The Best Electric Wheelchairs With Left-Hand Control

By Raphael, Founder, Heavy Duty Mobility. Last updated June 2026.

Short answer. An electric wheelchair is already a one-handed machine, because you drive it with a joystick instead of a two-hand tiller. So the one thing that makes a power chair a left-hand control electric wheelchair is the side the joystick sits on. On the Merits and Shoprider power chairs we sell, you pick Left Hand right in our Options and Upgrades at no extra cost, and you can add a left-hand swing-away mount if you want to pull up to a desk. Our picks and the full how-to are below.

Why trust this guide. Heavy Duty Mobility is a US-based mobility retailer, and for over 15 years we have helped riders find and configure the right setup. We order these chairs with the joystick on the left for real customers, and we back them with US parts, service, and warranty. The specifications and options here come from the manufacturers’ own manuals and from the exact configurations we build on each chair. If you are not sure which side or which control fits your hand strength or range of motion, talk to our specialists or your occupational therapist, and we will build the chair around your ability. Always test a new control layout in a safe, open space before you head out.

How electric wheelchair controls work

A power wheelchair is driven by a joystick on the armrest, not by a handlebar. You move the joystick the way you want to go and the chair follows, so one hand handles steering and speed together. That is why a power chair is one-handed by design, and why it often suits a rider with strength or movement on only one side, including after a stroke or with hemiplegia.

The joystick sits in a control box clamped to a bracket under the armrest. That bracket is the whole trick, because it fits on the left armrest just as easily as the right. The joystick itself is the same unit on either side, so a left-hand chair drives exactly like a right-hand one.

Swing-away mounts. A swing-away joystick is fitted on a hinged arm, so you can push the control out of the way to pull up to a desk, a table, or a bed, then swing it back to drive. We offer this as a left-hand or a right-hand option, which means a left-side rider keeps the same close-up table access a right-side rider gets.

When a standard joystick is not enough. Some riders cannot work a hand joystick at all and need a specialty control such as a head array, a chin control, or a sip-and-puff system. Those are clinical, custom-fitted setups that we do not stock. If that is your situation, tell us or ask your seating therapist, and we will steer you to the right path rather than sell you a chair that will not work for you.

How to order an electric wheelchair with left hand control

On every chair below, you set the control side in our Options and Upgrades before the chair ships. You choose Left Hand at no added cost, or Left Hand Swing-away for the same small upgrade a right-hand rider pays for swing-away. Nothing else about the chair changes. It drives, charges, and is serviced the same way, just with the control under your stronger hand. Tell us your stronger side when you order and we set it up for you.

Quick comparison

The best electric wheelchairs with left hand control

These are the power chairs we can build with the joystick on your left. They are grouped by how you will mostly use the chair, so start with where you live and travel, then match the weight capacity to the rider.

• The Merits Vision Sport P326 is a mid-wheel drive chair, the type that turns inside its own footprint, which makes it the easiest to live with in hallways, doorways, and small rooms. Our top indoor pick for a left-hand setup.
• The Merits EZ-GO Deluxe P321B is a light travel chair that comes apart for a car trunk, and the Merits P101 folds whole for a trunk or a plane. Both take the Left Hand joystick option.
• The Merits Gemini P301 and Merits Regal P310 are rear-wheel drive chairs that track straight and stay stable at speed, so they are the better outdoor choice. The Regal is built around a swing-away joystick mount, which we set on the left.
• The Merits Vision CF P322 is a front-wheel drive travel chair, and the Shoprider Streamer Sport is a compact travel chair. Both are easy to handle and both offer the left-hand option.

Heavy-duty and bariatric left-hand picks

If the rider needs more weight capacity, these chairs carry the same left-hand joystick choice on a stronger frame. Match the chair’s weight rating to the rider’s real weight, with a margin, and never round it up.

• The Merits Atlantis P710 is a bariatric chair rated for higher weight, and it lists a swing-away joystick mount among its features, which we configure for your side.
• The Merits Vision Super Heavy Duty P327 pairs a heavy-duty frame with a power elevating seat that raises you to reach a shelf or talk at eye level.
• The Shoprider 6Runner 14 is a six-wheel heavy-duty chair that stays planted indoors and out, with the joystick available on the left.

What left hand control will not fix, and what to watch for

Being straight about the limits matters more on a power chair than on almost anything else you buy.

Not every folding power chair lets you move the joystick. The lightweight folding smart-chairs from brands like Forcemech and Golden Ally are built with the control in one place, and we do not configure the side on those. If you need a left-handed power wheelchair, choose one of the chairs above that carries the Left Hand joystick option, or call us and we will tell you honestly whether a given model can be changed.

A power chair does not help if you cannot use a hand joystick at all. For head array, chin, or sip-and-puff control, see a seating clinic, because those are custom medical fittings.

If you would rather steer a tiller and spend most of your time outdoors, a mobility scooter may suit you better. A scooter still needs a working hand to steer the tiller, so read our companion guide to left-handed and one-handed mobility scooters before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Is there such a thing as a left-handed electric wheelchair?

Not as a separate model. Because a power wheelchair is already driven by a one-hand joystick, any chair becomes a left-hand control electric wheelchair when the joystick is mounted on the left armrest. On our Merits and Shoprider chairs you choose that side when you order.

Can you move a power wheelchair joystick to the left side?

Yes, on the chairs in this guide. The control box sits on a bracket that fits either armrest, so we set it on the left before the chair ships, and the joystick works the same on either side.

Does choosing the left side cost more?

No. A standard Left Hand joystick is the same price as a right-hand one. A swing-away mount, which lets you push the control aside to reach a desk, is a small upgrade that costs the same whether you choose it on the left or the right.

What is a swing-away joystick?

It is a joystick on a hinged arm. You swing it out of the way to pull up close to a table, a desk, or a bed, then swing it back to drive. We offer it as a left-hand or a right-hand option.

Which electric wheelchair is best after a stroke or with the use of one side?

Start with the side you want the control on, then pick by where you live and your weight. For tight indoor spaces the mid-wheel Vision Sport P326 is a strong start, for outdoors the rear-wheel Gemini P301 or Regal P310, and for higher weight the Atlantis P710. Tell us your stronger hand and we set the joystick up for it.

Can I drive an electric wheelchair with one hand?

Yes. Every power wheelchair is driven with one hand on the joystick, which is what makes it a good fit for one-handed users. You only need to make sure the joystick is on the side you can reach.

Do you offer left hand control on folding electric wheelchairs?

On the Merits folding models such as the P101 and the heavy-duty P182, yes, the Left Hand option is available. The lightweight folding smart-chairs from some other brands keep the joystick in a fixed place, so ask us about a specific model before you order.

Browse our full electric wheelchair range, or contact us and we will set up a chair with the joystick on your side.