Short answer: most nursery gliders are about 28–34" wide and 30–40" deep sitting up. If it reclines, plan on roughly 15–30" more depth, so 55–70" from the wall to the end of the footrest is common. Wall-hugger models need only a few inches behind them. The manufacturer's "reclined depth" and "wall clearance" numbers are the ones to look for.
Upright vs. reclined: what changes
A plain glider or rocker only needs its own footprint plus the swing of the motion, usually a few inches front and back. A recliner is different. When you lean back, two things happen:
The back tilts toward the wall. On a standard recliner that can be 6–12". Wall-hugger (also called "wall-saver") designs slide the seat forward instead, so they can sit 3–6" from the wall.
The footrest kicks out in front. That usually adds 15–20" to the front of the chair.
Same chair, same spot. Reclining fills the gap behind it and pushes the footrest 18" further into the room.
How to work out your clearance
Find the chair's reclined depth on the listing. If it's not listed, ask the seller or check the assembly manual PDF, which often has a side-view diagram.
Add the wall gap the chair needs behind it to recline (listed as "wall clearance" on many recliners).
Add about 12–18" beyond the footrest if anyone needs to walk past while you're reclined, or treat that zone as off-limits during feeds.
Worked example: a chair that's 38" deep upright and 64" reclined, needing 4" from the wall, uses 68" of floor when reclined. In a 9 ft (108") room, that leaves 40" to the opposite wall, enough for a walkway but not for a dresser plus walkway on that side.
Drop a glider into your room and switch it to reclined to see exactly where the footrest and back end up.
These are typical ranges, not specs for any one product. Every model is different, so use the numbers from the listing.
Where the glider usually goes
A corner is the classic spot because it uses two walls and keeps the footrest pointing into open floor. Some practical points:
Put it within arm's reach of a side table or the dresser, so water, burp cloths and a lamp are close.
Keep the reclined footrest out of the door's swing and out of the path to the crib.
A swivel glider needs a bit of space on every side to turn without hitting the wall or a dresser.
Near a window is nice for light, but leave room for blackout curtains to close. Keep the crib, not just the chair, clear of cords.
Tight room? A wall-hugger recliner or a non-reclining glider with a separate ottoman you can tuck away often saves 10–20" compared with a standard recliner.
How far from the wall should a glider recliner be?
Standard recliners often need 6–12" behind them to lean back fully. Wall-hugger models typically need 3–6". The listing or manual usually gives an exact wall clearance.
Will a glider fit in a small nursery?
Often, yes. A non-reclining glider uses about 30" × 34", similar to a small armchair. If floor space is tight, choose a wall-hugger recliner or skip the recline and add a small ottoman you can move.
What is reclined depth?
It's the distance from the back of the chair to the end of the extended footrest when fully reclined. It's the number you need to check against your room, not the upright depth.
Does a swivel glider need extra space?
A little. To turn freely, the chair's corners sweep a circle slightly bigger than its footprint, so leave a few inches from walls and furniture on all sides.