Recliner comparison · Made in Germany vs made in Norway
Himolla vs Stressless recliners: an honest comparison.
Two European makers with very different ideas of comfort. Here’s how they compare on mechanisms, materials, sizing, warranty and price, so you can choose with confidence.
Where we stand
We sell one of these brands. We’ll be fair to both.
Himolla and Stressless are two of the names people mention most when they ask us for a European recliner. Both are long-established family-founded companies, both build their recliners in Europe, and both sell through specialist retailers rather than direct.
Modern Studio carries Himolla. We don’t sell Stressless, and plenty of people love theirs. The facts below come from each maker’s own published information on himolla.com and stressless.com, and we’ve noted where the two simply suit different people.
Looking at American-made motion instead? See our American Leather recliner guide.
At a glance
Himolla vs Stressless, side by side.
| Himolla | Stressless | |
|---|---|---|
| Made in | Taufkirchen (Vils), Bavaria, Germany, where Himolla has produced for over 75 years. | Ekornes’ main factory in Sykkylven, on Norway’s west coast, where Stressless began. |
| Since | Industrial production from 1948; renamed himolla Polstermöbelwerk in 1957. | Ekornes founded in 1934 as a spring factory; the first Stressless recliner launched in 1971. |
| How it reclines | Integrated leg rest and backrest: manual push-back, or electric with one motor (Aura Power) or two (Stratus, Pelican), some with zero gravity. | Body-weight Glide™ recline you set with a tension wheel; BalanceAdapt™ rocking on some models; Power models move footrest and back with a press under the armrest. |
| Head & neck | Hidden headrest that folds out of the back (Aura, Roy, Domino, Prestige) or a tilt-adjustable headrest (Pelican, Stratus). | Plus™-system: headrest and lumbar support adjust automatically as you recline; pull the headrest forward for the sleep position. |
| Leg support | Built into the chair, so there’s no separate ottoman to place. | Classic models pair with a matching ottoman; Power models have an integrated footrest. |
| Sizes | Compact Aura at 28″ wide; Pelican and Stratus in medium and large; seat-height options on several models. | Most recliners in Small, Medium and Large; Urban star-base models in low, adjustable or high back. |
| Covers | Over 600 fabrics and 200 leathers, including LongLife leathers in price groups 18–35+. | Leather qualities including Batick, Paloma, Velaro and full-grain semi-aniline Noblesse, plus fabrics. |
| Warranty | Triple five-year guarantee: covers, padding and springs, frames and non-moving parts. | 10 years internal mechanism and frame; 5 years base, foam and Power electronics; 2 years batteries; 1 year upholstery. |
| How it’s sold | Only through specialist retailers; Euro Link LP imports for North America. | Through authorized Stressless retailers; prices vary by size, base and cover. |
Sources: himolla.com (history, guarantees, quality, materials, FAQ) and stressless.com (about us, history, functions, leather guide, U.S. warranty), checked October 2026. Himolla model details are from the chairs we carry.
The makers
Bavaria and the Norwegian fjords.
Himolla · Germany
Seating specialists since 1948
Himolla began industrial upholstered-furniture production in 1948 in Taufkirchen (Vils), in Bavaria, and describes itself today as one of the largest upholstered-furniture factories in Europe, with about 3,000 people making its sofas and chairs.
Its whole collection has carried Germany’s Blue Angel label for low-emission upholstered furniture since 2011, and the factory roof holds more than 2,800 solar panels. Several Himolla models have earned AGR (“Aktion Gesunder Rücken”) certification for back-friendly seating. Euro Link LP has been Himolla’s exclusive importer for North America since 2015.
Stressless · Norway
The original “TV chair,” since 1971
Jens E. Ekornes founded his company in 1934 as a spring factory in Sykkylven, on Norway’s west coast. In 1971 Ekornes launched the Stressless recliner, which it calls the first real TV chair, with its patented Glide™ system.
Stressless says its main factory is still in Sykkylven and that its recliners, sofas and dining chairs are still assembled by hand.
Comfort mechanisms
The biggest difference is how each chair moves.
Stressless: the chair moves with you
Stressless recliners are built around movement. The Glide™ system lets the back recline as you lean, using your body weight; you set the resistance once with the adjustment wheels. The Plus™-system moves the headrest and lumbar support automatically as you change angle, so you can read or watch TV while reclined. BalanceAdapt™ adds a subtle rocking motion, and Power models adjust the footrest and back angle with a light press under the armrest.
Himolla: the chair sets and holds a position
Himolla’s recliners put the leg rest inside the chair. On manual models like the Aura, Roy and Prestige, you push back and the leg rest and backrest move together. Electric models go further: the Aura Power moves both at the touch of a button, while the Stratus and electric Pelican use two motors for separate leg and back adjustment and zero-gravity positioning with a battery. Himolla’s external battery pack is available for many models, so a power chair doesn’t have to sit next to an outlet.
Most of our Himolla chairs hide the headrest inside the back. It folds out when you want neck support and disappears when you don’t, keeping a clean, low profile. All swivel 360°.
If you like to rock and shift as you sit, try Stressless. If you like to set a position and stay there, with your legs fully supported, try Himolla.
Leathers and fabrics
Two deep libraries, organized differently.
Himolla offers over 600 fabrics and 200 leathers. Its LongLife leathers meet the German Quality Assurance Association for Furniture’s “healthy living” requirements, and each is named by price group: 18 LongLife is a pigmented smooth leather about 0.9–1.1 mm thick, 24 LongLife Rustika a thicker 1.3–1.5 mm leather with a rustic grain, and 31 LongLife Soft a lightly pigmented, softer leather. Himolla tests covers to the RAL-GZ 430 quality conditions.
Stressless names its leathers by quality. Batick is corrected and grain-embossed, with a protective finish that makes it easy to clean. Paloma is softer and more natural, with some visible marks. Velaro is thick and full-bodied with a natural finish. Noblesse, a full-grain semi-aniline, is the most exclusive and also the most delicate.
Both brands make the same trade-off: the more natural the leather, the softer it feels and the more care it needs. In a sunny coastal room, or a home with pets, a more protected leather is usually the smarter choice in either brand.
Sizing and fit
Fit matters as much as the mechanism.
Stressless
Stressless says most of its recliners come in Small, Medium and Large, so you can match the chair to your height. Its Urban star-base models add a choice of low, adjustable or high back.
Measure for the reclined chair, not just the upright one: allow the full reclined depth plus a walkway, and a few inches behind if the back tips toward a wall.
Warranty
Different strengths, read carefully.
Himolla · triple five-year guarantee
- Many cover fabrics and all LongLife leathers: 5 years
- Padding, sprung interior and spring core: 5 years
- Frames and non-moving, load-bearing parts: 5 years
- Original buyer only; register it, and claims go through your retailer
Stressless · U.S. warranty
- Internal mechanism and frame, including springs: 10 years
- Base, foam, padding and Power motor/electronics: 5 years
- Power batteries: 2 years
- Leather or fabric upholstery: 1 year
On the mechanism, Stressless’s 10 years is longer than anything Himolla lists. Himolla’s published guarantee doesn’t list moving mechanisms or motors, so ask us for current coverage on the model you choose. On leather and cushioning, Himolla’s 5 years beats Stressless’s 1 year on upholstery. Stressless’s warranty applies to products bought from, and assembled by, an authorized retailer and covers replacement parts and shipping, not service charges.
Price
Close neighbors, priced by size, function and cover.
Our Himolla recliners currently start at $3,499 and go to $4,944 for the starting cover. Each cover’s price group number (18, 24, 31 and so on) sets the upcharge, which you’ll see as you choose on each product page.
Neither maker publishes simple list prices: Himolla quotes only through its retailers, and Stressless sells through authorized retailers. As a reference, published prices at authorized U.S. Stressless retailers in October 2026 ran from about $2,600 for a Consul with Classic base and ottoman to about $5,000 for Power models such as Adam.
Compare like for like: a classic Stressless price includes its ottoman, while a Himolla recliner has its leg rest built in. Power, battery and premium leathers move the price of both.
Which is for you
A simple way to decide.
Stressless may suit you if…
- You like a chair that glides and rocks as you shift your weight.
- You want head and lumbar support that adjusts by itself.
- You prefer a separate ottoman you can move or use on its own.
- The longest mechanism warranty matters most to you.
Himolla may suit you if…
- You want the leg rest built in, with nothing extra on the floor.
- You need a compact chair: the Aura is 28″ wide.
- You like a clean look with a headrest that hides away.
- You want power recline, two-motor zero gravity or a cord-free battery option.
- Five years of coverage on leather and cushioning matters to you.
Shop Himolla at Modern Studio
Our Himolla recliners.
Made in Germany, with 360° swivel bases and a wide choice of Himolla fabrics and leathers. Stocking leathers ship fastest; custom covers are made to order in Germany.
Aura 8536 · manual
Aura Recliner
From $3,906
Compact 28″ swivel recliner; push back and the leg rest glides out. Hidden headrest folds out when you want it.
View details
Aura 8536 · power
Aura Power Recliner
From $4,944
The same compact Aura with electric recline of leg rest and back together, plus an optional battery pack for cord-free placement.
View details
Stratus · power, 2 motors
Stratus Power Recliner
From $4,199
Separate leg-rest and back motors with zero-gravity positioning (with battery), in medium and large sizes.
View details
Pelican 8569 · manual or power
Pelican Recliner
From $3,499
Low-profile swivel chair in medium or large; manual, or electric with two motors and zero gravity.
View details
Roy 8566 · manual
Roy Recliner
From $3,499
A compact, low swivel chair that becomes a full recliner, with an angle-adjustable hidden headrest and lumbar cushion.
View details
Domino · manual or power
Domino Recliner Chair
From $4,713
Looks like an occasional chair; the concealed headrest deploys and it reclines on a 360° swivel. Four stocking leathers.
View details
Prestige · manual
Prestige Recliner
From $3,499
Tailored upholstered side panels, an integrated leg rest and a tilt-adjustable hidden headrest.
View details
Covers · $5 each
Himolla swatches
$5 per swatch
Feel Himolla leathers and fabrics at home before you choose a cover.
Order swatchesHimolla vs Stressless questions
Frequently asked
Is Himolla or Stressless the better recliner?
Neither wins for everyone. Choose Stressless if you love a chair that glides and rocks with your body and automatically supports your head and lower back. Choose Himolla if you want the leg rest built in, a compact footprint, a headrest that disappears when you don’t need it, or power recline with a battery option. The best test is sitting in both.
Where are Himolla recliners made?
In Germany. Himolla has produced upholstered furniture in Taufkirchen (Vils), Bavaria, since 1948, and its whole collection has carried the Blue Angel eco-label since 2011.
Where are Stressless recliners made?
Stressless is made by Ekornes, founded in 1934 in Sykkylven on the west coast of Norway, where its main factory still is. The first Stressless recliner launched there in 1971.
Which brand has the better warranty?
It depends on the part. Stressless covers the internal mechanism and frame for 10 years but upholstery for 1 year. Himolla’s triple five-year guarantee covers many cover fabrics and all LongLife leathers, the padding and springs, and the frame and non-moving parts for 5 years. Himolla’s published guarantee doesn’t list moving mechanisms or motors, so ask us for current terms on the model you choose.
Do Himolla recliners need an ottoman?
No. The Himolla recliners we carry have an integrated leg rest that rises as you recline, so there’s nothing extra to place in front of the chair.
Does Modern Studio sell Stressless?
No. We carry Himolla, and we’re happy to help you compare. If you’ve sat in a Stressless you liked, tell us what you liked about it and we’ll point you to the closest Himolla in comfort and size.
Can I see Himolla leathers and fabrics before I order?
Yes. Order Himolla swatches online for $5 each, or visit our Laguna Beach showroom to sit in the chairs.
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