When shopping for a power wheelchair, two specifications can tell you a lot about how well the chair may work inside your home:

Overall width and turning radius.

They sound similar, but they measure two completely different things.

A wheelchair can have a tight turning radius but still be too wide for a doorway.

Another chair may fit through a doorway easily but need much more room to turn around once it's inside the room.

Understanding both measurements can help you avoid one of the most common mistakes people make when choosing a power wheelchair.

What Does Power Wheelchair Width Mean?

Overall width tells you how wide the wheelchair is from side to side.

This measurement matters when moving through:

• Doorways
• Hallways
• Kitchens
• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Store aisles
• Restaurants
• Elevators

If the power base is too wide for the space you need to enter, turning radius won't matter.

The chair simply has to fit.

Doorway Width Can Be Misleading

A doorway may appear wide enough until you actually measure it.

The opening between the door frame isn't always the same as the usable opening once the door itself is open.

Hinges, trim, door handles, and the angle of the door can all reduce the available space.

That's why measuring the actual clear opening is important.

Don't rely on the size printed on the door or your best estimate.

Use a tape measure.

What Is Turning Radius?

Turning radius describes how much space the wheelchair needs to make a turn.

Generally, a smaller turning radius allows the chair to maneuver more easily in confined spaces.

This can make a noticeable difference when:

• Turning into a hallway
• Entering a bathroom
• Moving around furniture
• Positioning beside a bed
• Turning inside a kitchen
• Navigating restaurant tables
• Making a complete change of direction

Turning radius becomes especially important for people who spend a large part of the day using their power chair indoors.

Width and Turning Radius Are Not the Same Thing

This is one of the most important things to understand.

Imagine a power wheelchair that is narrow enough to fit through your bathroom doorway.

That's good.

But once you're inside the bathroom, there may not be enough room to turn around.

Now imagine a chair with an excellent turning radius but a wider power base.

It may turn beautifully in an open room but struggle to fit through a narrow doorway.

That's why both measurements need to be considered together.

Why Mid-Wheel Drive Helps

As we discussed in the first article in this series, mid-wheel drive places the powered wheels near the center of the wheelchair.

That allows many mid-wheel drive chairs to rotate close to the user's seating position.

This can result in a very tight turning radius.

Pride uses Mid-Wheel 6 Technology in the Jazzy EVO 613 series, pairing the center drive wheels with front and rear casters.

That configuration is one reason the EVO 613 Li can combine a narrow base with tight maneuverability.

How Much Space Do You Really Need?

The answer depends on your home.

Before choosing a power wheelchair, measure the places where you'll use it most.

Start with:

Front and exterior doors

Measure the actual clear opening.

Bedroom doorway

Remember that you'll also need space to approach the doorway and turn once you're inside.

Bathroom

This is often one of the tightest rooms in the home.

Measure the doorway, the area around the sink and toilet, and the space available for turning.

Hallways

Measure both width and any tight corners.

Kitchen

Look at the distance between counters, islands, tables, and appliances.

Bedroom

Consider whether you'll need to approach the side of the bed for transfers.

A few minutes spent measuring your home can tell you far more than simply looking at a wheelchair photograph online.

Furniture Changes the Equation

Room dimensions alone don't tell the whole story.

A 12-foot-wide room sounds spacious until you add:

• Sofas
• Recliners
• Tables
• Kitchen islands
• Beds
• Cabinets
• Dressers
• Chairs

The usable driving area can become much smaller.

When evaluating a power wheelchair, think about the paths you actually travel rather than the overall dimensions of the room.

Bathrooms Deserve Special Attention

Bathrooms are often where wheelchair dimensions matter most.

Doorways may be narrow.

The room itself may be small.

Fixtures are fixed in place.

There may be very little room to reposition the wheelchair once inside.

For someone who needs a power wheelchair primarily for use inside the home, bathroom access can be more important than top speed or maximum driving range.

If the chair can't reach the areas you need every day, other specifications become much less important.

Why a Narrower Chair Isn't Always Automatically Better

It's tempting to think the narrowest possible wheelchair is always the best choice.

Not necessarily.

Seat width matters too.

The chair still needs to fit the person using it comfortably and safely.

A narrow power base doesn't mean you should choose a seat that's too small.

You need to balance:

• Power base width
• Seat width
• User comfort
• Turning radius
• Stability

The right chair needs to fit both the person and the environment.

What About Seat Width?

Seat width and base width are different measurements.

The power base may be relatively narrow while the seat or armrests extend beyond it.

That's another reason to check the complete dimensions of the chair you're considering.

You should also make sure the seat is properly sized for the user.

An uncomfortable seat can make even the most maneuverable power wheelchair a poor fit.

A Real-World Example: Jazzy EVO 613 Li

The Jazzy EVO 613 Li is a good example of why width and turning radius should be considered together.

Pride lists the chair with a:

22-inch base width

and

22-inch turning radius

Pride specifically describes the EVO 613 series as being designed to navigate small spaces and tight corners indoors.

Those measurements are unusually compact for a full-size power wheelchair.

The chair also uses Mid-Wheel 6 Technology, which helps explain how it achieves that tight maneuverability.

What Does 22 Inches Actually Mean?

Specifications become more useful when you put them into context.

A 22-inch-wide power base is under two feet wide.

That can be helpful in older homes, apartments, narrow hallways, kitchens, and other areas where space is limited.

The 22-inch turning radius means the chair also requires relatively little room to change direction compared with many larger mobility devices.

But even with measurements like these, you should still measure your own environment.

Every doorway, hallway, and bathroom is different.

The Footplate Matters Too

Another measurement shoppers sometimes overlook is overall length.

The Jazzy EVO 613 Li is approximately 41 inches long with the footplate and about 35 inches without it, according to Pride's current specifications.

Why does that matter?

The footplate can affect:

• Turning around furniture
• Entering elevators
• Approaching counters
• Maneuvering in tight bedrooms
• Positioning inside accessible vehicles

Width and turning radius are important, but overall length also plays a role in everyday maneuverability.

Think About Your Approach Angle

A doorway may be wide enough for the chair, but approaching it from an angle can require more space.

This happens frequently when:

• A doorway is at the end of a narrow hallway
• Two hallways meet at a tight corner
• Furniture sits near the doorway
• A bathroom entrance is positioned awkwardly

A wheelchair with a tight turning radius can make these situations easier to navigate.

Restaurants and Stores Matter Too

Indoor maneuverability isn't limited to your home.

Think about:

• Restaurant tables
• Grocery aisles
• Medical offices
• Waiting rooms
• Clothing racks
• Checkout lanes
• Elevators

A narrow, maneuverable power chair can make these environments easier to navigate as well.

That's one reason measurements like width and turning radius are worth paying attention to even if your home has plenty of space.

Should You Test the Chair?

Whenever possible, trying a power wheelchair can be extremely helpful.

Specifications tell you what the chair measures.

A test drive tells you how it actually feels.

If you can't try the exact chair before purchasing, compare the manufacturer's measurements with a wheelchair or chair you already know.

You can even use painter's tape on the floor to mark the approximate dimensions and get a better sense of how much room the chair will occupy.

Questions to Ask Before Buying

Before choosing a power wheelchair, ask:

• What is the overall base width?
• What is the turning radius?
• What is the overall length?
• How wide is the seat?
• Do the armrests extend beyond the base?
• Will it fit through my narrowest doorway?
• Can it turn inside my bathroom?
• Can it maneuver around my bed?
• Will it fit between my kitchen counters?
• Can it turn in the hallway outside my bedroom?

These questions can prevent unpleasant surprises after the chair arrives.

Final Thoughts

Width and turning radius may not be the most exciting numbers on a power wheelchair specification sheet, but they can be among the most important.

Width determines where the chair can fit.

Turning radius helps determine what the chair can do once it's there.

Together, those measurements can tell you a great deal about how well a power wheelchair may work in your home and everyday environment.

The Jazzy EVO 613 Li is a good example of a chair designed around indoor maneuverability, combining a narrow 22-inch base with a 22-inch turning radius, Mid-Wheel 6 Technology, and a full-size power wheelchair platform.

But no specification replaces measuring your own home.

Before purchasing any power wheelchair, take the time to measure the spaces that matter most.

The right wheelchair should fit your life, not force your life to fit around the wheelchair.

Continue Reading in This Series

This article is part of our Jazzy EVO 613 Li Resource Series.

• What Is Mid-Wheel Drive in a Power Wheelchair? — Start here to understand why drive-wheel position can make such a difference in tight spaces.
• Power Wheelchair Width and Turning Radius: Why Both Matter — You are here.
• Power Wheelchair Suspension: Does It Really Matter? — Coming next.
• Pride Jazzy EVO 613 Li Buyer's Guide: Is It Right for You? — The complete series wrap-up.

Resources

• Pride Mobility – Jazzy EVO 613 Li
• Pride Mobility – Jazzy EVO 613 Li Specifications
• Pride Mobility – Jazzy EVO 613 In-Home Use Guide
• Pride Mobility – Standard Power Wheelchairs