Threshold Ramps
One step. One measurement. Get the rise right and this is the easiest fix in the whole house.
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The short answer
Measure the rise first. Put a tape at the ground and read straight up to the top of the step. Under about two and a half inches, a rubber ramp works. Up to about six inches, use aluminum or a modular one. Over six inches, a threshold ramp is the wrong product and you need a built ramp.
Measure the rise. That is the whole job.
People get this wrong in one way. They measure along the slope of the step instead of straight up. Hold the tape flat on the ground. Read the number where it meets the top of the step or the door sill. That is the rise.
Two more numbers matter. How wide is the doorway? And which way does the door swing? A ramp that fits the step but stops the door opening has made things worse.
Three types, and which step each one suits
Rubber
Up to about 2.5 in
- Where it fits
- Doorways, sliding door tracks, a single low step.
- What is good
- Heavy, so it stays put without fixing. Grips when wet. Quiet underfoot.
- What to watch
- Hard to move once placed. One person cannot always carry it.
Aluminum
Up to about 6 in
- Where it fits
- A taller single step, or a doorway you need to clear fast.
- What is good
- Light. Easy to lift out when you need the door clear.
- What to watch
- Can slide if it is not pinned. Slick when wet unless the surface is grooved.
Modular / adjustable
Up to about 6 in
- Where it fits
- Uneven ground, or a step that is not square to the door.
- What is good
- You can level it. Useful when the ground slopes away from the house.
- What to watch
- Costs more. Still not a substitute for a built ramp.
When the step is too tall
Over about six inches, a threshold ramp gets too steep to be safe. The slope is what matters, not the product. A built ramp uses a long run to keep the slope gentle. That takes space, landings and usually a permit.
Work out the length you would need before you decide. It is often longer than people expect, and that changes the plan.
The part you can buy today
A threshold ramp is one of the few access products you can buy and just put down. Check your rise against the 1.6 inch figure on the ramp below before you order.
Ruedamann Rubber Threshold Ramp
1.6 in rise, 3,300 lb capacity
Covers one small step at a door. Check your rise against the 1.6 in first.
Check price on Amazon
Stanley PowerLock 25 ft Tape Measure
25 ft, 1 in blade
Measures the rise, the doorway and the run. Every quote asks for these numbers.
Check price on Amazon
3M Safety-Walk Slip Resistant Tape
4 in x 15 ft roll
Rough tape for a step edge people keep missing.
Check price on Amazon
These are supplies, not the job itself. Amazon does not sell the labour, the permit or the inspection.
Common questions
- What is a threshold ramp?
- It is a small wedge that sits over one step or a raised door sill. It does not get built. You put it down and it works. Most cover a rise of about six inches or less, and that height is the whole test of whether one will help you.
- How do I measure for a threshold ramp?
- Measure the rise. Put a tape at the ground and read straight up to the top of the step or sill. Do not measure along the slope. That one number tells you which ramp fits. Also check how wide the door is and which way it swings, because a ramp that blocks the door has not helped.
- How tall a step can a threshold ramp handle?
- About six inches. Rubber ramps usually stop near two and a half inches. Aluminum and modular ones go to about six. Above that you are into a built ramp, which needs a run, landings and often a permit.
- Do threshold ramps need to be fixed down?
- Rubber ones usually do not. They are heavy enough to stay. Aluminum ones are light and can slide, so most makers supply screws or pins for the top edge. Fix it if a wheelchair will use it. A ramp that shifts under a wheel is worse than the step.
- Are threshold ramps safe for a wheelchair?
- Yes, if the rise is small and the ramp is rated for the weight of the chair plus the person. Check the load rating on the listing. Also check the width. A ramp narrower than the chair is no use.
- Can I use a threshold ramp outside?
- Most are made for it. Rubber handles rain and frost well and grips when wet. Aluminum can get slick, so look for a grooved or gritted surface if it will sit outdoors.