photo from reddit
photo from reddit
Ekornes Stressless Recliner
by Ekornes
19 endorsements on r/BuyItForLife first recommended in Jan 2025
A Norwegian-made leather recliner chair from Ekornes, built around a glide-and-tilt reclining mechanism. Original retail runs in the thousands of dollars, but the chairs turn up regularly on secondhand marketplaces in excellent shape years later.
Added Jul 5, 2026, Updated Jul 6, 2026
Why it's buy-it-for-life
Owners report decades of daily use with almost no upkeep — one redditor's chair is going strong at 25 years, others at 15-20 years with nothing more than occasional cleaning or a yearly leather-conditioner wipe. Several say they'd buy the exact same chair again without hesitation, and secondhand units routinely show up in like-new condition long after original purchase.
What redditors say
Recommended on reddit as recently as July 2025
Show 15 more mentions
- 8r/BuyItForLife comment
I got mine at goodwill for $30
- 7r/BuyItForLife comment
Great chair and it's still comfortable 20 years later. ekornes is pretty much the only seating we have in our home at this point. Best way to go
- 6r/BuyItForLife comment
Ekornes chairs are next-level in comfort and build getting one for free is wild.
- 5r/BuyItForLife comment
Stressless.
- 5r/BuyItForLife comment
Just missed one in my area for 450. People have no idea about stressless.
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
With proper care, this is the definition of a BIFL.
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
happy so far with the Stressless couch we bought last year- it is comfortable and feels solid enough to last years
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
Just purchased new last year. It will be in our house forever, we love the chair.
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
I have been using an Ekornes Stressless chair for over 20 years. It's not going anywhere. I love it!
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
I have had one for ~ 20 years. A simple leather conditioner wipe once a year is all you need to do.
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
I have that chair, it's about 25 years old.. and some of the best sleep i get is in that chair
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
I bought two at auction for similar prices, very great chairs.
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
I've had my restored Ekornes for 7 years and I'll never sell it.
- 2r/BuyItForLife comment
It definitely feels like it holds its value as well as it holds my butt!
- 2r/BuyItForLife comment
The chair was still fine and didn't even need to be reupholstered.
Saw this for 500$. It's literally in PERFECT condition and it came with the original paperwork.
It really doesn't show any signs of wear at all and is, of course, wonderfully comfortable.
i paid a little over 3x that for a Stressless chair new and it's been the best chair I've ever owned.
So the left one, stressless L model, very comfortable, but lack a headrest, which is a huge downfall. The middle one, stressless, has a headrest, comfortable, but quite tough, least comfortable out of the three.
Really comfortable chairs! I picked up two steessless chairs with matching ottomans from fb marketplace for $80.
I have had mine for over 15 years. No maintenance needed except for the usual cleaning/wiping.