Ramp guide
Portable vs modular vs permanent ramps: how to choose
A portable ramp, a modular aluminum system and a built-in permanent ramp solve different problems. This comparison walks through use cases, reported costs, install time, permit implications and what happens when you move.
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Portable ramps, modular aluminum systems and permanent built-in ramps solve different problems. The right choice comes down to three questions: how much rise the ramp has to cover, how long you need it, and whether you are building something that stays with the house.
Portable and threshold ramps: place, don't build
Portable ramps and threshold ramps are placed, not installed. You set one down at a door, over a threshold or across a low curb, and you can lift it away again. That makes them the right tool for small rises of a few inches, for temporary needs such as a recovery period or a family visit, for renters, and as a backup to a main ramp.
- What they cannot do: cover a full step or porch. They only work for minor height changes, typically around 3 to 5 inches of rise, and the slope math works against you fast: at 1:12, every inch of rise needs a foot of ramp. Use the ramp calculator if you want to see how long a safe portable ramp would have to be.
- Reported cost: $50 to $400, with no installation required (101 Mobility, checked October 14, 2026).
- For short-term needs: renting is also an option. HomeAdvisor reports about $110 to $308 per month plus $330 to $880 for initial installation, as published in our cost guide.
- Permits and codes: because it is not a fixed structure, a portable ramp usually does not trigger a building permit. Check local rules and any HOA covenant anyway, and if the ramp serves a business or public facility, the ADA accessible-route rules apply regardless. The permit guide has the full picture.
- One funding quirk: VA's HISA program explicitly excludes removable equipment such as portable ramps from its benefit. If you are hoping a grant pays for the ramp, read the VA grants guidefirst.
Modular aluminum ramps: the fast, removable middle
Modular ramps are manufactured aluminum systems that bolt together into runs, landings and platforms. Most home entrances with a rise between roughly 6 and 36 inches can be covered, and the system can be adjusted, extended or dismantled later. For many homeowners this is the default: professionally installed in about a day, and removable rather than a permanent structure bolted to the house.
| Rise to cover | Ramp length at 1:12 | Reported installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| 6 in | 6 ft | $1,000 to $1,500 |
| 12 in | 12 ft | $1,500 to $2,200 |
| 24 in | 24 ft | $2,500 to $3,500 |
| 36 in | 36 ft | $3,500 to $4,500+ |
- Typical cost: most professionally installed modular aluminum ramps land between $1,000 and $4,500, driven almost entirely by rise and site (101 Mobility, checked October 14, 2026; the cost guide carries the same bands).
- Install time: usually a few hours to a full day (101 Mobility).
- Permits and codes: locally judged. A modular ramp resting on adjustable supports is often treated as removable equipment; one that is anchored, attached to the house or built as a permanent accessible route can be treated as a structure. Ask before you order. Whichever way it is judged, build it to the same geometry as any ramp: slope, landings, handrails, edge protection (the requirements guide has the numbers).
- If you move: modular systems can often be dismantled and reused or resold; confirm with your supplier before counting on it.
Permanent ramps: wood, composite and concrete
Permanent ramps are built in place and become part of the property: pressure-treated wood or composite decks, or poured concrete. They make sense when the ramp is the long-term solution for a long or high run, when you want it to match the house, or when the ramp serves a high-traffic or commercial setting.
- Reported cost: custom wood or composite builds run from about $2,000 to $8,000 and up, depending on size and site (101 Mobility, checked October 14, 2026); the wider ranges in our cost guide run past $10,000 for larger projects. Concrete is priced by the foot in the published ranges: about $220 to $275 per linear foot, with wood at $110 to $275 (HomeAdvisor, as published in our cost guide).
- Install time: days to weeks rather than hours. Concrete adds formwork and curing time before the ramp is usable. See the materials section of the requirements guide.
- Permits and codes: a permanent ramp is usually a structure, so most places require a building permit and an inspection. See the permit guide for what the inspection covers and what to ask your building department.
- If you move: the ramp stays with the property. Removing it means demolition, so plan for it as a permanent change.
Side by side
| Consideration | Portable / threshold | Modular aluminum | Permanent (wood, composite, concrete) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small rises, temporary needs, renters, travel | Typical home entrances, 6 to 36+ inches of rise, fast installs | Long-term, long or high runs, matching the house |
| Reported cost | $50 to $400, no installation; rental around $110 to $308 per month | $1,000 to $4,500 typical installed | $2,000 to $8,000+ (wood/composite); concrete $220 to $275 per linear foot |
| Install time | None; place it and check the slope | Hours to a day | Days to weeks, including concrete curing |
| Permit outlook | Usually none; not a fixed structure | Depends on anchoring and local rules; ask before ordering | Usually permit plus inspection |
| Maintenance | Inspect for wear and grip | Low; check fasteners and surface | Periodic sealing for wood; low once concrete is cured |
| If you move | Comes with you | Can often be removed and reused or resold | Stays with the property |
How to choose
Start with the rise and the timeline:
- Small rise, short need: portable or threshold ramp, and consider rental for very short needs.
- A real entrance, needed soon: modular aluminum, sized to the rise and installed professionally.
- Long-term, larger project, or a built-in look: a permanent build, with a permit and inspection budgeted in.
Then price the plan. The cost estimator turns your rise, material, handrails and install type into a planning range, and the ramp calculator gives the dimensions and a printable spec sheet that makes quotes comparable. Get at least two local quotes before committing; these ranges are planning bands, not quotes.
Sources
- 101 Mobility: wheelchair ramp cost guide portable, modular and custom cost bands, the cost-by-rise table and typical install times; re-checked October 14, 2026.
- HomeAdvisor: how much does a wheelchair ramp cost? the rental range and the per-foot wood and concrete ranges, quoted here as published in our wheelchair ramp cost guide.
- AccessProof: wheelchair ramp cost guide the published cost bands, labor factors and comparison table this guide reuses.
- AccessProof: ADA ramp requirements guide slope, landing, handrail and edge protection values, the IRC summary, and the materials notes for wood, aluminum and concrete.
All links checked October 14, 2026. This is general information, not a quote or financial advice. Prices vary by region, site and supplier, and permit rules are local; get at least two local quotes and confirm requirements with your building department.