When purchasing a wheelchair, it’s essential to know its turning circle and the space it needs to be safely and easily manoeuvred. A wheelchair’s turning circle can affect both its accessibility and your independence.
In this guide, we’ll explain a wheelchair turning circle, the factors that affect it, how to measure it, and product recommendations so you can choose a wheelchair with the right measurements and functionalities to suit your specific needs.
What is a wheelchair turning circle?
A wheelchair turning circle is the minimum amount of clear space it needs to make a 180° or 360° turn - it can determine a wheelchair’s manoeuvrability and accessibility to different places. The size of a wheelchair turning circle depends on the wheelchair’s size and its type.
Why does wheelchair turning circle matter?
The turning circle of a wheelchair matters as it can impact your mobility indoors and outdoors. Its size can affect your accessibility to public spaces like bathrooms, transport, shop and restaurant entryways, and your ability to navigate crowded spaces or places with many obstacles.
Knowing your wheelchair’s turning circle can allow you to plan ahead, easing your use and independence, especially if you use a self-propelled wheelchair.
What affects the wheelchair turning circle?
Wheelchair type
Different types of wheelchairs will have different turning circles. A self-propelled wheelchair may have a larger turning circle than an electric wheelchair or powerchair as it has large wheels for the user to manipulate and requires more agile manoeuvring. Electric wheelchairs are equipped with motors to allow for easier, more controlled movement, and some of them have features allowing the chair to pivot in place.
Wheelchair size
A wheelchair’s size can also affect its turning circle, whether it’s the seat size, the caster size, or the size of the drive wheels. The larger a chair is, the more space it will need to move and turn, resulting in a bigger turning circle. More compact chairs with small wheels will have a tighter turning circle and be easier to manoeuvre in smaller spaces, though this could compromise comfort and stability.
Optimal wheelchair turning circle
The ideal turning circle of a wheelchair depends on your specific needs and environment. However, the average turning circle of 40 - 60 inches (100 - 140cm) or turning radius of 20 - 30 inches (50 - 70cm) is considered optimal for good manoeuvring as a standard doorway is 32 - 36 inches (80 - 90 cm) wide, and because it allows for easier navigation in busy outdoor spaces.
Here are our recommendations for wheelchairs with optimal turning circles:
Travel wheelchairs
Travel wheelchairs are compact and lightweight, allowing you to conveniently store, manoeuvre, and transport them when travelling. Their small frames mean they have smaller turning circles and can be easily navigated in tight spaces like public transport and planes.
The Whirl Self-Propelled Wheelchair features a sturdy steel and narrow frame, prioritising both manoeuvrability and stability to navigate in smaller, restricted places. Similarly, the OT-recommended NRS Transit-Lite Attendant Controlled Wheelchair is lightweight and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, allowing you to get around easily with the help of a carer.
Powerchairs
Powerchairs have motors to facilitate navigation, though they are more durable and can be used on various types of terrain.
The Aerolite Trekker Folding Powerchair can be used both on and off-road and has a turning radius of 98cm. It has two batteries and can run on one or both at once to help extend your range of travel. By contrast, the CareCo Easi Go Powerchair is compact, sturdy, and predominantly designed for indoor use with a 50cm turning radius. It also comes in two different colours.
How to calculate a wheelchair’s turning circle
You can estimate the size of a wheelchair’s turning circle1 by adding the wheelbase length (the distance between the centre of the front and rear wheels) to the track width (the distance between the centre of the two main wheels). Divide the number you get by two to get the turning radius.
Use these measurement estimations when purchasing a wheelchair to make sure it is suitable for your needs and environment. If you need further guidance on picking a wheelchair, look at our wheelchair size guide.
Wheelchairs and accessories at Complete Care Shop
Complete Care Shop aims to prioritise your safety and independence; browse our vast selection of wheelchairs and other mobility aids to see what suits your needs.
We also have a range of wheelchair accessories such as wheelchair cushions and wheelchair clothing like fleece blankets and jackets for your comfort.
You’ll find more wheelchair and product guides on our mobility blog, or contact us for more information.
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