Our best overall pick is the Joybird Soto Rocking Chair. It’s made using quality materials, has a gentle rocking motion, and is available in several upholstery options. Here are the best rocking chairs. The design features a sleek, geometric wood frame treated and reinforced to prevent warping. Thick chemical-free and flame retardant foam cushions provide ample support. The Soto chair rocks gently, so it can live in a corner without taking up much space or bumping into the wall. It also sits a little higher than other rocking chairs, making it an ideal pick for taller people. As for customization, you have 70 fabrics to choose from to match your space’s color palette and lifestyle. Options include pet-friendly choices, velvets, and stain-resistant finishes. Though it’s expensive, this long-lasting chair will save you from buying a replacement every few years.  Sink into this beautiful chair, and you’ll find yourself instantly feeling more relaxed. The frame of the chair is made from larch plywood, while the rocking base is made from catalpa wood. The foam seat is covered in beautiful fabric, available in several different colors and textures.  You’ll find that this chair is incredibly comfortable and cozy while still offering a sleek, modern look. This rocker requires assembly, is made from birch wood, and uses polyester for the cushions and fabric armrests. It is stylish and a great choice, particularly for people who are on the shorter side. Taller folks may not find this chair overly comfortable. This boxy-style glider is available in a few different colors. The chair is easy to set up. It’s high quality, although you may need to use some muscle to get the chair to recline or to stow the footrest. This chair may be cozy, but it’s not huge—in fact, it’s designed to accommodate small spaces. Plus, it’s got chic, thoughtful details like wooden rocker legs. The rocker comes with an ottoman, so you can put your feet up as you rock. It’s perfect for the nursery and Greenguard Gold-Certified, so it meets chemical emissions standards.  Once babies get older, this thoughtfully designed and chic rocker will work just as well in the living room or an adult bedroom. You’ll need to do a bit of assembly to put this chair together, and while the instructions are clear, two adults are required. The process will take 30 minutes or more.  The rocker is sturdy, weighing 16.5 pounds, and comes fully assembled. Unfold it from the box and you’ll be ready to sit, rock, and relax. This folding rocker is available in two finishes, coming in a variety of seat cushion covers.

Comfort

Look for a well constructed rocking chair that will ensure a smooth rocking experience while you sit by the fire with a good book or nurse the baby. While some people find plain wood, cane-back, or rattan rocking chairs perfectly comfortable, many modern parents prefer a nursing chair with upholstery and additional cushioning. Also bear in mind that the comfort of your rocking chair depends on your height and the length of your legs in relation to the chair size, so testing models in person is always a good idea.

Type

Rocking chairs have been around since the 1700s, and the chair designers of the last few centuries have given us a plethora of styles to choose from over the last few hundred years. You can add a dose of style to a front porch or living room with a stylish rocking chair or two that goes with your existing decor or provides a counterpoint. Whether you prefer an antique, vintage, reproduction, or contemporary model, popular examples include the timeless Shaker-style, Danish modern, bentwood cane-back Thonet, Adirondack, mid-century Eames rocking chairs, or contemporary upholstered rocking chairs and gliders.  On top of their rocking motion, rocking chairs have been designed for decades with additional movement mechanisms on them. You can find glider rocking chairs, spring rocking chairs, and swivel rocking chairs on the market today. Some rocking chairs even have a reclining feature.