Ramps & Entry
Portable vs Permanent Wheelchair Ramps
Portable ramps solve one or two steps. Anything taller needs a real structure.
- Portable ramps are practical up to about two steps of rise.
- They cost $150–$900 and require no permit.
- Permanent ramps handle longer rises with landings and handrails.
- Modular aluminum ramps sit in between: permanent in use, removable later.
Where portable works
A single step, a garage threshold, a van, or a friend's house you visit regularly. Above roughly twelve inches of rise, a portable ramp becomes too steep or too heavy to handle safely.
The modular middle ground
Modular aluminum ramps bolt together on site, include code-style handrails and landings, and can be dismantled and resold later. For a need expected to last one to five years, they are usually the best value.
Keep reading
David Chen
Editor, Ramps & Entryways
David covers ramps, entry modifications, and the geometry that decides whether a project costs $1,500 or $9,000. He builds the calculators on this site and checks every dimension against published accessibility guidance before publishing.
Covers: Ramp design · Entryway access · Slope and rise calculations · Porch lifts
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