Our Top Recommendations
1
Larger Individuals
Pride Heritage Lift Chair – Extra Wide
2
Anti-skid Upholstery
CANMOV Power Lift Recliner Chair
3
Leg/Back Problems
B BAIJIAWEI Power Lift Recliner
If you are in the market for a new lift chair, you have probably noticed that many lift chairs have weight capacities that run from 250lbs to 300lbs on average.
While that might work for some people, it certainly does not work for all people. Other equipment that has posted weight limits do so out of an abundance of caution for the use of their products, but lift chairs actually have a hard weight limit that is directly affected by the internal motor. That means you have to take those weight capacities seriously.
This guide goes over the best bariatric lift chairs and heavy duty lift chairs available on the market right now. These chairs are made by quality manufacturers and feature extra large features and expanded weight capacities to best serve the bariatric population who needs them most. At the end, we go over some of the most common questions we get regarding purchasing a bariatric lift chair.
What is a Bariatric Lift Chair?
A bariatric lift chair is designed to handle above-average weight and stress. These chairs are also called heavy duty lift chairs. They have been reinforced with extra engineering and quality parts to ensure that the chairs can handle loads that typical chairs cannot.
These chairs are often classified by oversized seats and weight capacities that exceed 300lbs.
Benefits of Bariatric Lift Chairs
The biggest benefit of a bariatric lift chair is that they are able to serve a population that cannot fit into a standard lift chair.
A lift chair’s main purpose is to help people get back to their feet after sitting down for long periods of time. This help is often needed by people who are bariatric. These chairs allow them to utilize the best functions of a lift chair without having to worry about burning out the motors or pushing a chair past its official weight limit.
Plus, you get all of the standard benefits bestowed by having a lift chair in general.
Best Bariatric Lift Chairs Available Now
Best Bariatric Lift Chair (Overall):Pride Heritage Lift Chair
Right off the bat, the best bariatric lift chair on the market comes to us from Pride. This chair puts together all of the expected features and best options that one can ask for out of their lift chair.
It has a massive weight capacity of 600lbs. It has a wide seat that measures 30” across. It is super comfortable and overstuffed. You have the option of getting in home service warranty coverage as well as optional extras like an emergency battery backup and extra supports. Altogether, this is the most complete package on this list in terms of heavy duty lift chairs. This model is available for right around $1500 making it on the pricier end but it is worth every penny to the right buyer.
Best Extra Wide Bariatric Lift Chair:CANMOV Power Lift Recliner Chair
This chair advertises having a width that is nearly 40” in total. That is a lot of space! If you are more worried about seating space than you are about raw lifting power this chair from CANMOV offers you a lot of plush room. At 39” wide you have plenty of space to sit comfortably for long periods of time on this overstuffed classic recliner. When you’re done, it can safely lift you back to your feet up to 300lbs. When it comes to width, you won’t find many chairs that are as comfortable and functional as this one.
Best Zero Gravity Bariatric Lift Chair:VivaLift!® Escape – PLR-990
Not all durable medical equipment has to be boring and strictly functional. With the introduction of new technologies, things such as bariatric lift chairs can do a lot more than simply lift. This chair, by Pride Mobility, has the ability to lift up to 400lbs and has a supremely relaxing zero gravity mode accessible with the simple touch of a button. If you are looking for a chair that you can truly lay back and snooze in and still get the medical benefits of a bariatric lift chair then the VivaLift! Escape chair is the one you want to highly consider.
Best Leather Heavy Duty Lift Chair:B BAIJIAWEI Power Lift Recliner
Leather on a budget. This chair gives you the classic aesthetic of a black recliner with all of the functionality of a power lift chair for a super low price that anyone can love. This chair has a respectable lifting capacity of 320lbs packaged in a stylish exterior. It is upholstered with soft and breathable PU leather that makes sitting in this chair a joy. Best of all, this chair can be yours for the shockingly low price of $380. It is no wonder this is hailed as a five star chair by qualified users.
Best Bariatric Lift Chair For Tall People:Comforter Series Extra Wide Heavy Duty Lift Chair
The Comforter Series chair by Golden Technologies specifically advertises a customizable chair that can accommodate people up to 6’8” in height. That is tall! Other chairs, when they do advertise their height requirements, often have them around 6’. That works for some people but leaves the tallest among us out in the cold. This chair is able to be ordered in an extra tall configuration to fit people who are way bigger than the standard height of 6’. You will instantly appreciate the extra space not afforded to you by other chairs. Oh, and it has a 500lbs weight capacity to boot.
Best Bariatric Lift Chair On a Budget: Esright Power Lift Chair Electric Recliner
If you want bang for your buck then you definitely want the Esright Power Lift Chair. This heavy duty lifting chair comes with all of the bells and whistles you have come to expect out of a premium lift chair all for a basic lift chair price. It has a 330lb weight capacity, USB charging ports, integrated armrest controls and massage functionality. If you are thinking that you can’t afford all of these excellent features, you would be wrong. This chair is available for an extremely affordable price of merely $449. You are going to need this chair to put you back on your feet after you read that price.
Best Golden Technologies Bariatric Lift Chair:Cloud Medium Large Power Lift Chair
The Golden Technologies Cloud chair is a one-of-a-kind lift chair that makes you feel like you’re sitting in a, you guessed it, cloud. This chair takes all of the knowledge and proven experience of Golden Technologies and packages it together into the ultimate lift chair. It features a weight capacity of 375lbs, multiple fabric options and ships with Golden’s excellent warranty. If you are already familiar with Golden Technologies you will recognize the craftsmanship immediately or if you are new to them and are ready to take the plunge there is no better chair to start with.
Best Pride Medical Bariatric Lift Chair:VivaLift!® Elegance – PLR-975
Pride Mobility proudly occupies multiple spots on this list so choosing an overall favorite line from their excellent catalog was no easy task. In the end, we settled on the VivaLift! Elegance model to take top spot here. This chair not only has a beefy 400lb weight capacity and an oversized seat but it also comes with a classic look that will fit into any home with ease. The Elegance model is a perfect combination of reliability, functionality, and quality that makes it one of the best chairs you can get on the market today. Period.
Bariatric Lift Chair Rental – Where to Rent a Heavy-Duty Lift Chair
If you are only going to be using your lift chair for a short time- say, recovery from a knee or hip replacement surgery- it can be difficult to convince yourself to spend $1,000+ to own one. You might be in a prime position to benefit from renting- learn more about it, and where to rent a chair near you, below:
Pros and Cons of Renting vs Buying
Pros
- No Commitment: When you rent a lift chair, you aren’t stuck with it after you recover or if it doesn’t fit you. It’s a very low-risk way to get a lift chair in your home for short-term use.
- Cheaper Short-Term: Paying to rent a lift chair for more than 6 months will start to add up, but for 1-5 months, you’ll save a lot of money by renting.
- No Worrying About Warranties: Lift chairs are known to experience issues, especially in their motors. By renting, you don’t have to deal with a customer service rep or a strangely-worded warranty; you just send the chair back and get a new one!
Cons
- Cost Adds Up: Renting a lift chair isn’t cheap, and the costs can add up. If you’re planning on using a chair for more than 4 months, you may actually save money by buying a cheap lift chair rather than renting one.
- Hard to Find: It is possible to rent a lift chair, but it’s not nearly as easy as ordering one from the manufacturer’s website. Rentals are hard to find and may take a few phone calls to finalize.
How Much Does a Lift Chair Rental Cost?
Lift chairs will be rented on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis; most rental companies have a minimum rental period of at least two weeks. Prices will vary based on where you live and which chair you choose, but you can expect to pay at least $100/month for a lift chair rental.
Are Lift Chair Rentals Covered by Medicare?
With most government organizations, it can be hard to trust that they’ll work with you or consider your needs. Sometimes, that is also true with Medicare, but the good news is that Medicare’s DME coverage includes up to 13 months of renting, not just buying.
Where to Rent a Lift Chair Near Me
Your local medical supply store is the best place to look for a rental. Each store will have different chairs, rental options, and prices, making it hard to give you a good idea of what’s available near you.
However, there are some chains that rent lift chairs and have locations in many states:
- Mobility City: With franchise locations in dozens of states, Mobility City is a great place to rent a lift chair and it’s likely there is a store that will deliver near you!
- Rent-It-Today: This isn’t a store in itself. Rather, it’s a large directory of stores and rental locations throughout the country. You can use their map and locator to find a lift chair rental close to you!
- Rent-a-Center: This nationwide rental and rent-to-own chain has a small selection of lift chairs to choose from. The good news is, with a large chain like this one, you’re never too far from a rental near you.
Used Bariatric Lift Chair – Where to Buy a Used Heavy-Duty Lift Chair Near Me
How to Find a Used Lift Chair
Today, there are generally 3 ways to buy used items, and each of these three methods might yield you a great deal on a lift chair:
- Facebook Marketplace: this online marketplace is only a few years old, but it’s quickly become the best place to find used items locally. It’s also generally safer and more secure than shopping for used products elsewhere!
- Craigslist: The dominant site for local used items until Facebook Marketplace came around, Craigslist is still an excellent place to find a deal.
- eBay: If you want your used lift chair shipped to you, eBay is the way to go. You can shop used and like-new chairs from all over the world and save hundreds of dollars compared to buying new.
Can a Used Lift Chair Be Covered By Medicare?
Medicare covers lift chairs, and their list of exclusions for Durable Medical Equipment doesn’t mention anything about whether or not the device has to be brand-new. So, you should be able to have the cost of your used lift chair reimbursed by Medicare!
Lift Chair Buying Guide
What are the best brands for bariatric lift chairs?
The two most prominent brands when it comes to consistent quality and features for bariatric lift chairs are Pride Mobility and Golden Technologies.
These two companies are established durable medical equipment manufacturers that have a long history of making products that cater to seniors. While there are many great companies on the market right now that offer some truly excellent products, Pride Mobility and Golden Technologies are the best of the bunch in this category.
What is a typical price for a heavy duty lift chair?
Heavy duty lift chairs generally are more expensive than standard lift chairs. Their upgraded weight capacity and engineering adds to the cost of production.
While a typical lift chair can often be found for right around $500, many heavy duty lift chairs hover around $800. Bariatric lift chairs made by quality companies and established vendors can run even higher, pushing the cost over $1000 for some models.
Will Medicare cover my bariatric lift chair?
Yes. Medicare will cover a bariatric lift chair as long as it is prescribed by a doctor as medically necessary. In order to be safe, you might want to have a bariatric condition noted on the prescription to smooth the way to getting your maximum reimbursement for a lift chair that is classified as heavy duty.
Medicare will cover up to 80% of approved lift chairs, with prescription, as long as the remaining 20% is covered by the patient. If you have any questions, be sure to consult Medicare’s coverage guide in order to make sure that you are doing everything by the book.
Will Medicaid cover my bariatric lift chair?
Yes. Similar to Medicare, Medicaid will also cover lift chairs but their coverage is not as straightforward. Medicaid often differs between states and they also have a smaller pool of associated vendors. While many medical companies are enrolled with Medicare, those same companies are not guaranteed to be enrolled with Medicaid.
Outside of that, the process is the same. You need to get a prescription from your doctor that requires the use of durable medical equipment. You then have to take that prescription to a vendor enrolled with Medicaid and get the chair you need before applying for reimbursement. Basic rates are the same as Medicare and cover up to 80% of the approved cost.
Tips for finding the best lift chair for you
The two most important factors for finding a heavy duty lift chair that works best for you are budget and weight capacity. If you settle on target numbers for both of those factors, it will quickly and easily narrow down your choices for chairs making it much better to make a choice you feel confident in.
For example, if you know you need a chair that can handle at least 400lbs of weight and have a budget of $700 you can sort the chairs by those two numbers and come up with chairs that you know will work for you. Outside of those two important factors, the rest comes down to picking a chair with specific features that you like.
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Wow! Thank you for doing this research for me! I was dreading it. Now I have quite a few places to start my hunt!
Our pleasure, Lisa!