Shopping for a new wheelchair can be a daunting task, especially if it’s your first time and have nothing to compare to. One of the most formidable tasks can be figuring out the exact dimensions you need for your manual wheelchair.

With so many options available for seat height, overall height, seat width, overall width, seat depth, overall length, folded width, weight capacity, overall weight and more, it’s easy to feel lost and overwhelmed.

So which measurements do you really need to know? Of course, every individual situation calls for different things, making specifications that are crucial for one user negligible for another, and vice versa. However, there are some things that are very important for any customer to consider before making a final wheelchair purchase.

Seat Size

When choosing a wheelchair, whether it’s a manual wheelchair or transport wheelchair, the most basic specification you need to know is how wide and deep you need the actual seat to be. When checking wheelchairs for a compatible seat, keep in mind that the listed seat width of any wheelchair indicates the space between armrests, as opposed to the measurement of the actual upholstery of the seat.

Quick Sizing Tips:

  • Seat Width: Approximately 1″ – 2″ wider than the width of the user’s hip.
  • Seat Depth: Approximately 1″ less than the length between the back of the user’s hip to the the back of the knee. This measurement should be taken while the user is seated.

Seat to Floor Height:

The seat to floor height is an important part of ensuring that the wheelchair offers the ideal fit for the user. In addition, the seat to floor height will affect how easy it is for the user to get in and out of the wheelchair. Some manual wheelchairs are hemi-height adjustable so you can adjust your chair to the height that works best for you. Most wheelchairs have a seat height between 18″ to 20″.

Quick Sizing Tip:

  • The seat to floor height should reflect the length of the user’s lower leg, from the back of the knee to the heel.

Overall Width

If you have intend to use the wheelchair indoors, the overall width is a very important thing to keep in mind. Although standard-sized wheelchairs fit through most regular doorways, narrow doorways or extra wide wheelchairs can pose problems, so be sure to check this measurement before making a wheelchair purchase.

Quick Sizing Tips:

  • Manual wheelchair widths range from 23″ to 39″
  • Transport chairs can be as narrow as 18.5″

Other Dimensions

Armrest Height: The appropriate armrest height is important because if the user needs to hunch forward to rest their arms comfortably on an armrest that is too low, they may develop back pain. To ensure the correct height, have the user sit on a chair with their arm at a 90º angle and measure the distance from the elbow to the seat. For an ideal fit, look for a wheelchair that features height adjustable arms.

Back Height: While the user is seated, measure the distance from the seat to the user’s collarbone or shoulder blade.

Wheelchair Size: Other measurements, such as folded width, overall length and overall height should be considered if storage space is limited. When checking the overall length, keep in mind that the total length will reduce significantly with the removal of legrests. You may also want to check the overall height of the wheelchair, which reflects the handle height, to check compatibility with the caregiver who will be navigating the chair.