How to measure for a bariatric riser recliner chair

Why measuring matters

On a bariatric riser recliner, the seat size matters as much as the weight rating. A chair can be rated well above the user’s weight and still be uncomfortable if the seat is too narrow, too deep or too low. Taking a few measurements before you ask for prices helps suppliers recommend the right chair first time, and gives you figures to check their quotes against.

It also matters for your home. Bariatric chairs are wider, deeper and heavier than standard armchairs, so measuring the route into the room and the space where the chair will stand avoids problems on delivery day.

What you need

A tape measure, a firm dining chair, a notepad and someone to help. Measure while the person is sitting upright on the dining chair with their back against the backrest, feet flat on the floor and knees at roughly a right angle, wearing everyday clothes. Write each figure down in centimetres and inches.

1. Seat width

Measure across the widest part of the hips or thighs while seated. Add around 5cm (2 inches) so there is room to sit and move without being squeezed against the arms. Suppliers quote seat width between the arms, so compare like with like rather than looking at the chair’s overall width.

2. Seat depth

Measure from the back of the bottom, against the backrest, to the back of the knee. Take off around 5 to 8cm (2 to 3 inches). The front of the seat should stop a few fingers short of the back of the knee, so the user can sit fully back without the seat edge pressing behind the knees.

3. Seat height

Measure from the floor to the back of the knee, with the feet flat on the floor. A seat at about this height lets the feet rest flat when sitting. Many bariatric chairs can be built or adjusted to the height you need, so an accurate figure here is worth having.

4. Back height

Measure from the seat to the top of the head if you want full head support when reclined, or to the shoulders if a lower back is preferred. Taller users often find a higher back more comfortable.

5. Arm height

Measure from the seat to the underside of the elbow, with the upper arm relaxed by the side and the forearm level. Arms at about this height are comfortable to rest on and to push up from when standing.

Quick reference

Use your current chair as a check

If the user has a chair they find comfortable, measure that too: the seat width between the arms, the seat depth and the height from the floor to the front of the seat cushion. If a chair they use now feels tight or too low, note what is wrong with it. Suppliers find these details useful.

Common measuring mistakes

• Measuring standing up instead of seated, which makes the hips seem narrower.
• Measuring on a soft sofa, which gives a lower and deeper reading than a firm chair.
• Comparing your seat width with a chair’s overall width instead of the width between the arms.
• Forgetting the extra room either side of the hips.

Check the route into the room

Before you order, measure:

• The width of every door the chair will pass through, with the door fully open.
• Hallways and any tight turns or steps on the way to the room.
• The space in the room, allowing for the chair fully reclined. Ask suppliers for the reclined length.
• Clear floor in front of the chair, so the user can stand up and walk away safely.

Ask the supplier for the chair’s overall width and depth, and whether the back comes off for delivery.

Not sure? Ask for a home demonstration

Many suppliers will bring a chair to your home so the user can sit in it, and will take the measurements themselves. It is the easiest way to be sure of the fit, and your own figures help you check theirs.

Allow for cushions and clothing

Seat cushions on riser recliners compress a little when someone sits on them, and bulkier winter clothing adds width. That is why we suggest adding around 5cm to the hip measurement. If the user often sits with a blanket or wears thick layers, a little more room either side can make the chair more comfortable all year round.

If more than one person will use the chair

If two people of different sizes will use the chair, measure both and give suppliers the larger seat width and the higher weight. Seat height and depth are harder to share, so decide whose fit matters most, usually the person who will use the chair for longest each day.

Sending your measurements to suppliers

When suppliers contact you with prices, give them each figure in centimetres, along with the user’s weight, the weight rating you are considering and the narrowest doorway on the route into the room. Ask them to confirm the seat width, depth and height of the chair they are quoting for, so you can check it against your figures and compare quotes on the same basis.

Keep a copy of the measurements with the quote, so you can check the chair against them when it arrives.

If any figure seems unusual, measure it again before passing it on to suppliers.