Choosing a Lift Chair in NZ | Advice by Situation

Q: Do you have petite lift chairs for a smaller person?

Yes, every chair in the Theorem range comes in a Petite size, with seat widths from 45.7cm and a 45.7cm seat height, starting at $2,495. A standard chair that is too big isn't just uncomfortable: if your feet don't reach the floor, the lift can push you forward instead of up.

Q: What size lift chair do I need?

Measure three things. Seat width: across the widest point of your hips while seated, plus 2 to 3cm, no more. Seat depth: sitting back properly, you want two to three fingers' gap between the front of the seat and the back of your knee. Seat height: with feet flat on the floor, measure from the floor to the back of your knee. Then pick a chair rated comfortably above your weight rather than right at it.

Standing up shouldn’t be the hardest part of your day

Powered lift chairs that raise you gently towards standing — and recline for real comfort in between. From $1,795, delivered and set up in your home, anywhere in New Zealand.

Call Kellie — 022 022 9956

Not sure which chair? Ring me and I’ll book you a free video call — I’ll show you the chairs live on screen, from your own living room. No pressure, no obligation.

Blue power lift chair reclined in a New Zealand living room

✔ Kiwi family business since 2005
✔ NZ-wide delivery & in-home setup
✔ 30-day returns
✔ NZ warranty, parts & servicing
✔ WINZ / ACC funding may apply

Hi, I’m Kellie. Let’s find the right chair together.

I own Mobility Plus and I personally look after every order. We’re a small family business based in Putaruru, South Waikato — not a chain of retail stores, which keeps prices down. We do have a showroom here, open by appointment only, so ring me first and we’ll book you a time. A lift chair is a big purchase and a hard one to judge from photos, so before you buy anything, ring me and I’ll show you the chairs properly.

1Call or text me on 022 022 9956. Tell me a little about who the chair is for.
2We book a video call at a time that suits you. Any device with a camera works — phone, tablet or laptop. I’ll walk you through it if you’re not sure how.
3I show you the chairs live. The lift action, the fabrics, the sizes, how the remote works — and I’ll help you measure up so the chair actually fits.

Call Kellie now — 022 022 9956

Takes about 15 minutes. Free, and there’s no obligation to buy. If I miss your call, I’ll ring you straight back.

Which lift chair is right for you?

Start with the situation that sounds most like yours. Every chair below has powered stand-assist — the differences are in strength, positions and comfort.

Most people start here

Everyday comfort & easy standing

“I can still get about, but getting out of my chair has become a real struggle.”

Lift to exit — at the press of a button the seat tilts forward and lifts you onto your feet. No pushing up on the arms, no waiting for someone to pull you up
Dual motors — backrest and leg rest move independently, so you can put your feet up while sitting upright
Reclines close to flat for a proper rest
Suits users up to 130–160kg

Chairs in this group

Pride C-101 — single motor, 3-position$1,795

Infinite Position Power Lift Chairfrom $1,899.95

Monarch Dual Motor — fabric$1,899.95

Monarch Dual Motor — black vinyl$1,899.95

Theorem Mercer — quad motor, compactfrom $2,695

Pride LC-107 — dual motor, infinite position$2,895

Theorem Studio — quad motor, stain-resistantfrom $3,295

Larger & stronger

A wider, tougher chair

“Standard chairs feel tight, and I’m over the weight limit on most of them.”

Reinforced frames rated to 220kg and 227kg — the two strongest chairs we stock
Wider seats: 54.5–67.5cm on the Heavy-Duty, a fixed 66cm on the Pride LC-358XL
Battery backup on the Heavy-Duty keeps it working in a power cut; the LC-358XL uses a Dual Motor Sync system that keeps the lift even under load
3M stain-protected upholstery on the Heavy-Duty in Light Grey or Steel Grey; fabric or vinyl on the LC-358XL
Goldfern warranty on the Heavy-Duty: 24 months on the frame, 12 months on the actuator and remote — with parts and servicing here in NZ

Chairs in this group

Heavy-Duty Electric Lift Chair — 220kgfrom $1,995

Pride LC-358XL Bariatric — 227kg, 66cm seat$4,995

Pressure & swelling

Zero gravity & Trendelenburg

“My legs swell, my back aches, and I’m in the chair most of the day.”

Three motors plus tilt-in-space — the seat and back tilt together as one
Zero gravity — also called the Trendelenburg position — raises the legs to heart level and above, spreading your weight evenly, taking load off the spine and helping with swelling (oedema) and circulation. Two names, same position: zero gravity is the everyday term, Trendelenburg the clinical one
Removable backrest makes it easier to move between rooms
Battery backup · supports up to 150kg

Chairs in this group

Zero Gravity Electric Lift Chairfrom $2,099.99

Theorem Winslow — five motor, app controlledfrom $2,495

Pride T-3 — full Trendelenburg, 170kg$4,695

Premium

Comfort that still looks like furniture

“I want the help getting up — but I don’t want my lounge to look like a hospital.”

Premium upholstery and finish, built to sit in a family living room
La-Z-Boy® Pinnacle Platinum offers the zero gravity (Trendelenburg) position, rated to 160kg
Theorem Seagrove hides a cup holder and a wireless phone charger in a leather-look finish; the Theorem Aroki lies fully flat to 183cm
iCare VMotion is designed and made in Northland, NZ, built to order with your choice of fabric and seat fit — rated to 170kg, and it reaches zero gravity too

Chairs in this group

Theorem Seagrove — quad motorfrom $3,295

Theorem Aroki — quad motor, lay-flatfrom $3,295

iCare VMotion (NZ made)$3,499

La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Platinum$4,299.95

The Cubro Configura is here now — it’s a clinical, OT-specified chair, so you’ll find it in the complex seating group below.

Clinical & OT-prescribed

Complex seating needs

“An occupational therapist is involved, and we need the chair configured properly.”

Modular clinical seating — configurable to the individual
Power lift, recline and tilt for pressure care and positioning, including the zero gravity (Trendelenburg) position
The Cubro Configura Comfort adds tilt-in-space, adjustable seat depth and an interchangeable pressure-care cushion — NZ made by Cubro in Tauranga, rated to 160kg, in three seat widths (457, 508 and 559mm). A Configura Bariatric rated to 254kg, with seat widths out to 711mm, is available on application
Made to order in New Zealand · suits aged care, rehab and OT prescription
Because they’re built to your spec, change-of-mind returns don’t apply

Chairs in this group

iCare VFit Clinical Seating System$7,980

Cubro Configura Comfort — 160kg, tilt-in-space$11,920–$13,924

For OT prescriptions that don’t need modular seating, the Theorem Winslow offers five motors, zero gravity, Trendelenburg tilt and four sizes — ring me and we’ll work out which is the better fit.

Smaller frame

Petite — for a shorter, smaller build

“Every chair I sit in, my feet dangle and the seat swallows me.”

A standard lift chair that’s too big is genuinely unsafe — if your feet don’t reach the floor, the lift can push you forward rather than up
Petite chairs have a lower seat height, shallower seat depth and narrower width, scaled for a smaller frame
Every chair in the Theorem range comes in a Petite size — seat widths from 45.7cm and a 45.7cm seat height, with the same powered stand-assist and recline as the standard models
The Pride C1 Petite is the smallest chair we stock — a 46cm seat width, a 41cm seat height and a shorter back, built for someone under about 163cm

Petite chairs in stock

Pride C1 Petite — 46cm seat, 41cm seat height$1,895

Theorem Winslow Petite — 45.7cm seat$2,495

Theorem Mercer Petite — 45.7cm seat$2,695

Theorem Aroki Petite — 45.7cm seat$3,295

Theorem Studio Petite — 50.8cm seat$3,295

Theorem Seagrove Petite — 50.8cm seat$3,295

Ring me with a tape measure handy and we’ll make sure we order the right size first time.

Still not sure? That’s the normal answer — and it’s exactly what the phone call is for.

Call Kellie — 022 022 9956

The three things that actually matter

Ignore the jargon. When you’re choosing a lift chair, it comes down to motors, fit and fabric.

1. Motors — how it moves

Single motorBackrest and leg rest move together, on one track.

Dual motorBack and legs move independently — any combination you like. This is what “infinite position” means. Most of our chairs.

Three motor / tilt-in-spaceAdds a tilt of the whole seat and back together, giving the zero gravity position — also called Trendelenburg.

Four and five motorThe Theorem range adds a powered headrest and powered lumbar on top of the back and legs. The five-motor Winslow adds zero gravity and Trendelenburg tilt as well.

Every chair on this page has powered stand-assist — it tilts forward to bring you up towards standing.

2. Fit — will it suit you?

The most common regret is a chair that’s the wrong size. Three measurements matter:

Seat heightFeet flat on the floor, knees level with hips.

Seat depthA couple of fingers’ gap behind the knees — not pressing.

Seat widthRoom at the hips without being so wide you slouch sideways.

Grab a tape measure and ring me. Two minutes on the phone and we’ll know which chairs actually fit — before you spend a cent.

3. Fabric — how it lives

FabricWarmest and most popular for the lounge. Several come with 3M stain protection, and the Theorem Studio’s Santa Barbara weave has stain resistance built into the fibre.

Vinyl / PUWipes clean in seconds. The right choice where spills or continence are a concern.

PremiumHigher-grade finishes on the La-Z-Boy, Theorem and NZ-made iCare chairs.

Also worth knowing: battery backup (on several models) means the chair still lowers you in a power cut — and you’ll want to allow clearance behind the chair for the backrest to recline. I’ll check your room on the call.

Want the full spec table?

Every powered lift chair we stock, side by side — weight rating, seat width, seat and lift height, motors, room needed and price. Filter it by what matters to you.

⇆ Compare all lift chairs

The ranges we carry

We only stock chairs we can service and support here in New Zealand.

Goldfern

Well-established NZ mobility supplier. Our Infinite Position, Heavy-Duty and Zero Gravity chairs, with NZ parts and servicing.

Monarch

Straightforward dual-motor rise recliners with a simple 6-button remote, in fabric or wipe-clean vinyl.

Theorem

Quad and five-motor power lift recliners with powered headrest and lumbar, supplied through Pride Mobility NZ. Five models, every one available in a Petite size, from $2,495.

Pride

One of the best-known lift chair makers in the world, supplied through Pride Mobility NZ. Five models, from the $1,795 C-101 through to the 227kg LC-358XL bariatric and the T-3 with full Trendelenburg.

La-Z-Boy®

The name people know. Premium power lift recliners with zero-gravity positioning.

iCare

Designed and built in Northland, New Zealand. Made to order, from everyday lift chairs through to modular clinical seating.

Cubro Configura

NZ made by Cubro in Tauranga, and available now. The Configura Comfort is a clinical rise and recline chair with tilt-in-space, adjustable seat depth and an interchangeable pressure-care cushion — three seat widths (457, 508 and 559mm), rated to 160kg, $11,920–$13,924, and usually specified by an OT. A Configura Bariatric rated to 254kg, with seat widths out to 711mm, is available on application.

What happens after you order

Delivered and set up

An experienced two-person team places the chair in the room you choose, tests it with you, and takes all the packaging away. We’re based centrally in Putaruru, South Waikato, so we reach most of the country quickly.

Delivery is quoted per order — tell us your address and we’ll confirm the cost before you commit. It depends on the chair, where you are and how easy the access is, so I’ll work it out for your situation and confirm it with you before anything is dispatched. Rural addresses may need an extra 2–3 days.

Buying for a parent?

Plenty of our customers are adult children organising a chair for Mum or Dad in another town. We deliver and install straight to your parent’s door — you don’t need to be there, or even in the same island. The team sets the chair up, tests it with them and takes the packaging away. Ring me and I’m happy to have your parents on the video call too, so everyone sees the same thing.

Funding help

Some customers are eligible for WINZ or ACC assistance. I can talk you through what’s involved — see our WINZ funding page.

Backed locally

NZ warranty, spare parts and servicing — no offshore delays. And a 30-day returns policy on stocked chairs (made-to-order chairs are built to your spec, so change-of-mind returns don’t apply).

Worth adding

Protect the chair from day one

A lift chair is the seat someone lives in — meals, cups of tea, medications, the occasional accident. A protective cover is the cheapest thing you’ll ever do to keep it looking new, and it’s far easier to fit one on day one than to shift a stain later.

Quilted, waterproof and machine washable — take it off, wash it, put it back on
All three of our Goldfern chairs let you add a cover when you order — $60 to $65 on top of the chair price
Prefer to choose a colour? Buy the cover on its own for $65.95, in Dark Blue, Mocha or Grey
For continence needs there’s also a full absorbent chair protector ($299.95) — four-layer reusable protection over the whole chair

Ask me about covers when we talk — I’ll make sure you get the right one for your chair and your situation. It’s the single most common thing people wish they’d added.

Lift chair fitted with a quilted protective cover

Lift chair questions, answered

Are lift chairs good for the elderly?

Yes. A powered lift chair takes the effort out of standing up, which is where a lot of falls at home begin. It tilts the whole seat forward so you rise with far less strain through the knees, hips and back, then reclines for comfortable resting the rest of the day.

What’s the difference between a single-motor, dual-motor and infinite-position chair?

A single-motor chair moves the backrest and footrest together. A dual-motor chair moves them independently for more positions — often called “infinite position”. Four-motor chairs, like most of the Theorem range, add a powered headrest and powered lumbar on top. An infinite-position or zero-gravity chair reclines almost flat and lifts the legs towards heart level for maximum pressure relief.

How much does a lift chair cost in New Zealand?

Our powered lift chairs start at $1,795. Heavy-duty and zero-gravity models sit a little higher, the four and five-motor Theorem chairs run from $2,495 to $3,595 depending on model and size, NZ-made and premium chairs higher again, and clinical seating systems are built to order. Ring me and I’ll give you a straight answer for your situation.

What is a zero gravity or Trendelenburg lift chair?

Zero gravity and Trendelenburg are two names for the same thing — “zero gravity” is the everyday term and “Trendelenburg” is the clinical one. The chair tilts the seat and back together so your legs come up to heart level and above. That spreads your weight evenly, takes load off the spine, and helps with swelling (oedema) and circulation. Our Zero Gravity Electric Lift Chair reaches it with three motors and tilt-in-space, the five-motor Theorem Winslow offers both zero gravity and Trendelenburg tilt, and the iCare VMotion, iCare VFit and La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Platinum offer it too.

Do you have petite lift chairs for a smaller person?

Yes — every chair in the Theorem range comes in a Petite size, with seat widths from 45.7cm and a 45.7cm seat height, starting at $2,495. A standard chair that’s too big isn’t just uncomfortable — if your feet don’t reach the floor, the lift can push you forward instead of up. Ring me on 022 022 9956 with a tape measure handy and we’ll make sure we order the right size first time.

What size lift chair do I need?

Measure three things. Seat width — across the widest point of your hips while seated, plus 2–3cm, no more. Seat depth — sitting back properly, you want two to three fingers’ gap between the front of the seat and the back of your knee. Seat height — with feet flat on the floor, measure from the floor to the back of your knee. Then pick a chair rated comfortably above your weight rather than right at it. This is the single easiest thing to get wrong — and the easiest thing to sort out in a two-minute phone call.

How much room does a lift chair need?

Allow roughly the chair’s overall width, plus clearance behind for the backrest to recline — most wall-hugger style chairs need only 15–30cm behind. Measure your space before ordering, or call me on 022 022 9956 and we’ll work it out together.

Can I see a chair before I buy?

Yes. Ring me on 022 022 9956 and we’ll book a time. Most people choose a free video call — I’ll show you the chairs live on screen, demonstrate the lift action, and answer anything you want to ask. If you’d rather see them in person, our Putaruru showroom is open by appointment only, so ring first and we’ll arrange a time that suits. Either way it’s free and there’s no obligation.

Do you deliver everywhere in New Zealand?

Yes, NZ-wide, with in-home setup available. Delivery is quoted per order — tell us your address and we’ll confirm the cost before you commit.

Every lift chair we stock

All nineteen powered lift chairs, from the $1,795 Pride C-101 through to NZ-made clinical seating. Tap any chair for full specifications — or ring me and I’ll narrow it down for you in a couple of minutes.