Ramp Slope
Find ramp length for a chosen slope and rise.
About Ramp Slope
The rise multiplied by the slope ratio gives the length, and the slope percentage is simply the ratio inverted into percent. An accessible ramp must trade rise for run, and a wrong slope can put a wheelchair or mower beyond practical use.
Formula
Ramp Slope
Length = rise x slope ratio; slope = 100 / ratio
- landing
- Flat platform required on long ramps
Worked example
With the default values below, Ramp Slope returns Ramp Length of 20.0. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Riseminimum 1 in
- 12 in
- Slopeone of ADA 1:20 (5%), Van 1:12 (8.3%), Car 1:8 (12.5%), Steep 1:4 (25%)
- ADA 1:20 (5%)
Results
- Ramp Length
- 20.0 ft
- Slope
- 5.00%
- Landings
- 0
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Ramp Slope
- 3Ramp Length= 20.0 ft
- 4Slope= 5.00
- 5Landings= 0
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Ramp Slope calculated?
Length = rise x slope ratio; slope = 100 / ratio The rise multiplied by the slope ratio gives the length, and the slope percentage is simply the ratio inverted into percent.
Why does Ramp Slope matter?
An accessible ramp must trade rise for run, and a wrong slope can put a wheelchair or mower beyond practical use.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 2 inputs: Rise, Slope. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.