How to measure your home for a wheelchair ramp

Step 1: Measure the rise

The rise is the total height from the ground where the ramp will start to the top of the door threshold. It's the single most important number, because it sets the ramp's length.

1. Lay a straight board or level on the threshold so it sticks out past the top step.
2. Hold it level, then measure straight down from the underside of the board to the ground where the ramp will end.
3. Write it down in inches.

Don't just count steps and multiply. Steps are rarely identical, and the ground at the bottom is often lower than the last step suggests, especially if the walkway slopes away from the house. A few inches of error can mean several feet of ramp.

Step 2: Measure the space in front of the door

Using the 1:12 guideline, the ramp needs about one foot of length for every inch of rise, plus a flat landing of about 5 feet at the door. Measure the open space you have:

• Straight out from the door to the driveway, sidewalk, or property line.
• To each side, along the front of the house, in case the ramp needs to turn.
• The porch or stoop itself, since a landing may fit on an existing porch.

Compare those distances with the length the calculator gives you. If a straight run won't fit, an L-shape or switchback can; if even that won't fit, a porch lift may be the better option.

Step 3: Check the door and the landing

• Door swing. Note whether the door, and any storm door, swings out over the porch. An outward-swinging door needs extra landing space so someone in a wheelchair can open it without rolling backward.
• Door width. Measure the clear opening with the door fully open. Many wheelchairs need about 32 inches or more to pass comfortably.
• Porch railings and columns that may need to be removed or worked around.

Step 4: Look at where the ramp will end

A ramp that ends in soft grass isn't much help. Check where the bottom of the ramp will meet a firm surface, ideally the driveway or a walkway leading to it, and where the car usually parks. Note anything in the way: flower beds, trees and roots, sprinkler heads, the AC unit, gas meters, and utility boxes. If posts or footings will be set in the ground, the installer should call 811 so buried lines are marked first.

Step 5: Take photos for the installer

Photos let an installer give a closer phone estimate and bring the right parts on the first visit. Take:

• The entrance straight on from the yard, showing all the steps.
• The entrance from each side.
• The tape measure against the steps, showing the rise.
• The path from the door to the driveway.
• The door open, showing which way it swings.

Then request an estimate or call. Mention the rise, the space available, and what mobility device will use the ramp. If you plan to use a VA grant, say so; see the HISA guide.

Common measuring mistakes

• Measuring from the top step instead of the ground. The ramp starts at ground level, so the full rise counts.
• Ignoring a sloping yard. If the ground drops away from the house, the rise at the ramp's end is larger than at the base of the steps.
• Forgetting the landing. A ramp that ends at a door with no flat space is unsafe. Budget about 5 feet for it.
• Planning for today's chair only. If a power chair or scooter is likely later, plan for its size now.

Measuring questions