UK guidance, England
UK ramp requirements: Approved Document M
How the UK's ramp rules work for wheelchair access, the Approved Document M sliding scale of gradients, flight limits, landings, widths and handrails, with a free calculator for dwellings and buildings other than dwellings.
Read "1:12" as one unit of rise for every 12 units of travel, a slope of about 8.3%. General information only; not design advice, and not a substitute for the Approved Documents or your building control body.
Where this applies
Approved Document M (AD M) is the guidance for Part M (access to and use of buildings) of the Building Regulations 2010 in England. It comes in two volumes: Volume 1: Dwellings (requirements M4(1)–M4(3)) and Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings (requirements M1–M3). Their ramp rules differ, and this page covers both.
This is a planning aid, not a substitute for the Approved Documents or building control sign-off. The documents themselves say there is "no obligation to adopt any particular solution contained in an Approved Document if you prefer to meet the relevant requirement in some other way" (Use of guidance, AD M). Always confirm your design with your building control body.
The editions summarised here are for use in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish their own building guidance, check the rules where you are building. Whether AD M applies to your project (new build, extension, material alteration, or an adaptation of an existing home) is for your building control body to confirm.
Approved Document M ramp calculator
Enter the total rise, the vertical distance the ramp must climb, and pick the building type. The calculator shows the permitted gradient bands from the documents' sliding scale, how many flights your rise needs at each band, the ramp run, and the landings, widths and handrails that apply. It uses only the values published in AD M; see how the scale works.
Ramp plan
A 1,000 mm total rise in a building other than a dwelling: 2 to 7 flights are needed depending on the gradient you choose. Landings go at the top and bottom of the ramp and between each pair of flights.
Also required at this rise
- Rise over 300 mm: clearly sign-posted steps must also be provided alongside the ramp (Vol 2, §1.26 n).
| Maximum gradient | Flight limit | Flights needed | Each flight, going | Ramp run (flights only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:12 | 2 m going · 166 mm rise | 7 | ≈1.71 m | 12 m |
| 1:15 | 5 m going · 333 mm rise | 4 | ≈3.75 m | 15 m |
| 1:20 | 10 m going · 500 mm rise | 2 | ≈10 m | 20 m |
How these numbers are made: flights are split evenly and counted conservatively against the published caps (166 mm, 333 mm and 500 mm rises, Vol 2 Table 1, Vol 1 Diagram 2.1). The ramp run is rise × gradient: e.g. a 500 mm rise at 1:20 runs 10 m ("Gradient x length of flight = rise", Diagram 2.1 note 1). Steeper gradients give a shorter overall ramp but more flights; gentler gradients mean fewer flights but a longer ramp. Landings and the rules below come on top. This calculator does not interpolate between the published bands, intermediate gradients (like 1:14) are permitted where the documents allow, but they are not used here.
Requirements for a building other than a dwelling (Vol 2)
- Gradients: a ramp is provided where the approach would be 1:20 or steeper, as shallow as practicable, with flights on the sliding scale above (§1.19, §1.20, §1.26 b).
- Flight limits: no flight longer than 10 m of going or rising more than 500 mm (§1.26 c).
- Landings: at least 1.2 m long at the foot and head; at least 1.5 m long between flights; all clear of door swings. Where a wheelchair user cannot see from one end of the ramp to the other, or the ramp has three flights or more, intermediate landings become 1.8 m × 1.8 m passing places. Landings level: max 1:60 along, 1:40 cross-fall (§1.26 h–k).
- Width: surface width between walls, upstands or kerbs of at least 1.5 m (§1.26 e).
- Handrails: on both sides (§1.26 l); tops 900–1000 mm above the pitch line of the ramp (900–1100 mm above a landing), continuous across flights and landings, extending at least 300 mm beyond the top and bottom (§1.37).
- Surfaces and edges: slip-resistant ramp surface, colour contrasting with the landings; a kerb at least 100 mm high on the open side of the ramp or landings (§1.26 f, m).
- Steps: clearly sign-posted steps are required as well when the ramp's rise is greater than 300 mm (§1.26 n).
- Rise over 2 m: an alternative means of access for wheelchair users (e.g. a lift) is required when the total rise is greater than 2 m (§1.26 d).
Requirements for an M4(1) visitable dwelling (Vol 1, §1.7)
- Flights: up to 10 m long at gradients up to 1:15; up to 5 m long at gradients up to 1:12 (§1.7 a).
- Width: every flight at least 900 mm clear (§1.7 b).
- Landings: top and bottom landing for every flight; an intermediate landing between flights and at any change of direction; every landing at least 1.2 m long and clear of door swings (§1.7 c–e).
- Handrails: AD M gives no handrail rules for these ramps. External ramps in dwellings follow Approved Document K 2.12 (see below).
Requirements for an M4(2) accessible and adaptable dwelling (Vol 1, §2.10)
- Gradient: between 1:20 and 1:12 (§2.10 a); flight lengths follow Diagram 2.1, the same sliding scale used above.
- Landings: top and bottom landing for every flight; an intermediate landing between flights and at any change of direction; every landing at least 1.2 m long and clear of door swings (§2.10 e–g). The 2017 FAQ adds that landings should be level in practice, expect a gradient between 1:40 and 1:60.
- Width: flights on a private approach route at least 900 mm; flights on a communal route at least 1.2 m (§2.10 c, d).
- Handrails: external ramps in dwellings follow Approved Document K 2.12, both sides where the ramp is 1 m or more wide (one or both sides if narrower), tops 900–1000 mm above the ramp surface; none needed where the ramp is 600 mm or less in height.
- Communal steps: a communal ramped approach with an overall rise of 300 mm or more also needs a stepped route (§2.8).
Requirements for an M4(3) wheelchair user dwelling (Vol 1, §3.10)
- Gradient: between 1:20 and 1:15 (§3.10 a), 1:12 is not permitted for Category 3 (AD M FAQ, 2017). Flight lengths follow Diagram 3.1.
- Width: flights at least 1.2 m clear, private or communal (§3.10 c).
- Landings: top and bottom landings for every flight; an intermediate landing between flights and at any change of direction; every landing level, at least 1.2 m, clear of door swings (§3.10 d–f).
- Level spaces: a 1.5 m × 1.5 m level space for passing or turning at each end of the approach route and at intervals of no more than 10 m (§3.9 d).
- Handrails: as for M4(2), Approved Document K 2.12 applies to external ramps in dwellings.
- Communal steps: a communal ramped approach with an overall rise of 300 mm or more also needs a stepped route (§3.8).
This is a summary of the ramp provisions only, lighting, surfaces, guarding and other rules also apply. Verify every figure against the source documents and your building control body.
The rules at a glance: Vol 1 vs Vol 2
| Requirement | Dwellings, Vol 1 | Other buildings, Vol 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to | Approach routes to dwellings: M4(1) visitable, M4(2) accessible and adaptable, M4(3) wheelchair user | Ramped access to buildings other than dwellings (M1/M2) |
| Gradient range | M4(1): up to 1:12 · M4(2): 1:20 to 1:12 · M4(3): 1:20 to 1:15 | 1:20 to 1:12, on the sliding scale |
| Flight limits | M4(1): ≤10 m at ≤1:15, ≤5 m at ≤1:12 · M4(2): Diagram 2.1 · M4(3): Diagram 3.1 | ≤10 m going and ≤500 mm rise per flight (Table 1, Diagram 3) |
| Landings | Top and bottom of every flight, plus between flights; every landing ≥1.2 m (all three categories) | Foot and head ≥1.2 m; between flights ≥1.5 m; 1.8 m × 1.8 m passing places if 3+ flights or no clear view |
| Width | M4(1): 900 mm · M4(2): 900 mm private, 1.2 m communal · M4(3): 1.2 m | ≥1.5 m surface width between walls, upstands or kerbs |
| Handrails | Via Approved Document K 2.12 (AD M has no handrail rules for these ramps) | Both sides; 900–1000 mm above the pitch line; 300 mm extensions |
| Steps alongside | Communal ramped approach with ≥300 mm rise also needs a stepped route | Sign-posted steps required when the ramp rise is over 300 mm |
| Rise over 2 m | - | Alternative access for wheelchair users (e.g. a lift) required |
"-" means no equivalent provision in the Vol 1 ramp paragraphs. Paragraph references (§) are to the 2015 editions as amended (Vol 1: 2016 amendments; Vol 2: 2020 and 2024 amendments).
The sliding scale of gradients
Both volumes share one idea: the longer the flight, the gentler the maximum gradient. The published anchor points are a 2 m flight at 1:12 (166 mm rise), a 5 m flight at 1:15 (333 mm) and a 10 m flight at 1:20 (500 mm). The Vol 1 diagrams also show the in-between values, and the Vol 2 note accepts interpolation between the anchors ("1:14 for a 4m going or 1:19 for a 9m going").
| Going of a flight | Maximum gradient | Maximum rise |
|---|---|---|
| 2 m | 1:12 | 166 mm |
| 3 m | 1:13 | 231 mm |
| 4 m | 1:14 | 286 mm |
| 5 m | 1:15 | 333 mm |
| 6 m | 1:16 | 375 mm |
| 7 m | 1:17 | 412 mm |
| 8 m | 1:18 | 444 mm |
| 9 m | 1:19 | 474 mm |
| 10 m | 1:20 | 500 mm |
Flights shorter than 2 m may use 1:12. The 2 m, 5 m and 10 m rows are the published anchors (Vol 2 Table 1; the same three points appear on Vol 1 Diagram 2.1 and AD K Diagram 2.1); the 3 m, 4 m and 6–9 m rows are the values drawn on Vol 1 Diagram 2.1 (M4(2)) and accepted for interpolation by the Vol 2 note. For M4(3) dwellings the scale starts at 5 m / 1:15, shallower gradients, same rises.
Dwellings: Approved Document M Volume 1
Volume 1's ramp paragraphs sit in the approach-route sections for each dwelling category. Which category applies to a particular home is set by its planning and building control route, the ramp rules differ between them.
M4(1), visitable dwellings (§1.7)
The simplest rule in the document, based on flight lengths:
- Individual flights are "for gradients up to 1:15 – not more than 10m long" and "for gradients up to 1:12 – not more than 5m long" (§1.7 a).
- Every flight has a minimum clear width of 900 mm (§1.7 b).
- Top and bottom landing for every flight; an intermediate landing between flights and at any change of direction; every landing at least 1200 mm long, clear of door swings (§1.7 c–e).
Computed from "gradient x length of flight = rise" (Diagram 2.1 note 1), those bands work out at about 666 mm of rise for a 10 m flight at 1:15 and about 416 mm for a 5 m flight at 1:12.
M4(2), accessible and adaptable dwellings (§2.10)
- "The gradient is between 1:20 and 1:12" (§2.10 a).
- "The length of each flight at a given gradient meets the provisions of Diagram 2.1" (§2.10 b), the sliding scale above.
- Flights within a private approach route: minimum clear width 900 mm; communal: 1200 mm (§2.10 c, d).
- Top and bottom landing for every flight; intermediate landing between flights and at any change of direction; every landing at least 1200 mm long, clear of door swings (§2.10 e–g).
Diagram 2.1's own note adds a practical warning: "A site gradient of 1:15 will usually require a series of ramps of 1:12 interspersed with landings where necessary."
M4(3), wheelchair user dwellings (§3.10)
- "The gradient is between 1:20 and 1:15" (§3.10 a), 1:12 is not permitted: the AD M FAQ (2017) states that "gradients of 1:12 are not permissible in approach routes to Category 3 dwellings".
- Flight lengths meet Diagram 3.1, the sliding scale from 5 m / 1:15 up to 10 m / 1:20 (§3.10 b).
- Flights at least 1200 mm clear, private or communal (§3.10 c).
- Top and bottom landings for every flight; intermediate landing between flights and at any change of direction; every landing level, at least 1200 mm, clear of door swings (§3.10 d–f).
- A 1.5 m × 1.5 m level space at each end of the approach route and at maximum 10 m intervals (§3.9 d).
Handrails to dwelling ramps
AD M does not give handrail dimensions for external ramps in dwellings, the FAQ points to Approved Document K. AD K 2.12 requires, for ramps less than 1000 mm wide, a handrail "on one or both sides"; for ramps 1000 mm or more wide, a handrail on both sides; no handrail where the ramp is 600 mm or less in height; and handrail tops 900–1000 mm above the ramp surface.
Other buildings: Approved Document M Volume 2
For non-dwellings the rule is a sliding scale (Table 1 and Diagram 3), backed by detailed provisions in §1.26. First, when a ramp is needed: "If site constraints necessitate an approach of 1:20 or steeper, an approach incorporating ramped access should be provided" (§1.19), and "Gradients should be as shallow as practicable" (§1.20).
Key numbers from §1.26 ("A ramped access will satisfy Requirement M1 or M2 if..."):
- Gradient and going between landings follow Table 1 and Diagram 3, and "no flight has a going greater than 10m, or a rise of more than 500mm" (§1.26 b, c).
- An alternative means of access for wheelchair users ("e.g. a lift") is required "when the total rise is greater than 2m" (§1.26 d).
- Surface width between walls, upstands or kerbs: at least 1.5 m (§1.26 e).
- Ramp surface slip resistant and colour contrasting with the landings; similar friction on ramps and landings (§1.26 f, g).
- Landing at the foot and head at least 1.2 m long; intermediate landings at least 1.5 m long; both clear of door swings (§1.26 h, i).
- Intermediate landings at least 1800 mm × 1800 mm as passing places "when it is not possible for a wheelchair user to see from one end of the ramp to the other or the ramp has three flights or more" (§1.26 j).
- All landings level, "subject to a maximum gradient of 1:60 along their length and a maximum cross-fall gradient of 1:40" (§1.26 k).
- A handrail on both sides (§1.26 l): tops 900–1000 mm above the pitch line (900–1100 mm from a landing surface), continuous, extending at least 300 mm beyond top and bottom (§1.37).
- A kerb on the open side of any ramp or landing, at least 100 mm high (§1.26 m).
- "Clearly sign-posted steps are provided, in addition, when the rise of the ramp is greater than 300mm" (§1.26 n).
Internal ramps are covered by a cross-reference: corridor sections with a gradient of 1:20 or steeper are designed to Table 1 and Diagram 3 (§3.14 d), and internal ramps also comply with Approved Document K, section 2 (§3.53).
Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against these publications on 6 October 2026:
- Approved Document M Volume 1: Dwellings, 2015 edition incorporating 2016 amendments (gov.uk)
- Approved Document M Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2015 edition incorporating 2020 and 2024 amendments
- Approved Document M Volumes 1 and 2, Frequently Asked Questions(September 2017)
- Approved Document K: Protection from falling, collision and impact, 2013 edition (gov.uk)
Section references (§) point to the paragraph numbers in the documents above. This page is a summary: the full requirements, definitions and cross-references (fire, structures, Part K) still apply. In the US? See the ADA ramp requirements guide and the ADA ramp calculator.