How to Choose the Right Size Lift and Rise Chair (Petite or Standard?)

A lift and rise chair does one job above all others: it brings the person forward and up so standing takes less effort. That only works if the chair fits the body using it. A seat that is too high leaves feet dangling and pressure under the thighs; too low, and the lift has to do more work and the knees end up above the hips. Size is the decision that matters most, and it is the one most often guessed. Here is how to get it right.

Measure the person, not the room (first)

Ask the person who will use the chair to sit on a firm dining chair, feet flat on the floor and knees at roughly a right angle. Then take three measurements:

1. Floor to the back of the knee. This is the seat height that suits them. Feet should rest flat on the floor when they sit back in the chair.
2. Back of the bottom to the back of the knee. This is the seat depth that suits them. You want a gap of two or three fingers between the front of the seat and the back of the knee.
3. Hip width, sitting. Add a few centimetres either side so they can sit and turn comfortably, with arms close enough to push on.

Bring these numbers with you, or better, bring the person. Then measure the room, the doorways and the route in using our Will it Fit guide, and remember the chair needs space behind it to recline and in front for the footrest.

Petite or standard?

Several of our Buoyant chairs come in two sizes, and the difference is more than a few centimetres of width. A petite chair has a lower, smaller seat that suits shorter users; a standard chair suits average height and above. Here are the published sizes:

Measurements are the overall chair. Seat height is what matters most to the user, so sit in both sizes before choosing. If someone falls between the two, the one that lets their feet rest flat while their back touches the backrest is the right one.

The Malvern, in petite or standard. If the mains drops out, a battery in the handset still brings the chair upright.

Single motor or dual motor?

Our lift and rise collection includes single and dual motor options.

• Single motor: the back and footrest move together in one linked movement. Simple, with fewer buttons on the handset.
• Dual motor: the back and the footrest move independently. You can raise the legs without lying back, or sit upright with feet up. For anyone who sits for long periods, needs legs raised, or naps in the chair, dual motor is usually worth it. The Russo, Prescot, Palermo and Belvedere are all dual motor.

Some chairs add a tilt. The Prescot has "a tilt mechanism that shifts your whole position back", which spreads weight more evenly for long sitting.

Five details worth checking in the showroom

The handset. Buttons should be large, clearly marked and easy to find without looking. Have the user try it themselves.

Battery backup. The Malvern, Hampton and Belvedere handsets hold a backup battery so the chair can still return upright in a power cut.

Arm height and firmness. The user pushes on the arms in the last part of standing, so they need to be at a comfortable height and firm enough to take weight.

Depth. In a smaller room, the Hampton is "just 86cm deep", which helps where floor space is tight.

Fabric or leather. Fabric feels warm and soft; leather, such as the Russo or Palermo leather, is easy to wipe clean. See our leather care guide for how to look after it.

The Prescot: two motors, one for lifting and one for reclining, plus a tilt.

Lift and rise questions, answered

Who should come to choose the chair?

The person who will use it, if at all possible. Five minutes sitting, reclining and standing with the handset tells you more than any measurement.

Will it fit through my door?

Check the chair's width and depth against your narrowest doorway and any turns, using our Will it Fit guide. Our two-person team delivers to the room you choose.

Is a lift chair the same as a recliner chair?

A lift and rise chair reclines, and also lifts forward to help you stand. If standing is not a problem, a standard recliner chair may be all you need, and our guide to electric vs manual recliners explains the mechanisms.

Also read: Swivel, accent or recliner? How to choose an armchair · All chairs