The Best Recliners for Your Home - Reviews & Buyer's Guide

FDW Wingback Recliner Chair

With its narrow profile, high back, and boxy armrests, the FDW Recliner Chair is the ideal choice for buyers who are looking to furnish your home theater. Because the price is so reasonable, it would be possible to buy eight or ten of them without breaking the bank.

This chair is easy to adjust, with a dual-function foot extension for added comfort. Assembly is simple, too—once it's out of the box, the chair can be ready to use in as little as two minutes. Plus, everything you need to put it together is right there in the box; no additional tools are necessary.

The FDW Recliner offers users a choice between simple canvas or water-resistant PU leather for the exterior. We prefer the leather ourselves, though it might get slightly sticky in warmer climates. The cushions, particularly the headrest, are quite comfortable and hold up well to regular use without sagging. The frame and all four legs are constructed of durable hardwood.

The company claims to offer a 100 percent customer guarantee, but it's not exactly clear what that means. Buyers who are dissatisfied are encouraged to contact the customer service department, which is friendly but not particularly forthcoming. Fortunately, the chair is well-constructed and comfortable enough to satisfy most customers in the first place.

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Lane Home Furnishings ComfortKing Recliner

Buyers who are in the market for a cushy oversized recliner should take a closer look at the Lane Home Furnishings model. With a carbon steel frame covered in plush foam cushions and a soft suede finish, this chair is sure to dominate the living room.

We're particularly impressed with the durability of this model. The frame is supplemented by 7-gauge steel hardware and bolt-on arms to keep the unit stable during use. Despite its bulky presence, it makes almost no noise when being guided into a reclining position.

The chair weighs in at a hefty 166 pounds, so we would recommend setting it up in the same spot you'd like to keep it. It measures 44 inches wide, 40 inches deep, and 48 inches high.

Be forewarned that the instructions for assembly are not as straightforward as some of the competition. We would recommend enlisting the aid of at least one other person before attempting to put this one together. The handle can also be stiff and hard to pull during the first few uses. Once it's broken in, so to speak, this is a wonderful recliner that's built to deliver years of comfort.

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Esright Power Lift Recliner

Fans of cutting-edge technology are sure to enjoy the Esright Power Lift Recliner, which would be right at home in a futuristic sci-fi epic. Unlike the majority of the chairs on our list, this one has an electric lift feature that eases the operator into a sitting position and back again, all at the touch of a button.

Users can enlist the control button to raise the chair when they want to sit down and again when they're ready to stand. It also allows the back to recline up to 150 degrees, with the footrest comfortably extended to match the position. Best of all, it can stop at any point along the way, allowing for a fully customizable experience.

This recliner offers a vibration massage function with five modes and four target areas (head, lumbar, thigh, and shin). There's also a lumbar heating option, which is heavenly when combined with the massage therapy.

The motor is very quiet, making this a great choice for anyone who stays up later than the rest of the family. While it's designed with senior customers in mind, we think it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Of course, if there are young children in the household, close supervision is a must.

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Christopher Knight Home Mervynn Fabric Recliner

The Christopher Knight Fabric Recliner offers a low-profile option to buyers who don't want a single chair to take up the majority of their living space. Although it has superb padding and reclines beautifully, most people wouldn't guess it was a recliner until they saw the mechanism in action.

The clean, straight lines and high back give this chair a modern appearance that would fit in well with many design schemes. Because of its relatively modest size, it's a good choice if you're working with limited space. The price is also low enough to justify the purchase of a matching set, if desired.

This recliner sits on four low legs, constructed of birch. The finish is 100 percent polyester and is available in a variety of appealing colors. While we appreciate the modest design, there are certain trade-offs—the back might not be long enough for sufficient head and neck support, particularly for taller people. Fortunately, the issue can usually be resolved with the addition of a small neck pillow.

If the chair has a significant downside, it's the build quality. The fabric isn't as durable as most of the competition, and the cushions tend to wear down after just a year or two of frequent use. We would still recommend the Christopher Knight recliner, but be prepared to replace it sooner rather than later.

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Babyletto Kiwi Electronic Power Recliner

Not content with a simple reclining option, this offering from Babyletto includes a built-in glider that can be engaged when the chair is in an upright position. This gives the recliner a delightful versatility that sets it apart from the majority of the competition.

The chair's swivel base is capable of rotating up to 270 degrees, while the quiet reclining component gently lowers the back and raises the footrest in smooth tandem. The mechanism is powered electronically, so no elbow grease is required. There's also a built-in USB port for recharging devices.

The Babyletto has a relatively low weight limit of 300 pounds, so keep that in mind before making a purchase. While its dimensions are fairly modest, it's large enough for users to sprawl out after a long day. The polyester coating is fairly easy to clean, but be careful—the gray color is light enough to put even the slightest stain on display.

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JC Home Argus Swiveling Recliner with Ottoman

JC Home offers another swiveling recliner, this one with a matching ottoman and a more elongated ergonomic design. Though its vaguely futuristic appearance would blend in well in an office setting, it's elegant enough to distinguish a formal living room as well.

This is a hand-operated recliner with a dark mahogany wood frame and leather upholstery, the latter of which is available in a few different colors. The back, arms, and seat are well padded, with additional support around the thigh and shoulder regions.

The accompanying ottoman is stationary, giving users something to push against when they wish to create the swiveling movement. Speaking of which, this option means that the chair can fit in easily anywhere, even if the room is awkwardly configured.

Although the fire-retardant leather is smooth to the touch and easy to clean, it should be kept as dry as possible to preserve its integrity. Because of this quirk, and also because the hand lever has a fairly quick response, we wouldn't recommend this recliner if there are young children in the household. For anyone else, however, it's a comfortable and attractive option that's well worth the price.

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ANJ Electric Bonded Leather Recliner

This dark, hefty recliner would be right at home in a gentleman's club, but in a home setting, the gentlemen might have to elbow the ladies out of the way. In fact, the chair's supple design has a timeless appeal that's sure to draw guests in.

The underlying steel construction is designed to withstand years of use, while the overstuffed head and back cushions are comfortable enough to sleep on. Additional support is included around the neck and lumbar regions. The leather upholstery is butter-soft and simple to clean, and the reclining function can be engaged at the press of a button.

A built-in USB charging port is available for keeping tablets and cell phones close at hand. The neck pillow rests at a perfect angle for reading books or other media on a Kindle. While the chair's dimensions are slightly oversized, we think it's a great fit for the den or family room.

This recliner has a weight capacity of just 300 pounds, so we wouldn't recommend trying to fit more than one adult at a time on the seat. ANJ offers buyers a free exchange if there are any installation or shipping issues, and the customer service department is prompt and courteous when it comes to dealing with grievances. A one-year warranty is also included with every purchase.

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Homall PU Leather Recliner Chair

The Homall is another sleekly designed recliner that would make the perfect addition to a home theater. Thanks to the low price point, customers have the option of buying in bulk. There's also a wide variety of colors available, making it easier to choose a chair that will fit in with a particular design scheme.

The Homall's sturdy steel frame is covered with dense sponge and finished with easy-to-clean PU leather. Four feet are equipped with non-marking pads to protect wood or linoleum flooring. The chair also includes a lumbar massage function—an impressive perk, especially at this price.

Although the shape is slightly narrow, the recliner has a high back with plump cushioning around the neck area. It also reclines fully enough to be slept in—at least if the individual in question measures under six feet tall.

The trade-off to all of these good qualities is the weight capacity. At 265 pounds, it's the lowest threshold on our list. It's possible for a heavier person to sit in one without breaking it, but we wouldn't recommend it over long periods of time. Fortunately, this shouldn't be a major issue for most people. Anyone who's looking to jazz up their media room or home theater should be happy with what the Homall has to offer.

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Right2Home Pulaski Larson Theatre Recliner

This nifty recliner is everything we would want a first-class airplane seat to be. As comfortable as it is eye-catching, the Pulaski Larsen Theatre Recliner is laden with enough gadgets to entice the user to remain in place for hours on end.

The right armrest cleverly hides one electrical outlet and two USB ports, so as many as three devices can be charged up simultaneously. The ports can be accessed at the push of a button, as can the power recliner function. Three positions are available—fully upright, a slight recline for reading, or full-body recline for napping.

Although it's suitable for holding either a tablet or a few snacks, we think it's too small to comfortably hold all but the tiniest laptop models. A built-in cup holder is included as well.

The faux leather upholstery is soft, breathable, and cleans up well in case of spills. While Larson markets this as a home theater chair, it's far more luxurious than the competition. For buyers who are seeking the ultimate in comfort and convenience, this recliner is a can't-miss opportunity.

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ANJ Elizabeth Accent Elegant Recliner

Like the offering from Christopher Knight, this beautiful chair is a recliner in disguise. With slight wings on the back and rounded armrests, it doesn't announce itself as a recliner until the footrest pops out and the occupant slides back a few degrees. For those who value form over function, the ANJ Elizabeth Elegant Recliner is a fine compromise.

The padded seat cushion is soft enough for comfort, yet firm enough to provide support where it's needed most. A hardwood frame offers additional stability, but be aware that the weight capacity tops out at 300 pounds.

We would recommend paying attention to this number, especially when the recline function is engaged. Also, be aware that the initial reclining position doesn't tip that far back—the shift is barely noticeable unless the chair is engaged in full recline.

Round buttons form a diamond design on the back, and piping around the seat cushion and armrests offer an elegant statement. The company offers a one-year warranty for the cover, frame, and reclining mechanism. While we wish the ANJ Elizabeth was available in a few more colors, it's a handsome and appealing option nonetheless.

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