Lazyboy Recliner: Feet Don’t Touch Floor and Leans Too Far Back

With the style and comfort that a Lazyboy recliner provides, every living room, family room, bedroom, home theater, or bachelor pad can benefit from one in terms of both aesthetics and functionality. Being able to lean back after a long day and relax comfortably is one of the main reasons people invest in a recliner in the first place.

That is why it can be frustrating when your feet do not touch the floor while sitting upright. Instead of feeling relaxed, you may feel like your legs are dangling, your thighs are under pressure, or your lower back is not properly supported. Over time, this can make the chair uncomfortable even if everything else about the recliner seems fine.

If your feet do not touch the floor in your Lazyboy recliner, there are usually a few possible reasons. The recliner pitch may need adjustment, the seat may simply be too high or deep for your body, the chair may be the wrong size for your height, or the model may not be the best fit for your sitting posture.

Before replacing the chair, it is worth checking the recliner pitch and making sure the chair is adjusted properly.

Why your feet should touch the floor

When you are sitting upright in a recliner, your feet should ideally rest comfortably on the floor without forcing you to slide forward in the seat.

A good sitting position usually means:

• Your back is supported by the backrest
• Your hips are positioned comfortably toward the back of the seat
• Your knees bend naturally
• Your thighs are supported without excessive pressure
• Your feet rest comfortably on the floor

If your feet are hanging above the floor, your body may compensate by sliding forward or changing posture. This can reduce lower-back support and make the chair feel much less comfortable during long periods of sitting.

Common signs the recliner is too tall or too deep for you

You may have a fit problem if:

• Your feet do not reach the floor while your back is fully supported
• You need to sit toward the front edge of the chair to touch the floor
• You feel pressure underneath your thighs
• Your legs feel uncomfortable after sitting for a long time
• You cannot comfortably use the rocking motion
• The headrest sits too high on your head

Sometimes a small pitch adjustment can solve the problem. Other times, the seat dimensions themselves are simply not ideal for your height.

Pitch Needs Adjustment

The base or seat angle of the Lazyboy recliner may be positioned too high at the front, which can contribute to your feet not touching the floor.

Recliner pitch refers to the angle of the chair base and seat relative to the floor. Adjusting this angle can change the way your body sits in the chair.

If the front of the chair is too high, lowering the pitch may allow your legs to sit slightly lower and make it easier for your feet to reach the floor.

Perform the steps below to adjust the chair’s pitch:

– You first need to gain access to the recliner mechanism located underneath the chair. Make sure the footrest is closed and the chair is stable before carefully turning or tilting it forward.

– Protect the floor before flipping the recliner. A blanket, rug, or piece of cardboard can help prevent damage to hardwood flooring and upholstery.

– Locate the recliner mechanism and mounting screws on both sides of the chair.

– Loosen the back screws on either side of the mechanism without removing them completely. These screws usually act as pivot points while you reposition the mechanism.

– Remove the front screws from the mechanism on both sides.

– To lower the recliner pitch, carefully grab the frame and slide the mechanism forward. This changes the angle of the chair and can lower the effective seat position.

– At the front of the base, you may find a slot with several grooves or adjustment positions. These grooves allow you to choose different pitch settings.

– Select the same groove position on both sides. Keeping both sides equal is extremely important because an uneven setting can cause the recliner to lean or operate incorrectly.

– Reinstall the front screws into the selected groove.

– Tighten both the front and rear screws securely.

– Turn the recliner upright again and test the chair.

– Sit all the way back in the seat and check whether your feet now rest more comfortably on the floor.

Adjust one position at a time

Do not immediately move the mechanism from one extreme setting to the other.

Make one small adjustment, test the chair, and then decide whether another change is needed.

This is safer and also makes it easier to find the position that feels best.

Keep both sides adjusted equally

The pitch adjustment must be the same on the left and right sides of the chair.

If one side is set differently, the recliner may:

• Sit unevenly
• Lean to one side
• Put extra stress on the mechanism
• Recline unevenly
• Wear out components prematurely

Always count the grooves or adjustment positions carefully.

Check the screws after adjustment

Before turning the recliner upright, make sure all hardware is properly tightened.

Loose bolts can cause:

• Clicking noises
• Uneven movement
• Wobbling
• Mechanism wear

Do not overtighten the hardware to the point that you damage the threads.

Video guide for adjusting recliner pitch

In order to see how to perform the steps mentioned above, the video below demonstrates the pitch adjustment process. Watching the mechanism move can make it much easier to understand how the different adjustment positions change the chair.

What if adjusting the pitch does not fix the problem?

If your feet still do not touch the floor after adjusting the recliner pitch, the problem may not be the mechanism at all.

The chair may simply be too large for your body.

Seat height and seat depth are especially important for shorter users.

A chair can feel comfortable through the back and shoulders while still being too deep or too tall for proper leg positioning.

Your Height is the Problem or the Recliner Just isn’t for you

You may simply be too short for that particular recliner model if your feet still do not touch the ground after the pitch has been adjusted correctly.

This does not necessarily mean the chair is defective.

Recliners come in different sizes, and some are specifically designed for:

• Petite users
• Average-height users
• Tall users
• Big and tall users

A large recliner with a deep seat may feel very comfortable for a tall person but uncomfortable for someone with shorter legs.

Seat depth may be the real problem

Seat depth is the distance from the front edge of the seat to the backrest.

If the seat is too deep, you may have two choices:

• Sit all the way back and allow your feet to hang
• Slide forward so your feet touch the floor but lose back support

Neither is ideal.

A shorter seat depth usually works better for petite users because it allows the back to remain supported while the feet stay on the floor.

Seat height may also be too high

Even if the seat depth is reasonable, a tall seat can still leave your feet hanging.

Seat height is measured from the floor to the top of the seat cushion.

A difference of only one or two inches can make a noticeable difference in comfort.

If you are shopping for another recliner, compare seat height and seat depth rather than looking only at the overall dimensions of the chair.

How to test whether a recliner fits you properly

Sit all the way back in the chair with your back against the backrest.

Then check:

• Do your feet rest naturally on the floor?
• Are your knees bent at a comfortable angle?
• Is there too much pressure behind your knees?
• Does your lower back remain supported?
• Does the headrest support your head rather than pushing it forward?

If several of these points feel wrong, a different-size recliner may be a better long-term solution.

Purchase a Footrest

If the chair is otherwise comfortable and you do not want to replace it, adding a separate footrest can be one of the easiest solutions.

A footrest gives your feet a stable surface while you are sitting upright.

This can help:

• Reduce dangling legs
• Improve sitting comfort
• Reduce pressure underneath the thighs
• Support a more natural sitting posture

Look for a footrest with enough height to allow your feet to rest flat without forcing your knees too high.

An adjustable model may be especially useful because you can fine-tune it to match the recliner.

You can compare options such as a adjustable footrest for recliner or a ergonomic footrest if you want additional leg support while sitting upright.

Should you use a cushion behind your back?

Another possible short-term solution is adding a supportive cushion behind your back.

A lumbar or back cushion moves your sitting position slightly forward, which can effectively reduce the usable seat depth.

This may help shorter users reach the floor more easily.

However, do not use an excessively thick cushion because it may push you too far forward and reduce proper back support.

A lumbar support pillow for recliner may be worth trying if the seat depth is only slightly too large.

Would adding a seat cushion help?

Usually not if the problem is that your feet already do not reach the floor.

Adding a thick cushion underneath you raises your sitting position and may make the problem worse.

A seat cushion may be useful for comfort or pressure relief, but it is generally not the best solution for a chair that is already too tall.

Do not cut or modify the recliner base

Avoid trying to permanently lower the recliner by cutting the base, removing structural components, or installing shorter hardware unless you fully understand the chair’s design.

Major modifications can affect:

• Stability
• Reclining geometry
• Rocking movement
• Footrest clearance
• Warranty coverage

Using the factory pitch adjustment is much safer than permanently modifying the frame.

Make sure the floor is level

If your recliner suddenly feels different or seems higher on one side, check the floor.

Uneven flooring or a thick rug can change the way the chair sits.

Place the recliner on a level surface and test it again before making mechanical adjustments.

Check for loose or worn mechanism parts

If the seat angle seems unusual, inspect the mechanism underneath.

Look for:

• Loose mounting screws
• Bent brackets
• Uneven adjustment settings
• Missing hardware

A recliner that has shifted because of loose hardware may feel too high or tilted even if the original pitch setting was correct.

What if the recliner leans too far back?

A chair that leans too far backward while sitting upright can create a similar problem because your body shifts backward and your feet move farther away from the floor.

This may be related to:

• Pitch adjustment
• Reclining tension
• Worn springs
• Incorrect mechanism position

If the chair feels unusually loose while reclining, inspect the tension adjustment as well as the pitch.

Pitch and recliner tension are not the same thing

Pitch affects the angle and position of the chair base.

Recliner tension affects how much force is required to lean backward.

Changing tension will not necessarily lower the seat, and changing pitch will not necessarily make the reclining action harder or easier.

It is important to identify which problem you actually have before making adjustments.

Should you return or exchange the recliner?

If the chair is new and still within the retailer’s return or exchange period, exchanging it for a better-fitting model may be the best option.

A recliner should fit your body comfortably without requiring major modifications.

If you constantly need pillows, footrests, or unusual sitting positions to feel comfortable, a smaller model may give you a much better experience.

Before exchanging the chair, test several models in person if possible.

Look for a petite or smaller recliner

Shorter users should consider recliners designed with:

• Lower seat height
• Shallower seat depth
• Shorter overall dimensions
• Proper lower-back support

Do not assume a smaller-looking recliner automatically has the correct seat dimensions.

Always check the actual measurements.

How to measure yourself for a better recliner fit

Sit in a normal chair with your back supported.

Measure approximately:

• Floor to back of knee
• Back of hips to back of knee
• Hip width
• Floor to top of shoulder

Compare those measurements with the recliner’s seat height, depth, width, and back height.

You do not need an exact mathematical match, but these measurements give you a much better starting point than buying based on appearance alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don’t my feet touch the floor in my Lazyboy recliner?

The most common reasons are excessive seat height, deep seat depth, incorrect pitch adjustment, or a recliner that is simply too large for your height.

Can Lazyboy recliner height be adjusted?

The overall physical height of the chair is generally fixed, but some recliner mechanisms allow pitch adjustment, which can slightly change how high or low the seat feels.

Will adjusting the recliner tension lower the chair?

No. Reclining tension primarily changes how much resistance you feel when leaning backward. Pitch adjustment is more relevant if you are trying to change the seating angle.

Can a footrest solve the problem?

Yes. If the recliner otherwise fits you well, a separate footrest can provide the missing support and may be the simplest solution.

Should I use a lumbar pillow?

A lumbar pillow can reduce effective seat depth by moving your body slightly forward. This can help if your legs are only slightly too short for the seat.

Is it bad if my feet do not touch the floor?

It is not necessarily dangerous for short periods, but dangling legs can become uncomfortable and may increase pressure behind the thighs. A properly fitting chair should support a natural seated posture.

Can I modify the recliner legs or base?

It is generally better to avoid permanent structural modifications. Changing the base can affect stability and reclining geometry.

How do I know if I need a smaller Lazyboy recliner?

If your back is fully supported but your feet still cannot reach the floor even after proper adjustment, the recliner may simply be too large for your body.

Final thoughts

It is difficult to achieve maximum relaxation in your Lazyboy recliner when your feet do not touch the floor.

Fortunately, there are several possible solutions.

Start by checking the recliner pitch and making sure both sides are adjusted equally.

If that does not solve the problem, consider whether the seat height or seat depth is simply too large for your body.

A separate footrest or supportive back cushion can help in some cases, but if the recliner is significantly oversized, exchanging it for a smaller model may be the better long-term solution.

The goal is not simply to make your feet touch the floor. The goal is to create a sitting position where your back, hips, thighs, knees, and feet all feel naturally supported.

When your recliner fits properly, you can sit comfortably without constantly shifting position, and you can enjoy the level of relaxation your Lazyboy recliner is supposed to provide.

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