What is the difference between a manual and power recliner?

A manual recliner reclines when you push back in the chair and usually requires some force to operate. A power recliner uses a motor to recline at the touch of a button and requires no physical effort. Power recliners are easier for people with mobility limitations and tend to offer more precise positioning. The tradeoffs are cost (power models run 20 to 50 percent more), weight (heavier), and the need to run a power cord to the chair's location.

How much wall clearance does a recliner need?

A standard recliner needs 12 to 14 inches of clearance between the back of the chair and the wall to recline fully. Wall-hugger or zero-wall recliners need only 2 to 4 inches by sliding the seat forward as the back reclines -- a significant advantage in smaller living rooms. Always check the clearance specification before placing a recliner in a tight space, as a recliner that cannot fully recline will not last as long and is frustrating to use.

What size recliner do I need?

Recliner sizing works like clothing sizes: the chair needs to match the user's body. For people under 5'7", a standard recliner seat (17 to 19 inches high, 21 to 22 inches wide) works well. For taller users (over 6'), look for recliners with extended footrest and higher back. Wide body or big-and-tall recliners are designed for users who are heavier or broader. The best way to choose is to sit in the chair: the footrest should support the full length of your leg, and the headrest should comfortably support your head without forcing it forward.

Recliners — Power, Lift, Manual & Glider

A recliner should recline fully and return to upright without a fight, hold up to daily use, and feel comfortable in both positions -- not just one. Our recliner collection includes manual and power options, rocker recliners, wall-huggers, and lift chairs for easier standing. Read our guide to buying a recliner for what separates quality construction from pieces that wear out in two years.

The chair you sit in every day.

A recliner is a different shopping job than the rest of the living room. You're picking the seat you'll be in three hours a night for the next ten years. Style matters. Fabric matters. But mechanism matters most — and most showrooms don't help you sort through it.

Manual recliners are simpler, less to break, lighter on the wallet, and right for households where the recliner is occasional use. Power recliners (one-touch button to recline) are the standard pick when the recliner is daily-use seating: the mechanism is smoother, infinite-position, and stays cleaner than a side handle over the years. Power lift recliners (the seat itself rises to help you stand) are a real accessibility option without sounding clinical — useful for recovery from a knee replacement, for years of daily comfort as joints stiffen, or just for ease when getting up after a long sit.

We carry England by La-Z-Boy recliners with the brand's reputation for daily-use durability, and Flexsteel with their Blue Steel Spring system for the long haul. Mechanism options across the catalog include glider, swivel, rocker, wall-saver, power glider, and power lift — the showroom is where you sit in two or three and feel the difference. If pets are part of the household, recliner mechanisms have moving parts and we can tell you in plain English which models hold up best with cats and dogs around.

Family-owned in Mesquite, TX since 1975. 4-year protection plan included on every piece — not an upsell at checkout.

Read our complete recliner buying guide for advice on mechanism types, size fitting, material options, and lift chair considerations.

Quality Home Furniture has served the Dallas-Fort Worth area from our Mesquite showroom since 1975. We're a family-owned business at 227 US HWY 80 E, Mesquite TX -- open Monday through Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 1pm to 6pm. Call (972) 288-9322.

Before choosing a fabric, read our sofa fabric guide -- cleaning codes explained, performance fabric vs. linen, genuine leather vs. bonded leather, and what rub count actually means.

Read our guide to rocker recliners -- how the rocking and reclining mechanisms work together, manual vs. power, wall clearance requirements, and who these chairs work best for.

Read our guide to swivel chairs -- how the rotation mechanism works, what clearance you need around the chair, base styles, and where swivel chairs actually add value in a room.