Ramps and threshold aids for wheelchairs and scooters
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
A raised door sill or a single step can stop a wheelchair, scooter or rollator in its tracks. Small threshold ramps solve the door-sill problem cheaply; portable ramps cope with a step or a car boot; a permanent ramp is a building job the council may pay for.
Who they suit
Ramps are mainly for people using wheels: wheelchairs, powerchairs, mobility scooters and rollators. If you walk, with or without a stick, a ramp is not always the safest answer. Slopes can be harder than steps for some walkers, especially when wet. A half step and a grab rail may suit you better. An occupational therapist can advise which is right.
The main types
| Type | Use | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold ramp (rubber or aluminium wedge) | Door sills and small lips, typically a few centimetres high | Rubber ones can often be trimmed to fit; some are made for the raised frames of UPVC doors |
| Threshold bridge | Spans over a door frame, with a slope each side | Useful for patio doors with a high track |
| Folding or "suitcase" ramp | One or two steps; folds in half with a carry handle | Check the weight you will have to lift |
| Channel ramps | A pair of narrow tracks, one for each side's wheels | Light, but must be lined up carefully; not suitable for three-wheel scooters or for walking on |
| Modular ramp system | Semi-permanent metal ramp with platforms and handrails | Can be removed and reused |
| Permanent ramp | Concrete or paved ramp built to your door | Needs space and proper design |
| Half step | A low, wide platform that splits one high step into two small ones | For people who walk; best used with a rail |
How long a ramp do you need?
The gentler the slope, the safer and easier it is, and the longer the ramp has to be. Gradient is written as a ratio: 1:12 means one unit of height for every twelve of length.
- Measure the total height from the ground to the top of the step or sill.
- Multiply by the gradient you are aiming for. A commonly quoted guide is around 1:12 for someone propelling their own wheelchair, with steeper slopes only for very short rises or where a strong helper is pushing. At 1:12, a 15cm step needs a ramp about 1.8 metres long.
- Check the instruction book for your wheelchair or scooter. It will give a maximum safe slope, and that limit is the one to follow.
- Measure the space. You need flat ground at the bottom to get on and off the ramp, and room at the top to open the door.
Permanent ramps have their own design standards on gradient, width, landings and handrails. Leave those to the council's surveyor or a competent builder.
What to look for
- Weight capacity. Add together the user, the wheelchair or scooter, and any helper who will be standing on the ramp. Powerchairs and scooters are heavy.
- Width. Wider than your wheels with room to spare.
- Raised side edges to stop wheels running off.
- A non-slip surface that still grips in the wet.
- A secure top edge. A lip or pins that rest firmly on the step so the ramp cannot slide away.
- Weight of the ramp itself and whether whoever will carry it can manage.
- For threshold ramps, whether the door will still close with it in place, and whether you need one on each side of the sill.
Rough price guide
As a rough guide only: small rubber threshold ramps cost from around £20 to £80; folding portable ramps from around £60 to several hundred pounds depending on length; modular and permanent ramps run into the high hundreds or thousands.
Getting one free or cheaper
- Small adaptations. The NHS says councils in England should pay for small adaptations costing under £1,000, and gives concrete ramps or steps as an example. Start with a needs assessment; in England and Wales you can apply on GOV.UK.
- Disabled Facilities Grant. For larger work, GOV.UK lists installing ramps among the things a Disabled Facilities Grant can cover in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Do not start work before the council approves the application. In Scotland, ask your council about equipment and adaptations.
- VAT. Ramps supplied and built for a disabled person can be free of VAT, and a reduced rate can apply to ramps supplied and fitted in the home of someone aged 60 or over. See VAT relief on mobility aids.
- Hire. For a visit from a relative who uses a wheelchair, hiring a ramp for a week may be enough. See hiring mobility equipment.
If you rent, you will need your landlord's agreement for anything fixed. A threshold ramp that simply sits in place does not alter the property.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying a ramp that is too short. It is the commonest error, and a steep ramp is dangerous: chairs can tip backwards going up and run away going down.
- Forgetting the helper. The person pushing has to hold the full weight on the slope.
- Leaving a portable ramp across a public pavement or shared path where others could trip.
- Using a wet or icy ramp without care.
- Paying a cold caller to build one. See doorstep selling rights and spotting scams.
Common questions
Do I need planning permission for a ramp?
Small ramps at a house often do not, but rules vary and are stricter for listed buildings, conservation areas and flats. Ask your council's planning department before building anything permanent.
What is the difference between a ramp and a half step?
A ramp is a slope for wheels. A half step is a low platform that makes one tall step into two shallow ones for someone who walks.
Will a mobility scooter climb my front step without a ramp?
Probably not safely. Each scooter has a maximum kerb height, often only a few centimetres. See our guide to mobility scooters.