How Much Should I Pay for a Massage?

This is a great question and one of the first you may be asking when you want to book a massage appointment.

To give you a fast and simple answer, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour for a massage.

“Wow Oak, that’s a big difference in price range” I hear you say.

And that’s what the rest of this article is about.

How Much Should a Massage Cost? Well, it depends

There are so many types of massage...

So in order to explain the price differences, I am going to split them into 3 simple categories.

1. Traditional Massage Styles Price Range: $50-$80 per hour

Many countries have a traditional form of massage.

Asian countries in particular are known for their ancient traditions of massage.

The most common are:

Chinese Massage, which is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM and

Thai Massage, which is usually performed on a mattress on the floor and involves a lot of stretching.

In addition to the traditional Asian massage styles, there are other countries that have traditional styles such as ‘Kahuna’ and ‘Lomi Lomi’ from Hawaii.

These are frequently the CHEAPEST massages that you can get.

A common price these days for an hour is around $70.

But there is a reason that they are so cheap.

It’s because the therapist does not have to hold any formal qualification to practice these styles of massage so it’s very hard to guarantee a high level of quality.

Often these places also practice a set routine for their massages rather than focusing on your specific issues.

Does that mean that there are no good quality therapists practicing traditional styles?

Not at all - I have had amazing massages from people practising these styles!

I’ve also had terrible massages from these places as well though...

And that’s the point. It’s very hard to maintain the quality level.

What Should I Expect?

An advantage of the Asian massage places is that they usually accept walk-ins. That means you don’t need an appointment and can just arrive when you want a massage.

Massages at this price point are often performed in very small rooms with less privacy (other people will often be able to hear your and your therapist talking)

The therapist may not have studied human health and anatomy extensively and may even have some issues communicating with you.

The massage will likely cover the whole body and be a specific routine that the therapist follows.

If you can find yourself a therapist for this price that you really like, then that may be what is perfect for you.

2. Remedial Massage Price Range: $80 - $120 per hour

Remedial Massage is the highest level of formal qualification for massage in Australia. It takes about 18 months of full-time study to become a Remedial Massage Therapist.

Remedial Massage Therapists must study:

• Professional Standards - Hygiene, Ethics, Confidentiality
• Human Health - Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology
• Specific Massage Styles - Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Myofascial Release etc.
• Clinic Hours - Students must complete a minimum amount of supervised clinic hours

What Should I Expect?

The premises are more likely to have a ‘clinic’ feel to them.

When you arrive, you will always be asked to fill in a detailed intake form about your issue.

These therapists will be keen to talk to you about your specific issue and really focus in on doing their best to solve it for you by applying specific techniques to the problem areas.

There may be some discomfort experienced but your therapist will work with you to make it manageable.

Does the level of training guarantee that your therapist will be amazing, and you will love them?

No, there is still a huge range of skills and experience out there.

And realistically, no single therapist is likely to be perfect for everyone.

If you want to minimise your risk of injury and ensure you are in a professional environment, a remedial massage is your best bet.

You may also like to have a regular session to keep your tension at bay and they will be fine to help with that as well.

3. Spa Massage Price Range: $120-$150 per hour

The most expensive massages are usually the ones offered at a Spa.

Spas often have nice names for their massage routines such as “Stress Fix” or “Chakra Balancing”

The therapist will usually have a qualification but not necessarily.

What Should I Expect?

The reason people are paying more for a massage at a Spa is mainly for the ambience and overall “experience”.

So, what do I mean by experience?

I mean that the building will be very beautiful.

It will look nice. It will smell nice and there will be a very high focus on the service delivery.

When you arrive, you will probably sit in a comfortable, relaxing area and be offered a cup of herbal tea or other drink.

The massage room will also likely be very nice looking with everything perfectly placed.

They will have paid attention to details like lighting, artwork and aromas.

After the treatment you will often get to sit in a relaxing lounge area as you come back to your senses.

That’s what I mean by the experience. I mean that it’s not just about the massage itself.

It’s about the whole journey and that’s what you are paying more for.

And if that all sounded great to you then a massage at a Spa may be the best choice for you.

Conclusion

You can now see why it is hard to give an exact price that a massage should cost.

I hope that by reading the outline above you are now more educated and equipped to make an intelligent decision when you choose to book your next massage.

Thanks for reading and see you next time,
Oak McIlwain.
Fremantle Massage Therapy.