We stock nineteen powered lift and recline chairs. This guide is here to narrow that down to two or three, using the four things that actually decide it — weight, fit, what the chair needs to do, and budget. If you'd rather just talk it through, call Kellie on 022 022 9956.
The four questions
- How much does the person weigh? This rules chairs in or out before anything else.
- How tall are they, and how wide a seat do they need? A chair that's too big is as hard to get out of as one that's too low.
- What does the chair need to do? Lifting you to standing is the minimum. Raising your legs independently, lying flat, or lifting the legs above the heart are all different jobs.
- What's the budget, and is funding involved? WINZ, ACC, Enable and Accessable all fund lift chairs in the right circumstances.
Where most people start
Infinite Position Power Lift Chair
From $1,899.95
Our most-chosen chair by a wide margin. Dual motor, 150kg, 44cm seat.
Step 1 — Weight capacity
Every chair has a safe working load. Choose one rated comfortably above the user's weight, not right at it — the lift motor works hardest at the top of its range, and a chair run at its limit wears out faster.
| Weight | Chairs rated for it |
|---|---|
| Up to 113kg | Pride C1 Petite — and every chair below |
| Up to 130kg | Monarch Dual Motor (fabric or vinyl) |
| Up to 147–150kg | Pride C-101, Pride LC-107, Infinite Position Power Lift Chair, Zero Gravity Electric |
| Up to 158kg | Theorem Winslow, Mercer, Studio, Seagrove, Aroki |
| Up to 160kg | La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Platinum |
| Up to 170kg | Pride T-3, iCare VMotion |
| Up to 220kg | Heavy-Duty Electric Lift Chair |
| Up to 227kg | Pride LC-358XL Bariatric |
Over 150kg? You have three real options in New Zealand: the Heavy-Duty Electric at 220kg with a seat that widens to 67.5cm, the Pride LC-358XL at 227kg with a 66cm seat and a dual-motor sync system that keeps the lift even under load, or the iCare VMotion at 170kg. Very few retailers here publish a weight rating at all — if you're comparing elsewhere and can't find one, ask.
Step 2 — Getting the size right
This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that causes regret. A seat that's too wide gives you nothing to push against when standing. A seat that's too deep leaves your feet dangling and your back unsupported. A seat that's too low is hard to rise from even with a powered lift.
How to measure
- Seat width — measure across the widest point of the hips while seated, and add 2–3cm. No more.
- Seat depth — sit back properly. You want two to three fingers' gap between the front of the seat and the back of the knee.
- Seat height — with feet flat on the floor, measure from the floor to the back of the knee. That's roughly the seat height you want.
| Seat width | Chair | Seat height |
|---|---|---|
| 44cm | Infinite Position Power Lift Chair, Zero Gravity Electric | 49–75cm rise |
| 46cm | Pride C1 Petite | 41cm |
| 45.7–52cm | Theorem Aroki, Mercer, Winslow (size dependent) | 45.7–55cm |
| 51cm | Pride C-101, Pride LC-107, Pride T-3, La-Z-Boy Pinnacle | 47–51cm |
| 53cm | iCare VFit Clinical | 55cm |
| 55cm | Monarch Dual Motor (fabric or vinyl) | 50cm |
| 50.8–57.1cm | Theorem Studio, Seagrove | 45.7–49.5cm |
| 66cm | Pride LC-358XL Bariatric | 51cm |
| 54.5–67.5cm | Heavy-Duty Electric | 46cm |
Shorter than about 163cm? Look at the Pride C1 Petite first. It's the only genuinely petite chair we stock — 46cm seat, 41cm seat height, and a shorter back. Sitting a smaller person in a standard chair is the most common sizing mistake we see.
Room to recline. Allow the chair's overall width plus clearance behind it. Most of our chairs are 76–100cm wide. The LC-358XL is the largest at 100cm and needs 48cm behind it. If access through doorways is tight, ring us — several models have removable backrests.
Step 3 — How many motors, and what they actually do
Motor count is the most confusing part of lift chair shopping, partly because retailers count them differently. Here's what each configuration lets you do.
Single motor — 3-position
The backrest and legrest move together on one motor, through a set of fixed positions: lifted, reading, relaxing, napping. It doesn't lie flat, and you can't raise your legs while sitting upright. Fewer moving parts, less to go wrong, lower price.
Chairs: Pride C1 Petite, Pride C-101, Pride LC-358XL
Dual motor — infinite position
Two motors drive the back and legs separately, so you can stop anywhere between upright and near flat. Legs up with the back upright is the position most people want, and a 3-position chair simply can't do it.
Chairs: Infinite Position Power Lift Chair, Monarch (fabric), Monarch (vinyl), Pride LC-107, La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Platinum
Three or more motors — headrest, lumbar and tilt
Extra motors add powered headrest and lumbar adjustment, or tilt-in-space movement that rotates the whole seat and back together. Worth it if you spend long hours in the chair and need to change posture often.
Chairs: Zero Gravity Electric (three motors plus tilt), Theorem Mercer, Studio, Seagrove and Aroki (four motors each), iCare VMotion (four motors, NZ made)
Zero gravity and Trendelenburg
Zero gravity reclines you with the knees slightly above the hips, spreading your weight and taking pressure off the lower back. Trendelenburg goes further and lifts the legs above the heart — often suggested where there's swelling, oedema or a circulation concern. Very few chairs sold in New Zealand offer true Trendelenburg.
Chairs: Pride T-3 (full Trendelenburg and zero gravity), Theorem Winslow (five motors, Trendelenburg, app controlled), Zero Gravity Electric
Whether either position suits you is a question for your GP or occupational therapist, not a website.
Clinical and pressure care
Modular chairs built to an individual's measurements, usually specified by an occupational therapist, with tilt-in-space and pressure-care cushioning.
Chairs: iCare VFit Clinical Seating System (made to order in Northland). The Cubro Configura Comfort — tilt-in-space with pressure care, rated to 160kg — is also available to order through an OT; contact us for a quote.
Step 4 — Budget
Prices below are current and GST inclusive. Delivery and installation are quoted per order.
| Budget | What you can get |
|---|---|
| Under $2,000 | Pride C-101 ($1,795), Pride C1 Petite ($1,895), Infinite Position (from $1,899.95), Monarch fabric or vinyl ($1,899.95), Heavy-Duty 220kg (from $1,995) |
| $2,000–$3,000 | Zero Gravity Electric (from $2,099.99), Theorem Winslow (from $2,495), Theorem Mercer (from $2,695), Pride LC-107 ($2,895) |
| $3,000–$4,000 | Theorem Studio, Seagrove and Aroki (from $3,295), iCare VMotion ($3,499) |
| $4,000+ | La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Platinum ($4,299.95), Pride T-3 ($4,695), Pride LC-358XL ($4,995), iCare VFit Clinical ($7,980) |
More money buys three things, roughly in this order: higher weight capacity, more motors, and better upholstery and finish. It does not automatically buy a better lift — the powered stand-assist on our $1,795 chair works on the same principle as the one on the $4,995 chair.
Common situations, and what we'd suggest
| If this sounds like you | Start with |
|---|---|
| Standing up is the main problem, budget matters | Pride C-101 or the Infinite Position Power Lift Chair — our most popular chair by a wide margin |
| Smaller build, under about 163cm tall | Pride C1 Petite |
| Larger build, over 150kg | Heavy-Duty Electric (220kg) or Pride LC-358XL (227kg) |
| Swollen legs, oedema or circulation concerns | Pride T-3 for full Trendelenburg, or Pride LC-107 for independent leg elevation |
| Long hours in the chair, back or posture issues | Theorem Winslow or the Zero Gravity Electric |
| Spills, continence or a care setting | Monarch in black vinyl — wipes clean in seconds |
| Pressure care or complex seating, OT involved | iCare VFit, or ask us about the Cubro Configura |
| Wants a chair that looks like furniture, not equipment | Theorem Seagrove or the La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Platinum |
| Sleeping in the chair | Theorem Aroki — lays flat to 183cm |
Every chair we stock, side by side
| Chair | From | Holds | Seat width | Motors | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Pride C-101 | $1,795 | 147kg | 51cm | Single, 3-position |
 |
Pride C1 Petite | $1,895 | 113kg | 46cm | Single, 3-position |
|
Infinite Position Power Lift Chair | $1,899.95 | 150kg | 44cm | Dual, independent |
|
Monarch Dual Motor (fabric) | $1,899.95 | 130kg | 55cm | Dual, independent |
 |
Monarch Dual Motor (black vinyl) | $1,899.95 | 130kg | 55cm | Dual, independent |
|
Heavy-Duty Electric | $1,995 | 220kg | 54.5–67.5cm | Twin + battery backup |
|
Zero Gravity Electric | $2,099.99 | 150kg | 44cm | Three + zero-G tilt |
 |
Theorem Winslow | $2,495 | 158kg | 45.7–56cm | Five + zero-G & Trendelenburg |
 |
Theorem Mercer | $2,695 | 158kg | 45.7–50.8cm | Four |
|
Pride LC-107 | $2,895 | 147kg | 51cm | Dual, infinite position |
 |
Theorem Studio | $3,295 | 158kg | 50.8–57.1cm | Four |
 |
Theorem Seagrove | $3,295 | 158kg | 50.8–55.8cm | Four, cup holder & wireless charging |
 |
Theorem Aroki | $3,295 | 158kg | 45.7–52cm | Four, lays flat |
 |
iCare VMotion NZ made | $3,499 | 170kg | — | Four |
 |
La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Platinum | $4,299.95 | 160kg | 51cm | Twin, zero-G recline |
|
Pride T-3 | $4,695 | 170kg | 51cm | Dual + full Trendelenburg |
|
Pride LC-358XL Bariatric | $4,995 | 227kg | 66cm | Dual Motor Sync |
 |
iCare VFit Clinical NZ made | $7,980 | By assessment | 53cm | Modular clinical |
| Cubro Configura Comfort OT prescribed | POA | 160kg | By assessment | Tilt-in-space, pressure care |
Compare all lift chairs with filters →
Funding
Lift chairs are funded in the right circumstances by WINZ, ACC, Enable and Accessable. We quote for all four. If an occupational therapist is involved, send us the reference number and we'll put a compliant quote together — see how funding works, or just ask.
Delivery
Delivery and installation are quoted per order, because the cost depends on your address and access. We confirm it with you before your chair is dispatched. Two-person home delivery with installation, assembly and packaging removal is available nationwide. Allow 7–10 working days to most North and South Island addresses, and an extra 2–3 days rural.
Warranty
Every chair carries a minimum 12-month NZ-backed warranty, with several covered for longer — the Theorem range runs to five years on the frame. Your Consumer Guarantees Act rights apply on top. Servicing and spare parts are handled here in New Zealand.
Still not sure?
This is a big purchase and the wrong chair is an expensive mistake. We're a family business in Putaruru, we've been doing this since 2005, and we'd rather spend ten minutes on the phone with you than have you guess.
Call Kellie on 022 022 9956 or email info@mobilityplus.co.nz.