The best lift chairs of 2026, according to Consumer Reports

Lift chairs are power recliners designed for people with arthritis, bad knees, or limited mobility after surgery. Prices run from under $400 to more than $2,500, but the most expensive ones don't always deliver better performance. Costlier extras such as heat, massage, and wireless charging don't determine how well the chair lifts.

Consumer Reports had 10 people of different ages and body sizes evaluate lift chairs on comfort, adjustability, lift, and speed to identify the seven worth recommending.

Credit: Pride Mobility

At $2,344, the VivaLift! Ultra is the most expensive among Consumer Reports' recommended models. Consumer Reports ranked it first overall on comfort, adjustability, lift, and speed, going from fully reclined to upright in 35 seconds while some competitors needed as long as 48. CR notes it is the only chair in the test group that can lift users' feet above their hearts, a benefit for those with circulation problems, and it is the only model tested with a battery backup for power outages. Multiple motors allow the footrest and back to operate independently, which CR found unusual among the options it evaluated.

Credit: Golden Technologies

Priced at $1,900, the Golden Technologies Cloud PR510 with MaxiComfort weighs 125 pounds, roughly 95 pounds less than the top-ranked VivaLift. Consumer Reports calls it worth a look for those who want less weight on the floor and a lower price, noting that it ranks high for speed and adjustability, though it scored slightly lower on comfort. At 28 seconds, its lift time is among the fastest in the test group, and foot and back movement are independent. According to CR, the Cloud PR510 does not include heat, cup holders, massage, or lumbar adjustments.

Credit: Mcombo

The MCombo Electric Lift Chair is priced at $470 and is a faux-leather model with a heating element and five massage settings, which Consumer Reports says are uncommon at this price point. Its seat-to-floor height of 18 inches is lower than most models in the test, which CR says may suit shorter users. CR notes that its lift height of 29 inches — with the back of the seat rising to that level — was among the three highest in the group, which can help users who need extra assistance reaching a standing position. A single recline control moves the footrest and chairback together, a design CR says reduces adjustability compared with multi-motor models.

Credit: Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports gave the Bob-O-Pedic Ranger Brown Massaging Power Lift Chair a perfect lift-assist score of five out of five. It costs $700. CR says the chair performs well overall, but testers found that the massage function is fairly loud at its highest intensity setting. Comfort scored three out of five, placing it below several other recommended models in that dimension.

Credit: Wayfair

Wider than most of the chairs in the test, the Sealy Posturepedic Sheldon Lift Assist Recliner is priced at $900 and earned a lift-assist score of five out of five from Consumer Reports. CR describes it as a wide-framed chair with broad arms and straightforward controls, a configuration well-suited for users who prioritize ease of ingress and uncomplicated operation. Comfort rated four out of five. Ease of use scored two out of five, the second-lowest in the recommended group.

Credit: La-Z-Boy

The smallest of the seven recommended models, the La-Z-Boy Billie Bronze Power Lift Recliner costs $1,200 and measures 32 inches wide and 39 inches tall. Consumer Reports says it is aimed at users under 5 feet, 3 inches, with a weight limit of 300 pounds, and its reclined length of 63 inches is a full 10 inches shorter than the top-ranked model. CR notes the controls are as simple as they come — just recline or lift — with no heat or massage functions included. Ease of use scored one out of five, the lowest in the recommended group.

Credit: Amazon

With the plushest upholstery in the test group, the Canmov Large Power Lift Recliner Chair is Consumer Reports' least expensive pick at $304. CR notes a lift height of 28½ inches and a heating element and massage options, but testers found it fell short on adjustability and ranked it among the slower models in the group. According to CR, the two cup holders retract when not needed, but the recline controls are mounted on the chair's side, making them hard for a caregiver to access depending on how the chair faces.