Updated August 2026. Written by the team at Mobility Co, a family owned mobility equipment showroom in Cheltenham serving bayside and south east Melbourne.
A lift recliner is a powered armchair that does two jobs. It tilts forward to help you stand up safely, and it reclines so you can rest, read or sleep in comfort. These are electric lift recliner chairs, powered by a quiet motor, so some people search for them as electric lift chairs or electric recliners. They are a popular, safe choice for the elderly and for anyone who finds a normal armchair hard to get out of. For many older Melburnians, the right chair is the difference between staying comfortably independent at home and struggling every time they sit down.
This guide explains how to choose well: the motor types, the sizing that most people get wrong, what funding can cover, and the chairs we recommend most often after fitting hundreds of people at our Cheltenham showroom.
Lift recliners come in single, dual, three, four and five motor configurations. More motors means more parts of the chair adjust independently.
| Motors | What moves | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Single | Backrest and footrest together | Simple stand up help, easiest handset to use |
| Dual | Backrest and leg rest independently | Circulation, swelling and daytime napping |
| Three | Adds either the lumbar support or the headrest pillow | Extra support where you need it most |
| Four | Both the lumbar support and the headrest pillow | Head to toe adjustment for long seated hours |
| Five | All of the above plus tilt-in-space | Maximum comfort, helps elevate legs for swelling and pressure relief |
A single motor chair moves the backrest and footrest together. It is the simplest and most affordable option and suits people who mainly want stand-up assistance. With so little to operate on the handset, it is also the easiest chair to use for someone living with dementia or other cognitive issues.
A dual motor chair moves the backrest and leg rest independently, so you can sit upright with your legs elevated. For most people we fit, the dual motor is worth it, especially for circulation, swelling or daytime napping.
A three motor chair adds one more independent adjustment on top of the lift and recline: either the lumbar support or the headrest pillow. A four motor chair gives you both, with the lumbar and pillow each moving on their own.
Five motor chairs, like the Aspire X5 range, have all of that plus tilt, so head, back, lumbar, legs and tilt each adjust independently. They let you fine-tune the support around your body rather than settling for one position, which matters if the chair is where you spend much of your day.
One more benefit of tilt worth knowing: chairs with tilt, including tilt-in-space designs like the Configura Comfort, can raise the legs higher relative to the heart, which many people with lower leg swelling, oedema or lymphoedema find helpful for drainage.
On top of the motors, some models offer heat and massage functions built into the chair. If you like the sound of that, try it in person, because it is one of those features people either love or never use.
A lift recliner has to fit like a good pair of shoes. Seat depth, seat height and back height all change how well the chair supports you and how safely it stands you up. Quality ranges come in petite through to maxi sizes, and the wrong size is the most common reason people end up unhappy with a chair bought online. This is exactly why we encourage a sit test at the showroom before any decision.
So what does a good fit look like? Feet flat on the ground, bottom all the way back in the seat, close to a 90 degree angle from knees to hips, enough space either side of the hips, and your head resting naturally on the pillow. If any of those are off, the chair is the wrong size, which is why it is always best to try before you buy.
Want to check the fit at home first? Download our free Recliner Size and Suitability Guide (PDF). It shows the six key measurements, what a good fit looks like and what to watch for, and it is the same checklist we use with clients and visiting OTs.
You will live with this chair in your lounge room, not in a clinic. Look for upholstery that suits your home, is easy to clean, and stays comfortable across long sitting periods. Pressure-relieving cushioning options exist for people at higher risk, and your occupational therapist can advise if that applies to you.
Colour options vary by chair. The Raphael X5 comes in Golden Grain, Marina Grey and Nordic Stone, with an Ebony leather option. The Rembrandt X5 comes in Mahogany microsuede, the Montana X Maxi in Golden Grain microsuede, the Oregon in Charcoal fabric or Latte vinyl, and the Configura Comfort in Beige or Black. See the full options in person at our Cheltenham showroom.
Most of our picks come from the Aspire range because the build quality, sizing options and after-sales support have proven themselves with our clients. These are the chairs we find ourselves recommending most, and every one of them can be tried at our Cheltenham showroom.
◆ Top pickAspire Rembrandt X5Five motors with heat, massage and tilt. The chair with everything.
◆ Best sellerAspire Raphael X5Five motor comfort in five sizes, four colours and three materials.
◆ Pressure reliefConfigura ComfortTilt-in-space and a personalised fit, guided by your OT.
◆ Bariatric strengthAspire Montana X MaxiGenerous sizing with a 220kg rating, built for bigger frames.
◆ Best valueAspire OregonSingle motor, space saver design, quality without the premium price.
The chair with everything. Five independent motors, so head, back, lumbar, legs and tilt each adjust on their own, plus built-in heat and massage. The Rembrandt X5 fits around you rather than the other way round, and it is the chair we point people to when they spend a large part of their day sitting and want the most comfort a lift recliner can offer. Available in Mahogany microsuede.
The Raphael X5 is the chair we sell more than any other, and for good reason. Five motor comfort in a design that looks like furniture rather than equipment. It skips the heat and massage, but it comes in five sizes, four colours and three upholstery materials, with built-in lateral support and a maxi option rated to 190kg. If the chair is going in a much-loved living room, this is the one people fall for on the showroom floor. Colours include Golden Grain, Marina Grey and Nordic Stone, with an Ebony leather option.
The Oregon is the smart way into a quality lift recliner without the premium price tag. A single motor chair with a space saver design that sits close to the wall, ideal for smaller rooms and units. Simple to use, well made, and an easy chair to live with. Available in Charcoal fabric or Latte vinyl.
The Configura Comfort is the most adaptable chair we stock. A dual motor lift chair with tilt-in-space to help redistribute pressure, vapour permeable seating that looks after skin integrity, and a no shear recline that keeps posture aligned as the backrest moves. It comes in three sizes with built-in depth adjustment, interchangeable backrest options and a wide range of positioning accessories, so the chair is set up around the person rather than the person fitting the chair. It also sits on castors, which makes it easy to move between rooms. A popular choice where an occupational therapist is involved in the seating decision, and we work through the options together with you and your OT, including trials. Available in Beige or Black.
Built for larger bodies without looking like it. The Montana X Maxi carries a 220kg safe working load on a wide, generous seat with plush armrests and commercial grade cushioning, in a contemporary design that still suits the home. A footrest extension supports circulation in the lower legs, the simple two button handset is easy to operate, and an all day lithium battery keeps the chair working through a power outage. Available in Golden Grain microsuede.
Pricing is quote based, fitted to you. Funded quotes are usually ready within 24 hours.
Or call us on 1300 225 203.
A note on price. In Melbourne, quality lift recliners generally run from around $1,500 for a well-made single motor chair to $5,000 and beyond for configurable clinical seating. We quote each chair for your exact size, fabric and options, and funded quotes are usually ready within 24 hours.
Often, yes.
Support at Home (including AT-HM): lift recliners can be funded as assistive technology where they are assessed as needed. We are a registered provider and prepare compliant quotes, usually within 24 hours, ready for your provider or assessment.
NDIS: participants can fund a lift recliner where it relates to their disability and is reasonable and necessary. We supply full specifications and quotes in the format planners and OTs need.
Buying privately: many of our clients simply buy outright. You still get the same fitting, trial, delivery and setup service.
If you are not sure which applies to you, call us on 1300 225 203 and we will point you in the right direction, with no obligation.
You cannot judge a lift recliner from a photo. Ten minutes of sitting, standing and reclining tells you more than an hour of reading specs. Our Cheltenham showroom at 2/136 Keys Road has the Aspire range set up to try, with a private space if you are visiting with your OT. Walk-ins are welcome weekdays 9am to 5pm, Saturdays by appointment, and there is customer parking on site. For eligible clients we also offer in-home trials, so you can be sure the chair suits the room it will live in.
We deliver across metro Victoria, including Cheltenham, Mentone, Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Beaumaris, Moorabbin and Bentleigh, and we set the chair up in the room where doorways are never a barrier. We can also take your existing chair away when the new one arrives.
Every chair in this guide is set up and ready to try at our Cheltenham showroom, 2/136 Keys Road. Walk-ins welcome weekdays 9am to 5pm, Saturdays by appointment.
Yes. Every lift recliner in this guide is electric, powered by a quiet motor and operated with a simple handset. People also search for them as electric lift chairs or electric recliners. All the chairs we recommend are motorised, and you can try them at our Cheltenham showroom.
They are one of the most popular choices we fit for elderly Melburnians. The powered lift tilts the chair forward to help you stand safely, which takes the strain out of getting up and lowers the risk of a fall. We size each chair to the person, so it suits their height and build.
In general, more motors means more control, because more parts of the chair adjust independently. There are two exceptions. If the user needs pressure relief, the dual motor Configura Comfort with tilt-in-space is often the better choice. And if the user is living with cognitive issues, a simple single motor chair like the Aspire Oregon or Aspire Signature Single Motor is the easiest to use day to day.
Generally from around $1,500 for a quality single motor chair up to $5,000 or more for configurable clinical seating with pressure care. The price includes a proper fitting, delivery, setup in your home and local aftercare from our Cheltenham showroom. We quote to your exact size and options, and funded quotes are usually ready within 24 hours.
It can, where the chair relates to your disability and is assessed as reasonable and necessary. We prepare compliant quotes and specifications for your planner or OT.
Yes, lift recliners can be funded as assistive technology under Support at Home where assessed as needed. We are registered and prepare the paperwork for you.
Seat height, seat depth and back height all need to match your body. The reliable way is a fitted sit test, which is exactly what our Cheltenham showroom is for. Bring the person who will use the chair.
Yes. Try the range at our Cheltenham showroom any weekday, or ask about a free in-home trial on key models for eligible clients.
Most quality lift recliners include a battery backup that lowers the chair so you are never stuck reclined. Ask us to confirm the backup arrangement on the model you choose.
Yes, across metro Victoria. We assemble larger chairs in the room, so tight hallways and doorways are not a problem, and we can remove your existing chair when we deliver.
Choose the motor configuration for how you will actually use the chair, get fitted rather than guessing your size, and use funding where you are eligible. Then sit in the chair before you buy it. Visit us at 2/136 Keys Road, Cheltenham, or call 1300 225 203 and we will help you get it right the first time.
Sorting the bedroom as well? Read our guide to the best adjustable beds in Melbourne. And for getting out and about, see our guide to the best mobility scooters in Melbourne.