Skip to main content
Bunnings Warehouse

Sign in or sign up

No Bunnings account? Sign up
PowerPass customer?
Visit the dedicated trade website
Lowest Price Policy^
Free delivery* withOnePass_Icon.svg

How to choose a wheelchair ramp for your home

D.I.Y. - Header - How to choose a wheelchair ramp for your home
Whether you need to make your home more accessible because of a short-term illness or injury, or because of a long-term change in mobility, ramps can help to maintain independence for people or allow you to improve your quality of life.

Ramps are a simple, easy upgrade for your home. Our range of ramps can be used to gain access to raised thresholds for outdoor living spaces, internal entrances from a garage into a home, front doorways and more.

Ramps can be used to make existing homes easier to navigate and are ideal for users of wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and other mobility aids and even prams and strollers. Bunnings has a wide range of indoor mats available, allowing you to choose the right ramp for your home and the person who will be using it.

Portable ramps are also great for renters as they can be non-permanent and can be retrofitted to a home.

D.I.Y. - Step 1 - How to choose a wheelchair ramp for your home

Size

Before choosing the right ramp for your home, it’s important to measure the area where it will go to create the perfect fit. This includes looking at floor levels, door widths and of course, the dimensions of any mobility aids you will be using. Standard door widths of 850mm are usually not wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair.

Consider also if the ramp needs to be portable or if it will be fixed in place permanently. If the user is hoping to stay in their home for many years, it’s important to look at longevity of any ramps and ensure that they will last well.

Generally, wheelchairs will need a minimum clear width of 1000mm for a straight ramp. If the ramp includes a change of direction, the width at the turning point must increase depending on the angle of the turn.

D.I.Y. - Step 2 - How to choose a wheelchair ramp for your home

Safety

Safety issues are key with any mobility aid, especially if the user will be moving around their home by themselves. Make sure any ramp has a non-slip surface, and will support the size and weight of the user, noting if they are in a heavy wheelchair.

Take time to consider who is using the ramp and what their access needs are. Sometimes ramps might only be necessary for the front or rear entrance of a house, or if there are a lot of stairs, depending on the mobility of the user. They might also be a consideration if the floor surface is slippery or difficult to manoeuvre for certain mobility aids.

It is also useful to think about the areas in the home that are used the most, such as a kitchen, bathroom, or living area and concentrate on making them accessible first, moving to other areas such as bedrooms when necessary.

Interested in learning more?

Take a look at the wide range of indoor mats available at Bunnings, from simple quick-fixes to long-lasting accessibility-enhancers.

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.