Manual wheelchairs are propelled by muscle power or in the case of transport wheelchairs that can be pushed by someone walking behind the wheelchair. There are a number of very different types of manual wheelchairs that range from ultra-lightweight to heavy duty. More specifically, manual wheelchairs fall into one or more types or styles of wheelchair.

Powered wheelchairs are battery powered wheelchairs that can be controlled by the user or by a nearby attendant. Advanced powered wheelchairs are flexible enough to be adapted to almost any needs with the addition of specialized components such as a respirator, speech device, environmental control, specialized controls and switches, and an amazingly abundant selection of positioning and body alignment options. They can be had in front wheel drive, rear wheel and center wheel drive. For those wheelchair users who do not need an advanced powered wheelchair system, there are a number of other types that range from compact folders to heavy duty models.