Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam vs Jay Reclining Sofa La-Z-Boy: which is safer?

Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam is the clear pick. Jay Reclining Sofa La-Z-Boy carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Our pick

Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam

Joybird

Banks Sleeper Sofa Foam

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Poor 39/100

Verdict

Buy with care

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

polyurethane foam

Confidence

72%

LikelyVolatile Organic Compound (VOC) Off-Gassing

PossibleFlame Retardant Chemical Content

PossibleFormaldehyde in Adhesives and Binders

Jay Reclining Sofa La-Z-Boy

La-Z-Boy

Jay Reclining Sofa La-Z-Boy

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

fabric upholstery with likely stain/water-resistant treatment

Confidence

35%

LikelyFluorochemical stain/water treatments (PFAS precursors and PFOA alternatives)

PossiblePolyurethane foam off-gassing (VOCs including toluene, benzene, formaldehyde)

PossibleFlame retardant chemicals (brominated or phosphate-based additives in foam/barrier fabrics

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Off-Gassing, Flame Retardant Chemical Content, Formaldehyde in Adhesives and Binders and Foam Degradation Over Time on the Joybird and not on the La-Z-Boy.
  • We flag Fluorochemical stain/water treatments (PFAS precursors and PFOA alternatives), Polyurethane foam off-gassing (VOCs including toluene, benzene, formaldehyde), Flame retardant chemicals (brominated or phosphate-based additives in foam/barrier fabrics and Microfiber shedding and coating degradation over time on the La-Z-Boy and not on the Joybird.
  • The Joybird is polyurethane foam where the La-Z-Boy is fabric upholstery with likely stain/water-resistant treatment, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Joybird is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the La-Z-Boy grade, at 35% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More upholstered furniture: see the full ranking