We make them 40x40 for a group that make a variety of things for nursing homes. That is the size they have been making for years so I guess they must work well.

36 x 40 is a good size. Flannel on the back works great. A small pocket on the top front for their small items is nice. And a pocket of sorts-just extra fabric folded, and sewn across the entire back lower portion helps for their feet. Have cut bottom corners at an angle to help with not getting caught in the wheels. I also keep quilting an open design so the quilt is more "poofy" as they say. Hope this helps! :):)

My mom was in a memory care unit, I made tons of lap quilts. They were all 20x30, it does sound small, it is only for their laps and is actually quite ample. Try to measure out a 20x30 using newspaper or fold some of your fabric to that size, pin it, sit down and try it out.

I have been making lap quilts for wheel chairs for the past few years an mine are 36" x 36". So far no has told me they are too bit.

The first thing I thought was 'could a loop be added to one corner, with Velcro or a snap, so one upper edge of the lap quilt could be attached to the back upright of one of the chair's arms?' It might make it easier to keep the quilt in place, and to retrieve it if it slips off. 20"x30" seems tiny. I'd want to be covered from my waist to my ankles/feet or at least well past my always-cold knees.

while back someone posted a picture of a quilt for wheelchair people. they made it so it could be used over the shoulders (It had a cutout for the neck.) One of our guild members has made two of these we make them for veterans.

I am in a wheelchair. 20x30 would be perfect for me. You just want it big enough to cover, not wrap up in it. If it is to wide, then you have to tuck it in, and that could stick out the sides and get caught in the wheels unless it's a power chair. If it's longer than 30 in, it would for sure catch in the wheels. Just keep in mind, this is merely to keep the lap and legs a bit warmer, not to snuggle up in. I am missing one leg, and I hate wearing long pants because unless I hem the missing leg, it tends to get caught in the wheels in my manual chair, so I hem like it is a capri. And prefer capri's to long pants because of that reason. Hope this is helpful.

Sorry having trouble posting a picture for you (Wish they would fix this) --- but our quilt group made 55 wheel chair lap quilts last Nov. for the local assisted living facility here in Fallon, Nv. The perfect FINISHED size was 35" x 40" . We rounded the bottom corners and put a pocket center top for their water or book or etc. also a tube
hand pocket lined in flannel. We put flannel on the back of the quilt so it didn't slide onto the floor easily. Really fast easy to do! But what a Blessing to all these folks.

While reading through all these posts, first let me say, thank you to all that have made lap quilts for people in wheelchairs. I can see why there are a lot of different sizes. If someone is just sitting in a chair, a larger size would be perfect, for a bed, a larger size perfect. For someone in a manual wheelchair that doesn't really move around, a larger one is perfect, but for anyone who is mobile, and moves around a lot, the 20X30 is perfect. This winter I even used a wall hanging that I made practicing a different pattern, and it covered my thighs, and a portion of my legs and it was great. Keep in mind that a lot of older people in wheel chairs don't have very big legs. So my opinion would be to make a bunch of 20x30 for more active people, and a little larger for non active. Then you've covered it all.

Good luck with them!