The seat width of wheelchair is usually the measurement of the seat upholstery between the arm rests. An 18″ wheelchair refers to the width if the seat upholstery being 18″ wide.  Look on each of our product pages by scrolling all the way down to see open width, closed width.  Inside seat width and also outside overall width. 

A large amount of the typical sized width would be an 18″ seat width.  However, some people would often like to have supportive cushions or pillow or simply just extra room on each side as they would in selecting any type of desk chair or office chair as well. Depending on the amount of time you are expecting to sit in the wheelchair on a daily or regular basis, this might be one of the most singular important decisions. It is important to have the proper seat width because it adds to both comfort and function.

It is even more important for those who spend extended periods in their wheelchairs. For those who only use it on short errands or just to go shopping, wheelchair width is of less importance. If the width is too narrow, the arms of the chair will put pressure on the hips and thighs, which could lead to pressure sores. If it is too wide, the user will have a hard time pushing the wheelchair using the hand rims. It also reduces the wheelchair maneuverability in tight spaces.