Wheelchairs: Types, Information, and Reviews

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 21 Jul 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

At a Glance

• 1 - The average electric wheelchair costs around $7,000, ranging anywhere from $3,000 to $30,000.
• 2 - The earliest records of wheeled furniture date back to the 5th century BCE in China and on a Greek vase.
• 3 - Some advanced chairs, like the iBOT, use gyroscopic technology to balance and run on just two wheels, raising the user to standing height and even climbing stairs.

Topic Definition

Wheelchair

A wheelchair is, at its simplest, a chair fitted with wheels that gives people who cannot walk easily - or at all - a way to stay mobile and independent due to illness, injury, or disability. A basic manual model has a seat, footrests, two small caster wheels at the front, and two large rear wheels fitted with hand-rims the user grips to propel themselves, while handles at the back let someone else push. Beyond that core design, wheelchairs branch out into many forms to fit different needs: electric or powered chairs driven by a joystick, ultra-lightweight sports chairs for tennis and basketball, standing chairs that raise the user upright, pediatric chairs that grow with a child, and rugged beach and all terrain versions, alongside specialized types like three-wheeled and even dog wheelchairs. Most chairs can be heavily customized - seat size, backrest, leg rests, controls, and more - or fully custom-built, and today they even come in festive colors and prints so users can make them their own.

About This Section

The earliest records of wheeled furniture was an inscription found on a stone slate in China and a child's bed depicted in a frieze on a Greek vase, both dating back to the 5th century BCE. The first records of wheeled seats being used for transporting the disabled date to three centuries later in China; the Chinese used their invented wheelbarrow to move people as well as heavy objects. A distinction between the two functions was not made for another several hundred years, around 525 CE, when images of wheeled chairs made specifically to carry people begin to occur in Chinese art.

A wheelchair assists people to become more mobile and independent. There are many types of wheelchairs that are used for various reasons. It is important to understand the limitations and safe operation of whatever wheelchair you choose.

The chair seat size (width and depth), seat-to-floor height, footrests/leg rests, front caster outriggers, adjustable backrests, controls, and many other features can be customized on, or added to, many basic models, while some users, often those with specialized needs, may have wheelchairs custom-built.

The US census estimates that in 2002 in the USA there were 2.7 million wheelchair users 15 years and older and 121,000 wheelchair users under 15 years of age (based on their estimate of 0.2% of 60.6 million children under 15 years of age.). This is a total of over 2.8 million U.S. wheelchair users. From a population of 300 million, this is just under 1%.

Types of Wheelchairs

Manual Wheelchairs

A manual wheelchair is one that is propelled by the user. It is usually done by pushing on round bars that surround the wheels. This wheelchair also has handles on the back, so it can be pushed by another person. A manual wheelchair is easy to maintain, is lightweight, and is the least expensive to buy.

Electric Wheelchairs

Electric wheelchairs are propelled by a motor and battery. They are very sophisticated. They are operated with a joy stick or push buttons. Some electric wheelchairs use advanced technology and can climb upstairs, move across gravel and even raise up to give access to high shelves. Electric wheelchairs need strong frames to support the motor and battery, so they are very heavy and also costly. The average cost of an electric wheelchair is $7000 but can fall anywhere from $3000 to $30,000.

Sports Wheelchairs

As the name suggests, sports wheelchairs are designed for playing sports. They are ultra-lightweight yet very stable. They are often used for tennis, wheelchair basketball, and marathons

Powerchair Football and Power Soccer Wheelchairs

A new sport has been developed for powerchair users called powerchair football or power soccer. It is the only competitive team sport for powerchair users.

Standing Wheelchairs

A standing wheelchair is one that supports the user in a standing position. They can be used as both a wheelchair and a standing frame, allowing the user to sit or stand in the wheelchair. They will move from sitting to standing with a hydraulic pump or electric-powered assist.

Pediatric wheelchairs are both in manual and electric form. They are just smaller scale down versions of the larger adult wheelchairs. These are usually adjustable, so they can grow with the child and expand to accommodate increased weight and bulk as the child grows.

Beach Wheelchairs

All Terrain Wheelchairs

Allow users to enter the water and provide a better mobility in the sand. There are numerous models available. In many countries in Europe where the Accessible Tourism is well set, many beaches are wheelchair accessible and provide this kind of wheelchairs to clients free of charge.

Three-wheeled Wheelchairs

3 wheeled wheelchairs are not a new concept and have frequently been used in the design of racing wheelchairs, tennis wheelchairs, and other sports as well as everyday all-purpose wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are more stable and maneuverable over rough terrain than a four-wheel wheelchair.

Recent technological advances are slowly improving wheelchair and EPW technology. Some wheelchairs, such as the iBOT, incorporate gyroscopic technology and other advances, enabling the chair to balance and run on only two of its four wheels on some surfaces, thus raising the user to a height comparable to a standing person. They can also incorporate stair-climbing and four-wheel-drive feature motorized assists for hand-powered chairs are becoming more available and advanced.

Dog Wheelchairs

Yes, there is such a thing as wheelchairs for dogs. They were created to help handicapped and injured dogs regain their mobility. Many times, the problem is hip displacement or a spinal cord injury that leaves the dog with no control over his back legs. The dog wheelchair fits onto the back legs and rolls across the floor, and the dog moves forward with his front legs. This helps the dog regain mobility and go on to lead a happy and healthy life.

Anytime you are in the market for a wheelchair, no matter what type you are looking for, it is a good idea to do some comparison shopping.

Different wheelchairs come with different capabilities and different prices as well. You will want to make sure you get a good deal for your money and end up with the best wheelchair for the person who will be using it.

You can buy wheelchairs today in festive colors and seat prints. Plus, you can further customize them after purchase to make the wheelchair uniquely the user's own.

See our list of Famous People that use Wheelchairs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a standing wheelchair and how does it help the user?

A standing wheelchair lets the user shift from a seated to an upright position using a hydraulic pump or an electric powered lift, so it functions as both a wheelchair and a standing frame in one device. Standing regularly can help with circulation, bone density, pressure relief, and reaching things at eye level or on higher shelves that would otherwise be out of reach.

Are there wheelchairs designed for use on sand and in the water?

Yes, beach and all-terrain wheelchairs use wide balloon tires or floats designed to roll over soft sand and even enter shallow water without sinking or tipping. In parts of Europe with well-developed accessible tourism, many beaches keep these chairs on hand and lend them to visitors free of charge.

How does the iBOT wheelchair balance and climb stairs on just two wheels?

The iBOT uses gyroscopic sensors and motorized wheel clusters to continuously sense and adjust its balance, which allows it to lift onto just two wheels and raise the user to roughly standing height. The same balancing technology lets certain models climb stairs by rotating the wheel clusters over each step while keeping the seat level and stable.

Are three-wheeled wheelchairs more stable than four-wheel models on rough terrain?

Yes, three-wheeled wheelchairs are generally more stable and easier to maneuver over rough or uneven terrain than a standard four-wheel design, which is part of why the layout is popular in racing, tennis, and other sports chairs. The reduced wheel count also makes turning tighter corners easier, though it can trade off a small amount of side-to-side stability compared to a four-wheel frame.

What is a dog wheelchair and when would a dog need one?

A dog wheelchair supports a dog's back legs on a wheeled frame so the animal can move forward using its front legs alone, which is commonly needed after hip dysplasia, a spinal cord injury, or another condition that removes control of the hind legs. It allows an otherwise mobile dog to keep exercising and living an active life despite the loss of function in its back legs.

What is powerchair football, and how do power soccer wheelchairs work?

Powerchair football, also called power soccer, is a competitive team sport designed specifically for users of powered wheelchairs, making it the only team sport built around that group. Players use a guard attached to the front of their power wheelchair to strike a large ball, and matches follow rules adapted from soccer but suited to powered chair movement and speed.

How far back does the history of the wheelchair go?

Wheeled seating goes back further than many people expect, with the earliest evidence of wheeled furniture appearing in a Chinese stone inscription and on a Greek vase dating to the 5th century BCE. Chairs built specifically to carry a person, rather than general wheeled furniture, are recorded in Chinese art from around 525 CE, centuries after the wheelbarrow was first used to move both goods and people.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 21 Jul 2026