How to Remove the Back of a Recliner

We don’t care too much about how to remove the back of a recliner until we want to move a recliner from a room to another.

Instead of transporting the chair as a whole, disassembling it and then transporting those parts one by one is much easier. If you want to follow this method, the first step is to take the back off the recliner. 

In this post, we will show you how to remove different types of recliner back. Don’t worry too much, and you can get the job done with a bit of time and patience.

What do you need to do before removing the back of a recliner?

If you aim to transport the chair into another room or even another house, then the first thing you need to do is to take some measurements. Measure the recliner to ensure it will fit the new location. If you find the chair too big for the new room, you can save the effort of taking apart the chair. 

Measuring the hallways and doorways on the way to new locations is crucial. The measurement could guide you on how to move the recliner.

We also advise you to generally clean up your recliner chair as the dust and debris may cause allergies during the process.

Different types of recliner back

When it comes to taking the back off a recliner, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Luckily, most recliners on the market can be classified into three types.

Recliner back with locking levers

We can find this design in a lot of lazy boy recliners. There is a locking lever on each side of the side bracket. When you flip the lever up, it will unlock the recliner back. Then you can pull the back up.

Recliner back with locking tabs

locking tabs

There are an array of manufactures using locking tabs in the back. For example, we can see it in the Best Home Furnishings chairs. 

When we want to remove the back, we need to locate the tabs on the side of the back and then use a flat head screwdriver to lift it, so the back is unconnected from the base.

Recliner back with a bolted bar

In fact, this design is not commonly seen in a single recliner chair but a reclining sofa. By installing a bolted bar, the chair back connects to the posts of the seats securely. Therefore, to take off the back, you ought to remove the bolts.

How to remove the back of a recliner correctly?

Even though there are no big differences among removing different recliner backs, we decide to answer this question according to the types of backs. As long as you figure out your chair’s design, you can follow the guide below step by step. Don’t forget to find a roomy space before starting your procedure. 

roll over the recliner

Take off a recliner back with locking levers

We had shared this method when we introduced how to take apart a la-z-boy recliner. You can get it done without any help from others.

  • Unplug the power cord if you have a power recliner.
  • Tilt the chair back at a 45-degree angle and find the brackets between the base and the back. 
  • Use a screwdriver or your finger to flip the locking lever up to the ceiling. 
  • Flip the chair back to the original position and then pull the chair back up. 

The whole process is effortless even for a woman, and you can get more details in the video below.

Take off a recliner back with locking tabs

release the locking tabs
  • Roll the recliner forward onto its front so that you can access the back more comfortably.
  • Detach the strip and roll the back panel up, which allows you to see the mechanism.
  • To check if two brackets are between the lower bottom of the chair and the arms.
  • Find the tabs in the brackets that connect the back and base. 
  • Use your fingers or a screwdriver to lift the tabs and meanwhile push the back upward. You can use a soft hammer to tap it upward, which could make the process easier.
  • You should release the locking tabs at one side each time.

This video below showed you how to remove this reclining chair back precisely.

Remove a recliner back with a bolted bar

  • Flip over the recliner to ensure the back faces toward the ceiling.
  • Ask someone to hold the chair while carrying out the procedure.
  • Use a drill to remove the bolts on the bar. Check the heads of screws to ensure the drill can work properly.
  • Store the bolts and bars in a safe place for reinstalling later.

So, this is what you have to do while removing the back of a recliner. Nothing too complicated, and you are able to finish the task in a breeze.

Reinstall the back of a recliner

After you transport the chair to another place, you will have to reinstall the recliner back. The same as removing the back, this process is easy-peasy. 

We highly recommend you take pictures while taking apart the back, which allows you to put it back in the easiest way possible. You just need to reverse what you have done before.

In general, the most essential step is to line up the brackets on the recliner back to brackets on the chair’s bottom. You should take a look at it and identify whether these two parts can perfectly integrate together.

Then you ought to push down the back into place and flip the metal levers down or use a soft mallet to tap it into place.

Sum up 

After reading our instructions, you may find that removing the back of a recliner is not as hard as you expect. Even if the methods vary depending on the types of the back, they are all easy to deal with.

Remember to measure the chair and hallway, take pictures during the process, and prepare a good set of tools. These steps would let you get the job done quicker. 

No need to hire a pro, just follow our instructions and watch the videos, you are all set.

Photo of author
Rachelle is the founder of Best Chair Finder. She is a fanatic of home improvement, and as an engineer, she knows well about each chair's mechanism. You can find her story on the About page.