Best Folding Power Wheelchairs

An Overview of the Best Foldable Power Wheelchairs

Our top picks for the best folding power chairs are:

1. ComfyGo Patriot-10 – Best Overall

2. ComfyGo Patriot-12 – Best Mileage per Charge

3. EWheels EW-M45 – Best Weight Capacity

4. ComfyGo Majestic IQ-7000 – Best Value for Money

5. Journey Health and Lifestyle Zinger – Most Lightweight Option

6. ComfyGo Majestic IQ-8000 – Best for Budget

The 6 Best Foldable Electric Wheelchairs in 2022

Folding power wheelchairs are a dime a dozen nowadays. To help narrow down your options, we’ve selected six quality wheelchairs that strike a terrific balance between convenience and practicality.

1. ComfyGo Patriot-10 – Best Overall

Click Here For Best Price Kicking off our list of the best folding electric wheelchairs is the ComfyGo Patriot-10 with its two powerful motors, excellent mileage per charge, and tight turning radius.

While this power wheelchair may not be the fastest, lightest, or most commodious in terms of weight capacity, it strikes an outstanding balance between all of these aspects without costing an arm and a leg.

This folding power chair is cruise and airline-approved, so you shouldn’t have a hard time getting it onto a ship or into a plane. All in all, the Patriot-10 seems to be the most well-rounded folding wheelchair available.

Specs:

• Weight capacity: 330 pounds

• Top speed: 4 mph

• Mileage/Charge: 14 miles

• Motor: 2x 250W brushless DC motor

• Battery type: 2x 7AH lithium-ion battery (2*3 pounds)

• Charging time: 6-8 hours

• Weight: 55 pounds (without battery)

• Turning radius: ≤ 35.5 inches / 900 mm

Why We Like It:

• Two powerful motors

• Waterproof joystick for easy control

• Cruise and airline-approved

• Easy to maneuver in tight spaces

• Sleek, visually appealing design

2. ComfyGo Patriot-12 – Best Mileage per Charge

Click Here For Best Price If you’re looking for a folding power wheelchair that offers a whole lot of mileage without having to switch batteries, the Patriot-12 is right up your alley, offering 18 miles on one charge.

The Patriot-12 is able to provide this much mileage because it houses two 7AH lithium-ion batteries. It’s also airline and cruise-approved, so you can travel with it without any issues.

Similar to the Patriot-10, this lightweight electric wheelchair has a maximum weight capacity of 330 pounds, and it houses two 250W brushless DC motors that deliver a maximum speed of 4 mph.

Specs:

• Weight capacity: 330 pounds

• Top speed: 4 mph

• Mileage/Charge: 18 miles

• Motor: 2x 250W brushless DC motor

• Battery type: 2x 7AH lithium-ion battery (2*5 pounds)

• Charging time: 6-8 hours

• Weight: 56 pounds (without battery)

• Turning radius: ≤ 35.5 inches / 900 mm

Why We Like It:

• Airline and cruise-approved wheelchair

• Travels as far as 18 miles on one charge

• Easy maneuverability in confined spaces

• Intuitive joystick for easy control

• Comfortable seat and cushioning

3. EWheels EW-M45 – Best Weight Capacity

Click Here For Best Price If you’re a heavy individual or if you usually carry a lot of stuff with you when you’re out and about, you need a sturdy wheelchair with a high-weight capacity. An excellent choice would be the EWheels EW-M45.

This folding power wheelchair has a maximum weight capacity of 400 pounds. It can handle just about anything you throw at it. It also has a narrow turning radius so that it can navigate tight spaces with ease.

What’s more, this electric wheelchair can travel up to 15.5 miles on a single charge with a top speed of 3.7 mph. It can easily be folded in half and stored in your vehicle. And best of all, it’s FDA-cleared, airplane-approved, and TSA-approved. 

Specs:

• Weight capacity: 400 pounds

• Top speed: 3.7 mph

• Mileage/Charge: 15.5 miles

• Motor: 2x 180W brushless motor

• Battery type: 2x 6AH lithium battery

• Charging time: 2-4 hours

• Weight: 59 pounds (with battery)

• Turning radius: 31 inches

Why We Like It:

• Perfect for large or heavy individuals

• Has a narrow turning radius for tight spaces

• FDA, airline, and TSA-approved

• Powerful motors and great mileage

• Has a backseat pocket for storage

4. ComfyGo Majestic IQ-7000 – Best Value for Money

Click Here For Best Price There’s a lot to like about the ComfyGo Majestic IQ-7000 compared to other options within the same price range. For starters, it has one of the highest weight capacities in its class at 365 pounds.

What’s more, the Majestic IQ-7000, housing only one battery, can take you as far as 13 miles on a single charge. And if that’s not enough, it’s a dual-motor wheelchair with a top speed of 4 mph.

The main drawback to buying this product is its weight. Without the battery, which weighs around 7 pounds, this motorized wheelchair weighs about 60 pounds. So, it’s a bit heavy compared to its competitors.

Specs:

• Weight capacity: 365 pounds

• Top speed: 4 mph

• Mileage/Charge: 13 miles

• Motor: 2x 250W brushless DC motor

• Battery type: 12AH lithium-ion battery (7 pounds)

• Charging time: 6-8 hours

• Weight: 60 pounds (without battery)

• Turning radius: ≤ 47 inches / 1200 mm

Why We Like It:

• Covers different types of terrain with ease

• The battery is airplane-approved

• The battery can be charged in its place or separately

• Easily controllable with an armrest joystick

• Features under-seat storage

5. Journey Health and Lifestyle Zinger – Most Lightweight Option

Click Here For Best Price One of the key strengths of lightweight electric wheelchairs compared to traditional electric wheelchairs is that they’re much lighter. And out of all the options on our list, the Zinger from Journey Health and Lifestyle is the lightest.

Featuring a dual-lever driving system, this lightweight power wheelchair is extremely responsive and maneuverable. It has three speed settings that range up to 6 mph, making it the fastest wheelchair on the list.

What’s more, this power chair has a single pull-release cable so that you can fold it with ease. Once folded, it can fit into the trunk or backseat of most cars.

Specs:

• Weight capacity: 275 pounds

• Top speed: 6 mph

• Mileage/Charge: 8 miles

• Motor: 250W DC motor

• Battery type: 6.6AH lithium-ion battery (4 pounds)

• Charging time: 4 hours

• Weight: 42 pounds (without battery)

• Turning radius: ≤ 24 inches / 610mm

Why We Like It:

• Comes fully assembled for convenience

• FAA-approved for use in airports

• Responsive and easily maneuverable

• The fastest wheelchair on the list

• Height adjustable armrests (ADA-compliant)

6. ComfyGo Majestic IQ-8000 – Best for Budget

Click Here For Best Price While it’s not cheap by any means, the IQ-8000 is more affordable than the IQ-7000, yet it flaunts a lot of the same features. It has two 250W brushless motors, a top speed of 4 mph, and a 47-inch turning radius.

This unit’s mileage changes based on the battery you use. You can go for the 12AH battery, which is airline-approved, and get 10 miles on a single charge. Alternatively, you can use the 20AH battery for up to 17 miles of use.

Similar to the IQ-7000, this folding power chair is quite comfortable and easy to fold (manual folding). In addition, it can be controlled in two different ways: hand-held wireless remote control or joystick control.

Specs:

• Weight capacity: 286 pounds

• Top speed: 4 mph

• Mileage/Charge: 10-17 miles

• Motor: 2x 250W brushless DC motor

• Battery type: 12AH or 20AH lithium-ion battery (6 pounds)

• Charging time: 6-8 hours

• Weight: 49 pounds (without battery)

• Turning radius: ≤ 47 inches / 1200 mm

Why We Like It:

• Lighter and more affordable than the IQ-7000

• Easy to control and maneuver

• Works with two different batteries

• Handles moderate slopes nicely

• Covers grass, ramps, brick, mud, and snow

Factors to Consider When Buying a Folding Power Wheelchair

Even after learning about the best folding power wheelchairs in the market, you might still be wondering which one to choose. To find the right folding power chair for your needs, consider the following factors.

Weight Capacity

First and foremost, you need to consider the wheelchair’s capacity. The heavier you are, the larger the wheelchair’s maximum weight capacity needs to be.

We recommend opting for a folding power wheelchair with a maximum weight capacity that’s slightly above your own weight. This is to account for any additional weight you may carry with you, like a bag or suitcase.

Battery Life

If you’re constantly on the go, you need a folding electric wheelchair that has a long battery life. After all, you don’t want the chair quitting on you while you’re in the middle of an errand.

It’s worth noting that some folding power wheelchairs have a travel range of up to 20 miles on a single battery charge. Ideally, you shouldn’t settle for less than 8 miles per charge.

Ease of Storage

Not all wheelchair folding mechanisms are made equal; some folding power chairs fold easier than others. So, before spending your hard-earned money on an electric wheelchair, make sure it folds easily.

On top of that, you need to make sure that the chair’s folded measurements are suitable for your storage needs. If it can’t fit in the trunk of your car when folded, it’s not worth buying.

Turning Radius

Turning around with a foldable power wheelchair can be quite difficult if you’re in a confined space. This is why you need to take the wheelchair’s turning radius into consideration.

The tighter the turning radius, the easier it’ll be for you to maneuver tight areas with your lite folding power chair.

Storage Space

If you tend to carry a lot of personal belongings, you should consider buying a folding power wheelchair that offers ample storage space. You don’t want to have to carry everything on your lap.

If you tend to carry valuable items, we recommend opting for a wheelchair that has an under-seat storage pouch or basket. This is to keep your belongings out of other people’s reach. 

Airline Approval

Another important factor to consider in an electric wheelchair is whether or not it’s airline-approved. For an electric wheelchair to be approved, it must be foldable and contain a lithium-ion battery. The smaller it is when folded, the easier it’ll be to get into the passenger cabin. If it’s too big for the cabin, it’ll most likely be stored in the baggage compartment.

Wrapping Up

There are lots of high-quality folding power wheelchairs out there, but we assure you that the ones reviewed in this post are the crème de la crème as of 2022.

If we had to pick one, we’d go with the ComfyGo Patriot-10 because it’s the most well-rounded in terms of capacity, mileage, motor power, and ease of compacting.

Another option that we’re fond of is the EWheels EW-M45. It’s not the most budget-friendly, but in terms of weight capacity and overall sturdiness, it’s truly outstanding.

No matter which one you choose, you should make sure it’s easily foldable, has a sturdy battery, is airline-approved, and has enough storage space for your belongings.