Best Transfer Chairs For Elderly

Transport Chairs for Elderly Loved Ones: Buying Guide

A transport chair, also called a transport wheelchair or transfer chair, is a lightweight folding wheelchair with small rear wheels that a caregiver pushes. It is the easiest way to get an elderly parent or patient to appointments, through stores and in and out of the car. We carry more than 30 transport and transfer chairs, including Karman, McKesson, Medacure, Invacare, Everest & Jennings (Graham-Field), Astra and Protekt, from a 14.9 lb travel chair to 450 lb heavy duty models, and we ship nationwide.

Who a transport chair is for

• Seniors who can walk short distances but tire on longer outings
• Caregivers who need a chair that folds into a trunk and lifts easily
• Doctor visits, hospital discharge, recovery after surgery and travel
• Homes and stores with narrow doorways, aisles and restrooms

Transport Chair vs Wheelchair: What Is the Difference?

The main difference is who does the pushing. A transport chair has small rear wheels and no hand rims, so a companion pushes it. A standard wheelchair has large rear wheels with hand rims, so the user can roll it on their own. That makes a transport wheelchair lighter, smaller when folded and easier to handle in tight spaces, while a wheelchair gives the user independence.

Choose a transport chair when someone will always be there to push and you need light, quick folding. Choose a wheelchair when the rider wants to move on their own: see our manual wheelchairs and lightweight wheelchairs. Not sure? The Protekt Cambria 2-in-1 works both ways.

How to Choose the Right Transport Wheelchair

1. Chair weight

If you will lift the chair into a car often, every pound counts. Aluminum transport chairs weigh about 15 to 23 lb, like the Karman TV10A at 14.9 lb and the Karman LT-2000 at 19 lb. Steel chairs weigh about 26 to 29 lb and usually cost less.

2. Seat width and weight capacity

Measure across the hips while seated and add about 2 inches. Most transport chairs have 17 or 19 inch seats and hold 250 to 300 lb. For larger users, the Karman T-920 / T-922 has a 20 or 22 inch seat and holds 450 lb.

3. Rear wheel size

Small 6 to 8 inch wheels fold smallest and are fine indoors. Larger 12 to 14 inch flat-free wheels roll more easily over curbs, thresholds and grass, like the 12 inch wheels on the Everest & Jennings Deluxe and the 14 inch wheels on the Karman Ergo Lite.

4. Brakes

Every transport chair has wheel locks for parking. Caregiver hand brakes, on chairs like the Karman LT-1000 and the Karman Ergo Lite, help slow the chair on ramps and hills.

5. Footrests, arms and folding

Swing-away footrests and flip-back or detachable arms make transfers easier. A fold-down back makes the folded chair shorter for small trunks.

Transport Chair Comparison: Weight, Seat Width, Capacity and Wheel Size

Specs come from each chair’s own product page. “Not listed” means the manufacturer does not give that number. Sorted from lightest to heaviest.

Need to recline or tilt? See the Karman KM-5000 Reclining Transport Chair and the Karman VIP-515-TP Tilt in Space Transport Chair.

Transport Chair FAQs

What is a transport chair?

A transport chair, also called a transport wheelchair, is a lightweight folding wheelchair with small rear wheels and push handles. A caregiver pushes it, so it is made for short trips like appointments, errands and travel rather than all-day independent use.

How much does a transport chair weigh?

Most standard transport chairs weigh about 15 to 29 lb. Aluminum chairs are lightest: the Karman TV10A weighs 14.9 lb and the Karman Ergo Lite weighs 18 lb. Steel chairs weigh about 26 to 29 lb, and heavy duty 450 lb chairs weigh about 40 to 44 lb.

What rear wheel size is best on a transport chair?

Small 6 to 8 inch wheels keep the chair light and compact and work well indoors and on smooth sidewalks. Larger 12 to 14 inch flat-free wheels roll more easily over thresholds, curbs, grass and gravel, so they are the better pick if you go outdoors often.

Will a transport chair fit in a car trunk?

Usually, yes. Transport chairs fold flat, and most have a fold-down back and swing-away footrests that come off. For example, the Everest & Jennings Aluminum Transport Chair folds to 10.75 inches wide. Check the folded size on the product page against your trunk.

Can the rider push a transport chair themselves?

No. Transport chairs have small rear wheels without hand rims, so someone else pushes. If the rider wants to push sometimes, the Protekt Cambria 2-in-1 converts from a transport chair to a self-propelled wheelchair, or see our lightweight wheelchairs.

What seat width do I need in a transport chair?

Measure across the hips while seated and add about 2 inches. Most transport chairs come in 17 or 19 inch seats. Smaller riders may prefer a 16 inch seat, and larger riders should look at 20 or 22 inch heavy duty chairs like the Karman T-920 / T-922, rated for 450 lb.

Is a transport chair or a wheelchair better for an elderly person?

If a family member or caregiver will do the pushing and the chair needs to go in and out of the car often, a transport chair is usually easier. If the person wants to move on their own or sits in the chair most of the day, a standard or lightweight wheelchair is the better fit.

Questions about a specific chair? Call us at 585-505-6665 and we will help you pick one.