Pros
- Only recliner line endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association
- Owners commonly report 15–20 year lifespans with proper care
- Automatically adapts recline, lumbar, and headrest to the sitter's movement rather than fixed notches
- Extremely wide leather, color, and base customization
- Resale value and brand reputation are strong versus mass-market recliners
Cons
- Expensive — a power version can run close to $3,000–$4,000 once leather/base upgrades are added
- Minimalist Scandinavian look doesn't suit traditional or classic decor
- Some reviewers note it's "not a true recliner" in the American sense, since no leg rest kicks out like a lever recliner and it requires a separate ottoman
- Only a 1-year warranty on the upholstery itself despite a 10-year mechanism warranty
- Power version reduces the long-term value proposition since manual versions last just as long for much less
Specifications
- Leather
- Full-grain/top-grain Paloma or premium Batick, Noblesse, and Royalin leathers (multiple grades)
- Recline mechanism
- Patented Plus™ manual glide system that reclines automatically with body movement; power upgrade available
- Reclining angle
- Continuous/infinite glide rather than fixed notch positions
- Frame
- Steel base options (Classic wood-look, Signature, Wood base) with a steel internal frame
- Swivel/glide
- Swivel base standard; glide system adjusts seat/back tension to body weight
- Headrest/lumbar
- Automatic — headrest and lumbar move with recline via the Stressless Plus system
- Footrest
- Companion ottoman (sold separately/as a set), not an integrated footrest that deploys from the chair
- Sizing
- Available in Small/Medium/Large sizing keyed to user height (S: under 5'2", M: 5'3"–5'10", L: 5'10"+)
- Warranty
- 10 years on mechanism/frame, 5 years on base/foam, 1 year on upholstery
Performance
No other chair here is engineered like the Mayfair. Its patented Plus system mechanically links the recline to the headrest and lumbar, so as you lean back the support automatically follows your neck and lower spine, and the glide is continuous rather than a set of fixed notches — the seat and back tension even adjust to your body weight. That is why it is the only recliner line with American Chiropractic Association endorsement. The trade-off is that it is not a "true recliner" in the American sense: there is no lever-deployed leg rest, so you recline into a companion ottoman sold separately. For posture and refined comfort it is best-in-class; for kick-back-and-put-your-feet-up simplicity, a traditional recliner is more intuitive.
Build Quality
This is the best-built chair in the guide. Ekornes has made these since 1971, the leather is genuine top-grain or full-grain across several tiers, the steel-framed glide mechanism carries a 10-year warranty, and owners routinely report 15-to-20-year lifespans with basic care — plus a resale market that no mass-market recliner enjoys. The one genuine gap is the upholstery warranty: just 1 year on the leather itself, versus 10 years on the mechanism, so the covering is not backed the way the frame is. Otherwise, this is a buy-it-for-decades piece.
Value Assessment
The Mayfair is where you pay most and score lowest on value — deliberately. At ~$3,595 and up (a power-and-upgraded configuration approaches $4,000) it costs more than double the La-Z-Boy Greyson, and the everyday sitting experience, while more refined, is not double as good for most people. The value case rests entirely on ergonomics and longevity: if you sit for hours daily, have back or posture needs, and will keep the chair 15-plus years, the cost-per-year becomes reasonable and the chiropractic engineering is genuinely worth it. One honest note — the manual version lasts as long as the power one for far less, so skip the power upgrade.
Who Should Buy It
Buyers who sit for hours daily and prioritize posture and ergonomic support, who want the best-engineered, longest-lasting leather recliner and a modern Scandinavian aesthetic, and who will keep it 15-plus years to justify the price.
Who Should Skip It
Value-focused buyers (the La-Z-Boy or Ashley deliver most of the comfort for far less), anyone who wants a traditional look or a fold-out footrest rather than a separate ottoman, and occasional users who will not put the ergonomics to work.
Final Recommendation
The Stressless Mayfair is our Best Luxury pick and the best-engineered recliner here: buy it if ergonomics and longevity justify the premium for how much you will use it, and choose the manual version for the best value. If you want most of the comfort for a fraction of the price, our Editor's Choice La-Z-Boy Greyson is the smarter everyday buy.