At a Glance
A gravity chair sounds like one product, yet UK searches mix up two very different things.
Most shoppers want a folding garden lounger that tilts back, locks in place and packs away.
A smaller group is looking for a clinical seating system, and the two should not be confused.
This article sorts out the name first, then covers the specs, the balcony fit and the weather care that decide whether the chair is still usable in three summers.
What is a gravity chair, and why do two different products share the name?
In garden and leisure shops, a gravity chair means a zero gravity recliner with a locking back.
It has a tubular steel frame, a stretched mesh or fabric seat and a lock that holds the back at the angle you choose.
The same two words also name something else. A UK mobility retailer sells a Gravity Chair Positioning System (accessed October 2026), which belongs to its mobility and healthcare equipment range.
That product is chosen with a healthcare professional for a specific user, and it has nothing to do with a garden lounger.
Health claims written for specialist seating do not transfer to a folding garden lounger. Everything below is about the garden kind.
Searches for “anti gravity chair” mostly lead to the same reclining loungers in UK retail results, so the label is used loosely.
Inversion tables, which hang a person upside down, are a different category again.
How does the zero gravity position work, and what does the evidence say?
The name comes from a posture, not from weightlessness.
NASA’s Spinoff publication says measurements recorded in orbit showed the relaxed human body settling at a trunk-to-thigh angle of 128 degrees (NASA Spinoff, accessed October 2026).
Chair makers copy that angle by tilting the back and lifting the legs close to heart height.
In practice, the weight of your own body moves the back, and the lock fixes it where you stop.
Many retail guides go further and claim lower heart rate, better circulation or relief from back pain.
While researching this article, no NHS or physiotherapy guidance recommending these chairs for back pain turned up, and the figures quoted by sellers disagreed with each other.
The 128 degree figure describes a relaxed posture in orbit. It is not clinical proof that a reclined garden chair treats anything, so anyone with persistent back pain should ask a GP or physiotherapist.
What a gravity chair reliably does is hold a comfortable reclined position without a ratchet.
That is a real benefit for reading, sunbathing or watching the garden, and it is enough to justify the purchase.
Which specs should you compare before buying a gravity chair?
Weight capacity comes first, because it varies more than shoppers expect.
One UK garden-furniture review site notes that these chairs are generally designed for up to 110 kg, with wider models available for more (DIY Garden, updated 6 October 2026).
The same site adds that a user near the top of the limit may find the chair does not last as long.
Its comparison table shows how wide the spread is.
| Chair as listed | Max user weight | Chair weight | Frame and fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straame Garden Zero Gravity Chair | 150 kg | about 7.8 kg | Textilene fabric |
| SUNMER padded zero gravity chairs | 110 kg | 7.5 kg | Alloy steel, Textilene |
| Amazon Basics zero gravity chair | 136 kg | about 9 kg | Alloy steel, Textilene |
| GardenCo zero gravity recliner | 120 kg | 9 kg | Alloy steel, Textilene |
| EVER ADVANCED oversize XL recliner | 158.7 kg | about 9 kg | Alloy steel |
Source for the table: DIY Garden, updated 6 October 2026, figures as listed by the review site.
Chair weight matters for a different reason, since a 7 to 10 kg chair has to be carried to storage and back.
The locking mechanism deserves a hands-on check or a close read of reviews.
The reviewer quoted above found the lock on the top-rated model a little temperamental, so a strong lock is not guaranteed even on a popular chair.
Look for an adjustable headrest if more than one person will use the chair. It lets different heights share a single lounger comfortably.
Extras such as cup holders, side trays, canopies and footrests are comfort add-ons rather than necessities.
Will a gravity chair fit on a UK balcony or in a small garden?
Most guides stop at the product list and never mention the space the open chair needs.
The review site’s table lists open lengths of 163 cm, 165 cm and 182 cm for three of its chairs, each about 65 cm wide.
That is longer than many people expect from a “folding chair”, and it is the number that rules out a lot of narrow balconies.
Typical case: a balcony 240 cm long and 100 cm deep takes a 165 cm chair along its length, but leaves only about 35 cm beside it.
That is enough to sit down, yet not enough to walk past the chair comfortably.
Measure the balcony floor, then check the door swing and any drainage grate. Take the chair’s open length from the product page, not from the folded size.
A reclined chair also has a footprint of its own when it sits next to a wall or railing.
The same subtraction applies to any narrow space, as the walkway maths for a shoe bench in a narrow hallway shows.
The reading chair guide on this site covers a similar floor-space question for indoor seating, in a small UK flat.
Balcony and garden fit checker
Enter your space and the chair’s open length and width from the product page. The tool tests both ways of placing the chair and tells you how much room is left for walking past it.
How do you stop a gravity chair rusting in the UK rain?
Many frames are powder-coated steel, and that coating is the main defence against rust (DIY Garden, updated 6 October 2026).
Coated is not the same as rustproof, though.
The same review warns that the SUNMER’s powder-coated frame may rust over time if it is allowed to get wet, and it gives similar warnings for the Amazon Basics and GardenCo.
The practical answer in a damp climate is to keep water off the metal, not to hunt for a magic coating.
Folding the chair while the fabric is still wet keeps moisture pressed against the metal for days.
- Wipe the frame dry after rain before folding it.
- Store it in a shed, garage or hallway over winter.
- Use a fitted cover if it must stay outside, and lift it clear of standing water.
- Choose UV-resistant fabric, which resists fading in strong sun.
A folded chair stores flat against a wall, so even a flat with no outside storage can usually find room for it.
In Summary
A gravity chair, in the sense most UK shoppers mean it, is a folding zero gravity lounger for the garden or balcony.
Check the stated user weight, the open length, the lock and the frame coating before looking at colours.
Treat health claims with caution and keep the chair dry, and it should stay comfortable for several summers.
Common Questions
How long can you sit in a zero gravity chair?
No official time limit turned up in the sources checked for this article. Standing up and moving around regularly is sensible, and anyone with a health condition should ask their GP or physiotherapist.
Is an anti gravity chair the same thing?
In UK retail results the phrase mostly leads to the same reclining loungers. An inversion table, which tilts the body head down, is a different product with different safety considerations.
Can a gravity chair be used indoors?
Yes, the frame and fabric work in a conservatory or spare room as well. Check the open length against the room first, and use soft feet or a mat to protect hard floors.
Will a gravity chair suit tall people?
It can, if the open length and headrest allow it. An adjustable headrest helps different heights, and the longer models listed above run to 182 cm.