found anything above 106 degrees to be too warm and uncomfortable for us, so the heating was more than adequate.

Like our best upgrade option, the HoMedics Shiatsu Bliss Footbath, the massagers at the bottom of the foot spa move automatically with the touch of a button. The rollers target the middle of your foot, so it’s great for your arches. If you want to target the other areas of your feet, you’ll have to adjust your footing.

We wish you could control the strength of the massage because we found it overwhelming after a long period. If this is the case for you, we recommend using the massagers manually rather than pressing the massage button. The other two buttons activate the bubbles or set a timer for your soak.

At almost 15 inches tall, this is one of the deepest foot spas we tested, so it’s great for soaking your full feet and ankles. We tested this option with an individual who wears a men’s size 11.5 shoe, proving it has ample room for larger feet. Keep in mind this makes it a bit bulkier and harder to store than other models. All in all, we loved that the rollers on the bottom of the spa had grooves and were motorized for a deep massage that was amplified by bubbles.

Dimensions: 15 x 9.8 x 19.3 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Heated: Yes | Max Temperature: 122 degrees

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What We Like

  • Five massage elements

  • Large temperature range

  • Accommodates larger feet

What We Don't Like

  • Difficult to clean

  • No automatic massagers

This foot spa has extensive features, earning it a spot on our list after testing. There are five massage elements on the bottom of this pick that you manually move your feet across to feel the benefits. We loved the rolling massagers for our arches and shiatsu-style spikes for our heels and pressure points. There’s also a pumice stone, bubble holes, and a red light, which is designed to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation.

We were impressed by the heat of this foot spa, which you can control between 95 to 118 degrees. As with our other heated foot spas, we found 106 degrees to be more than comfortable, so we’re confident that there are ample temperature options for every foot spa user. It took about 10 minutes to heat up to 97 degrees, which was on par with the timing of all the foot spas we love.

While the features are seemingly endless with this pick, none of them are automatic. This means you have to manually move your feet to make them work, which can take away from the relaxing factor of a foot spa. However, massaging your feet manually ensures you target the points that need it the most. Also, this foot spa accommodates up to a men’s size 14 shoe, so there’s ample room to move your feet around effectively.

Another small yet nice feature is that the Niksa Foot Spa comes in six different colors, including orange, green, blue, and two white options (so you can find a color that best suits you).

The multiple attachments also make this pick difficult to clean. The manufacturer claims that four of the attachments are removable, but we found this task difficult during testing. We recommend rinsing out the foot spa regularly, but avoid adding beauty products that will clog or get stuck in the various nooks and crannies.

Dimensions: 12 x 16 x 7 inches | Weight: 4.7 pounds | Heated: Yes | Max Temperature: 118 degrees

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Final Verdict

The best foot spa we tested, the Medical King Foot Spa Massager, has an impressive heating element and won’t sacrifice features for portability. It collapses and weighs less than five pounds, with ample massage elements on the bottom. If you're after the best foot spa with endless features, consider the Niksa Foot Massager. While all of the features need to be manually activated, the foot device includes five massage elements. Plus, there's enough foot space to accommodate a men's size 14 shoe.

How We Tested the Foot Spas

Over the past two years, we’ve tested 16 foot spas, evaluating each one on a variety of factors.

  • Design: We used each foot spa for the recommended amount of time, noting how comfortable our feet felt when placed in the spa. We also noted whether there was room to move our feet around and whether it would accommodate a large range of foot sizes.
  • Features: We used all of the features available, such as temperature control, massage elements, and water jet options, available on every foot spa we tested. We followed all of the instructions, determining if the controls were intuitive and easy to use. For heated foot spas, we recorded how long the water took to heat up, the highest temperature reached, and how many degrees the water dropped during our soaking period.
  • Portability: Because you often have to bring foot spas to and from the sink to fill them, we know portability is important. We noted how heavy each foot spa felt, both empty and full, how easy it was to fill and rinse them, and if there were any built-in features, like a handle or collapsible function.
  • Ease of Cleaning: After using each foot spa, we cleaned it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We noted any buildup, any areas that were difficult to clean, and the overall process.

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What to Look for in a Foot Spa

A Heating Unit to Keep the Water Warm

The most relaxing foot soaks require, at a minimum, a tub of hot water. Many of the foot spas on the market keep your water hot through a heating unit, like our best upgrade, the HoMedics Shiatsu Bliss Footbath.

Some more high-tech models, like our best heated option, the Ivation Foot Spa Massager, and our best features pick, the Niksa Foot Spa Bath, allow you to choose the exact temperature you desire on an LED display. No matter if the foot spa is heated or not, we always advise beginning with hot water for the best experience. Just note that Dr. Priya Parthasarathy, a member of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) and chair of the APMA Communications Committee, advises against overusing a foot spa, as prolonged soaking can dry out your feet. "I would only suggest soaking your feet for 5 to 15 minutes at the most, a few times a week," she says.

A Compact, Easy-to-Store Size

Some foot spas have amazing features, but they tend to take up a lot of space. If you know your storage space is limited, double-check all measurements and opt for a foot spa that will fit under a bed, under the sink, or on a closet shelf.

Look for an option that collapses for easy storage, like our best collapsible pick, the Beinilai Collapsible Pedicure Foot Spa. Once collapsed, this foot spa is only 8 inches tall, so it easily slides under beds and couches. It also has a handle for easy transporting.Also, the Beinilai Pedicure Foot Spa, is the lightest on our list at 4 pounds even, so it’s ideal to take while traveling or going to someone's house.

A Quiet and Relaxing Massage Element

Some foot spas are basic tubs to soak your feet, while others offer a massage element to elevate the experience. For instance, we particularly like the rolling massagers on the bottom of our best features pick, the Niksa Foot Spa Bath, which lets you target pressure points on your feet manually, especially on your arches.

If you want to sit back and relax and let the foot spa do all of the work, opt for one with motorized foot massagers, as seen on our best heated pick, the Ivation Foot Spa Massager.

If noise is an issue for you, look for a spa with massagers instead of jets. The addition of jets and bubbles is bound to add a bit of noise. We recommend putting on some calming music to drown it all out. After all, foot spas are meant to be relaxing, so loud noises may distract from the overall experience.

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One More Thing

It's always best to read the manual that comes with your foot spa. For some of the simpler designs, especially those that don't have jets, it's okay to add Epsom salt or soothing essential oils to the water. Adding Epsom salts may be beneficial to your soaking experience, says Dr. Sutera. Use your favorite salt and/or oil to benefit from added relaxation, anti-microbial properties, and a reduction in swelling, she says.

While salt does provide general soothing, it can also dry out the skin, so use with caution if this is part of a regular routine. Adding oil to the bath can keep feet from drying out, suggests Dr. Damian Roussel, DPM and FACFAS, a board-certified podiatrist at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics.

Be mindful that excessive amounts of spa products or build-up may interfere with the efficiency of the foot spa jets.

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The Checkout Counter

Before you check out, consider these foot bath accessories and self-care essentials to upgrade your experience.

  1. Plant Therapy Lavender Essential Oil: Promote relaxation with these essential oil drops from Plant Therapy. The lavender aroma is soothing, making it the perfect addition to your wellness routine.
  2. OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set: A small scrub brush can help keep your foot bath clean by removing residue in tight crevices. This versatile scrub brush set from OXO can also be a handy tool for other surfaces like shower doors and grout.
  3. L.L. Bean Premium Cotton Bath Mat: Protect your bathroom floors from water with this ultra-soft bath mat from L.L. Bean. The mat also has a low-profile construction, making it a good surface for your foot spa to sit on while you soak.
  4. Foot Cure Tea Tree Oil Foot Soak with Epsom Salt: Designed to be poured into the water of your foot spa, this foot soak is formulated with natural ingredients like sea salt, eucalyptus, peppermint, and chamomile. Paired with your foot spa, this soak can help combat dry skin, calluses, and sore feet.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Julia Fields, an associate editor for The Spruce, covering gift-worthy products including self-care essentials like foot spas, foot massagers, slippers, and more. For this story, she scoured brand and retailer websites, considered prices, and verified customer reviews, features, and designs.

Fields tested majority of these foot spas herself and considered testing insights on all 16 foot spas we tested. She did thorough research on the options available to determine the best spas for different people of different ages and with different needs. Fields also consulted with medical experts in the field.

Our Experts:

Give Yourself a Pampering Treat With These 6 Spruce-Approved Foot Spas (2024)

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