Lightweight massage tables
Aluminium tables from 11 kg for frequent carrying.
View lightweight massage tablesBuying guide · Reviewed October 2026
Care Home & Home Visit Massage Guide UK – Equipment, Space and Safety
Every room is different: a bedroom with little floor space, a lounge in a care home, a client who cannot lie down. This guide helps you choose the set-up that fits – table, chair or compact kit – and pack what keeps each visit safe and hygienic.
With the weights, working loads and space needs of our lightweight massage tables, portable massage chairs and compact kits – taken from the manufacturer specifications on each product page.
Free delivery to Mainland UK, including the Scottish Highlands. All prices include VAT. Advice by phone: 020 3773 1242.
In short: what matters away from your treatment room
- Table, chair or kit: a table for full-body work when the room allows it, a desktop kit when the client stays in an ordinary chair, a massage chair only for clients who can kneel and lean forward.
- Space: plan about 3 × 2 m for a table – set up with the face cradle it is about 213 cm long – and about 2 × 2 m for a massage chair.
- Carry weight: our lightest tables weigh 11–11.8 kg, our chairs 8.1–12.7 kg and the desktop kit approx. 2.72 kg – plus the bag or case.
- Working load: getting on and off and sitting on the edge of the table create load peaks. For care home work we recommend 225 kg or more, and 270 kg or more for larger clients.
- Low start height: set the table low for clients with limited mobility – most of our portable tables go down to about 60 cm, the ARGO to 58 cm.
- Hygiene and safety: a fresh cover for every client, wipe-clean upholstery – and in care homes the care plan and consent come first. Never lift a resident yourself.
Four set-ups for care homes and home visits
Weights from our product pages| Set-up | Client position | What you carry | Space | Best for | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portable massage table | Lying face down, face up or on the side | 11–24 kg in our range, plus case | About 3 × 2 m | Full-body work with clients who can get on and off a table | Lightweight tables |
| Desktop massage kit | Seated on an ordinary chair at a stable table – or on a suitable mattress | Approx. 2.72 kg with carry bag | A table and a chair | Clients who cannot kneel or get onto a table | View the kit |
| Portable massage chair | Seated, kneeling and leaning forward | 8.1–12.7 kg, plus bag or case | About 2 × 2 m | Back, neck and shoulders for mobile clients who can kneel | Massage chairs |
| The client’s own chair or bed | Seated or lying as they are | Covers, towels and a bolster | As the room allows | Hands, feet, head and shoulders for frail or bed-bound clients | Bolsters |
Many therapists combine two set-ups: a table for home visits and a desktop kit for care home residents who stay seated.
STEP 1 OF 3
Check the room
A quick look at the room – or a question on the phone before the first visit – decides which set-up you bring.
Floor space
A table needs about 3 × 2 m so you can work round it; a chair about 2 × 2 m. Ask before you move furniture – and put it back afterwards.
Floor and level
Stand the table on a firm, level floor. Thick rugs and soft carpet can make it rock – check every leg before the client gets on.
Warmth
Older clients get cold quickly. A warm room, towels or a massage table heating blanket make the session more comfortable – heating needs a socket nearby.
STEP 2 OF 3
Check the route – and what you carry
Stairs, lifts, parking and the distance from the car decide how much weight is realistic, visit after visit.
- 11–11.8 kgLightweight aluminium tables
- 13.6–18 kgWooden tables
- 8.1–12.7 kgPortable massage chairs
- approx. 2.72 kgDesktop massage kit
Weights without bag or case. For frequent stairs, stay with the lightest set-up that still fits your treatments – and use a carry case or wheeled cart on flat routes.
STEP 3 OF 3
Check the client
In care settings, the client’s mobility and skin decide more than the treatment plan. Ask, read the care plan and adapt.
Mobility
Can the client get onto a table, or kneel on a chair? If not, choose the desktop kit or work in their own chair or bed.
Getting on and off
Set the table low – most of our portable tables go down to about 60 cm, the ARGO to 58 cm. The client sits on the side first, then lies down; reverse the order to get up.
Working load
Sitting on the edge and getting up put the weight on one spot. For care home work we recommend 225 kg or more, and 270 kg or more for larger clients – working load explained.
Skin and pressure
Older skin is thinner and bruises more easily – adapt your pressure. Avoid reddened, broken or pressure-damaged skin.
Never lift or transfer a client yourself. In care homes, ask the staff to help with transfers – if a client cannot get onto the table safely, change the set-up instead.
Hygiene and safety in care settings
Away from your own room, hygiene and safety depend on what you bring – and on following the rules of the place you work in.
A fresh cover for every client
Use a non-woven couch roll (40 m × 60 cm), fitted disposable covers or washable sheets – and a fresh face cradle cover (approx. 33 × 33 cm) each time.
Wipe-clean surfaces
Wipe the upholstery, face cradle and armrests between clients with a cleaner that suits PU upholstery, following the manufacturer’s care instructions.
The home’s procedures
Care homes have their own infection-control rules – follow them, from hand hygiene to how used covers are disposed of.
Care plan and consent
Ask which conditions, medication and restrictions apply – for example blood thinners, which make bruising more likely – and how consent is given if a resident cannot give it themselves.
Paperwork
Many care homes ask for an enhanced DBS check and proof of insurance before your first visit. Check with the home in advance.
Packing checklist
Tick it off the evening before – most forgotten items are the small ones.
For every visit
- Table, chair or kit – with its bag or case
- Face cradle cushion and covers
- Couch roll, fitted covers or sheets
- Towels and a bolster for positioning
- Massage oil or lotion suitable for the client
- Hand sanitiser and wipes for PU upholstery
- Consultation form or client notes
Care home extras
- DBS certificate and insurance documents
- Enough disposable covers for every resident on your list
- The care plan information you need
- Time for signing in and the home’s procedures
Home visit extras
- Carry case or wheeled cart for the route
- A towel or mat to protect the floor
- A heating blanket if the room is cool
- Directions, parking and access details
Equipment from this guide
Prices incl. VAT · free Mainland UK deliveryCompare the right range next
For your set-up
Portable massage chairs
Seated massage for clients who can kneel and lean forward.
View portable massage chairs
Desktop massage kit
Face cradle, chest pad and arm support for a table or mattress.
View the desktop massage kit
Disposable covers
Couch roll, fitted covers and face cradle covers.
View disposable covers
Bolsters + cushions
Positioning support for side-lying and seated work.
View bolsters and cushions
Carry cases + wheeled carts
Protect your equipment on the way in.
View carry casesMore help with your decision
Care home & home visit massage: FAQ
Answers on set-ups, space, working load and safety.
Can I give a massage in a care home without a massage table?
Yes. A desktop massage kit lets residents stay seated on an ordinary chair at a table, and hands, feet, head and shoulders can be treated in the resident’s own chair or bed. A table is only worth carrying in when the resident can get on and off it safely.
How much space do I need for a massage table at a client’s home?
Plan about 3 × 2 m. Set up with the face cradle, a table is about 213 cm long, and you need room to move round it. A portable massage chair needs about 2 × 2 m.
What working load should a table have for care home clients?
We recommend 225 kg or more, and 270 kg or more for larger clients. Sitting on the edge of the table and getting on and off put a lot of weight on one spot – the rating only applies to a fully opened, level table.
How do I help an older client onto a massage table safely?
Set the table low – most of our portable tables go down to about 60 cm – let the client sit on the side first and then lie down, and reverse the order to get up. Never lift the client; if getting on is not safe, choose a different set-up.
Is a massage chair suitable for older clients?
Only if they can kneel and lean forward comfortably. Many older clients cannot – for them, a desktop kit at a table or a treatment in their own chair is the better choice.
Which covers should I use in care homes?
A fresh disposable or washable cover for every resident – couch roll, fitted disposable covers or sheets – plus a fresh face cradle cover. Follow the home’s infection-control rules. See our disposable covers.
What do care homes usually ask for before a visit?
Many ask for an enhanced DBS check and proof of insurance, and some for an induction or sign-in procedure. Ask for the information from the care plan that affects the treatment – conditions, medication and consent.
What is the lightest set-up for home visits?
The desktop massage kit weighs approx. 2.72 kg with its carry bag. Our lightest portable chairs weigh 8.1–8.2 kg and our lightest tables 11–11.8 kg, without bag or case.
Not sure which set-up fits your visits?
Tell us where you work – private homes, care homes or both – which treatments you offer and how far you carry your equipment. We compare suitable tables, chairs and kits from our range.
Send an enquiry
Phone: 020 3773 1242 · Monday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm