Updated at: 11-08-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Casters are a convenient addition to furniture that greatly facilitates its relocation inside a home. Having wheels makes it much simpler to move recliners, which can otherwise be cumbersome in their weight and shape.

However, if you aren’t familiar with the proper procedure, installing the casters can be a challenge. In light of this, we present this detailed guide on how to attach wheels to a reclining chair.

Steps on Putting Casters on a Recliner

Before doing any maintenance on the chair, step one is to unhook the power cord from the wall outlet or electrical socket.

When you’re done using electrical equipment, always plug it back in and reconnect the cords to avoid getting shocked.

Healthcare Vinyl Recliner with Locking Casters by KNU Healthcare | NBF.com

Before you detach the cord from your recliner, you may want to turn off the power switch, which is typically placed near the bottom or behind a flap at the top of one of the armrests.

Second, take the caster from the base of your chair by unscrewing it.

Inside the base of your chair, behind a panel or flap, you will find screws.

Take off the caster by unscrewing it, and store the screw somewhere secure.

Third, remove the caster by sliding it off the axle.

To peel it off the axel, you’ll need a thin something like a pen. A screwdriver, if included with your caster, is what you’d use here.

Here we go with step four: attach the new caster to the end of the axle.

Be sure to screw in any necessary fasteners securely to prevent them from working loose.

The fifth step is to try out the chair. Make sure there is nothing in the path of the caster, like a piece of carpet or a leg of furniture, so that it may move easily.

What is a Caster on a Recliner?

Wheels that may be attached to the bottom of a piece of furniture are called “casters.” They can be found in a variety of sizes, with either ball or swivel wheels, and are typically offered individually so that you can choose the best option for your needs. Most recliners have four wheels, two on each side, for optimum mobility and stability.

Importance of Casters on a Recliner?

Casters on a recliner are crucial because they make it easy to maneuver the chair and allow it to fit through narrow doorways. Use them on a wheelchair for simpler stair- and doorway-crossing.

Why do I Need a Caster on My Recliner?

If you don’t have enough room for your furniture in one spot or if you want to move it about, casters can assist you move that recliner from the living room to the patio.

How to Care for a Recliner with Caster?

Casters need regular maintenance just like any other part of a piece of furniture that gets moved around a lot. You should get your casters fixed if they aren’t rolling smoothly or if they’ve gotten unstable.

How do I Fix My Recliner’s Caster?

To gain access to the screws, the caster cover must be removed using a flathead screwdriver. If you have an Allen wrench or hex key/screwdriver, use that to take them out.

Swap out the worn-out casters for brand new ones that move freely within the housing. Place the lid back on and secure the screws.

Reclining patient chair - High Point Furniture Industries - electric / on casters / with legrest

If you cannot locate a caster cover, electrical tape can be used to seal the new casters into their housing and prevent them from being accidentally removed.

How do I Protect My Casters?

When storing your furniture, protect its legs with pads. This will assist keep your furniture free from any scuffs, scrapes, or scratches that may be present on the legs.

Put felt pads under the wheels of any upholstered furniture that’s not currently in use to protect your floors from scratches.

To avoid scratching floors, it’s best to push rather than pull furniture on casters. If there are too many obstacles, you may want to invest in a pair of sliders for gliding more easily on hardwood and carpeted surfaces.

How do I Replace Casters?

To fix loose casters on your furniture, all you need is an Allen key.

Remove any screws keeping the previous caster in place, and pull the caster out of the assembly to replace it. Insert the replacement caster into its mount and reconnect it to resume rolling.

Casters are typically constructed with long-lasting materials to ensure their reliable operation for years to come.

The only time you should replace your furniture’s casters is if they are visibly worn or damaged from frequent use (like broken wheels).

Installing Grip-Ring Post Casters

Post casters are an alternative if the furniture you want to move has wooden legs. Casters for chairs and other furniture feature a metal stem with a grip ring or threaded rod protruding from a metal mounting plate. Check that a hole 1 1/2 inches deep can be drilled into the leg you plan to use to attach the caster.

Drill a hole in the bottom of the wooden leg using a power drill and a drill bit that is the same diameter as your caster post sleeve. The post should be put into a metal sleeve on grip-ring post casters. Take the sleeve off and place it inside the new hole you made. There’s a good chance that a rubber mallet will be required to keep the sleeve in place. The last step is to place the caster within the sleeve. Gently tap the wheel with the mallet, or give it a good push, until the grip ring is firmly fastened. Do the same for the other legs of the chair.

Installing Threaded Stem Casters

Casters with a threaded rod and a matching nut sleeve are called “threaded stem casters.” These casters are just as easy to set up as grip rings, and the technique is virtually identical. The chair legs’ bottoms should be drilled using a bit that is the same diameter as the nut sleeve. Apply pressure with a rubber mallet to secure the nut sleeve. It needs to be a snug fit; if the nut slides in too easily, the caster won’t be able to be screwed in. Just drop the caster into the nut sleeve and turn it clockwise to engage the threads. Keep spinning until the caster encounters a wall of no return.

Some casters have a nut connecting the stem to the metal rim that holds the wheel in place. This aids in tightening the caster without exerting any force on the wheel itself. While holding the wheel still, spin the nut counterclockwise using a wrench. If your caster is a swivel type, you need to ensure sure the caster nut is tight enough to prevent the stem from becoming loose.

Installing Screw-On Plate Casters

Despite their infrequent deployment on chairs, screw-on casters are another option to consider when shopping for wheels. The metal mounting of these casters is attached to a metal plate. As the plate is held in place by screws, setting it up is simple and fast. Just turn it on its side and align the caster wheels at the four corners. Each metal plate should have four holes, and the screws should be fastened in the appropriate locations. It’s important to do this for all four corners of your object.

By aligning the casters with the corners, you can ensure that the furniture won’t topple over from a lack of stability. Casters like these are typically used on dressers and other pieces of furniture with a complete bottom because they can hold greater weight than post casters. To prevent your furniture from moving about when not in use, just remove the wheels.

Hospital Recliner Chairs with Wheels | Mobility Furniture

What Type of Flooring Should I Use with  Casters?

As a rule, casters work well on hardwood floors because to their smooth and level surface.

When compared to carpet, which tends to bunch up when big pieces of furniture are dragged across it, this makes moving furniture around a lot simpler.

Remember that not all hardwood floors are the same. Caster cups or the cup type of furniture glide don’t function well on laminate or engineered hardwood floors because they aren’t as robust as other flooring options, so you should probably avoid using them if you’re planning on putting your new furniture on them.