Compare wheelchairs
Every wheelchair we stock, side by side — adult and children's. Filter by the things that actually matter — is it a transit chair to be pushed or a self-propel you wheel yourself, will the seat suit you, will it fit your doorway, is it light enough to lift into the car, and will it hold your weight. Measured by us, not copied from a brochure. To filter, please click the filter button below.
| Wheelchair | Type | Seat width | Overall width | Folds to | Weight to lift | Holds | Attendant brakes | Price |
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Will this wheelchair fit? Measure first — it takes two minutes
Seat width is the single most common reason a wheelchair gets sent back. Too narrow and it rubs and hurts; too wide and the user slumps sideways and can’t reach the wheels properly. Grab a tape measure and check these four numbers before you order.
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A
Seat width
Sit the user on a firm chair, knees together, wearing their usual clothes. Measure straight across the widest point of the hips or thighs. That measurement is the seat width to order — there is nothing to add. If it falls between two sizes, take the larger one.
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B
Seat depth
Sitting, measure from the back of the bottom to the back of the knee. Take 5cm off. A seat that runs right to the knee presses on the back of the leg and cuts circulation.
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C
Floor to seat height
Measure from the heel to the back of the knee with shoes on. The footplates need to sit at that height with thighs level. If the user will push themselves along with their feet, you want a lower seat so both heels reach the floor.
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D
Backrest height
For a self-propelled chair, the back should finish just below the shoulder blades so the arms swing freely. For a transit chair pushed by someone else, a higher back gives more support.
Print the measuring sheet
Still not sure? Ring Kellie on 022 022 9956 or send us the measurements and we’ll tell you honestly which chair to buy — or that none of ours is right. This is a general guide, not a clinical assessment: if the user has pressure areas, a spinal condition or sits asymmetrically, please get an occupational therapist involved.
Wheelchair buying questions, answered
What's the difference between a transit and a self-propelled wheelchair?
A transit wheelchair has small rear wheels and is pushed by a carer — lighter and more compact, ideal for outings and the car. A self-propelled wheelchair has large rear wheels with hand rims so the user can wheel themselves, and a carer can still push it. If in doubt, think about who will be doing the pushing.
Do you sell children's wheelchairs?
Yes. Our Goldfern Paediatric range comes in 12″ (30cm) and 14″ (36cm) seat widths — self-propelled, 12.5kg, folding, with height-adjustable footplates, armrests and push handles so the chair grows with the child. Use the Children's filter above to see just those. Measure across the hips while seated in normal clothing — that measurement is the seat width to order, and if it falls between two sizes take the larger; if you're not sure, call us on 022 022 9956.
Which wheelchair is the lightest to lift into the car?
The Goldfern Lightweight Transit is the lightest overall at just 9.6kg. Among self-propel chairs, the X-Lite Self-Propelled drops to 7.6kg and the Freiheit Freedom Self-Propelled to 8.2kg once the rear wheels are clicked off.
Which wheelchair holds the most weight?
The Goldfern Heavy Duty tops the range at 250kg, with a 56cm seat and attendant brakes. Our Titan Heavy-Duty chairs follow — the 560mm-seat model holds up to 204kg, and the 510mm up to 150kg. The Vermeiren Jazz range is crash-tested and rated to 130kg, and several chairs hold 136kg.
How do I choose the right seat width?
Measure across the hips while seated in normal clothing. That measurement is the seat width to order — there is nothing to add, and if it falls between two sizes take the larger. Most adults suit a 45cm seat; larger users may want 50cm, or one of our two 56cm chairs — the Goldfern Heavy Duty (250kg) or the Titan (204kg); children are usually 30cm or 36cm. The Freiheit Freedom and Vermeiren Jazz offer multiple seat widths, so you can match the chair to the person.
Which wheelchairs fold smallest for the boot?
The self-propel Goldfern Self-Propelled folds to 27cm, and the Cubro X-Lite, Freiheit and Titan chairs fold to around 30cm. Most also have fold-down or removable parts to make them even more compact.
Are any of your wheelchairs crash tested?
Yes — the Vermeiren Jazz Self-Propelled and Vermeiren Jazz Transit are European-built and crash tested, rated to 130kg.
What are attendant brakes, and which wheelchairs have them?
Attendant brakes are brakes on the push handles, worked by the person pushing the chair — like bike brakes. They let a carer slow the chair on a hill. Only some of our chairs have them, so look for “Yes” in the Attendant brakes column and treat a dash as not fitted or not yet confirmed. Every wheelchair we sell has wheel-lock parking brakes to hold it still during transfers, but wheel locks are not for slowing a moving chair — if you will be pushing someone down slopes, ring us on 022 022 9956 before you choose.
Prices in NZD, shown live from our store. Measured in-house by Mobility Plus — if a figure looks off, call us on 022 022 9956.