Lift Chairs / How to Properly Size and Fit

People come in different shapes and sizes and each has their own unique comfort level. Pugh Furniture’s challenge is to provide you with a chair that closely matches your needs. The closer we get in providing the proper size, the more comfortable you will be.

There are four fundamental measurements that determine which chair will properly suit you:

• Weight Capacity
• Floor to Top of Seat Height
• Seat Depth
• Seat Width

Lift chairs have different weight capacities due to the size and style of our lift chair models. The first step is to obtain your weight to determine which model is capable of lifting you safely. If you are near one of these limits, we highly recommend the larger capacity chair. You do not want to exceed these limits. Not only is it unsafe, but it will also void all warranties.

To obtain the next three measurements, you must think of yourself in a seated position. Your body will be flexed at the knee and at the base of your back. Your hips will spread wider across the seat. To provide the most comfort, we recommend these measurements be made accordingly.

The floor to top of seat height should be measured from the bottom of your foot to the top of the back of the knee. You should be able to comfortably place your feet on the floor while in a seated position. If the floor to seat height is too tall, this will cause your feet to hang above the floor. If the floor to seat height is too small, your knees will be uncomfortably elevated. This also affects the seat depth and leg extension.

The seat depth should be measured from the bottom of the back of the knee to the base of your back. If you have to "squirm" to the back of the seat, this seat depth is too long for you; you will need a smaller seat depth. Too small of a seat depth will not offer enough thigh support and create a shorter leg extension so that your feet hang off the footboard when reclined.

Seat width should be measured across your hips when seated. Remember that when you actually sit down, your hips spread wider than they are in a standing position. Too wide of an area may create posture problems (leaning to one side). Too small will cause you to squeeze into a restrictive area. Over time, this will cause undo stress on the arms and create eventual problems with the frame.

Once these measurements have been taken, please speak with one of our lift chair specialist to be matched up to the proper lift chair. Recognize that you will not always have a perfect fit, but the closer you get to match each measurement, the more comfortable you will be.

When you begin use of your lift chair, it’s recommended to leave it in the upright position to allow easier access to entering and exiting.