A lift chair is a power recliner that can also help you stand up. A motor under the seat drives a metal frame that raises the whole chair and tips it forward, so the seat comes up to meet you. The same motor, or a second one, lays you back to rest. At Merit Home Furniture on Vancouver Island we list 37 chairs in our lift chair collection, 14 of them from UltraComfort at $2,149 to $5,399 before applicable taxes.
It's the one chair I'd rather not sell from a photo. Seat heights on the Island lift chairs we list run from 18 to 22 inches, and a chair sized for a five-foot mother won't fit a six-foot father. In British Columbia a lift chair designed to help a person stand or sit is also exempt from PST, and the province asks for no prescription.
How does a lift chair work?
A lift chair works by pushing the whole chair up and forward on a motor-driven frame. It plugs into an ordinary wall outlet. On UltraComfort chairs, a transformer behind the chair feeds 29-volt DC power to the motors, by the maker's manual. Hold the up button and the motor opens a metal scissor mechanism under the seat. The back of the chair rises and the seat tilts forward until it is high enough to stand from. Hold the down button and the chair lowers to sitting, then carries on into a recline. Let go at any point and it stops where it is.
Raising the seat is what does the work. A 2002 review in the journal Physical Therapy looked at 39 experimental studies of getting up from a chair. Seat height, armrests and foot position all had a major influence. A higher seat cut the turning force the muscles had to produce by up to 60% at the knee and up to 50% at the hip. Using the armrests cut the load at the hip by 50%. A lift chair raises the seat, and its arms rise with it.
Lift chairs move slowly. Consumer Reports tested 10 of them for a February 2026 report. The highest rose to 29.5 inches and the lowest topped out at 25, and going from reclined to upright took 32 to 48 seconds.
On a one-zone UltraComfort chair with its two-button control, a full cycle goes like this:
- Rise. Hold the up button. From a recline, the chair comes back to sitting and keeps going into the lift.
- Stop at a comfortable height. Let go once the feet are flat and standing is easy.
- Stand, then lower it. Send the chair back down to the floor after getting up. UltraComfort's manual asks for this so children, pets or objects can't get underneath.
- Sit down in reverse. Raise the seat to a height that can be leaned against, back into it, and hold the down button until the chair rests firmly on the floor. The manual warns that dropping into a raised chair can damage it and hurt the person.
UltraComfort lists three lift settings. Full Lift takes the user up to standing. Mid Lift raises the seat straight at first, then tilts it at a gentler angle, and isn't offered on its five-zone Eclipse chairs. Straight Lift raises the seat without tipping it forward, which UltraComfort designed for transfers with a caregiver or to and from a wheelchair. Its owner's manual says a chair "may be equipped" with these settings, so ask us which one a given model has.
Lift chair or power recliner: what the lift adds
The difference between a recliner and a lift chair is the lift. A power recliner moves its back and footrest with a motor, but the seat stays at one height, so standing up is still the person's own work. A lift chair reclines the same way, then raises and tilts the seat to help them up. It costs more.
Power recliner
This is the better fit for someone who still stands up easily. Manual mechanisms can get too hard to work with age, which is when I'd look at a power recliner over a lever first.
Lift chair
It suits someone who has started planning their day around standing up. UltraComfort aims its Full Lift at long-term mobility problems and at recovery from abdominal, hip or knee surgery.
Two-position, three-position, infinite and zero gravity lift chairs
Lift chair positions describe how far a chair reclines and whether its back and footrest move together or separately. Pride Mobility, a lift chair maker, uses the common names: two-position, three-position, infinite-position and zero gravity. UltraComfort, which makes more of the chairs Merit lists than any other maker, counts comfort zones instead. The table lines the two sets of names up, with our chairs under each.
| Type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Two-position | Lift, sitting and a part recline for reading or TV. Every UltraComfort and Scandi chair we list reclines further than this. |
| Three-position (UltraComfort one zone) | Adds a full recline for a nap, with the back and footrest moving together on a two-button control. On our list: Destin, Aurora, Austin. |
| Infinite-position (two zones) | The back and footrest move separately, so the feet can come up while the back stays upright. On our list: Vega, Polaris, Sol and every four- and five-zone chair, plus Scandi Nova and Galaxy and La-Z-Boy Clayton. |
| Zero gravity | A preset position, explained under the next heading. On our list: a ZG button on the Vega, Polaris, Sol, Marbella and Maya. |
| Four zones | Adds a power headrest and power support for the lower back. On our list: Marbella, Rhodes, Maya. |
| Five zones | Adds a tilt of the whole seat (Eclipse or Twilight), which UltraComfort says raises the legs further. On our list: Aiden, Artemis, Athena, Venice and the Titan with Twilight, which UltraComfort's own page labels both four-zone and five-zone. |
Scandi, which says its lift chairs are engineered in Norway, puts dual power motors in all of them, and the recline goes to lay-flat. Its lift only works once the footrest is closed and the back is upright.
What is a zero gravity lift chair?
A zero gravity lift chair can raise the thighs and lower legs above the torso, which is how Pride Mobility defines the position. On UltraComfort's Vega, Polaris and Sol it's one of four preset buttons, beside TV, sitting and sleeping. HealthLink BC's advice for varicose veins includes lying with the legs above heart level for about 30 minutes at a time, about 3 times a day. It names a recliner as one place to do it. If a doctor has asked for that, a zero gravity chair can get the legs up without a stack of pillows. UltraComfort's manual asks users to check with a physician before using the Trendelenburg position, where the feet sit higher than the head.
What are the most comfortable lift chairs for seniors?
The most comfortable lift chair for a senior is the one sized to them. That's why UltraComfort sells many of its models in more than one size. Its sizing page says a lift chair that is too big or too small raises the risk of a fall getting in or out. The size shows up in the floor-to-seat height, the seat depth and the width between the arms, and all three grow from Small to Large. UltraComfort's Medium suits people about 5'4" to 5'11", and its Medium/Large about 5'7" to 6'2".
| Chair | Suits | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora Small | under 5'3" | 18 in |
| Destin Medium/Small | 5'3" to 5'8" | 18.5 in |
| Aurora Medium | 5'4" to 5'9" | 19 in |
| Destin Large | 5'8" and up | 19.5 in |
| Rhodes Medium | 5'4" to 5'11" | 20 in |
| Marbella Medium | 5'4" to 5'11" | 20.5 in |
| Titan with Twilight | 5'4" to 5'11" | 20.5 in |
| Rhodes Large | 5'7" to 6'3" | 21 in |
| Marbella Large | 5'7" to 6'3" | 22 in |
The "suits" heights come from UltraComfort's model pages. A few of our own listings give different ranges, and those are being checked. The seat figure is floor to the top of the seat, from our listings. The room matters too: on the UltraComfort chairs, the wall gap needed to recline runs from 15 inches on the Aurora Small to 30 on the Rhodes Large.
For a parent who can't come in, their height and weight get us most of the way. The number that settles it is the distance from the floor to the back of the knee, sitting in a firm chair in their usual shoes. A seat near that height lets the feet rest flat on the floor.
Weight is the other half of the fit. UltraComfort's model pages rate most of its chairs at 400 lb. Its 2021 manual lists 375 lb for the Vega, Polaris and Sol, and 300 lb for the Polaris Small. Its warranty goes by the manual, so we do too. The Artemis manual and UltraComfort's Athena page also say 375 lb. Its Marbella Large page shows both 375 and 400, so we use 375 for all three.
The Medium Wide Maya and Vega have 26 inches between the arms. UltraComfort's model pages rate them at 600 lb and its sizing page at 500 lb. We go by 500 lb until Harmony, the Canadian distributor, confirms. The La-Z-Boy Clayton is listed at 500 lb.
With a lift chair I start where I'd start with any recliner: feet flat on the floor and the head resting on the back cushion. Then I'd rather watch the person stand up and sit back down a couple of times than hear about it. If the chair is too high, too low or too deep, that's where it shows.
Do lift chairs have to be plugged in? Power cords and power cuts
Lift chairs have to be plugged in to work, and every one Merit lists runs on household power. UltraComfort's manual calls for a standard 115 to 120 volt wall outlet and rules out extension cords of any kind. It asks for other cords to be kept clear too, because the metal lift frame can crush them and create a fire hazard. It also warns that a chair set out in the middle of a room leaves its power cord across a walkway as a tripping hazard. So the outlet decides where the chair goes as much as the TV does.
What happens to a lift chair when the power goes out?
A lift chair with battery backup can make one move in a power cut, and that's all. UltraComfort's manual says two 9-volt alkaline batteries hold enough energy to bring the chair from a recline back to sitting. They aren't meant to run it for long, and the manual says to replace them after one use and change them every year. Some UltraComfort chairs use a rechargeable lithium pack instead, which tops itself up while the chair is plugged in. The La-Z-Boy Billie, Jean and Clayton listings also call for two 9V batteries. The manual doesn't promise a lift to standing on battery power, and it advises keeping a phone within reach of the chair.
What does a lift chair cost on Vancouver Island?
An UltraComfort lift chair at Merit costs from $2,149 for the smaller Destin to $5,399 for the Medium Wide Maya, before applicable taxes. Two La-Z-Boy lift recliners start lower, from $1,499 for the Jean. Within the UltraComfort range the one-zone chairs cost least, and heat, massage and the wider sizes add to the price. UltraComfort's pages for the Destin, Marbella and Titan say they are designed in Old Forge, Pennsylvania and assembled in China. Every price below was read from our live listings on October 16, 2026.
| Type | Chairs and listed prices |
|---|---|
| UltraComfort one zone | Destin $2,149 to $2,199; Aurora $2,199 to $2,249; Austin $2,249, with heat and massage |
| UltraComfort two zones | Vega $3,299, or $4,199 in Medium Wide; Polaris $3,349 to $3,399; Sol $3,899, with heat |
| UltraComfort four zones | Marbella $2,849 to $2,999; Rhodes $3,188 to $3,488, with heat; Maya $4,499, or $5,399 in Medium Wide, with heat and massage |
| UltraComfort five zones | Titan with Twilight $3,449; Aiden, Artemis and Athena $3,999 each; Venice $4,449 |
| Scandi, two motors | Nova $3,399 in top grain leather; Galaxy $3,699, with heat |
| La-Z-Boy lift recliners | Jean $1,499 to $1,599; Billie $1,949; Clayton $2,149 |
| La-Z-Boy, lift version to order | Liam $1,399, Pinnacle $1,599 and Astor $1,749 to $1,849 are listed as power recliners with a lift version among their options. Ask us for the lift version's price. |
The table leaves some makers out. Every lift chair we list is on one page, including chairs from Best Home Furnishings, Palliser and Golden Technologies.
From our Duncan store, delivery across the Island is $150, assembly included, and a ferry run to some of the Gulf Islands is arranged once you call. An UltraComfort chair, which comes through Harmony, takes 3 to 6 weeks to be ready for pickup or delivery. A La-Z-Boy lift chair built to order takes 8 to 10 weeks, so ask which ones are in stock. We confirm the wait on a Scandi chair when it's ordered. A lift chair ordered in on special order needs a 24% deposit at Merit, and the deposit and exchange rules are written out in full. A lift chair can be paid off over time too. Ask us about flexible payment options* Our plans come through Fairstone®.
*On approved credit. Terms and conditions apply. An annual fee will be charged to your account as set out in the Retail Credit Agreement. See our Financing page for more details about our plans.
Lift chair tax and help with the cost in BC
British Columbia charges no PST on a lift chair built to help a person stand up or sit down, and asks for no prescription. A power recliner without the lift pays it. GST comes off only when a doctor, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or registered nurse writes an order naming the person the chair is for. The rules, their sources and a worked example are in how both taxes apply to a lift chair.
Medicare is a US program and doesn't apply in Canada. Veterans Affairs Canada can pay toward a power lift chair for a veteran who qualifies. Its benefit listing for the chair allows up to $1,800 once every five calendar years. It needs a prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner, registered nurse or physiotherapist. It also needs approval before the purchase, and two quotes when the chair costs over $1,000. Otherwise, an occupational therapist and any extended health plan are the ones to ask about help with the cost.
Lift chair warranties and repairs on the Island
A lift chair bought from Merit is repaired through the store. We back the manufacturer's warranty, order the parts and look after the repair, so the first call comes to us. UltraComfort's own warranty page says service is provided by its dealers. Accidental stains, rips, tears, cuts and burns aren't covered by the manufacturers' warranties.
On an UltraComfort chair, the maker covers the frame, lift mechanism and recline mechanism for life. Electrical parts, meaning the motors, hand control, transformer and battery backup, get 7 years on select models. From year 4 that cover is pro-rated, so the owner pays a share. By the manual, a part that fails in year 4 costs 65% of its suggested retail price, and by year 7 the discount is down to 5%. Labour is covered for 3 years on mechanical repairs and 1 year on electrical ones. The La-Z-Boy lift listings each carry La-Z-Boy's Limited Lifetime Warranty.
The cover is warranted separately. UltraComfort's standard fabrics and foam carry 1 year, and its Sinda leather-look cover carries 5 years. Its Alta high-performance upgrade carries a 10-year limited warranty and its Brisa leather-look upgrade a limited lifetime warranty. Brisa is rated at 300,000 double rubs, a machine abrasion test, against 30,000 for the Easy Living standard fabric. The upgrades may carry an upcharge and a longer lead time, and Brisa isn't offered on some models. Scandi's covers are 100% top grain leather or a designer fabric it says resists stains. For leather near a wood stove, our owners suggest a leather conditioner at least twice a year, of a kind the maker's care terms allow.
Merit's own extended option is SmartOne from Zucora, for up to five years from purchase, with someone sent to the house. It can go on anything Merit sells, and that includes power recliners and lift chairs. How furniture warranties work here has the general rules.
Lift chair drawbacks, and who should ask an occupational therapist first
The drawbacks of a lift chair are the price, the space and the power cord, plus some safety rules that come with any motor-driven seat. It costs more than a power recliner. It's also the wrong buy for someone who still stands from an ordinary chair without trouble and mainly wants a better recliner. For them the lift is money spent on a motor they won't use. UltraComfort's manual adds these warnings:
- Keep children and pets away while the chair moves, and never let children work it. Unplug the hand control and put it out of reach when nobody is using the chair.
- If the user is asleep or unconscious, the hand control may be set off by accident in a way that forces them out of the chair.
- Going over the weight limit can make the chair unstable and create a tip-over hazard, and the 2021 manual says it voids all warranties. The limit is on a label at the back of the lift frame, next to the serial number.
- Don't run the chair while taking medication that impairs the ability to run it safely, and check the skin under any heat pad.
- The manual says not to use the chair at all with a medical condition that leaves "limited, debilitating" mental or physical capacity, and to see a doctor first. Ask your doctor whether that applies.
The bigger question, whether a lift chair suits the person at all, is one for a professional. HealthLink BC says one-third of people aged 65 and over living in the community fall each year. It calls falls the leading cause of injury-related deaths and hospitalizations for BC adults 65 and older. Seniors are also a larger share of the population around our Duncan and Nanaimo stores than across Canada. In the 2021 Census, 27.6% of Cowichan Valley residents and 24.4% of the Nanaimo area were 65 or older, against 19.0% across Canada.
HealthLink BC also notes that cutting back on movement for fear of falling can add to frailty. A lift chair makes standing easier. Whether the person should keep practising rising from ordinary chairs is a question for their physiotherapist. HealthLink BC's advice for anyone who needs an assistive mobility device is to consult a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or pharmacy. Ask your doctor or occupational therapist whether a lift chair suits, and which lift setting.
Where the lift chair facts come from
- UltraComfort Canada, Find Your Ideal Size (sizes, the fall warning, Medium Wide), checked September 2026.
- UltraComfort Canada, Find Your Comfort Zone, checked September 2026.
- UltraComfort Canada, Customizable Lift Support, checked September 2026.
- UltraComfort Canada, Vega (UC556) and its other model pages (heights, weight ratings, the ZG button), checked September 2026.
- UltraComfort Canada, Warranty, checked September 2026.
- UltraComfort, 1 and 2 Comfort Zone owner's manual, 2021 (outlet, battery backup, safety warnings, weight limits, pro-rated parts), checked September 2026.
- UltraComfort, 5 Comfort Zone owner's manual (Artemis weight limit), checked September 2026.
- UltraComfort, Universal owner's manual (power supply, lift frame, weight label), checked September 2026.
- Scandi, Lift Chairs, checked September 2026.
- Pride Mobility, Power Lift Recliners Position Guide, checked September 2026.
- Janssen WG, Bussmann HB, Stam HJ, Determinants of the sit-to-stand movement: a review, Physical Therapy 2002;82(9):866-79, checked September 2026.
- Consumer Reports, Best Lift Chairs, February 10, 2026 (lift height and speed in its tests), checked September 2026.
- HealthLink BC File 78, Seniors' falls can be prevented, updated July 31, 2024, checked September 2026.
- HealthLink BC, Varicose Veins (raising the legs above heart level), checked September 2026.
- Statistics Canada, 2021 Census Focus on Geography, age profiles for the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Nanaimo census metropolitan area, checked September 2026.
- Province of British Columbia, Bulletin PST 207, Medical Supplies and Equipment, revised August 2024, checked September 2026.
- Canada Revenue Agency, Info Sheet GI-133 on lift chairs, checked September 2026.
- Veterans Affairs Canada, Power lift chair purchase benefit (amount, frequency, prescribers, quotes), checked October 2026.
- UltraComfort Canada, Fabrics (Sinda, Alta, Brisa, abrasion ratings), checked September 2026.
- Merit's live lift chair listings and prices, read October 16, 2026, and the owners' answers on delivery, deposits, financing and warranty.
Sitting in a lift chair in Duncan before you buy
Trying a lift chair at Merit starts with a phone call. Ask which lift chairs are set up at our Ingram Street showroom in Duncan, and bring the person who'll use it. Half an hour is enough to sit, lift, stand and sit again in whatever is on the floor. Nobody will follow you around. Duncan is open Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5, and you're welcome to ask for me there.
Call the Duncan store, (250) 746-5527
If the person can't come in, buying a lift chair for a parent goes through what to measure at home. The UltraComfort chairs also have a page of their own under Harmony, and Merit's other lift chair pieces sit together on one lift chair page.