After returning home from a long day at work, a reliable recliner is an ideal place to sit back and relax. A bench on the front porch might sound like a comfortable spot to relax in.
But in winter, temperatures can be freezing, while in summer, instead of sipping on your cup of coffee and enjoying some quiet me-time, you may find yourself fighting off greedy bugs and mosquitos.
Well, what about putting up your feet on a living room couch? Sounds cozy.
But there is a comfier, more convenient alternative: the recliner.
So here is the list of the best reclining chairs available this year.
Our Top Picks of the Best Recliners to Buy in 2022
- Homwall T-LR72PO – Our #1 Choice
- Costway Convertible Recliner – Most Affordable
- Christopher Knight Home Mervynn Mid-Century Modern Recliner – Top Rated
- Flash Furniture Contemporary Leather Recliner – Best for Sleeping
- Mcombo Power Lift – Luxury Recliner
1. Homwall T-LR72PO
This well-priced gem is an online favorite.
The sleek design doesn’t have bulky wings and is compact enough to fit into most places.
It reclines manually and comes in four neutral colors, but only in a PU finish. This recliner chair is far from overstuffed with padding, while still being wonderfully comfortable.
Assembly is beautifully smooth, with the seat width at 19.7 inches.
There is one downside to this model: some buyers feel that it isn’t optimum quality.
The frame isn’t as sturdy as some other budget models, and the PU fabric tends to stick to the skin.
However, at the price point, these issues can be overlooked.
Conclusion
This recliner is a highly recommended purchase for consumers who want to sample a comfy armchair at an affordable price.
2. Costway Convertible Recliner
This recliner may not offer armchair-level comfort, but it is more versatile than the other models we review here: it can fold out into a bed.
The back of the seat can cycle through a versatile five angles, with the lowest being perfectly flat. The doubled-up seat base folds out to form the lower two-thirds of a bed; the armrests become extra feet for supporting the end of the bed.
Taller people will enjoy being able to relax upright or recline with their legs stretched out in front of them.
If you like to sit upright with your legs at a 90-degree angle to your body, the Costway convertible is one of the few best recliners that will support this position.
This reclining chair leans more towards the functional over the style factor. The metal frame is exposed, and then fold in the seat base is visible. The armrests are far from ideal: they’re narrow metal cylinders wrapped in strips of fabric.
However, the seat is very sturdy. It can take a weight of 440 pounds – nearly double what the other seats in this price bracket can handle. It’s also bigger with a width of 22 inches.
This is narrower than the average single bed width but wide enough to pass the occasional night on relative comfort.
The sponge upholstery itself is pretty firm. Some may find this aspect uncomfortable, but I’m sure that most will enjoy it. The cushioning is covered with high-quality linen, which looks and feels fantastic.
I don’t resent the lack of an easy-cleaning pleather alternative, as this would be uncomfortable to sleep on. Color options are limited to a soft grey and a faded blue.
Conclusion
This reclining chair may look slightly different from the standard recliner, but it’s excellent quality at a highly affordable price.
If you occasionally need an extra bed in your household, this recliner is a superb investment.
3. Christopher Knight Home Mervynn Mid-Century Modern Recliner
This modern, chic recliner is a steal at its current price – it looks and feels more expensive than it is.
It’s easy to understand why this is one of Amazon’s top recliners. Simply reading over all the positive reviews had us excited to test it out.
Firstly, let’s review the visual design of this reclining chair. I asked some friends to guess how much I paid for it. They replied with an amount which was triple the actual sum. They were stunned when they heard the real price.
The choice of materials for the recliner chair raises some questions. It does not feel as soft on the skin as some of the more expensive recliners do.
However, draping it with a low-cost sheepskin throw would solve this issue immediately. It would also protect the fabric from stains, as it’s not stain-resistant. Possibly some scotch guard spray would help here too.
Another good thing going for this recliner is the smoothness of its recline function. Straight out of the box, it felt like it had been worn in already.
There was no stiffness or extra springy feeling like we found on some of the other best recliners: it just felt right.
Furthermore, it didn’t lose this tension over time. We can confidently state this after using the recliner chair for four months. It still has the same easy-to-recline functionality as it did when we first removed it from the box.
Conclusion
We found the cushioning to be a little stiffer than the top recliners we review here. But once we’d used the chair a few times, it tended to keep our preferred shapes. This made it comfy to sit in and much easier to open up.
4. Flash Furniture Contemporary Leather Recliner
We are fans of the Flash Furniture range. The models they design are cost-effective, sleek, and functional. They have passed our tests with flying colors.
This model offers high-quality materials combined with relaxing comfort. The mahogany wooden base gives this recliner chair a leg up in the style department: it looks like a $1,000 recliner at nearly a quarter of the price.
Flash Furniture also upped the ante on the thick foam padding, adding extra cushioning around the seat and head areas.
Although the ottoman can’t be set to multiple angles the way the usual recliner footrest can, it is ideal for people with longer legs: you can place it exactly where you want it. It can also be used as extra seating in a pinch.
Assembly took a little longer with this recliner; we completed unboxing and building the chair in 45 minutes.
The most complicated part of the assembly was attaching the head to the base. But the instructions are clear enough, and helped us through the process.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that this model does not recline to 180 degrees. The furthest angle is just over 125 degrees at most.
We found that we couldn’t entirely fall asleep on this chair. But this is the best recliner for a power nap. It also looks incredibly stylish and will grace almost any living space.
5. Mcombo Power Lift
This power lift recliner is of high quality at an equivalent price.
The massage function has 9 modes, five intensities, covering four sections of the body. There are eight vibrating points, but this model only offers three timing options: 10, 20, and 30 minutes.
The massage and heating can be operated separately. Perfect for placing the chair in the office for staff to grab an afternoon massage break.
The Mcombo doesn’t like rock or swivel. However, the recline – which also has a total of three angles – is activated at the touch of a button. One of the aspects is a forward tilt to help the user rise out of the seat.
The motor that activates these functions is of superb quality: it’s TUV certified and incredibly smooth and quiet.
Another impressive feature on this chair is the USB charging station, where you can keep a couple of low-power devices – think phone or iPad – charged.
If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in this chair or sinking into it at the end of a long day when your devices are on low power, this is refreshingly convenient.
There’s everything to love about the finish, too. It’s faux leather, which may not be as high quality as genuine leather, but feels way softer and warmer on the skin than PU.
It’s waterproof, too, and relatively easy to clean. This reclining chair is only available in 2 primary colors, though: black and brown.
In terms of visual design, the Mcombo power lift recliner is solid-looking. It’s well-padded, with overstuffed armrests and a puffy headrest.
There are cup holders and side pockets for your books, devices, and remote controls. The frame is sturdy, with a structure that focuses on safety.
For a seat that offers so many features, it’s on the smaller side. The seat is a modest, 17.7 inches wide. If you’re considering making a luxurious purchase for a taller person, you should probably opt for a larger model.
Conclusion
Assembly is relatively easy, though it may take a little longer than with the less expensive reclining chairs. Three parts fit into place, and some electrical wiring needs to be implemented before massaging can begin.
Overall, this recliner chair is of excellent quality. It’s a highly comfortable recliner and convenient and will stand the test of time.
How to Choose a Recliner
Recliners come with an array of different features. Matching the feature set of the recliner to your needs and available cash is the key to the perfect purchase.
Modern recliners manufacturers try to distinguish themselves from the competition.
Let’s look at some of the key chair features available for best recliners and attempt to separate the winners from the losers.
Reclining
How far back does the chair you’re considering recline? This is a surprisingly important question because not all recliners are equal.
Some reclining chairs offer the ability to drop back until they are horizontal – basically like a bed. Others only allow for a little rocking or the ability to put your feet up.
An essential factor to keep in mind here is the size of the room. Is there enough space to recline? This is something you need to plan for when choosing your chair.
Heating
Keeping warm in your comfy massage chair became a whole lot easier when recliners started including a heating feature. This is not available on all recliners, and the chairs that do have heating can vary widely.
Generally, you can choose between warming the seat, back, footrest, or a combination. What’s available depends on how much you want to spend.
After testing the heated models ourselves, we have to admit that it’s hard to go back to an unheated chair.
Technology
We live in the age of technology, and you need to look no further than your recliner to find some exciting tech capabilities.
Manufacturers tout their savviness by making your relaxation experience as easy as possible. With a press of your remote’s button, you can find yourself in relaxation heaven.
Buyer beware, though: being kitted out with electric functions often means it will cost you more to repair the chair if there are issues.
What Fabrics Are Recliners Upholstered With?
Good question, my astute friend! The materials on reclining chairs can vary widely in price and quality.
Microfiber
This material will be found on cheaper recliners, as it doesn’t cost the manufacturer much to buy.
However, the problem is that it just doesn’t feel as lovely as higher quality materials, like faux or genuine leather.
This material is also difficult to clean if you spill a hard-to-remove liquid on your chair.
Polyurethane Leather
More commonly known as “pleather,” this material is the middle ground of the recliner upholstery world.
It feels better than microfiber, but it’s still more affordable than real leather. It can vary in quality, too, with cheaper versions feeling sticky or cold to the touch.
Also, if the chair is going to be used regularly, this material will show signs of wear and tear fast than real leather.
Real Leather
Welcome to the big leagues! Now we’re talking about a material that is not only super comfortable but goes the distance, too.
Understandably, this is the most expensive of the upholstery materials available for leather recliners.
However, when you relax on a leather recliner covered in good quality leather, the difference is plain. And as long as it doesn’t get wet – or you keep it coated in a protective spray – it’s easy to clean and smells great.
