As you shop for a reclining sofa, you’ll want to consider the number of reclining seats, whether the seats are manual or electric—and, of course, whether it will match with your existing decor. “Styling a recliner with different textiles in unique textures and patterns is a good way to add a designer touch,” says Decorist designer Elizabeth Herrera. “I have seen some more contemporary styles that aren’t as heavy-looking. I once had to do a double-take to make sure it was a recliner!" Keeping this in mind, here are the best reclining sofas you can buy right now. The Wallaway Reclining Sofa is sure to look classy in your home, and its traditional aesthetic will complement just about any style of decor. The sofa has classic roll arms and is covered in a polyester chenille upholstery fabric. It can comfortably seat up to three people—two of whom can enjoy the couch’s manual reclining seats situated on either end. This sofa is 88 inches long with 21-inch deep seats, and its cushions are filled with a combination of sinuous coil springs and foam for a supportive and comfy feel. The sofa features three back and seat cushions lined with decorative piping, and it even comes with two accent throw pillows. There are handles to engage the recliners on either end of the sofa—but if you didn’t see them, you’d never know the piece was anything other than an attractive couch. Price at time of publish: $1,500
Our product tester rated this recliner 4.8 out of 5 stars, praising it for its medium-firm feel, extra features like USB ports, and space-saving size. We also liked its classy design that can work in both traditional and contemporary homes, not to mention the more than 50 options for upholstery.
Price at time of publish: $1,739
This reclining sofa is 88 inches long, and its seats are 22 inches deep. It has comfortable foam seat cushions, and when you want to kick up your feet, the two end seats have power reclining features. There’s even an integrated USB port that lets you charge your phone right from the couch—how’s that for convenience?
Price at time of publish: $1,500
At 87 inches long, this sofa can technically seat three, but there are just two recliners here without a third seat in the middle. On the plus side, that makes the seats extra wide! In order to get into full reclining mode, all you have to do is press a button—the electric controls allow you to pick the perfect position of the back and footrest.
The three-piece sofa has powered recliners on both ends, and you’re able to independently position the headrest, footrest, and armrests to suit your lounging style. Additionally, the sofa seats pull forward as they recline, ensuring the back of the sofa doesn’t hit the wall. The couch has a corner block, kiln-dried solid wood frame that provides exceptional durability, as well as no-sag sinuous spring seats and a firm yet comfortable feel.
Price at time of publish: $5,147 for performance heathered basketweave, Oatmeal
The standard three-piece design is 127 inches wide, and it has a power reclining seat on one end and a press-back chaise on the other. You can choose whether you want the sectional to be right- or left-hand facing, and you’re sure to love the generously padded arms and back cushions, which make it unbelievably comfortable.
Price at time of publish: $2,019
You can control the back and footrest of each seat independently, giving you more options for lounging. Still, they’re plenty comfortable before you ever recline—the seats feature high-resiliency polyfoam wrapped in fiber with sinuous wire suspension for durability.
Price at time of publish: $3,200
This loveseat has modern flared arms and a clean-lined silhouette, and each seat has a reclining footrest that pops out with ease. It has sinuous spring supports in its cushions to ensure they don’t sag, and the sofa is even outfitted with a USB charging port so you can power up your electronics as you relax at the end of the day.
Price at time of publish: $1,320
Controls
There are two common types of controls for recliners: manual and electric. Manual models (like our best overall pick, Raymour & Flannigan’s Stanton Chenille Wallaway Reclining Sofa) typically feature a handle that you pull to release the reclining mechanism, while power recliners (like Wayfair’s Leigh Reclining Loveseat) has a have control buttons, often located on the inside of the arm. Power recliners often give you more control over the position of your chair, but keep in mind that they also need to be plugged into an outlet, which may restrict where you can put them within your home.
Extra Features
Today’s couches often come with additional features, such as built-in USB charging ports for electronics, hidden storage in armrests, and even pop-up headrests. As you shop for a reclining sofa, consider whether any of these features would fit your lifestyle—they often cost extra, but for some people, the convenience may be worth it.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer who has written for The Spruce since 2017. With a background in interior design, she’s an expert on all things home and has ample experience testing sofas and other large pieces of furniture. For this piece, she sought out different types of recliners, both traditional and modern, manual and electric, and leather and fabric. For additional insight, she consulted with two designers from the online interior design service Decorist, along with feedback from The Spruce’s own product testers.
