A portable self-contained pneumatic lift chair is provided with a motor operated compressor and controls for pumping air into a bladder and exhausting air from the bladder to raise and lower patients seated on the chair. The seat is guided up and down by loops on the seat surrounding guideposts extending upward on a base under hand operated controls. Braces between the posts are used to make the chair sturdy and can be adjusted to control the distance the chair is raised and lowered and, with post height and bladder size, used to control maximum and minimum height of the seat.