Need a Ramp? How to Select the Right One

Whether you use a walker, rollator, wheelchair, or scooter, the right ramp can make entering and exiting your home — and getting around when you travel — significantly easier and safer. The challenge is that “ramp” covers a wide range of products, sizes, and configurations, and choosing the wrong one is an expensive mistake. Our team understands how important the details are. Here is a guide to help you ask the right questions.

Step 1: Identify Where You Need a Ramp

Start by considering every location where elevation — no matter how minor — creates a safety concern or limits access entirely.

Your Home — Which entry point works best: front door, back door, or garage? Plan for at least two accessible egress points from your home. Consider whether there are steps inside the home as well as at entries. Doorway thresholds of only 2–3 inches can create a fall risk or challenge for a wheelchair or scooter and may benefit from a threshold ramp. Note: if you rent, always discuss modifications with your landlord before proceeding.

Travel and Visiting — A portable folding ramp that fits in your car trunk and handles the steps at frequently visited locations gives you genuine flexibility on the go.

Vehicle Transport — If you need to load a scooter or power wheelchair into or onto a vehicle, you will need either a portable vehicle ramp or a permanently mounted vehicle lift.

Pro Tip: Before selecting a ramp, locate the owner’s manual for your wheelchair or scooter and note the maximum incline rating and total combined weight (user + device + any caregiver who may be on the ramp). These two specifications have a direct impact on how long your ramp needs to be.

Step 2: Know Your Mobility Device Specifications

The ramp you choose must be matched to the device that will use it. Gather the following before shopping:

• Make and model of your wheelchair or scooter
• Maximum incline the device can safely navigate
• Total combined weight: device + user + caregiver if applicable
• Length and width of the device

If you do not have the manual, check the manufacturer’s website or call us — we are happy to help look it up.

Step 3: Calculate the Right Ramp Length

According to ADA guidelines for residential settings: for every 1 inch of rise (the vertical height from the ground to the top of the step or landing), your ramp should be 12 inches long. This is the 1:12 ratio.

For example: a front porch with a total rise of 14 inches requires a 14-foot ramp by ADA guidelines. That may sound long — but modular and switchback ramp configurations can often fit a longer ramp within a smaller space footprint. Also factor in the maximum incline your device can handle: if your scooter can only manage a 6-degree incline, a steeper ramp will not work regardless of what the ADA recommends.

Step 4: Choose the Right Ramp Type

Portable ramps — Ideal for shorter distances and situations where a permanent modification is not possible or desired. Types include single-piece folding ramps, multi-fold ramps, and suitcase-style ramps. Best for travel, visiting, and threshold use.

Modular ramps — Pre-fabricated sections that assemble into a customized configuration. Can be reconfigured or relocated if circumstances change. A good middle ground between portable and permanent.

Permanent ramps — Constructed from concrete, wood, or aluminum and designed as a permanent home feature. Can be designed to complement your home’s architecture and significantly enhance its accessibility and value.

Threshold ramps — Small ramps for doorway thresholds of 2–4 inches. Often overlooked but can eliminate a surprising number of daily obstacles.

Vehicle ramps — Either portable (stored in the vehicle) or permanently mounted. Used to load scooters, power chairs, or manual wheelchairs into vans, SUVs, or trucks.

Know someone who is struggling with home access? Share this guide — the right ramp can restore a tremendous amount of independence.

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