Lift chair buying guide: sizes, and 2-position vs 3-position vs infinite-position

Size comes first

Makers size lift chairs as small, medium, large and extra-large, keyed to height and weight, and the wrong size is the most common mistake. As a guide, small suits people under about 5'4", medium to about 5'10", large to about 6'2", and extra-large above that or above the standard weight rating — but makers vary, so go by the actual chair. Seated, the feet should be flat on the floor with the knees at about a right angle and the seat not pressing behind the knees; at full lift the chair should bring the person to a near-standing position. Standard chairs are rated around 300–375 lb; heavy-duty models higher.

2-position, 3-position or infinite-position

• 2-position. Lifts, and reclines to about 45° with the footrest up. The simplest and cheapest; fine for reading and television, not for sleeping.
• 3-position. Adds a nearly flat recline for naps. The back and footrest move together on one motor.
• Infinite-position. Two motors, so the back and footrest move independently and the chair can go fully flat, and often into a "zero-gravity" or Trendelenburg position with the feet above the heart. The choice for anyone who sleeps in the chair, has breathing or reflux problems, or cannot lie flat after surgery.

Heat and massage, USB ports and power headrests are extras that add to the price and to the things that can fail; buy them if they matter, not by default.

Room, power and safety

A lift chair needs roughly 30–45 cm (a foot or so) of clearance behind it to recline, more for full-recline models, and a standard household outlet within reach so the cord does not cross a walkway. Some chairs have a battery backup that lowers the chair in a power cut; most do not — ask if that matters. The lift function should be used with the person's feet on the floor and nobody standing in front of the chair.

What they cost

Canadian retailers' guides put new lift chairs at roughly $600 to $1,500 for entry-level, $1,500 to $3,000 for mid-range, and $3,500 and up for premium models; a well-known furniture brand's 3-position chairs start around $1,900 and its infinite-position chairs around $2,400. Renting one on Vancouver Island is about $100 a month plus delivery. Used, inspected and serviced lift chairs from us are generally $500 to $1,200 — see what is in stock — delivered and set up for $250 in Greater Victoria, because a lift chair is a two-person carry.

Funding and tax

For eligible veterans, Veterans Affairs lists a power lift chair benefit of up to $1,800, one every five years, with a prescription. In BC, lift chairs "designed to help a person move from standing to sitting or sitting to standing" are PST-exempt for everyone, and GST zero-rated on the written order of a physician, therapist or nurse for a named person. Details and links are in the funding guide.

Buying used: what to check

• Run the lift and recline through full travel with someone in the chair; listen for strain and check the hand control and its cable.
• Sit in it: feet flat, knees at a right angle, no pressure behind the knees.
• Push on the frame: no rocking; seat not sagging; arms not loose.
• Confirm the size class and weight rating on the label match the person.
• Ask what is included — some chairs come with a battery backup or a second hand control.

Every lift chair we list has been through exactly that, and its size class and rating are on the listing.