The Best Foot Spas and Baths to Relieve Your Feet

Our Testing Process

To create this list of the best foot spas and baths, we tested nine different foot baths at home and spent eight hours testing them. We asked our testers to rate the foot baths based on these four attributes: 

• Design: We wanted to see what was comfortable and uncomfortable about the design of each foot bath. We tested to see how portable each was, whether it was easy to store away, and if it was heavy or cumbersome to carry. We noted whether it was durable enough to withstand regular use, and if the foot baths would accommodate different sized feet. We also wanted to see if the settings and controls were easy to understand and use. 
• Effectiveness: We noted whether the foot baths maintained a consistent temperature and whether we were satisfied with the range of temperature settings available. We also wanted to know how effective the massage feature was and if the water jets or bubbles performed effectively. Finally, we tested to see if the foot baths made any noticeable difference in foot relaxation or pain relief after use.   
• Ease of cleaning: We noted whether the parts of each foot spa were easy to remove and clean, and wanted to see how straightforward the cleaning process was for each. We noted whether the foot baths accumulated residue or build-up after use, and if the foot baths were portable enough to lift and clean easily. 
• Value: We noted how likely we would use each foot bath on a regular basis, and we also noted whether we would spend our own money to buy the foot baths, given how much each costs. 

Our Experts 

Although we used our own tested results to create this list of best foot spas and baths, we did interview multiple experts for their insight on everything to know about foot baths and spas. These experts include: 

• Sarai Quinice Reeves, LNT, ANT, WNT, MNT (medical nail technician), owner of medical foot spa Rye’tious Nails in the metro Detroit area.
• Brad Schaeffer, DPM, a board-certified foot surgeon and Dr. Scholl’s partner.
• Priya Parthasarathy, DPM, Board of Directors of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) and Chair of the APMA Communications Committee.
• Anne Sharkey, DPM, a podiatrist at the North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute. 

What to Know About Foot Spas

• Size: Foot spas come in different sizes, and some are able to accommodate bigger feet than others. Most foot spas can hold up to a size 11 men’s feet. Another thing to consider is that larger foot spas might be more difficult to store or move around your house. Finally, there are other foot spas that are collapsible, which can be easily stored. 
• Heat: Some foot spas have a setting where you can adjust the heat to a warmer or cooler setting. Other foot spas have only one heat setting, while others might not warm the water at all. Some foot spas can reach up to almost 120°F, but, according to the Arthritis Foundation, water temperatures between 92°F and 100°F are best to ease soreness. Some foot spas can get too hot for the skin, and you need to be careful with the heat settings because it is very easy to burn the skin on your feet. 
• Massage: Many foot spas have an added massage feature. These can include things like shiatsu massaging nodes, manual massage rollers, or raised nodes for a manual massage. Some foot spas include vibration, which can act as a mini massage feature. 
• Additional Features: Other features you might find in foot spas include bubbles and jets, a pumice stone to exfoliate calluses, a removable cover for easy clean up, and more. 

Benefits of Using a Foot Spa

Hydrotherapy is well known in the medical community to help with sports injuries, joint pain, muscle fatigue, inflammation, and poor blood circulation. Foot bath therapy, especially with hot water, has been proven to be effective in supporting the regulation function of the nervous and endocrine systems, promoting health and wellness by easing symptoms of common sources of foot pain, such as arthritis and plantar fasciitis, fatigue, and insomnia, improving circulation, and enhancing overall well-being. Plus soaking your feet in an at-home foot bath can help soften skin and nails, making them easier to care for, says Dr. Sharkey. 

How to Use a Foot Spa Safely

Foot spas are a great addition to your weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly self-care routine, but it’s important to use them with caution. To use a foot spa safely, make sure you: 

• Avoid sharing with anyone else: A personal home foot bath, especially for people with personal health conditions, should not be shared with others to avoid infections or cross-contamination of bacteria, tinea pedis (athlete's foot) or fungal nails (onychomycosis), says Reeves.
• Skip if you have diabetes: Reeves notes that diabetics should not soak their feet at all because their skin can hold tiny cracks that are prone to infection. Instead, anyone with diabetes should seek medical pedicures which are performed waterless.
• Avoid vibration if you have certain health conditions: Anyone with high blood pressure, hypertension, or people wearing pacemakers should avoid products with any type of vibration because it could impact their heart rate, says Reeves.
• Clean often: Tubs can be a breeding ground for bacteria if not properly cleaned with soap and water after every use, says Dr. Parthasarathy.  
• Watch the temperature: The ideal soaking temperature is below 104°F and foot baths with heat can easily make the water hotter than this, inadvertently resulting in burns, says Reeves. This is why she always recommends self-filling with warm water instead of using heat. Either way, Dr. Schaeffer advises always testing the temperature with your hand before putting your feet in. Additionally, those with neuropathy need to use foot spas with caution if the neuropathy has affected temperature sensation, as skin burns are a very real risk in the neuropathic population.
• Try add-ons, but with caution: Epsom salts can help with sore, achy feet, but doing it too often can dry out your feet or cause your skin to break down, putting you at risk for infections,” says Dr. Parthasarathy. And while adding essential oils has been shown to offer psychological and antibacterial benefits, they can also irritate your skin, so always use caution.
• Don’t soak your feet for too long: To avoid excessively drying out or burning your feet, it’s best to soak your feet for no longer than 20 minutes per day.

Your Questions, Answered

Do foot spas really work?  

Yes, foot spas work well to relax your feet and body, release endorphins, help with inflammation, clean your feet, and provide an overall calming feeling. 

How often should you soak your feet? 

According to Dr. Parthasarathy, using a foot bath too often can, unfortunately, dry out your skin—this is usually the opposite of what you are trying to achieve with a foot spa. “I would only suggest soaking your feet for 5 to 15 minutes at the most, a few times a week,” she says. 

What’s the best way to soften corns and calluses, and get rid of dry skin?

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends soaking your feet in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the skin softens, then filing. However, experts sometimes disagree on the best tool to file. Reeves says using a metal non-hole foot file rather than a pumice stone is the best way to treat calluses and rough skin on your feet, says Reeves (she recommends this stainless steel foot scraper). She isn’t a fan of pumice stones because they are porous and thus, cannot be properly disinfected, which means they can easily and quickly accumulate potentially harmful bacteria. And never use a “cheese grater” style foot file (one with holes in it), she stresses, as they are illegal and dangerous (can result in bleeding and infection).

What about exfoliating foot peels or masks? Dr. Schaeffer says these products can be good for feet, but only every now and then, as using foot peels too frequently can remove a little too much bacteria and good properties that your feet need to thrive, he explains. As a Dr. Sholl’s partner, he recommends their Rough, Dry Skin Ultra-Exfoliating Foot Mask infused with an alpha hydroxy complex and essential oils to help soften and exfoliate rough, dry, flaky skin.

Who should avoid using a foot spa? 

People with certain conditions or ailments should avoid foot soaks unless otherwise instructed by their doctor. These include those with open wounds or sores on their feet and people with diabetes, peripheral artery disease, heart disease, eczema, or psoriasis, says Dr. Parthasarathy. Additionally, if you cannot feel your feet or have a neuropathy issue, it is not advised to use foot baths.

Who We Are

Daley Quinn is a writer for Health.com, who specializes in writing about health and beauty products. She's written about hundreds of beauty products and interviewed numerous doctors and other experts.