We've got the cushiest seats in the house whether you want a high-end leather recliner or a classic La-Z-Boy.
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There is something cozy about sitting in a corner chair or sofa, particularly snuggled under a warm blanket. Perhaps the only way to make this seating situation more comfortable is extra adjustability, which recliners can provide. Finding the right recliner to fit your space and provide the correct level of comfort can be tricky, especially when shopping online for furniture.
To make the decision-making easier, we at the Good Housekeeping Institute researched the best recliners of 2023. While you may purchase a recliner because you want an adjustable seat that has convenient perks like a cup holder, USB charging port or massage setting, some parents buy a recliner to use as a nursery glider for their newborn. The versatility of a recliner makes it a worthy investment as you can use it for a variety of purposes throughout its lifetime — plus, we have picks for every budget and style so you don't have to sacrifice either.
At the end of the guide, you can find more information on how we reviewed recliners as well as expert advice on what to keep in mind when browsing the options. We also have guides for best small sectionals and best sleeper chairs if you're looking for more furniture to upgrade your living space.
Ashley has consistently proven to be a star in our furniture content. We named the brand best value in our round-up of the best couches of 2023, due to consumer testers reporting the sofa was easy to set up, felt comfortable to sit on and looked good in their living space. While the testers did not test the Nerviano recliner specifically, it has gathered a positive online rating of 4.6-stars across 100 online reviews on the brand's site. The one-pull recliner is available in three neutral colors including mocha (pictured), chocolate and gray. It's designed to fully recline while requiring minimal space between the back of the chair and the wall, and has foam cushions wrapped in thick, textured polyester for comfortable sitting. Ashley says the estimated assembly time for this recliner is 15 minutes.
Multiple customers confirm the Nerviano is very comfortable. One five-star review says, "This recliner arrived promptly and was super easy to put together. I have slept on it several days in a row. My family and I fight over who gets to sit in it. So far, we love it!" Still, the chair has a basic design and lacks some of the higher-end features other recliners may include. But the price is still right for a solid recliner, whether it's your first or you're in the need of a replacement.
Listed dimensions: 39" x 35" x 41" | Weight: 101.7 lbs | Material: Polyester | Reclining abilities: Manual
The customization options for this La-Z-Boy push-back recliner chair are basically endless — we're talking hundreds of color and pattern options to choose from! We love that there's a style for every household, including textured solids, traditional florals and neutral hues. You can also choose between a standard or memory foam cushion, which is an additional $150. So many choices can be overwhelming, but the brand offers three free fabric swatches for you to check out at home before committing. The flared, rolled arms and tapered wooden legs lends a sense of elegance, while the foam back and two-position reclining capability mean you won't have to give up style for comfort. Note that depending on which cover you choose for the recliner, the final price may increase by a couple hundred of dollars.
Listed dimensions: 33" x 35" x 38.5" | Weight: 77 lbs | Material: Customizable | Reclining abilities: Automatic with remote
With just the push of a button, this oversized chair extends to a full recline. It's designed with optimal comfort in mind — deep body cushions and soft, pillowy arm rests — similar to Serta's plush, top-rated mattresses. Just note that although the chair itself is oversized, the extra cushioning and larger arm rests make for a narrower seat. Our Lab analysts are impressed by the synthetic fabric options, including the velvety polyester weaves and smooth faux leather, which are generally more durable and easier to care for than natural materials. Reviewers of the chair love it, with one saying, "I've paid twice the amount for other chairs and this one is just as nice." In addition, our survey panelists who own other furniture from the brand described Serta's products as being "quality," "sturdy," "supportive" and "easy to clean."
Listed dimensions: 41" x 37.75" x 38" | Weight: 95.81 lbs | Material: Polyurethane or polyester | Reclining abilities: Power
Our experts recommend this Latitude Run recliner for seniors who may experience back pain. Its power-lift mechanism makes it easy to transition between standing and sitting positions, while the customizable heated massage system has multiple intensity and temperature settings to help soothe muscle pain. The chair comes with a remote control so you can adjust the recline without getting up, and has a pocket and cup holders to store all the essentials you may want nearby. Its oversized design gives it a cozy feel and you can choose from three colors including gray (pictured), blue and brown. We do wish that the product warranty was longer than 90 days.
Still, the recliner has a five-star rating on Wayfair with one satisfied customer review saying, " I am very happy with my purchase even though I just got it last night. I know it will fulfill my needs. I will be having hip surgery in 2 weeks and wanted to make sure I had a chair with lifting ability for a plus-sized tall person like myself of 5'10"." Another reviewer notes assembly was cumbersome at times, but adds that communication with the brand and delivery was great.
RELATED: 8 Best Full-Body Massage Chairs to Help You Relax at Home
Listed dimensions: 38" x 42" x 41" | Weight: 95.46 lbs (including packaging) | Material: Polyester blend | Reclining abilities: Electric
The club chair design lends itself to a number of interior design styles, everything from modern farmhouse to traditional. And it's so stylish, no one will know it's a recliner until you lean back, causing the foot rest to pop up. Our survey panelists were wowed by the quality of their Pottery Barn furniture and love how long-lasting it is, with one respondent sharing that her Pottery Barn furniture held up to more than a decade of daily use. We love this particular chair, constructed with firm cushions and steel coils for support and durability. Plus, it's covered by luxurious, supple leather. If you do decide to order this chair, just know that the majority of the over 40 color options are made-to-order, which means your chair may take over 17 weeks to arrive.
Listed dimensions: 38" x 33" x 35" | Weight: 115 lbs | Material: Leather | Reclining abilities: Manual
West Elm is another top-tested brand we feature in our guide to the best sofas for its stylish furniture that testers say is easy to set up. If you want to upgrade your reclining experience, consider this customizable chair that has an solid ash wood frame in a walnut finish. Filter among 11 colors, seven fabric choices and three additional features including stain-resistant, high durability and GreenGuard Certified. Regardless of which color or fabric you choose — whether an ink blue velvet or a silver chenille — you'll be able to sit back and relax by manually adjusting the hidden push-back mechanism. It also swivels a full 360 degrees. The mid-century style does come at a higher price tag than other recliners on this list, but if your budget allows, this compact chair will look sleek in any room you put it in — and the high durability option may be pay for itself as the years progress.
Listed dimensions: 37.5" x 29" x 40.5" | Weight: 100 lbs (including packaging) | Material: Customizable | Reclining abilities: Manual
When you visualize a recliner, a one-seater may come to mind. But Homebody, a new brand to hit the furniture scene, lets you customize a modular sofa to have one or two recliner seats. Depending on how much space you have in your living room, you can design a two-, three-, four-, five-, six- or even seven-piece couch. Note that the more sections you add, the higher the price of the recliner. Choose between seven linen, velvet and pet-friendly fabrics to find the right colored cover for your room's aesthetic. We appreciate the comfortable cushioning and included remote for easy reclining. Homebody also offers free shipping and offers a 100-day return policy which is ideal when ordering furniture pieces online.
The couch arrives in separate boxes so you can assemble it on your own. One of our textiles analysts who has the chair version of this couch says that it doesn't take too long to put together either. She notes that you'll need a few inches of space behind the couch as well as in front of the foot rest for a full recline. This sectional has a five-star rating on the brand's site with one standout review saying, "The recliner is an absolute 11/10 *chefs kiss*! My butt has literally never been happier."
Listed dimensions: 91" x 79.4" x 74" | Weight: Not listed | Material: Customizable | Reclining abilities: Manual
IKEA is a go-to brand for minimalist, inexpensive couches; over 100 of our survey panelists reported buying sofas and other furniture from Ikea, with many adding that they purchased it for their small apartments and living spaces. The brand's Gistad recliner is a great value — a stylish, compact chair with a manual recline that sets to three different positions (upright, leaned back and full recline) for less than $370. You have the option to choose between black faux leather or burgundy woven fabric. Albeit affordable and attractive, IKEA furniture is notorious for being difficult and time-consuming to put together. However, according to reviewers, that's not the case with this easy-to-assemble recliner. Keep in mind, our survey panelists shared frustrations about their IKEA furniture breaking down with elongated use.
Listed dimensions: 37.75" x 26" x 33.13" | Weight: Not listed | Material: Polyester/cotton blend or polyurethane | Reclining abilities: Manual
This recliner is totally on trend, thanks to its mid-century modern design featuring tapered legs, curved arms and a cushy faux leather seat (available in black, caramel, brown, navy and white) that plays up the vintage look. Reviewers shared that this push-back recliner is just as comfortable as it is chic. "The best looking [recliner] I’ve ever seen. Easy to put together and comfortable," one wrote. The chair leans back to an almost fully reclined position, perfect for relaxing or napping. Unfortunately, some reviewers mentioned the material peeling with use, which is a common issue with faux leather fabrics. If you want the condition of your chair to last, it's important to keep the material clean and dry and to avoid placing the chair in a very sunny spot (UV rays can break down the polyurethane material).
Listed dimensions: 42.5'' x 30'' x 34'' | Weight: 59 lbs | Material: Faux leather (polyurethane) | Reclining abilities: Manual
Keep your devices close by and fully charged with the USB charging port on the control panel of this power recliner. Not only does this chair recline, but it also swivels 200° and glides back and forth, making it a great addition to any baby nursery where you might need a rocker. We love the stain-resistant fabric, which is easy to clean when inevitable messes happen. One tester gave the glider a glowing review, sharing that she "liv[ed] in" the chair while recovering from her C-section. She added that it was roomy enough for her toddler to sit with her while she nursed her newborn. Some reviewers mentioned that fitting the pieces of the chair together during assembly proved to be a difficult task, so you may want to enlist some help.
Listed dimensions: 42.9" x 33.3" x 39.7" | Weight: 120 lbs | Material: Polyester and nylon blend | Reclining abilities: Power
Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab test everything from the best couches and sectional sofas to sleeper sofas and bean bag chairs. For this round-up, our experts researched best-selling recliners from popular brands, evaluating properties like fiber content, fabric, cushion, size and reclining ability. Plus, we leaned into what we learned from survey panelists who provided their opinions on the sofas they own. Over 4,000 respondents gave over 90,000 points of feedback about their sofas, including how quick and easy delivery was, how comfortable the sofa felt and how easy to clean the fabric was. Lab experts used the sofa survey input when evaluating the best recliner chairs, choosing some picks from our panelists' favorite sofa brands.
✔️ Size: Unlike a standard chair, recliners need plenty of room to fully extend — both in front of the chair for the foot rest and behind the chair for the seat back. You'll want to make sure that you have the space for the chair you choose without it bumping into walls or other furniture, so it's important to consider the dimensions of the chair in its stationary and fully-extended position.
It's also a good idea to consider your body size when shopping for recliner chairs. Some chairs are designed specifically for petite bodies and are on the smaller side, while others are oversized and comfortably fit taller or larger frames. You will typically be able to find the dimensions and the weight capacity in the product listing on the brand's website, which can help you determine if the chair is right for you and your home.
✔️ Fiber content: Here is a breakdown of some of the common types of materials used for recliner chairs:
✔️ Reclining abilities: Some recliners are manual, which means they require effort on your part to extend, while others are powered with electricity for easy reclining.
✔️ Price: Couches and chairs of any kind can range widely in price, which is why it's important to evaluate your budget before shopping. Our research suggests you can find a quality recliner in the mid-$300 range with some options ringing in a little higher in the $500-to-$600 range. Of course, there are other recliners that can cost you over $1,000 or more. These luxury chairs are more expensive but offer high-end materials and extra design features that can be worth the splurge depending on what is important to your needs.
Amanda Constantine joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2022 as a home and apparel reviews analyst in the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab. She has researched and tested home goods and furnishings including mattresses, curtains and bedding. For this article, she used her categorical expertise, feedback from over 4,000 survey panelists and input from Good Housekeeping Institute experts to choose the best recliner chairs.
Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.
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