How to Choose the Right La-Z-Boy® Recliner: Fit, Mechanisms, and Fabric Guide
Start with how you sit. Then choose how it moves and what you’ll live with every day.
Have you ever settled into a recliner that felt wonderful for a minute, then realized your feet didn’t quite reach the floor? Soft cushioning can make a good first impression without making a chair the right fit.
Furniture Fair is an authorized La-Z-Boy retailer with nine participating showrooms across Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky. At Fairfield, Doug Miller brings more than 30 years of Furniture Fair delivery and showroom experience to the practical side of choosing furniture: how it fits your body, works in your room, and feels once you take it home. Those are the checks to make before comparing extra features.
1. Find the fit before the features
Furniture Fair’s product listings give model-specific height recommendations. Versions of the same chair can suit different heights, so use the range for the exact version on your shortlist.
Swipe the table to compare all details.
| Customer height | Models to discuss | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 5'3" and under | Pinnacle Power Rocker Recliner | Petite-fit power version; separate from the manual Pinnacle. |
| 5'4" to 5'9" | Pinnacle Rocker Recliner | Manual rocker version with a smaller profile. |
| 5'10" to 6'2" | Trouper, Morrison, and Greyson power rocker recliners | Shared recommended height range, with different cushioning and controls. |
Before you make a trip: You can’t currently buy the Pinnacle Power or Greyson power rocker online. Call first to ask whether the chair you want to try is on the floor and how to order.
Try the chair upright first
- Feet: With your back comfortably against the chair, check that your feet rest naturally on the floor without scooting forward.
- Seat depth: Notice whether the front edge presses behind your knees or leaves you feeling unsupported.
- Arms and shoulders: Rest your forearms without lifting your shoulders. Try reaching the controls and a nearby side table.
- Reclined position: Raise the legrest and settle back. Check where your head rests and whether the support feels right through your usual positions.
If you’re between ranges or outside those listed, widen your shortlist. Two people of the same height can have very different leg and torso proportions; the upright sit test is the deciding step.
Doug’s fit check: “Don’t choose the bigger chair just because it feels roomy. If you have to slide forward to bend your knees comfortably, you’re no longer sitting against the back you liked. Try the shallower seat before adding more adjustments.”
2. Choose how the chair should move
A rocker base, a wall-reclining mechanism, power adjustments, and lift assistance solve different problems. Choose the motion you’ll actually use, rather than treating every extra feature as an automatic upgrade.
Manual rocker
Like to rock while you’re talking, then settle back to read? The Pinnacle Rocker rocks with the legrest down, and its back reclines without making you put your feet up. Its 16 locking back angles and 3 safely locking legrest positions give you several places to settle, rather than one fixed recline. If the handle and legrest are comfortable to open and close, you may not need motors to get the chair you want.
Wall recliner
In a smaller room, the space behind the chair can decide which one works. The Pinnacle Wall Recliner moves forward as you lean back, so it needs about 7 inches behind it instead of the rocker’s 12 inches. You can place it closer to the wall, but the legrest still extends into the room. Measure that space before choosing; a wall recliner won’t fix a crowded walking path.
Power recline
Try raising your feet while keeping your back more upright. Morrison and Trouper power rockers let you move the back and legrest separately, then tilt the headrest to find a comfortable angle for watching TV. Two memory settings save positions you like instead of making you find them again. The wireless remote lets you hold the controls within reach; USB charging gives your phone a place to plug in. Greyson adds power lumbar so you can change the support at your lower back. If those extra adjustments don’t improve your seat, Vail keeps things simpler: separate back and legrest controls, plus USB charging.
Power lift
A lift chair is worth comparing when getting into or out of the seat is the part you want help with. Liam and Jean use motors to raise and lower the chair, not just change your reclining position. Have the person who’ll use it try the whole movement and the hand control. If sitting down and standing up are already comfortable, lift assistance may be something you don’t need.
7 inchesPinnacle Wall Recliner
Approximate rear clearance
Approximate rear clearance
12 inchesPinnacle Rocker Recliner
Rear clearance for full recline
Rear clearance for full recline
These are Pinnacle-specific measurements. Use your selected chair’s fully reclined dimensions to plan its footprint, with an outlet within reach for a power model.
Where it’s made, and what the warranty covers
Pinnacle, Morrison, Trouper, Vail, Liam, and Jean are listed as Made in the USA. The warranty doesn’t give the whole chair the same coverage. La-Z-Boy’s official warranty gives standard residential recliners limited lifetime parts coverage on the reclining mechanism, wooden frame and springs, with exceptions. Electrical parts and motors generally get three years for parts and one year for labor. Some lift-chair electronics have shorter coverage.
This covers manufacturing or material defects for the original buyer using the chair at home, not everyday wear. Covers, cushions and lift chairs have different terms. You may still pay shipping, inspection or transport costs. Before ordering, ask us to go through the warranty card for your exact chair.
3. What do manual, power, and lift recliners cost?
Manual recliners generally have the lowest entry point. Power adds adjustable positioning, while lift chairs add help getting up. But this is not a simple good-better-best price ladder: upholstery, size, and the control package can put a manual chair above a basic power model.
Swipe to compare prices and what you’re paying for.
| Chair type | Planning range | What you’re paying for |
|---|---|---|
| Manual recline | About $500 to $1,700 | A handle or push-back action instead of motors. Choose it when the fit is right and the movement feels easy to operate. |
| Power recline, without lift | About $800 to $2,450 | Push-button positioning. Headrest, lumbar, and memory options vary by model; the extra cost is useful only if you use those adjustments. |
| Power lift | About $850 to $1,200 | Motorized lift assistance, not automatically more comfort or better construction than another chair. |
These ranges update from our currently listed online recliners, including their cover variants, rounded outward to the nearest fifty dollars. They are furniture prices before tax, delivery, or optional protection, not custom-order quotes. The overlap is useful: compare fit and covers before deciding that a higher-priced chair will suit you better.
4. Choose the cover you want to live with
Think about who’ll use the chair, what gets spilled, and whether a pet will claim a seat too. Then touch the samples. A cover that looks right in a photo still has to feel right against your arms and be something you’re willing to clean.
iClean® fabric
If you like the feel of fabric but kids’ drinks or snacks worry you, compare an iClean cover. On select fabrics, the treatment helps spills bead up so you have time to blot them. It is stain-resistant, not stain-proof. You still need to clean up promptly. Feel the actual sample too: stain resistance doesn’t tell you whether the fabric is smooth, textured or plush.
Leather and performance leather
Leather suits you if you prefer a smooth surface to a woven texture. The finish matters: a more natural feel can come with less spill protection, while a protective finish can make cleanup easier. Performance leather puts the focus on that protection, but isn’t automatically softer or maintenance-free. Compare samples with your hand, and ask what protection the exact cover has. Use its care instructions, including whether conditioning is recommended.
Pets and sunny rooms: A smooth leather surface can make loose pet hair easier to wipe away, but claws can scratch or puncture it. Fabric needs vacuuming, and a textured weave can catch claws. For a bright room, plan the chair away from prolonged direct sun, which can fade upholstery. Keep leather away from strong heat too. Neither choice is pet-proof.
Custom ordering: choose the chair and cover together
You can choose custom fabric and leather through the showrooms. Bring a pillow, flooring sample, or room photo, then look at the cover in your own room’s light before deciding. Ask us to write down the chair, mechanism, cover and estimated timing so you know exactly what you’re ordering.
When to spend less: If a manual chair fits you well and you can comfortably operate it, memory settings and a powered headrest may not add much to your day. Spend on the fit and cover you’ll appreciate, not a feature you won’t use.
How do La-Z-Boy recliners compare with other brands?
La-Z-Boy recliners are a strong starting point when independent back movement, rocker or wall-reclining choices, and adjustable power positions matter to you. Other brands offer genuine reasons to look elsewhere, especially when the chair’s appearance or a particular base is your first priority.
Swipe to compare brand strengths and who they suit.
| Brand | What it does well | You might prefer it if… |
|---|---|---|
| La-Z-Boy | Independent back recline on models such as Pinnacle, plus rocker, wall, and adjustable power options. | You want to vary your back and leg positions, with a choice between straightforward manual operation and more power adjustments. |
| Smith Brothers | Solid hardwood frames and tailored upholstery details. Our examples include rolled arms, nailhead trim, and discreet press-back reclining. | You want a recliner that looks at home beside formal or traditional upholstery. Custom cover choices let you coordinate the room. Pricing is by quote. |
| England | USA-made upholstered chairs with custom covers and accent-chair styling. Our push-back models include exposed wood legs, key arms, and tufted backs. | You want a reading or conversation chair that also reclines, rather than a visibly plush lounge chair. Push-back operation keeps those models free of power cords. |
| Best Home Furnishings | Compact-scale choices and swivel-glider options, with model-specific manual or power configurations. Kendra combines a modern wingback profile with power swivel-glide motion. | You want gentle gliding and a turn toward the room, or a smaller footprint. Costilla and Kendra are useful starting points for those priorities. |
Who should skip a La-Z-Boy recliner? If the chairs on your shortlist feel too deep, too bulky, or wrong for your room, choose another brand rather than paying for adjustments to rescue a poor fit. If your priority is the lowest possible price and basic reclining, compare simpler chairs across brands before paying for a powered headrest or memory settings. A lift chair is worth considering for lift assistance, not simply as the next step up in features.
Where to try La-Z-Boy recliners near you
Use the regional directories for directions and participating showrooms. For a trip centered on specific models, contact the showroom first about floor samples and ordering options.
Cincinnati
Fairfield, Fields Ertel, Western Hills, Colerain, and Eastgate.
Cincinnati showroom detailsShopping in Louisville or Indianapolis? Those Furniture Fair showrooms carry other recliner collections, not La-Z-Boy recliners. Use the store directory to plan a local visit.
For the full participating showroom directory and brand overview, see La-Z-Boy furniture near you. Browse current online options in the La-Z-Boy collection before your visit.
What should I check before buying a recliner?
Can a recliner adjust to different sitting positions?
Yes. Depending on the model, independent back, legrest, headrest, and lumbar adjustments let you change the way the chair supports your seated position. Greyson power rocker specifications include power lumbar, while simpler power models focus on back and legrest movement. Choose the adjustments you find useful during the sit test.
Can two people share one recliner comfortably?
Possibly, but both people should test it upright and reclined. A height recommendation is only a starting point. If seat depth or control reach works for one person but not the other, compare another chair rather than relying on extra adjustments to solve the mismatch.
What should I confirm before placing a custom recliner order?
Review a written order that identifies the exact model, mechanism, cover, adjustments, fully reclined dimensions, delivery access, estimated timing, and applicable custom-order terms. This keeps the selection and delivery plan clear before you commit.
How do I choose the right La-Z-Boy recliner for me?
Choose the fit first, the movement second, and the cover third. A familiar model name or a longer list of buttons cannot make up for a seat that doesn’t suit you.
You don’t have to know every mechanism before you visit. If a simpler chair fits better and is easy to operate, that is a sound choice, not a compromise.
Bring your room and doorway measurements, a room photo, and the person who’ll use the chair. Compare two or three options upright and reclined, try the controls, then confirm the cover and warranty. We recommend choosing only after that side-by-side test.
About the recommendations and sources
Catalog specifications and the model examples behind the brand comparison were checked against Furniture Fair’s product listings on October 22, 2026. Price ranges update from the online La-Z-Boy collection; they exclude unpublished products and are not a warehouse-stock check. Component warranty terms follow La-Z-Boy’s manufacturer warranty. Participating showrooms follow our La-Z-Boy showroom hub and store directory. Fit checks are shopping guidance, not medical advice or a substitute for testing the selected chair.