Back row theater seating from Seatcraft's BACKROW® line raises your second row on a taller seat base, so the people behind your front row see the whole screen instead of headrests. It's built for two-row home theaters and media rooms, in rows of 2 to 5, without adding a riser platform to the room.
A BACKROW® model for every room
BACKROW comes in six models, from the tailored Grenada to the wall-hugging Rialto and the CoolZero recliners, so the back row can match a formal media room or a casual family theater. Every model is Italian leather, and each row runs 2 to 5 seats with matching loveseat configurations, so you size the back row to your front row rather than the other way around.
How much taller is BACKROW® seating?
About 6 inches taller than a standard row, on models like the Rialto BACKROW. That's enough lift for the back row to clear the heads and headrests of a standard front row, so subtitles and the bottom of the screen stay in view.
The height is built into the seat base, not a platform underneath, so this isn't bar-height seating. Every BACKROW model is still a full theater recliner, sized and shaped like the rest of the row, just taller through the base.
How to choose back row theater seating
Three things decide the right row: your front row's width, your ceiling height and the recline you want.
Match it to your front row
BACKROW® rows run 61-72" wide for 2 seats, 85-103" for 3 seats and 109-135" for 4 seats, plus loveseat configurations, so match your front row's seat count. The Grenada and Rialto also come as tiered room packages that pair a front row with a BACKROW® row.
Check the lift against your ceiling
Add the roughly 6-inch lift above to your tallest viewer's seated height, then check the clearance under soffits, projector mounts and ceiling fans before you order.
Pick your recline and extras
Grenada offers power or manual recline; Rialto and Serenity add power recline; the CoolZero models, Monterey, Equinox and Diamante, add power headrests, and Equinox adds power lumbar and SoundShaker. Grenada, Rialto and Serenity are wall-huggers that recline fully with about 6-7" of rear clearance.
Riser or BACKROW® for my second row?
Choose BACKROW® if you're furnishing a two-row room from scratch and want the lift built into the seat. Choose a home theater riser if you'd rather keep seats you already own, add a sofa in the back row, or raise a third row.
| BACKROW® row | Standard row on a riser | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the height comes from | A taller seat base | A platform under the seats |
| Works with seats you already own | No, it's a new row | Yes |
| Extra structure in the room | None | A carpeted platform |
| Best for | A new second row | Existing seats, a sofa, or a third row |
Still deciding? Our tiered home theater seating guide walks through both options row by row, and our design line can run the numbers with you at 1-800-407-8665.
Is the back row a good seat in a home theater?
Yes, as long as it's raised. On a flat floor, the heads and headrests of the front row cut into the bottom of the screen, right where subtitles and a lot of the action sit. Raising the back row clears that sightline, and the extra distance from the screen suits viewers who like to take in the whole picture without turning their heads side to side.
Seatcraft BACKROW® seating is built for exactly that second-row spot in a home theater. Each seat is a full theater recliner on a taller base, meant to sit directly behind a standard row with no platform, framing or carpeting underneath. If you're furnishing a two-row room from scratch, it's the simpler way to give the back row a clear view, and because it's furniture rather than construction, the room stays easy to rearrange later.
Turning the back wall into a bar too? Read our basement bar ideas guide {{link: basement-bar-ideas}} for how a raised back row pairs with a bar ledge for game day and movie night. Curious about the sightline math behind riser heights before you decide? Read the complete home theater riser guide {{link: the-complete-home-theater-riser-guide}}.
Popular BACKROW® rows at 4seating
- Grenada BACKROW®: Italian leather, three-section back, power or manual recline, flip-up armrests, included tray tables.
- Rialto BACKROW®: Italian leather, power recline, chaiselounger footrests and a detachable seat that fits through doorways.
- Serenity BACKROW: Italian leather, power recline with USB charging, lighted cupholders and armrest storage.
- Equinox CoolZero BACKROW®: zero-gravity recline, power headrests, power lumbar and SoundShaker.
- Monterey CoolZero BACKROW: zero-gravity recline, power headrests and LED base lighting.
Need one more seat instead of a full row? BACKROW® singles fit beside an existing row or fill a corner, like the Grenada BACKROW single.
Plan both rows together
Shop your front row from all home theater seating, or start from a matched set with the Rialto tiered room package.
Call our design line at 1-800-407-8665 with your room length and ceiling height, and we'll help you decide between a BACKROW® row and a riser. Order free material samples to match leather across both rows. Every order ships free curbside, and white-glove delivery with in-room placement and assembly is available as an add-on.
