Massage tables are essential tools for every massage practitioner and massage therapist.

Selecting the right massage table though is not an easy task, if you do not have a lot of expertise already.

This massage table buyers guide will help you to make the right decision for your needs.

One of the most important aspects when buying a massage table is the foam padding.

First of all, a foam padding should be oil resistant and water resistant.  You do not want any stains on your padding, otherwise your clients might not take you serious or wonder whether you are really a professional massage therapist.

Even if you just need a massage table for personal use – stains on the foam padding are not a nice view.

A foam padding should also be CFC free.

CFC is a group of chemical compounds that damage the ozone layer.
As a massage therapist I suppose you are somebody who is an environmentally conscious and who cares about green living and sustainable living.  So you do not want to leave a huge CO2 footprint.

If in doubt you should always inquire if a foam padding has CFC — this way you also make a clear statement to the industry that you care.

Now remember that every client of yours who will be laying on your massage table will lay there for 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 19 minutes or even longer.
That means you have to make sure they will be comfortable.

For most kinds of massage the density of the foam padding off your massage table should be a bit on the higher side.  Specially if you do deep tissue work, or any kind of massage or bodywork modality that applies strong pressure.
If you mainly practice soft, gentle oil massage a lower density foam padding is okay.

In general the higher the density off the foam padding and the thicker the foam padding the better the quality and the higher the price.

If the massage table has only very little padding the rest of the massage table usually won’t be that much of quality work neither.

However it’s always best to try the foam padding yourself.  It should be comfortable.  Only you can judge what will be a right for your kind of massage.