Standard wheelchair width is never one-size-fits-all, so choosing the right size wheelchair for your needs can be the difference between one that’s comfortable and fit for purpose and one that just isn’t quite right. With a little time and consideration, you can find the right size wheelchair that’s ideal for your needs. You just need a tape measure and somewhere solid for the person who’ll be using the wheelchair to sit. If you’re measuring yourself for a wheelchair, you may need someone to help you. To find out how to choose from these mobility aids to best meet your needs, read on for Complete Care Shop’s full wheelchair sizing guide and advice.
Getting the right size
Getting the right seat size for your wheelchair will have a major impact on overall comfort. If it’s not wide enough, the person using it may feel it pinch or squeeze at their sides, making it uncomfortable to use. Using a wheelchair that is too narrow could also lead to pressure sores developing, especially if they’ll be using it a lot.
If the seat is too wide, the wheelchair will make staying upright more difficult and make a self-propelled wheelchair more difficult to manoeuvre. Whether you're looking for a self-propelled or attendant-propelled wheelchair, our complete wheelchair size guide can help you choose the perfect size for ultimate comfort and usability.
How wide is a wheelchair usually?
The answer to ‘how wide is a wheelchair?’ varies between models and manufacturers, so you will find that wheelchairs come in many different widths. However, the standard wheelchair width on average is approximately somewhere around 25 inches.
No two people are the same, so you will often find wheelchairs come in various different widths to better suit people of varying shapes and sizes. Below, we give our best tips for finding a wheelchair that accommodates you for good comfort and support.
How to measure the correct wheelchair dimensions for you
Not sure how to get the correct width, depth and height of wheelchair for your needs? Here’s how to find your ideal wheelchair dimensions:
To measure the width
- Have the person who will be using the wheelchair sit down on a dining table chair (or whatever solid seat surface you’re using for this)
- Measure them at their widest point, which may be at their hips or their thighs
- Make a note of the measurement.
To measure the depth
- Make sure the person is sitting upright
- Measure them from their rear to behind their knees
- Make a note of the measurement.
To measure the height
- Make sure the person is sitting upright
- Measure them from behind their knees to the ground
- Make a note of the measurement.
How to use the measurements
Choosing an aid with the right wheelchair dimensions is not quite as simple as taking those measurements and directly applying them to each one you look at. For example, if you were interested in purchasing the Economy Attendant-Propelled Wheelchair, the seat’s width is 450mm (18”). If your width measurement is also 450mm, then the chair isn’t really wide enough for you as, ideally, you’d need the wheelchair to be wider than your width measurement by at least 25mm for comfort. In this example, you’d want to consider a wheelchair like the Deluxe Folding Wheelchair instead to make sure the width wasn’t too narrow, which has a seat width measurement of 480mm (19”).
If your width measurement was a lot smaller than the wheelchair by 50mm or more, then it would likely be too wide for you, so you may want to look at a narrower wheelchair instead.
Similarly, with the depth measurement (sometimes referred to as the seat length), you don’t want it to completely align with the depth measurement of the wheelchair or be less than it, as this would be uncomfortable to sit on in the long term. Ideally, the seat depth measurement of the wheelchair should be roughly 30–50mm shorter than your depth measurement.
However, making sure the height measurement is right is much more straightforward. You can match up your height measurement and the wheelchair’s measurements directly, as it’s simply a way of making sure there’s enough space for your legs and that your feet won’t dangle!
Weight limits are important
You’ll need to keep in mind the weight of the person using the wheelchair, as each one will have a different weight limit. Making sure to initially check the weight limit before further considering your wheelchair is essential. This will help make sure you don’t waste time in your search considering a chair that won’t be suitable, even if the seat size is right. If a higher wheelchair weight limit is required, we supply many bariatric wheelchairs that have additional weight capacities.
Further assistance on choosing a wheelchair at Complete Care Shop
Unless a wheelchair is a specialist one that’s been tailored to be a custom fit for you, you may not find one “off the shelf” that has the precise wheelchair dimensions in relation to your size. It’s about finding the one that’s closest to being the right fit for you and your needs. We hope this wheelchair sizing guide proves helpful in finding one that’s right for you.
If you need help or advice on our range of wheelchairs, get in touch with us today and a member of our team will be happy to help. If you need more help, you can speak to our Occupational Therapists for further advice on the right type of mobility aid for you.
If you use a wheelchair all the time and are looking for a more custom, specialised wheelchair, you can speak with our specialist wheelchair team about a home wheelchair assessment. Our team can help advise you on choosing a wheelchair accommodating your or your loved one's specific needs.
