Parts of a Recliner Chair – Footrest, Lever, Mechanism

All 9 parts on the diagram

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From the front 6

Backrest The back of the chair. On a recliner it can be tilted back.
Headrest The pad at the top of the back. On many recliners it can be adjusted.
Seat The padded part that is sat on, between the two arms.
Arms The padded sides of the chair, where the forearms rest. Also called armrests.
Lever A lever on the chair's side. Pulling it works the mechanism and extends the footrest. Also called the handle.
Base The bottom of the chair. It stands on the floor and carries the rest.

Reclined, side off 3

Footrest The padded board that comes out in front of the seat. Also called the leg rest; one mechanism maker says ottoman.
Mechanism A linkage of metal bars joined by pivots. It tilts the back and carries the footrest out and in.
Frame The rigid structure of the chair. The mechanism is fixed to it and the padding covers it.

How this list was compiled: Every name checked on 2026-09-30, a name kept only where two independent sources use it: Wikipedia, text only, Recliner, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recliner (backrest, footrest and leg rest, lever on the side of the chair, headrest, padded seat, back and arm rests, frame); a recliner mechanism maker's operating instructions, https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-6870958 (lever, mechanism, footrest, ottoman, back, how to open and close); a chair maker's use and care manual, https://archive.org/details/manualsbase-id-179498 (headrest, backrest, seat, armrest, footrest, recline lever, chair frame, chair base); and a chair maker's patent, US 4,367,895, read at https://www.freepatentsonline.com/4367895.html (leg rest, hand lever, linkage of metal bars, chair frame, seat frame, back frame, base). Hints and detail lines are in our own words. Licence: own work

The drawing: Drawn for this site on 2026-09-30 from plain geometry; no maker's chair, nothing traced. Licence: own work

How it works

A recliner is an armchair whose back tilts and whose footrest comes out. The first drawing names the outside. The second shows the parts of a reclining chair you cannot see: the frame and the mechanism under the seat.

Read the full guide

How a recliner opens and closes

Pull the lever on the chair's side. It works the mechanism, a set of metal bars on pivots under the seat, and the footrest swings out in front. Lean back and the backrest tilts; the back is balanced, so a little pressure is enough. To close the chair, sit up, then press down with the legs until the footrest folds back and locks. The mechanism is fixed to the frame, and the chair stands on its base. Some recliners have no lever: the footrest comes out when the back is pushed, or buttons work it.

Footrest, leg rest and ottoman are names for the same part. Each is accepted when typed.
A mechanism that lets the chair stand right up to a wall is sold as zero wall.

Questions and answers

What are the parts of a recliner chair called?

Outside: headrest, backrest, arms, seat, footrest and the lever on the side, all on a base. Inside: the frame and the reclining mechanism, the metal linkage under the seat that moves the back and the footrest.

What is the footrest on a recliner called?

Footrest is the usual name. Makers also say leg rest, and one mechanism maker calls it the ottoman. When the recliner is closed it sits folded under the front of the seat.

What is the mechanism of a recliner?

A set of metal bars joined by pivots, fixed under the seat. Pulling the lever, or leaning back, makes the bars swing: the footrest moves out and the back tilts.

How do you close a recliner footrest?

Sit up so the back returns upright, then move your weight forward and push down with your legs till the footrest goes back in. In that position it locks closed.