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Choosing the Right Mobility Ramp — A Complete NZ Buyer’s Guide
Mobility ramps are one of the most practical and affordable ways to improve accessibility — at home, in the community and while travelling. Whether you use a wheelchair, walker or mobility scooter, or you’re supporting someone with limited mobility, the right ramp makes everyday life safer and easier. This New Zealand buyer’s guide explains the types of ramps, how to choose the right one, and the key features to check before you buy.
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A well-chosen ramp creates a safe, smooth transition over steps, raised doorframes, kerbs or uneven ground. It lets people enter and exit the home safely, access vehicles, move independently over small steps and thresholds, and travel with portable support — all while reducing the risk of slips, falls and strain. The result is more independence and confidence, whether for daily use or occasional travel.
Lightweight aluminium ramps that fold for easy transport and storage — ideal for travel, home use, getting over 1–3 steps, and vehicle access. A practical all-rounder for everyday use.
Fold like a suitcase with carry handles, so they’re very easy to take with you. Best for users who often need their ramp on the go, and for accessing vans, cars or raised decks with a wheelchair or scooter.
Designed for very small height differences — door frames, sliding doors, shower entrances and low steps. Compact and lightweight, they’re a simple way to remove the small but common trip hazards in New Zealand homes, usually with no gradient calculation needed.
Fold both lengthwise and widthwise for convenience, offering more length and stability than a standard portable ramp. Good for higher steps, outdoor access, and larger scooters and powerchairs.
Two adjustable channels that extend to load and retract to store in a boot — the most popular choice for loading a wheelchair or scooter into a vehicle.
Aluminium rolling ramps fold or roll up for transport and handle heavier loads, making them ideal for the heaviest power wheelchairs and scooters, or for longer runs where a standard folding ramp isn’t strong enough. Prioritise these when low gradient and high weight capacity matter most.
The aluminium rolling ramp shown above folds for transport and handles heavier power chairs and scooters. See the heavy-duty rolling ramp for specs and pricing.
In New Zealand, the recommended ramp gradient under NZS 4121 is 1:14 for external ramps (1:12 is the maximum for internal ramps, with 1:14 preferred). As a simple rule, multiply the step height by 14 to get the minimum safe ramp length. For example, a 20 cm step needs roughly a 280 cm (2.8 m) ramp at 1:14. A gentler slope is always safer, especially for manual wheelchairs and walkers. For the full method and the building-code detail, see our wheelchair ramp gradient standards guide and how to calculate ramp length.
Choose a ramp rated comfortably above the combined weight of the user plus their mobility aid — a good rule is at least 25% above. If the user and their powerchair total 160 kg, choose a ramp rated 200 kg or more. Heavy-duty rolling ramps are available for the heaviest scooters and power wheelchairs.
Decide whether you need a ramp you can carry with you, or one that stays in place. Portable folding, suitcase and telescopic ramps are best for travel and vehicle loading; threshold ramps usually stay put at home.
Look for an anti-slip surface, raised side edges (upstands) to stop wheels rolling off, and durable aluminium — important for New Zealand’s wet outdoor conditions.
Check your wheelchair or scooter width and choose a ramp at least 50–100 mm wider, allowing for wide wheelbases, powered scooters and larger tyres. A wider ramp is safer and more comfortable to use.
| Ramp type | Best for | Stays or travels | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threshold ramp | Doorways, sliding doors, low steps | Stays at home | Anti-slip threshold ramp |
| Portable folding / suitcase | 1–3 steps, travel, general home use | Travels | 4-fold ramp, suitcase ramp |
| Telescopic (channel) | Loading a chair or scooter into a vehicle | Travels / boot | Telescopic rolling ramps |
| Rolling / heavy-duty | Heaviest power chairs & scooters; longer runs | Travels / boot | Heavy-duty rolling ramp |
| Custom / fixed | Permanent home or business access | Stays — permanent | Custom-made aluminium ramps |
For vehicle loading, telescopic and rolling ramps are the most practical — they extend or roll out to load and pack down to store in the boot. For home steps, folding and suitcase ramps are the most popular. If the equipment is too heavy to push safely up a ramp, a boot hoist may be a better solution for getting it in and out of the car.
Depending on your situation, a ramp may be funded through one of two main pathways:
| Feature | ACC | Ministry of Health (Enable NZ / Accessable) |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | People with an injury-related need | People with a long-term disability or health condition |
| Assessment | Arranged through your ACC claim | Needs assessment by an OT or assessor |
| How we help | Itemised quote & specifications to submit | Itemised quote & specifications to submit |
| Please note | Not a registered supplier — funder decides | Not a registered supplier — funder decides |
If you’re unsure which pathway applies, our team can help you understand your options.
Under NZS 4121, external ramps should be a maximum of 1:14 (1:20 preferred), and internal ramps a maximum of 1:12 (1:14 preferred). A simple guide is to multiply the step height by 14 to get the minimum safe ramp length. Gentler is always safer.
Multiply the step height by 14 for a 1:14 gradient. A 15 cm step needs about 2.1 m of ramp; a 20 cm step about 2.8 m. For longer rises you may need a landing partway. See our ramp length guide for worked examples.
Pick a ramp rated at least 25% above the combined weight of the user plus their wheelchair or scooter. If that total is 160 kg, choose a ramp rated 200 kg or more.
Telescopic and rolling ramps are usually best for vehicle loading — they extend or roll out to load and pack down to store in the boot. For very heavy power chairs, a boot hoist may be more practical.
No. Portable aluminium ramps require no installation, no tools and no permanent modification, so they’re ideal for renters and temporary needs. Permanent fixed ramps for higher access may need to meet building requirements.
Some ramps may be funded for eligible users through ACC or Ministry of Health equipment funding via Enable New Zealand or Accessable, usually after an assessment. We can provide a quote or invoice to submit to your funder, though we are not a registered supplier and approval is decided by the funder.
Reviewed by Ramin “Ray” Gilani — Ray is a qualified mechanical engineer and the founder of Gilani Mobility, with more than 18 years of experience in mobility and accessibility engineering. He holds a Bachelor of Automotive Systems Engineering (Luleå University of Technology) and a Master of Mechanical Engineering (Monash University), and is the inventor of the G24 Lowered Floor Car Conversion. Ray and the team help New Zealanders choose safe, compliant access solutions every day.
We’re an online mobility specialist delivering ramps right across New Zealand, with expert phone and email support to help you choose the right length, width and capacity — no showroom visit needed. Send us your step height and the equipment you’re using, and we’ll recommend the right ramp.
Browse all wheelchair & mobility ramps →
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