What Size Rollator Do I Need? Handle Height and Fit

byACRE says the right handle height lets you walk upright instead of hunched over. Every figure below comes from the makers' own product pages, spec sheets and manuals.

• How to measure
• Handle heights by size
• Size names
• The seat
• Setting it up
• Questions

Step 1: Measure from the floor to the wrist

byACRE's manual says the handles should be level with your wrist when standing upright. Evolution says they should line up with the wrist crease or sit slightly higher.

1. Wear walking shoes. Evolution says to stand in your normal walking shoes, and byACRE says to wear shoes if the rollator will be used outside.
2. Stand upright with the arms relaxed at the sides, Evolution says.
3. Measure from the floor to the wrist crease. byACRE suggests adding a little under an inch, because the arms angle slightly forward on the grips.
4. Compare it with each size's handle range. Evolution says the elbows should bend about 15 to 20 degrees when you hold the grips.

Step 2: Find a size that covers the number

Each maker lists a handle range for every size, and only Evolution adds user heights, for two models on its US site.

• Lowest handles: the Evolution Xpresso Zero Mini starts at 28.5 inches, and the Drive Nitro Sprint Small, Evolution Trillium Mini and Evolution Piper Super Mini at 29 inches.
• Highest handles on a standard rollator: the Drive Nitro HD and the MOBB Aluminum Folding Rollator reach 41 inches.
• Upright walker: the Drive Elevate Upright Walker has forearm pads and adjusts from 39 to 44 inches. Call us to size one.

The Evolution user heights come from its US site, which gives them for the Trillium and Xpresso Zero. Some makers print more than one range for the same model. byACRE's spec tables give 30.7 to 37.4 inches for every Carbon Ultralight size and 32.7 to 37.8 inches for the Carbon Overland, which is what we show, while its FAQ and manuals give slightly different ranges. Human Care's centimetre and inch figures for the neXus 3 differ by a few tenths of an inch, and we show its inches. We left out the Rehasense rollators because we could not read Rehasense's own figures.

What the size names mean

• byACRE Compact, Regular and Wide: one handle range, so choose by width and seat. byACRE says a slimmer model suits mostly indoor use with narrow walkways, and if you are in doubt, choose the wider one. Its US shop says most people prefer the Wide.
• Evolution Mini, Regular and Tall: for the Trillium and Xpresso Zero, Evolution's US site gives user heights of under 5'4", 5'4" to 5'11" and 5'11" and up. The Piper adds a Super Mini, and the Xpresso Wide comes in Wide and Low Wide, both with a 20 inch seat.
• Drive Hemi, Standard and Tall: Drive calls the shortest Nitro Sprint the Hemi, and we list it as Small. Drive gives no user heights, so compare the handle and seat figures.
• Human Care Super Low, Low and Standard: Human Care measures their seat heights from the floor to the bottom of the seat pan: 19, 22 and 24 inches.

Step 3: Check the seat

If the rollator will be used for rests, check the seat as closely as the handles.

• Height: Evolution says your feet should rest flat on the ground when seated. byACRE suggests sitting on a chair at home of a similar height to see whether getting in and out is easy. byACRE says the Carbon Ultralight seat height does not adjust; MOBB's adjusts from 19.5 to 23 inches.
• Width: byACRE says a wider seat is more comfortable if you rest often, and your hips should be narrower than the space between the handles, with room for a thick winter coat.
• Capacity: ratings in our table run from 250 lb on the Hugo Sidekick to 450 lb on the Drive Nitro HD and Evolution Xpresso Wide.

Setting it up: handles, brakes and backrest

Handles

• byACRE: push the button, adjust the handle and release. The brakes may need adjusting after a height change.
• MOBB: move the handle until the push lock button clicks, and set both grips at the same height.
• Human Care: keep the brake handle in its neutral position while you set the height.

Brakes

The byACRE, Evolution, Human Care and MOBB manuals agree: pull or squeeze the levers to slow down, press them down to park, and pull them back up to release. Evolution says not to walk with the brakes on.

Backrest

Drive says the Nitro DLX's back support height adjusts with a tool free thumb screw. byACRE says its Carbon Ultralight Backrest attaches only if at least one hole stays visible on the handlebar.

Walking upright with a rollator

• Walk upright, close to the frame. MOBB's manual says to walk upright with the rollator near your body. byACRE's manual says to look ahead and not to push the rollator far in front of you.
• Lock both brakes before you sit. byACRE, Evolution and Human Care all say so. Evolution says to back up until you feel the seat behind your legs, and never to sit while the rollator is moving.
• Do not lean on the handles to sit. Human Care says to steady yourself on the upper handgrip, never the brake levers.
• Avoid stairs. byACRE and Human Care say not to use their rollators on stairs.

Common sizing mistakes

1. Going by height alone. byACRE says the wrist height decides the fit.
2. Measuring in socks or slippers. Measure in the shoes they will walk in.
3. Forgetting the seat, so the feet do not rest flat.
4. Choosing a narrow seat for frequent rests.
5. Leaving the grips uneven. MOBB says to set both at the same height.

Rollator size questions

How do I know what size rollator I need?

Measure from the floor to the wrist crease, standing upright in walking shoes, and choose a size whose handle range includes that number. Then check that the feet rest flat when seated.

What size rollator fits someone under 5'4"?

For the Trillium and Xpresso Zero, Evolution's US site puts them in the Mini. The lowest handles in our table start at 28.5 inches, on the Evolution Xpresso Zero Mini.

What size rollator fits a tall person?

For the Trillium and Xpresso Zero, Evolution's US site puts users 5'11" and up in the Tall. On a standard rollator, the highest handles in our table reach 41 inches, on the Drive Nitro HD and the MOBB.

Should rollator handles be at wrist or elbow height?

At the wrist, say byACRE and Evolution. Evolution adds that the elbows should bend about 15 to 20 degrees when you hold the grips.

How high should a rollator seat be?

Evolution says the feet should rest flat on the ground when seated. Seats in our table run from 17 to 24.4 inches.