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How Do I Ship a Heavy-Duty Wheelchair?

Wheelchairs are tricky items to ship. They're heavy and bulky, but they must be handled with care, especially if they have been customized for their owner's needs. Heavy-duty wheelchairs come in a range of styles and weights, just like other kinds of wheelchairs, but they are likely to be even heavier and bigger and thus even more difficult to ship.

  1. Size and Weight

    • Find the smallest box your wheelchair can fit in easily. If it is collapsible, you may be able to ship it through the post office or a standard shipping service. Dimensions can be just as important as weight, so note the dimensions of the box.

      Weigh your wheelchair, along with the box you plan to ship it in, if you have the box already. Add a few pounds to this weight to allow for padding, or more if you aren't weighing the box yet. A large, heavy-duty shipping box can weigh several pounds.

      If it is difficult for you to physically weigh the wheelchair you plan to ship, search online by brand and model number for a website selling the same model. Most sites will list specifications.

    Shipping Service

    • The regular ground shipping services of both UPS and FedEx will handle packages up to 150 lbs. in weight and up to 165 inches in length and girth combined. The U.S. Postal Service has a weight maximum of 70 lbs. and a length and girth maximum of 130 inches. Most manual wheelchairs are under these weight guidelines.

      Motorized wheelchairs, however, will rarely be light enough or small enough to be shipped through one of these standard services, and some manual wheelchairs are too big to meet the dimensional limits. These wheelchairs have to be shipped in one of two ways--by freight or by a moving company. Your best option in this case is to call local freight shippers and moving services, give them the information and request a price quote. UPS and FedEx also offer freight shipping services.

      If you are the user of the wheelchair, a third option is to actually fly to the destination in person; airlines will transport your wheelchair along with you.

    Packaging

    • Check with your chosen shipping company about packaging suggestions and requirements. Freight handlers and moving companies may tell you exactly how to pack your heavy-duty wheelchair for shipment, and they may even provide supplies or do it for you.

      Be sure that the box you use is sturdy, that it is fully sealed on the outside and that the wheelchair is fully cushioned inside. You may be able to get large boxes and packaging material from a local furniture store.

      When you bring the wheelchair in to be shipped, ask the shipping company representatives to double-check the packaging for you. Most will do this anyway, but it's better to be sure that someone else has checked your packaging job.

      If you are not confident in your own packing abilities, you can often find a local store that specializes in packing items and handling all the shipping logistics for you, but be aware that you may pay a higher price for these services.

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