A power recliner is a recliner whose back and footrest move on an electric motor, worked by buttons. A manual recliner opens with a lever, a pull tab or a push on the back. At Merit Home Furniture on Vancouver Island, two Best Home Furnishings recliners come both ways, the JoJo and the leather Zaynah. Their prices aren't shown online, but the store carrying each pair will quote both versions together.
The motor earns its cost once a lever or a push-back has become hard work. It's also the only way to a power headrest and power lumbar. Manual is the better buy for an occasional chair, a spot a cord can't reach and the tightest budget. Merit lists both kinds among its recliners for Island living rooms.
Prices here are before applicable taxes, as our live listings showed them on October 16, 2026.
Is a power recliner worth it over a manual recliner?
A power recliner is worth it over a manual one when the motor gets used most days. For a chair opened now and then, it's a convenience more than a need. A power chair also stops wherever the button is let go, while a manual legrest locks in set steps (3 on La-Z-Boy's manual Kodie).
In return, a manual recliner has no motor or transformer to fail, and it keeps working in a power cut. It also suits a chair placed out in the room, where a cord would have to cross the floor, and a sitter who leans back without effort.
Our view, Rubeena's and mine, is that power is the better choice for anyone who finds a lever harder to work with age. A manual mechanism takes more effort as the years go on. When the trouble is a bad back, I'd look first at power lumbar (lower-back support) and a power headrest. They let the chair be set to fit the body. A chair doesn't treat back pain, though. HealthLink BC's low back pain page says to call 9-1-1 if back pain comes with chest pain or other signs of a heart attack. It says to call a doctor now for new or worse numbness or weakness in the legs, among other signs.
Power vs manual recliner prices: the same chair with and without a motor
The price of the motor is clearest where one maker sells the same chair both ways. On Merit's site that's two Best Home Furnishings space savers, wall-huggers that recline a few inches from the wall: the petite JoJo and JoJo Power, and the leather Zaynah and Zaynah Power. Each pair shares its size and its cover, so the difference is the motor and its hand wand. The Zaynah Power's page also lists adjustable lumbar support.
| Best Home Furnishings chair | Price |
|---|---|
| JoJo, manual with an outside handle | Campbell River store: call for our best price |
| JoJo Power, with a hand wand | Campbell River store: call for our best price |
| Zaynah leather, manual with an outside handle | Port Alberni store: call for our best price |
| Zaynah leather Power, with a hand wand | Port Alberni store: call for our best price |
| What the motor adds to the price | Call that store for both prices at once |
| Size of both versions (W x D x H) | JoJo 32 x 33.5 x 37 in, Zaynah 38 x 38.5 x 41.5 in |
| Where they're stocked | JoJo pair at Campbell River, Zaynah pair at Port Alberni |
Across the whole range, power chairs cost more partly because they tend to come with more. We sort each listing by type from its title, counting a recliner as power when the title says so. By that rule, 52 of the 172 listings in Merit's recliner collection are power: 13 each from Best Home Furnishings and Ashley, and 26 from other makers. Lift chairs now have a collection of their own.
Of Ashley's 28 manual recliners, the 16 listed through Duncan run from $449 to $2,349, and their middle price is $674. Of its 13 power recliners without a lift, the 3 listed through Duncan run from $1,049 to $1,499, with a middle price of $1,149. So a $500 gap between a $900 manual chair and a $1,400 power one buys more than a motor. La-Z-Boy's Parsens shows the same thing through Duncan. The Parsens Rocking Recliner is $1,249 and the Parsens Power Wall Recliner with Power Headrest and Lumbar is $2,449. They're different mechanisms, a manual rocker against a power wall recliner with a power headrest and lumbar, so that $1,200 gap pays for far more than the motor. Ashley's least expensive power recliner on our site, the Axtellton, already has a USB port. The Rowlett adds an Easy View adjustable headrest, power lumbar support and hidden cup holders. Both are carried at our Port Alberni store, so call there for our best price.
La-Z-Boy names the 34 recliner styles we list from it by style, so the titles don't say manual or power. Going by the versions each listing names, 33 of the 34 come as power recliners and 29 come both ways. Each shows a single price without saying which version it's for. Ask us to price the manual and the power version side by side. Our 23 newer La-Z-Boy listings name one version each, and 3 of those are power.
For a chair built in Canada, Decor-Rest's 2450 chair comes as a push-back or a power recliner, by Decor-Rest's own page. Both measure 36 x 36 x 41 inches. Our listing shows $1,299 in fabric without naming the version, so ask which it is.
What a power recliner's motor adds, in each maker's own words
On most of the chairs we list, a power recliner's motor does more than recline. This is what each maker with power recliners on Merit's site says its chairs do.
| Maker | Its power recliners |
|---|---|
| Ashley | 8 of the 13 describe one-touch operation, in varying words. 6 name an adjustable headrest, 3 of them Easy View, and 9 a USB port. None of the 13 mentions a zero-gravity mechanism. Ashley's wiring sheet puts the headrest tilt on a second motor and the lumbar on a third. |
| La-Z-Boy | A side-mounted control panel to "adjust the back, legrest, headrest and lumbar independently". A Home button returns the chair upright, and there's a built-in USB port, with a wireless remote as an upgrade. 27 of our 34 styles list a power version with headrest and lumbar. |
| Decor-Rest | The 2450's power version is "available with 5V USB controller" on a Leggett and Platt mechanism, with a battery backup option. |
| UltraComfort | Power lift recliners only, 14 on our site, sorted by comfort zones. One zone works on two buttons "from lift, to sit, to a full recline"; four zones add "an emphasis on head and back support". |
A USB port on a recliner is there to charge a phone or tablet. Ashley's sheet says its port "is for charging only", at up to 2,000 mA and 5 V, and La-Z-Boy rates its port at 1.0 A and 5 V. La-Z-Boy's manual adds that the port may stop working for a moment while the chair is moving.
What is the best power recliner to buy in Canada?
The best power recliner to buy in Canada is the one that fits the person who'll use it, with the motors that person needs. The seat comes first, and how to measure for a recliner at home takes a tape and a hard chair. After fit, the power chairs we list differ on three things. One is which parts move: a single recline motor suits TV and naps, while a sore back is where a power headrest and lumbar earn their cost. Another is whether the maker offers a battery. The last is how long the electrical parts are covered, set out maker by maker in the warranty table below.
What happens to a power recliner in a power outage?
A power recliner in a power outage can't move until the power comes back, unless it has a battery. The motor is what moves the back and footrest, and UltraComfort's manual says plainly that its chairs "will be impacted by any power failure". La-Z-Boy's manual warns never to open the legrest by pulling on it. The makers cover the gap in different ways:
- La-Z-Boy's power recliner manual puts a backup in the power supply that takes two 9-volt alkaline batteries, not included. It's designed to bring a reclined chair upright so the sitter can get out, and La-Z-Boy says it isn't meant to recline the chair. The manual also says the backup's performance "cannot be guaranteed". On battery the chair runs more slowly, and the memory buttons and USB port switch off. La-Z-Boy asks for new batteries every six months and after each power failure use.
- For longer use without mains power, La-Z-Boy sells a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack. Its manual gives about 5 to 7 hours to charge, and the pack shuts down below 20% charge. After 2 minutes of running it needs an 18-minute rest, and a stored pack needs charging at least every four months. Our Bennett listing says that chair can run on the optional pack.
- Decor-Rest lists a battery backup option for the power version of its 2450.
- None of Merit's 13 Ashley power recliner listings mentions a battery backup, so ask us before counting on one.
Those details weigh more than the price gap in a house where the power goes out often. They matter most for a sitter who couldn't get out of a reclined chair without help.
Power recliner cords, outlets and wall clearance
A power recliner has to sit within reach of a wall outlet, and the cord's path counts as much as its length. La-Z-Boy asks for the cord to stay out from under carpets and anywhere it could trip someone, and for the power supply not to sit under the chair. HealthLink BC's fall-prevention advice for older adults is to "move furniture and electrical cords to keep them out of walking paths". Rubeena and I see a lot of odd-shaped character homes, cabins and small condos on the Island. In those, the outlets are worth finding before the spot is chosen.
- Find the outlet. Measure from the chair's spot to the nearest wall outlet, and ask us the cord length on the chair you like.
- Check the gap behind. La-Z-Boy's placement guide says to recline the chair fully and leave at least 2 inches between the top of the back and the wall.
- Clear the front. La-Z-Boy asks for tables and area rugs far enough away that the legrest opens fully without rubbing.
- Buy the batteries. La-Z-Boy's 9-volt backup comes without its two batteries.
Wall clearance can be harder to pin down on a power recliner than on a manual one. La-Z-Boy's page for the manual Kodie Wall Recliner says it can sit about 4 inches from a wall and still recline fully. Its page for the Kodie Power Wall Recliner with headrest and lumbar says only "inches from a wall". For a chair like that, the 2-inch check and a tape measure settle it at home.
How much electricity does a power recliner use?
A power recliner uses little electricity, because the motor runs only while the chair is moving. La-Z-Boy's power supply puts out at most 29 volts at 2 amps, about 58 watts, so an hour of motor time uses under 0.1 kWh. That's about a cent at BC Hydro's Tier 1 and Tier 2 rates of 11.87 to 14.08 cents per kWh. Ashley says its zero-draw USB ports use power only while something is charging. La-Z-Boy gives no standby figure.
Power recliner warranties: motors, electrical parts and who repairs them
Power recliner warranties give the motor its own term, and on most chairs it's shorter than the mechanism's. La-Z-Boy, Ashley and Decor-Rest each put a lifetime term on the frame. These are the published terms for motors and electrical parts from four of the makers with power recliners on our site, checked in September 2026.
| Maker | Motor and electrics |
|---|---|
| La-Z-Boy | 3 years on parts and 1 year on labour, by its US warranty page. Reclining mechanism parts are covered for life on most chairs. Its battery pack gets 1 year on parts, with no labour. |
| Ashley | 1 year on electrical components. Recliner mechanisms get 5 years, with labour and shipping paid in the first year only. Our Ashley listings print a single 1-year term. |
| Decor-Rest | 1 year on electronic parts, fully covered. Mechanisms get 3 years, parts only in years 2 and 3. |
| UltraComfort (lift chairs) | 7 years on electrical parts on select models, pro-rated in years 4 to 7, with 1 year of electrical labour. |
Three of the four, Ashley included, send a claim back through the store. La-Z-Boy says to contact "the authorized dealer from whom you made your purchase", and UltraComfort that "service is provided by our dealers". At Merit we back the manufacturer's warranty on what we sell: we order any parts and see the repair through. No maker's warranty covers accidental damage, whether a stain, rip, tear, cut or burn.
None of these makers publishes an average lifespan for a power recliner's motor, so the electrical warranty is the only figure they put on it.
For cover past the maker's terms, Merit offers SmartOne from Zucora. It's a protection plan that works on anything Merit sells, power and manual recliners included, and a plan can run up to five years from the purchase date.
Disadvantages of a power recliner, and when manual is the better buy
The makers' own cautions point to a few households where a power recliner needs a second thought, and where a manual chair or a lift chair may suit better.
A house with small children needs care with any recliner. Ashley's warranty page says children shouldn't play on or operate motion furniture, which it says includes recliners. Only the person sitting in the recliner should work it. A power chair adds buttons a child can reach, and a cord that La-Z-Boy asks to keep away from children and pets.
Medical devices and oxygen are another. La-Z-Boy's power recliner manual says the chair "may adversely affect medical devices", and models with a wireless remote have magnets in the cradle. It asks users of medical devices to contact their health care provider first, and rules out use where oxygen is being given. If that describes your household, ask your doctor before choosing power.
Sleeping in the chair is a third. La-Z-Boy's manual says its power recliners aren't intended as a bed, and not to sleep in one for an extended period. If the plan is to sleep in a recliner after an operation, the surgeon or an occupational therapist is the one to ask.
If standing up is the hard part, a lift chair is the one to look at, since a recliner's seat stays at one height. What a lift chair does differently has a guide of its own. Ashley's one power lift recliner on our site, the Markridge, is carried at our Port Alberni store, so call there for our best price.
Where the power and manual recliner facts come from
- La-Z-Boy, Power Recliner with Headrest and Power Recliner with Headrest and Lumbar operating instructions, checked September 2026.
- La-Z-Boy, Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack instructions, checked September 2026.
- La-Z-Boy, Parts and Warranty Information (electrical parts, battery pack, claims), checked September 2026.
- La-Z-Boy, Kodie Wall Recliner (wall clearance, legrest positions), and Kodie Power Wall Recliner w/ Headrest and Lumbar, checked September 2026.
- Ashley Furniture Industries, Warranty Information (electrical components, recliner mechanisms, cautions), checked September 2026.
- Ashley, power reclining button and cable instructions (motors, USB rating), checked September 2026.
- Decor-Rest, 2450 Reclining Chair, and Decor-Rest, Warranty, checked September 2026.
- UltraComfort's owner's manual for its 1 and 2 Comfort Zone chairs, with UltraComfort Canada, Warranty (electrical parts and labour) and Find Your Comfort Zone, checked September 2026.
- HealthLink BC's low back pain page, on when to call 9-1-1 or a doctor (current as of November 9, 2022), checked September 2026.
- HealthLink BC's page on preventing falls in older adults (cords and walking paths), checked September 2026.
- BC Hydro Electric Tariff, residential tiered rate (Rate Schedule 1101) from April 1, 2026, checked September 2026.
- Merit's live recliner, lift chair and Decor-Rest listings (prices, counts, features and warranties), checked October 9, 2026, with Merit's delivery and warranty pages and the owners' answers.
Working a lever and a power button in person at our Duncan store
Working the lever on one chair and the buttons on the next shows the difference in a few minutes. The Duncan showroom, at 107 Ingram Street, opens Monday to Saturday from 9 to 5, and that's where to ask for me. The chairs on display at our Duncan store change, so a call before the drive tells you which of the ones you're weighing are set up. Merit's Nanaimo store, at 3230 Norwell Drive, open Monday to Saturday from 10 to 5, serves Parksville and Qualicum Beach among other towns, and takes questions by phone.
Bring the distance from the chair's spot to the nearest outlet, and a phone photo of that wall. Nobody will follow you around, and going home to think it over, then coming back when you're ready, is fine by us.
Delivery from our Duncan store costs $150 across the Island, and the $150 includes assembly. Gulf Islands addresses are a separate conversation, since we reach some islands and not others, so call the Duncan store about yours. The Nanaimo store's delivery terms aren't set out here, so ask them. More recliner guides sit together on one page, and the collection holds the recliners we list.