A rocking chair is a chair that has two 'rockers' or curved pieces of wood attached to its legs, one rocker to the front and back left legs, and one rocker to the front and back right legs. The curve of the rockers is what allows the chair to rock. Because of the curve of the rockers the chair is balanced on two points allowing it to move back and forth.

These chairs are also ergonomic, because when a person sits in the rockers, if they don't start actively rocking, the chair naturally tilts to an angle where the person's center of gravity is at its lowest, reducing strain on the body.

According to legend, Benjamin Franklin was the inventor of the rocking chair. It's said that he was the first person to attach bent pieces of wood to the legs of the chair, but no one knows exactly who invented it. Rocking chairs began to become popular when cabinetmakers began to create them in the nineteenth century.

The most classic image we have today of rocking chairs are those of a mother rocking a newborn and an elderly couple on a porch. But the popularity of rocking chairs extends far beyond those classic images. A rocking chair can be a comfortable addition to any home or porch.

There are two distinct forms of rocking chairs; the kind that has the traditional rockers on the bottom and those with a solid base that use springs to create the rocking experience. Both kinds of rocking chairs can be made from a multitude of materials. The most common material that a rocking chair can be made of is wood. The wooden rocking chair is used mostly as an indoor rocker, not one that would be exposed to the weather. For those that need to withstand the rain and other weather, wicker is the most common material. But rocking chairs can be made from metal and plastic as well.

Indoor rockers usually have rocking chair cushions that can be matched to the décor of the room it is in. They also tend to be painted or stained and decorated. Outdoor chairs tend to have a simpler style, and are not as ornately decorated, mostly because they are exposed to the weather.

The length of the rockers on a rocking chair can vary, depending on the style of chairs. Nursery chairs tend to have longer rockers to produce a longer slower, more flowing motion. Porch chairs also tend to have those longer rockers.

The difference between chairs though, depends on the overall style. Adirondack chairs are perhaps the most recognizable style, with their large slats a wide placement, with strait backs and seats that angle down towards the back. Wicker chairs are also very popular with people who place their rocking chairs outdoors. There are also double rocking chairs the size of loveseats for couples and other people that would like to share a chair with someone. Even some couches that you can purchase in the store today have a rocking chair built into either one end or both.

A rocking chair might be synonymous with the elderly and expectant mothers, but they are much more popular than that. Many people have rocking chairs, and the Cracker Barrel restaurants are famous for selling their rockers on the porch of the restaurant. But how much can a rocker run a consumer? Well that all depends on the materials used, and whether the rocking chair is hand crafted or not. A simple wooden rocking chair might sell for anywhere from around $40 US to up to $300 plus US. It all depends on the company you buy the chair from and what kind of chair.

For anyone in the market to buy a rocking chair, keep in mind a few things. Would you like a cushioned seat, an antique looking rocker or one with a more classy style, wood or metal perhaps? Maybe even plastic. Will you have to assemble it yourself, or will you be able to buy it already assembled? Do you want a glider rocking chair? There are many questions to consider, and those are only a few. The kind of rocker a person purchases all depends on the likes of that person.