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An electric wheelchair, more commonly known as a power wheelchair, gives the gift of mobility to people otherwise bound to their homes due to illness, stroke or injury. “I have one in my garage right now for zooming around the yard and doing yard work,” says Bill Fertig, the Virginia Beach-based director of the United Spinal Association Resource Center. These devices usually have four to six wheels, which help with stability, and are powered by batteries that generally last around 10 miles before needing to be recharged.

To choose the best electric wheelchairs for seniors, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on approximately 50 products from top brands, evaluating them based on price, maximum weight capacity, travel range, top travel speed and portability. See which electric wheelchairs made our list. Note: Prices are accurate as of the publication date.

This mid-size power wheelchair, which has a 10-mile travel range on a single battery charge, blends style and comfort. It features a 19-inch captain’s seat, plus 3-inch ground clearance that makes it easy to maneuver the terrain almost anywhere you go. The short wheelbase helps you navigate small spaces both indoors and outdoors as well. There are lots of ways to adjust the chair for maximum comfort.

This remarkably light and portable wheelchair can be lifted easily into the back of a vehicle. It has a comfortable, stadium-style seat and spacious footrest, plus rear-wheel drive for situations when you need to maneuver carefully. It can also cover up to 15.5 miles before it needs to be recharged.

This power wheelchair is all about performance and comfort. It can travel for 15 miles before it needs to be charged, and it’s made with a lightweight carbon steel frame, which makes it both durable and aesthetically pleasing. It features a foam seat cushion and a positioning belt that helps keep you in place.

This heavy-duty wheelchair has large front wheels equipped with anti-tip features, promising a safe, smooth ride. It’s 25.75 inches wide and is both stylish and durable. In addition to padded armrests, the chair features a seat that you can adjust forward or back until you’re comfortable.

This folding chair is made out of a durable lightweight aluminum alloy, and it only weighs 50 pounds, making it ultra convenient for travel. Its seat is 19 inches wide, and the wheelchair is 25 inches wide. This chair is intended for people who suffer from health conditions that affect their mobility, such as respiratory or neurological problems, but not spinal cord injuries.

This heavy-duty power wheelchair is super functional. It has a power elevating seat and lots of adjustable features, and it gets high marks in its ability to navigate obstacles. You can travel up to 20 miles without recharging, and the chair has 4-inch ground clearance and a higher weight capacity than many other options on our list.

This chair makes it easy to switch between front- and rear-wheel drive—you just release and rotate the chair 180 degrees to lock the setting into place. The seat is 18 inches wide, and the entire wheelchair is 24 inches wide. It’s ideal for both indoor and outdoor use and can travel an impressive 18 miles on a single charge.

This lightweight power chair is a great choice for those on the go. The seat width ranges from 16 to 20 inches, and the entire wheelchair is 22.5 inches wide. It has an adjustable footplate, and you can tweak the seat height to your liking.

This power chair is designed to help you navigate tight corners and narrow spaces easily without damaging the walls. It works indoors and outdoors and has a travel range of 12 miles on a single battery charge. You can adjust the armrests, and there’s an optional reclining seat upgrade if you’d like a higher seat back.

If you’re looking for a tough wheelchair, consider the Forcemech Navigator. It’s designed to work well on rough road conditions and survive sudden weather changes. It uses high-performance batteries that minimize time between charges, and it has intelligent electromagnetic brakes. Its seat is 17 inches wide, and the entire wheelchair weighs just 59 pounds, which is much lighter than many other options out there.

To determine the best electric wheelchairs for seniors, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on approximately 50 products from top brands, evaluating them based on:

An electric wheelchair—also called a powered or motorized wheelchair—is a four- or six-wheel chair with a motor that runs on one or two batteries. These wheelchairs are maneuvered with a joystick and require no upper body strength. Powered wheelchair varieties range from simple, standard wheelchairs for short-term use to highly customized versions for more complex and long-term needs.

Cory Lee, 31, of Georgia has been in a wheelchair since he was 4 years old. He’s also an avid traveller—he’s hot air ballooned in Israel, floated in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and had a run-in with a hippopotamus in South Africa—and an expert in travelling in a wheelchair. Over the course of his life, Lee has used many different sizes and types of wheelchairs—and knows the importance of buying the right one.

Electric wheelchairs like the ones used by Lee fall into a category called complex rehabilitation technology, or CRT. “These wheelchairs are measured and built specifically to meet each individual’s unique needs,” says Angie Kiger, a clinical strategy and educational manager at Sunrise Medical, a California-based wheelchair manufacturer. This technology includes multiple positioning options, advanced electronics and controls, adjustments for orthopedic issues and accommodations for ventilators.

When people lose the ability to walk, they turn to motorized vehicles, such as a mobility scooter or a powered wheelchair. Mobility scooters are three- or four-wheel vehicles that aren’t highly customizable. Electric wheelchairs usually feature four to six wheels and can be designed to the user’s specifications. “A mobility scooter is for people who have some mobility who can transfer in and out of it,” says Lee.

A powered wheelchair can be a helpful alternative or necessity for anyone unable to operate a wheelchair manually. People who cannot walk due to a permanent or progressive illness that causes disability can benefit significantly from an electric wheelchair.

If you’re new to the world of powered wheelchairs, check out the following types online or at a medical supply store:

Once you’ve determined which type of wheelchair would best suit your needs, consider comfort features that come standard or at an additional cost, as well as the wheelchair’s maximum weight capacity and accompanying batteries.

“The most important factor in choosing a wheelchair? Comfort,” says Lee. Here are a few features to consider:

“The average power chair can carry up to 350 pounds and run over most surfaces that a client might wish to traverse,” says Thomas Henley, the owner of Henley Medical in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“Most power chairs have two batteries and cost about $250 to $300 each,” says Henley.

Most electric wheelchairs can travel about 10 miles on a full charge, so some people choose to charge them every night or every other night, says Lee. As for average battery life, Lee says he’s had batteries last anywhere from three to five years. The lifespan of a battery depends on many factors, including how often it’s charged and how much the wheelchair is used.

Prices for electric wheelchairs can range from $2,000 for a standard, portable power wheelchair like the Pride Go Chair to $6,000 for a fully adjustable and highly maneuverable model like the Quickie Q500 M Power Wheelchair.

Meanwhile, highly customized electric wheelchairs can cost much more—anywhere between $12,000 and $50,000, according to Henley. And it’s rare for a funding source, be it Medicare or private health insurance, to come close to covering the full retail price.

How you plan to pay for an electric wheelchair can play a significant role in determining your range of wheelchair choices. To help navigate payment options, The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation provides fact sheets, videos and access to information specialists for people learning about the funding process.

To be reimbursed for an electric wheelchair through Medicare, a doctor must prescribe the chair as a medical necessity. Wheelchairs fall under the durable medical equipment (DME) category of Medicare Part B, but Medicare is very restrictive about who can receive reimbursement for a powered wheelchair.

“Under Medicare guidelines, you cannot have any ambulation to get [a wheelchair],” says Bernadette Mauro, director of information and research services at the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation. No ambulation means the user cannot walk or stand at all.

Next, you must coordinate a meeting with a certified occupational therapist or physical therapist and a Medicare-approved supplier of wheelchairs so they can evaluate your abilities and needs, and submit the proper forms.

From submitting the necessary information to Medicare to finally receiving a custom wheelchair, the process can take four months to a year, says Kiger.

Private insurance companies are no more flexible than Medicare when it comes to funding an electric wheelchair. “Medicare guidelines are used by almost every insurance company,” says Mauro.

It’s possible to pay for an electric wheelchair out-of-pocket if insurance coverage is not available.

Warranties from manufacturers generally last one to two years, says Henley, covering motors, electronics, joysticks and frames, but not tires, seats or back cushions.

Return policies vary, and many suppliers will not accept returns, he adds. Ask your supplier about their policy before finalizing a purchase.

Wheelchair casters, tires, arm pads and bearings often need replacing. “Quality dependable service is of great importance,” says Henley. “Research the history of the service department of the dealer from whom you plan to buy a chair,” he adds, recommending talking to others who’ve used that particular store. The lifespan of parts depends on how much a powered wheelchair is used and how well it’s maintained. Keep in mind that Medicare allows for a new power wheelchair every five years. Compare Best Electric Wheelchairs

It’s important to make sure the wheelchair you want will fit in your home. An occupational therapist can help you determine the height and width of the wheelchair and compare that to the width of your hallways, doorways and the space in your bathroom and kitchen. Other considerations include whether you need to add a ramp to your home or move the bedroom to the first floor. If Medicare coverage is an option, your chosen supplier will help with fitting.

“The wheelchair provider is required by Medicare to make a home visit to ensure the equipment will work in the client’s homes,” says Kiger. “Home evaluation often includes measuring steps and doorways… Medicare wants to know that the wheelchair will improve mobility-related activities of daily living.”

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Angela Haupt has been a health writer and editor for more than a decade. She was previously the managing editor of health at U.S. News & World Report, where she spent 11 years covering and editing wellness and conditions topics. She helped launch the popular Best Diets rankings and continued to oversee the franchise throughout her time there. Angela has also written about health and wellness for publications such as the Washington Post, USA Today, Everyday Health and Verywell Fit. She’s passionate about helping people make healthier decisions through accurate journalism that delivers the facts and puts them in context.

Nicole Gregory is an editor and writer in Los Angeles who has contributed to the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, Vegetarian Times, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, New Woman and Living Fit, among other publications. She enjoys interviewing medical experts and researchers about their work and is passionate about communicating accurate and relevant health information to the public.

Alena is a professional writer, editor and manager with a lifelong passion for helping others live well. She is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a functional medicine certified health coach. She brings more than a decade of media experience to Forbes Health, with a keen focus on building content strategy, ensuring top content quality and empowering readers to make the best health and wellness decisions for themselves.