Summary

A wheelchair ramp sounds like a simple job — a sloped surface replacing a step — but the gradient requirement is what turns a straightforward-looking job into a space-planning problem. The shallower the required slope, the longer the ramp run needs to be, and on many UK properties (terraced houses with a small front path, a single step up to a French door) there simply isn't enough length available to achieve a compliant gradient without a switchback, a raised platform, or an alternative solution like a threshold ramp or powered lift. Getting the gradient calculation right at the survey stage, before quoting, is the single most important step in this job.

The second major pricing split is temporary/modular versus permanent. Modular aluminium ramps (channel ramps, threshold ramps, or full folding/telescopic ramp systems) are quick to fit, don't need planning permission or Building Regulations approval in most cases, and suit situations where the need might change (recovery from surgery, a temporary resident, a rental property). Permanent ramps — poured concrete, block-and-render, or built timber decking ramps — suit a long-term or permanent need, cost significantly more, and can trigger planning and Building Regulations considerations depending on height, position relative to the boundary, and whether they alter drainage or a listed building. Establishing which category the customer needs, before pricing, avoids a wasted survey and a quote that misses the mark.

Many wheelchair ramp installations for existing residents are funded, in whole or part, through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) — up to £30,000 in England, following an occupational therapist (OT) assessment. This changes both the specification (the OT will typically specify the gradient, width, and surface based on the individual's wheelchair type and ability) and the payment process (local authority approval and inspection before funds release). See disability adaptations for the wider DFG process, which applies equally to ramp access as it does to bathroom adaptations.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table

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Ramp Type Scope Typical Length Total Price Range (Regional) Total Price Range (London)
Threshold ramp (single low step, <100mm rise) Small modular rubber or aluminium wedge ramp 300-600mm £80-£250 £100-£320
Portable channel ramps (pair, for occasional use) Aluminium folding channels 1.5-2.5m £250-£700 £320-£850
Modular aluminium ramp system (fitted, single flight) Folding or bolted modular ramp with handrail 2-4m £1,200-£3,000 £1,500-£3,700
Permanent concrete ramp (single flight, no direction change) Sub-base, formwork, poured concrete, non-slip finish 3-5m £2,000-£4,200 £2,600-£5,200
Permanent timber/decking ramp with handrails both sides Sub-frame, decking boards, edge protection, handrails 3-5m £2,800-£5,000 £3,500-£6,200
Ramp with direction change and intermediate landing Two ramp flights, mid-level landing, full handrails 5-8m total run £4,500-£8,500 £5,600-£10,500
DFG-funded standard ramp Grant-specified gradient and materials, approved contractor Per OT specification £2,000-£4,000 (grant-covered, subject to means test) Regional variation applies

Detailed Guidance

The gradient calculation comes before everything else

Before any pricing conversation, measure the rise (the vertical height to be overcome — usually a step, a raised threshold, or a change in ground level to the front door) and check what run length is achievable in the available space. Convert the maximum gradient into a minimum run length: at 1:20, every 50mm of rise needs 1,000mm of ramp run; at 1:15, every 50mm of rise needs 750mm of run. A single 150mm step therefore needs a 3m run at 1:20, or 2.25m at 1:15 (only permitted for short ramps under 5m total).

Where the property genuinely doesn't have the space for a compliant single-flight ramp, the options are: a ramp with a direction change (a switchback with an intermediate landing, which uses less linear frontage but adds construction complexity and cost), a raised platform lift (a powered vertical platform, which is a different trade and cost category entirely), or accepting a steeper gradient as a compromise for occasional/assisted use only — this last option should be discussed explicitly with the customer and, ideally, the OT if one is involved, because a too-steep ramp is a genuine safety risk, not just a compliance technicality.

Modular versus permanent — helping the customer choose

Modular aluminium ramp systems are the right choice where: the need may be temporary (post-surgery recovery, a short-term tenancy), the property is rented and permanent alteration isn't an option, or a quick turnaround is needed while a DFG application for a permanent solution is still being processed. They install in hours rather than days, require no groundworks, and can be removed and the deposit/route reinstated later. The trade-off is a less integrated appearance and, on longer ramps, a higher unit cost per metre than a built permanent ramp.

Permanent ramps — concrete or timber — suit a long-term need and typically look better integrated with the property, which matters to customers concerned about kerb appeal and property value. They involve groundworks (sub-base preparation, drainage consideration so surface water doesn't pool at the base of the ramp or run back toward the house), and on a timber ramp, construction principles similar to standard garden decking but built specifically to the accessible gradient, width, and edge-protection figures rather than a general garden deck's looser standards (compare decking and decking installation pricing guide for standard, non-accessible decking pricing and construction for contrast).

Surface, edge protection, and drainage

The ramp surface must remain slip-resistant in all UK weather conditions, including wet leaves, ice, and standing water — this is a safety-critical detail, not a finishing preference. Brushed or tamped concrete, textured GRP grating, or ribbed/grooved composite decking boards are the common specifications; smooth power-floated concrete, smooth sealed timber, or polished natural stone are all unsuitable for an accessible ramp surface regardless of how they look.

Edge protection (a kerb or upstand along any open side of the ramp, typically a minimum of 100mm) stops a wheelchair's front castor or a walking stick tip running off the edge — a serious fall risk on an unguarded ramp edge, especially on a ramp with any camber or crossfall. Any drop of more than 600mm alongside the ramp additionally triggers a full guarding requirement under Approved Document K (900mm minimum internal, 1,100mm external) — check the ground level either side of the ramp run, not just the ramp surface itself, when assessing whether guarding (rather than just a low kerb) is needed; see building regs part k for the full guarding and ramp gradient framework.

Surface water drainage needs planning at the design stage: a ramp that channels rainwater toward the entrance door, or that pools water at its base where a wheelchair user needs to manoeuvre, creates both a slip hazard and a potential damp problem at the threshold. A shallow crossfall (away from the building) or a discreet channel drain at the base of the ramp resolves this — factor the extra groundworks time into the quote rather than discovering the problem after the first heavy rain.

Handrails and landings

Handrails are required on both sides of any ramp exceeding 2m horizontal length, at 900mm above the ramp surface, extending 300mm beyond the top and bottom of the run to give a secure grip point before stepping onto or off the ramp. A level landing at the top and bottom (and at any direction change) gives the wheelchair user a flat space to stop, open a door, or turn — a ramp that runs straight into a closed door with no landing space is a common and entirely avoidable design failure. Size the landing to at least the ramp's width by 1,500mm, more if the user needs to manoeuvre a powered wheelchair or turn through 90°.

Pricing worked example: permanent concrete ramp

A tradesperson quoting a 4m run, single-flight permanent concrete ramp with handrails both sides (150mm total rise, meeting a 1:20+ gradient) might build the job like this:

Total cost to the tradesperson: £2,460. Applying a 25-30% markup on materials (£1,180 → roughly £1,520) and pricing labour at the business's charged day rate rather than the internal cost rate gives a quoted price to the customer of roughly £3,400-£3,800, depending on regional labour rates and any additional make-good to the surrounding path or garden. Keep the cost figure and the quoted price figure clearly separate throughout the quoting process — the customer should only ever see the quoted price, never the internal cost build-up.

DFG-funded ramps

Where a ramp is being funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant, the OT assessment will typically specify the gradient, width, surface, and handrail arrangement based on the individual's wheelchair (manual or powered), the property layout, and any assisted-use requirements. Get the OT specification in writing before quoting, and check whether the local authority requires the work to go through an approved contractor list or an open tender. As with other DFG-funded adaptation work, payment is usually released after a council completion inspection rather than on the tradesperson's normal invoice terms — plan cash flow accordingly, particularly for a sole trader taking on a DFG job for the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the steepest gradient I can legally build a wheelchair ramp?

There's no single "legal maximum" that applies to every ramp — it depends on context. For an accessible route to a dwelling under Approved Document M, the maximum is 1:20 generally, relaxed to 1:15 only for short ramps under 5m in total length. For general construction ramps under Approved Document K (which apply more broadly, including non-accessible-specific ramps), the permitted gradient scales with length: 1:12 up to 2m, 1:15 up to 5m, 1:20 up to 10m. Where a ramp genuinely serves as a wheelchair access route, always design to the stricter of the two — in practice, that means treating 1:20 as the target and only using 1:15 where site constraints make 1:20 impossible over a short run.

Do I need planning permission for a wheelchair ramp?

Often not, particularly for a modest domestic ramp that falls within permitted development rights, but this isn't universal. Ramps that project toward a highway boundary, sit within a conservation area or apply to a listed building, or exceed certain height and footprint limits can require planning permission. Always check the current Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order provisions for the specific property before assuming permitted development applies.

Can I fit a ramp over an existing step without removing it?

Sometimes, for a low single step, using a threshold ramp or modular wedge ramp that sits over the existing step. For anything beyond a very shallow single step, building the ramp over the top usually creates too steep a gradient to be usable — better practice is to remove or build down to the existing step and construct the ramp to achieve the correct gradient from the true ground level, even though this is more work. Always calculate the achievable gradient with the step left in place before assuming an over-step ramp will work.

How is a wheelchair ramp different from a stair ramp for pushing a bike or bin?

They look similar but serve different loads and users. A wheelchair-accessible ramp must meet the gradient, width, handrail, edge-protection, and surface-friction standards covered in this guide because a person's safety depends on it. A utility ramp for wheeling a bin or bicycle over a step has no equivalent regulatory requirement and can be considerably steeper and narrower. Always clarify with the customer which they actually need — a "ramp for the bins" quoted and built to bin-ramp standards will not be safe or usable for an actual wheelchair user, and vice versa a full accessible ramp is more ramp (and cost) than a bin store needs.

Regulations & Standards