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Best Portable Wheelchair Ramps
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Portable wheelchair ramps are helpful for people who use mobility devices like wheelchairs, scooters, canes, or walkers. They can be installed in your house or come on errands with you around town.
Frustratingly, many businesses and homes aren’t fitted for wheelchairs or mobility scooters, so it’s good to have your own ready to go.
The EZ Access wheelchair ramp is sturdy enough to hold 800 pounds, but lightweight enough to stow in a van or other vehicle. Its center hinges allow the panels to separate so you can fit it easily into small spaces or create a ramp to narrow entrances. You can get the EZ Access in seven sizes, each as lightweight and sturdy as the next.
Best portable wheelchair ramps
- : Best overall
- : Best for small inclines
- : Best for budgets
- : Best for narrow entrances
- : Best for large inclines
1. EZ Access: Best overall
The EZ Access wheelchair ramp is sturdy enough to hold 800 pounds but light enough to weigh only 20. It can break out into two parts for narrower entrances and fold for easy storage.
The EZ Access Portable Ramp comes in seven sizes, from as short as 2 feet (great for kitchen or bathroom entrances) to 8 feet (suitable for multiple stairs).
The company offers accessories like a top lip extension that sits the ramp onto the surface, creating a smoother ride for you. But the ramp already has transition plates built in to make it easier to use.
Generally, the EZ Access ramps are at their best under 7 feet long. The 7- and 8-foot models may be too large for many vehicles even when folded up. They also lack the non-slip surface found in the smaller versions.
Ramps that are 4 feet long and over are best for curbs and steps. Ramps over 5 feet can handle steeper inclines and vehicles.
2. Prairie View Industries: Best for small inclines
Prairie View Industries specializes in mobility ramps of all types, so it’s no surprise they earned a top spot in our lineup. The portable ramp weighs about 30 pounds at its heaviest. It also comes with a padded handle to make toting it easier.
The Prairie View Industries portable access ramps are the only ones we saw that don’t offer options longer than 5 feet. Generally, the longer the ramp, the higher the incline it can handle.
Its short size isn’t a total disadvantage though. Access ramps this size are ideal for home entrances, sidewalk curbs, or small stairs. And while the Prairie View Industries ramps are shorter, they’re also easier to carry and take with you to errands and appointments.
But, heads up, the weight capacity for this ramp changes based on the type of mobility device your loved one uses. If they use a single-axle wheelchair, the PVI ramp can handle up to 400 pounds total. If they use a double-axle wheelchair, the ramp can handle 800 pounds.
While we were researching Prairie View Industries, we noticed some disclaimers about weight capacity differing between mobility devices. So we hopped onto PVI’s customer chat and asked away. The rep who helped us explained quickly and clearly that this difference is due to weight distribution. If you use a single axle mobility device, your weight is more concentrated in one spot. We love it when companies give quick and clear answers.
3. Fachnuo: Best for budgets
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While the price certainly depends on the ramp's length, Fachnuo's portable wheelchair ramps had some of the most affordable prices in the industry. Plus, its specs are competitive and its user reviews are promising.
Heading on a trip soon? The Fachnuo wheelchair ramp folds up and features a carrying handle for easy transportation and storage.
The smallest ramp—2 feet long—weighs about 13 pounds. Seven other lengths are available, right up to 10 feet. Each Fachnuo ramp supports up to 600 pounds.
4. HOMCOM: Best for narrow entrances
Tiny boutique doors and narrow bathroom entrances can’t stop the HOMCOM portable wheelchair ramp. It measures 2 inches narrower than the standard 30-inch ramp, which is sometimes too wide even for minivan sliding door entrances. HOMCOM helps you move through narrow thresholds and entrances.
The HOMCOM ramp folds up into four compact panels. With the handles on the side, you can carry it like a suitcase from your vehicle to the curb. The hinge in the middle also adds a slight angle to the ramp, making it a little more flexible for stairs or oddly shaped obstacles.
If you’re looking for a ramp for a loved one like a parent, it also stores neatly in closets or the garage for when they visit.
The HOMCOM ramp can hold up to 600 pounds and comes in sizes between 2 and 10 feet long. And while it’s pretty portable, the larger ramps will be tricky to take with you while folded up. These are best for long walkways or specialized vans.
5. Titan: Best for high inclines
Titan wheelchair ramps come in larger sizes from 5 to 10 feet that make them better for steeper inclines. If you or your loved one has several steps leading up to your home, a Titan access ramp is a good choice.
It weighs around 34 pounds, but like the Prairie View Industries model, its weight capacity changes based on the type of mobility device you use. If you use a two-axle wheelchair or scooter, the Titan can handle up to 600 pounds. But it can only take 300 pounds for single-axle devices.
Like the HOMCOM wheelchair ramp, the Titan folds into a suitcase design for easier transporting. Just be careful of the edges. One user enjoyed the Titan for its lightweight design and portability but warned others about the sharp metal under the ramp.
How to choose your ramp
Choosing the right access ramp requires a little physics. But don’t worry, it’s not rocket science.
Rise vs. length
The golden rule for choosing a ramp is one foot of ramp for every one inch of incline. So a two-foot ramp would do nicely for a one-inch incline. That pans out to about 4.8 degrees for a 1:12 ratio of ramp.
Simply put, the steeper the incline, the more ramp you’ll need.
If you aren’t sure where to start, we found an incline calculator to help you out.
Measurements suggested by EZ Access.
Weight capacity
Weight capacity is also important for choosing the right wheelchair ramp. You’ll want a ramp that can support your weight and the weight of the mobility device like a scooter or wheelchair, especially for steeper inclines.
Electric scooters, power wheelchairs, and standard wheelchairs can weigh up to 250 pounds. The number of axles can also affect weight distribution.
For example, two-axle wheelchairs might weigh more, but they distribute your weight more evenly across the ramp.
You’ll also want to account for any cargo you’ll have with you like bags, backpacks, or groceries.
Final word
A portable wheelchair ramp should be sturdy but not so heavy that you can’t move it anywhere. Ramps that fold up or come apart will be the easiest to take with you from place to place.
We like the EZ Access ramp because it comes in a variety of sizes, folds easily, and can separate the panels—all while supporting up to 800 pounds and remaining one of the more affordable options on the market.
That said, we recommend consulting a doctor or physical therapist before purchasing a portable wheelchair ramp. Some access ramps may be better suited for certain types of scooters or wheelchairs.
FAQ
Yes. The access ramps we’ve chosen work for scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. The important factor is you find a ramp that supports your weight plus the weight of your mobility device.
It depends on where you’re trying to go. Generally, the higher the pitch, the longer the ramp you’ll need. If you have to clear several stairs to get into your home, you may need a longer wheelchair ramp to get inside on your own.
Yes, but unless you have a specially designed van or vehicle, we recommend using them for an unoccupied mobility device.
Portable wheelchair ramps are best for curbs, stairs, and thresholds, not vehicles. But they can be helpful for getting a mobility device out of a vehicle safely and then transferring the rider into the chair or scooter.
How we reviewed the best wheelchair ramps
We started our search for the best portable wheelchair ramps by looking at common problems wheelchair users and their caregivers face. For example, some ramps are too wide to fit into vans. Or they’re too short and create a steep, dangerous slope.
We also took a close look at common features like non-slip surfaces, portability, and weight capacity. The more weight a ramp could handle while staying portable, the better. Larger ramps can support enough weight to carry a heavy-duty electric wheelchair or scooter.
When we ran into questions about the products, we sought out customer service reps (shout out to CJ from Prairie View Industries for helping us.) To learn more about our review process, check out our methodology page.
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