What Is a High Leg Recliner?

Popularity

• Recliner sales dropped during the 1990s, but picked up in the first decade of the 21st century. High-leg recliners offer a traditional look with the comfort of a reclining chair. Models come with three- to five-point mechanisms for reclining, and some versions include massage features. These chairs offer comfort for watching television, listening to music, reading or catching 40 winks. As of 2011, prices on new models range from several hundred dollars to more than $1,500, depending on brand, style and covering.

Fabrics and Woods

• High-leg recliners are available in a variety of fabrics and leathers. Many consumers also purchase matching ottomans for the recliners. The classic leather recliner is a guy favorite, while women may prefer fabric recliners, but it all comes down to personal preference. For a formal setting, some high-leg recliners are designed as wingback chairs. The highest-quality recliners use cherry or other hardwoods for legs. If you're in the market for a comfortable and stylish reclining chair, you have hundreds of choices.

Sizes

• High-leg recliners come in sizes to suit individuals and the room the chair will occupy. Widths range from 26 to 40 inches, depth from 31 to 40 inches, and height from 36 to 45 inches. Consumers may want smaller chairs for bedrooms, offices and less formal areas, and larger chairs for living and family rooms.

Warning

• In 2003, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 620,000 high-leg recliner chairs manufactured by the Mississippi-based Lane Furniture Industries. The reason for the recall concerns a footrest mechanism that creates a pinch point, a potential cause of injury if the chair is opened by someone reaching underneath it. Reports of injuries included broken fingernails, lacerations and even broken bones. The recalled chairs were sold at furniture stores across the country between December 1989 and April 2002, with a retail price between $500 and $1,200. Lane Furniture Industries will supply repair kits to affected customers.