A ramp is an inclined path between two surfaces of varying heights. The maximum slope of a ramp in residential settings in most municipalities is no greater than 1:12 (no more than 1 inch of rise for every 12 inches of run). This is the same maximum slope permitted in public areas as specified in the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines. Although this slope may be allowable by zoning regulations, it does not ensure that a specific client will be able to propel themselves safely up or down a ramp with this degree of incline. A simple rule of thumb is; a shorter ramp will cost less money, but it will be harder to use because the angle is steeper. For example, if the stairs are 24” in height, then a proper ramp should be no less than 24’ long. This allows a person with “average upper body strength” to be able to get up the slope by themselves. Ultimately we all want the client to be successful with using the ramp.

Some clients may need a more shallow slope (1:16) on a ramp to be able to push their own wheelchair due to upper body strength or cardiovascular limitations, while other individuals do not have the strength to push or manage a wheelchair for another person (such as their spouse or adult child) at that angle, and may require an even more shallow incline. A sloping walkway with a 1:20 incline is not considered to be a ramp, and does not require the guard rails and hand rails that a ramp needs for code-compliance.

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