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Transfer board

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

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What a transfer board does

A transfer board spans the gap between a bed, wheelchair, chair, car seat or commode, and the person slides along it in a seated position. Vive describes its board as letting a person with mobility issues move between surfaces by sliding rather than being lifted, with rounded, sealed corners and cut-out handles at each end so hands and clothing do not snag.

It suits people who can sit with some balance but cannot stand safely. MedlinePlus notes that its standing pivot transfer method assumes the person can stand on at least one leg, and that a lift is needed if they cannot use at least one leg.

What studies show

In a 2025 study in the journal Ergonomics, 23 trained university students simulating lower limb disability did wheelchair-to-bed and bed-to-wheelchair transfers with and without a board. Using the board reduced cardiovascular load from 19.2% to 11.2%, cut transfer time by 23.1% and lowered perceived effort.

A 2018 study notes that how wheelchair transfers are done has been linked to the risk of falling and of upper limb injuries. It found sitting transfers put higher forces through the hands than standing transfers, while standing transfers scored lower on a transfer quality assessment, which may mean less safety. It also found transfer boards were only partially effective at reducing the weight carried by the arms during transfers. So a board can make transfers easier, but technique and arm strength still matter, and the person's shoulders need protecting over time.

Board specs to check

Details are from Vive's product page. Vive says its sealed, coated wood resists cracking and chipping and makes sliding easier, and that the board should be wiped with a dry cloth and kept dry rather than immersed in water.

Setting up a transfer

• Position the chair. MedlinePlus says to park the wheelchair next to the bed, parallel or at a slight angle.
• Lock and clear. Put the wheelchair brakes on and move the footrests out of the way.
• Clear the floor. Move loose rugs out of the way to prevent slipping.
• Let them sit first. MedlinePlus advises allowing the person to sit for a few moments in case they feel dizzy on first sitting up.
• Place the board. Vive says to place at least one third of the board on the surface you are leaving and at least one third on the surface you are moving to.

Sliding across

Vive's instructions are to support your body weight on the board and slowly slide from one end to the other, and to have an assistant help if you are unstable. Move in small shifts rather than one big push. A gait or transfer belt gives a helper something secure to hold; MedlinePlus says the person being moved should not wrap their arms around a helper's head or neck.

Aim to transfer between surfaces at similar heights, and remove the board once the person is settled. For the seat you are moving to, see our lightweight wheelchair guide and bedside commode guide.

Get trained first

Ask a physical or occupational therapist to teach both the user and any caregiver the transfer before trying it at home. MedlinePlus advises thinking through the steps before acting and getting help if the person cannot support their own weight. Check the skin afterward, and tell the person's provider about any redness or sores.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

What is a transfer board used for?

Sliding between a bed, wheelchair, car seat, chair or commode without standing or being lifted.

Do transfer boards make transfers easier?

A 2025 study found lower cardiovascular load, shorter transfer time and less perceived effort with a board.

How much of the board goes on each seat?

Vive says at least one third on the surface you leave and one third on the surface you move to.

How long should a transfer board be?

Long enough to span the gap with overlap; Vive's board is 30 inches.

What if the person cannot sit or stand at all?

MedlinePlus says a lift is needed if the person cannot use at least one leg; ask a therapist.

Sources

• Wooden Transfer Board (vivehealth.com), Vive Health
• Moving a patient from bed to a wheelchair (medlineplus.gov), MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
• Effects of transfer board use on physical load and transfer time (Ergonomics, 2025) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), PubMed 40298115
• Effect of technique and transfer board use on the performance of wheelchair transfers (2018) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), PubMed 29750117

Sources checked 2026-10-15.