Written by Mike Price, OT
As occupational therapists, we know that when you use a mobility aid like a walker, rollator, or wheelchair, navigating stairs can be an insurmountable challenge. For anyone choosing to age in place at home, diminished balance, strength, and changes in vision for older people can change the way they approach and successfully handle stairs. To maintain independence and freely get in and out of your house, having a wheelchair ramp installed at home creates a safer environment by eliminating the need to walk up and down the stairs.
The minimum inside width between the handrails is 36 inches to accommodate a wheelchair. The ramp must be built at least 42 inches wide to allow for the 1-1/2-inch spacing between the handrail and any surface and the actual 1-1/2-inch handrail. Wider wheelchairs and scooters require wider ramps.
Even though a doctor can prescribe a wheelchair ramp as medically necessary equipment, a ramp does not meet Medicare’s requirements to treat a medical condition directly. We do not currently accept private insurance and are not able to provide insurance advice. However, upon your request, we can provide an itemized receipt for you to submit for reimbursement.
The length and material of the ramp impact the price tag. The general cost range is between $400 and $3000 for a standard aluminum or steel ramp and between $80 and $800 for a smaller threshold-style rubber or aluminum ramp.
The ADA slope recommendation is 12 inches of ramp for every one inch of vertical rise, with the maximum rise for any single run of ramp being 30 inches.
The ADA recommends one 1-foot ramp for every one inch of rise. Assuming your stairs are a standard height of about 7.5 inches each, the rise height would be about 22 inches. This would make an ADA-compliant ramp 22 feet long. For home use, that’s a very long ramp taking up a lot of real estate, and it’s also expensive. In our experience, for most home settings, a shorter ramp using 1 foot of ramp for every 1-½ inches of rise will often suffice, which would mean installing a 15-foot ramp over three steps.
To calculate the appropriately sized ramp for your needs, measure the total vertical rise you are trying to overcome, the available distance without obstruction measuring straight out from the highest point, and the total usable width of the area. We recommend plugging those measurements into a mobility ramp calculator to determine your desired size.
For people living where it rains or snows a lot, a wheelchair ramp that allows for drainage, rather than a solid-service deck where water can pool and cause a hazard, is preferable. We suggest aluminum wheelchair ramps, as they are rust-resistant and the most durable in any climate.
In our experience, a ramp that is too short creates a slope that is too steep. Wheelchair and scooter manufacturers often make recommendations about optimal ramp slopes, and ADA recommendations are 12 inches of ramp for every one inch of vertical rise.
Depending on whether the wheelchair or scooter is a standard or bariatric size, the width of these mobility devices can range from 16 to 30 inches wide. We suggest an accommodating ramp that allows for extra inches on each side.
From our experience, the user’s weight, the weight of the heaviest wheelchair or scooter that will be used on the ramp, a caregiver’s weight, and the weight of family and friends all need to be considered so the ramp can handle the weight of anyone who might use it.
Some ramps are simple enough for one person to install in minutes. Others are more complicated, requiring a significant time commitment from multiple people to complete the installation. We know that most aluminum ramps, even the most complicated models, can be installed and ready to use in one day.
 | 1) EZ-ACCESS PATHWAY® 3G Modular Access System View Product |
The first entry on our top 5 list, the GATEWAY 3G Solid Surface Portable Ramp by EZ Access Ramps, is made of heavy-duty aluminum that won’t corrode, rust, or degrade in extreme weather conditions.
With a self-adjusting transition plate at each end to ensure stability, this ramp is secure even when it’s on soft or uneven terrain like gravel or grass. Ribbing along the ramp’s surface provides traction while a raised edge on each side keeps users from following or stepping over the side. Handrail options include two-line rails with dual horizontal crossbars so users of any height or those in low-riding chairs can access handholds and vertical pickets with vertical crossbars that keep kids or pets from slipping under the handrails.
This aluminum wheelchair ramp has a weight capacity of 1,000 pounds and it can be ordered in lengths from 3 to 10 feet. Its one-piece design has no moving parts and requires no assembly. We love that it comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.
This simple yet durable ramp made our list because it’s so easy to install and it will deliver years of dependable use. Just secure it where you want it and it’s ready to make entering and leaving your house safe without the worry of navigating stairs.
The number 4 entry on our list, the Breeze Aluminum Open-Mesh Modular Ramp by National Ramp, is a great choice for anyone living where it rains or snows a lot. The open mesh surface allows rain and snow to drain without forming puddles.
Made up of tongue-and-groove interconnected pieces, this wheelchair ramp can be configured around turns in short or longer lengths. It is completely customizable to fit your individual needs. This lightweight modular system is easy to install. It’s easy to remove, so it will travel with you if you relocate.
Completely maintenance-free, this aluminum wheelchair ramp is for home use and is backed by a lifetime warranty: it won’t rust, rot, or sprinter. It comes with a continuous handrail system and loop ends are available as an option. It has a weight capacity of 1,000 pounds.
This aluminum ramp made our list because of the flexibility of its modular design and the open mesh deck that won’t trap water.
The Roll-Up 36-inch Wide Wheelchair Ramp from Roll-A-Ramp has landed in the number 3 spot on our list.
The roll-up design is the pinnacle of portability and flexibility. It can be picked up, rolled up, transported, then unrolled and set up at the next place you need it. It can be used to navigate stairs or to help get into a van or other vehicle. It’s made of anodized aerospace aluminum, which makes it very lightweight and super strong to accommodate larger chairs and scooters. It comes in lengths of 3 to 13 feet long with 1-½ inch tall edges around the deck.
The aluminum wheelchair ramp for stairs carries a full 10-year warranty. One-foot preassembled sections can be ordered to easily attach to an existing ramp if your needs change and optional quick-release pins can split the ramp into sections for easy handling or removal.
If a flat stable surface is needed at the top of the ramp, the option of a Roll-A-Ramp Wheelchair Ramp Platform provides a lightweight yet durable solution for temporary or permanent use.
The Roll-Up 36-inch Wide Wheelchair Ramp made our list because of its portability and flexibility. Available in a variety of lengths, it can be used to transfer safely in and out of buildings, vans, or other vehicles.
The ADA-compliant aluminum PVI Modular XP Ramp Systems from Prairie View Industries has earned the number 2 spot on our list.
This wheelchair ramp comes in pre-assembled 3, 4, or 5-foot-long sections that can be placed in multiple configurations to fit over stairs and uneven terrain. A semi-permanent ramp for use with homes or commercial buildings requires little to no maintenance and holds up in any weather. Easy to assemble, it can be ordered with various-sized platforms and adjustable degrees of angle slope.
The slip-resistant grooved aluminum wheelchair ramp has a weight capacity of 100 pounds per square foot. It has 1 ½-inch double bar handrails with a standard height of 34 to 38 inches, and it has 4-inch curbs. Optional handrail extensions, stairs, guardrails, and gates are available. We love that this wheelchair ramp comes with a lifetime warranty.
PVI Modular XP Ramp Systems made our list because of its ADA compliance and durability in inclement weather, making any building safe to enter and exit,
Landing in the top spot on our list, the PATHWAY 3G Modular Aluminum Wheelchair Ramp by EZ Access can easily be configured and reconfigured to fit changing needs, and it doesn’t require any permanent modifications to landscaping.
This ramp system can be arranged in countless combinations. It has multi-positional feet that give it stability on uneven terrain, and it does not require concrete anchoring. Its modulating landing pad adjusts to the terrain and the user weight to allow for safe and stable transitions on and off the ramp. The universal parts of this lightweight rust-resistant wheelchair ramp for stairs are interchangeable and come in either solid or expanded surfaces for traction in any climate. The treaded and ribbed solid surface prevents slipping, while the expanded metal’s openings keep water, debris, and snow from accumulating.
We offer two handrail styles, a two-line rail with dual gripping surfaces to accommodate a wide range of people, and a vertical picket rail with crossbars 4 inches apart to keep children and pets from going over the side of the ramp. The handrails are joined by connectors at every joint for consistent and comfortable support.
Earning our top ranking, this aluminum ramp doesn’t make any permanent modifications to your home or outdoor space and is infinitely customizable to meet any needs, even as they change and evolve.
If you are aging in place or dealing with a disability that makes it difficult or impossible to safely walk up and down the stairs, a wheelchair ramp can help you maintain independence and allow you to leave and return home safely. Considering your individual needs will help you make the ramp purchasing choice that will serve you best. All the ramps on our list provide a safe option for navigating over stairs. Whether you live in an area that has a lot of rain and snow, whether you have a caregiver who will be on the ramp at the same time, or whether you have small children and pets around are all lifestyle questions that will impact your choice.
A popular feature of our top pick, the PATHWAY 3G Modular Aluminum Wheelchair Ramp, is that it doesn’t make permanent modifications to your landscaping or your house. It’s easy to install and remove, and if your needs change and it needs to be reconfigured, it’s a simple task to do so.
Thank you for reading our list of the top 5 wheelchair ramps for home use. It’s one of many resources we have available for when you’re ready to purchase a wheelchair ramp. Our articles and accompanying videos, including the posts Top 5 Best Portable Wheelchair Ramps and How to Choose the Best Wheelchair Ramp can help you decide on a solution for your home.
Before purchasing a ramp, we strongly encourage you to read Wheelchair Ramps for Homes: What to Know Before You Buy! This guide will help you answer any questions when purchasing a ramp that’s right for you.
Be sure to visit our blog, Caregiver University for other buying guides and useful tips and tricks!
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
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