You might want to know how wide a standard wheelchair is before you buy one. You need to make sure it will go through your house doors, that’s why you need to measure your door opening too so you can compare it to that of the wheelchair. There are different types of wheelchairs but we’ll tell you about the standard sizes so you can have an idea of the actual size. For the exact measurements, make sure you check the specific product features.
How wide is a standard wheelchair?
A standard wheelchair will be between 22″ to 27″ in width, depending on the manufacturer. The most common widths are 24″ and 26″.
The measurement of a wheelchair is usually taken from the outside edge of the frame, not from centre to centre. This means that if you measure from frame to frame, it will be less than the overall length. Wheelchairs come in different sizes and shapes: some can be nearly as wide as they are long, while others are narrow enough to fit through a standard doorway.
Front-wheel drive wheelchairs usually measure about 20% narrower than rear wheel drives. Most wheelchair manufacturers will provide accurate size information for their products, which can be found on their website or available literature.
Does a wheelchair fit through a standard door?
The width of a door opening is a standard 30″. There are cases where wider wheelchairs will not fit through the door opening, while some wheelchairs are narrow enough to pass through. Door widths vary from one building to another.
There is no single answer since modern wheelchair types vary widely in size and shape, but you can measure your own wheelchair or ask customer service representatives at local manufacturers for their specifications.