The six stage configurations
End stage, proscenium, thrust, runway, in the round and vignette: what each is good for, what it costs you, and where the screens go.
Staging guide
Wheelchair ramps for event stages.
By Troy Halsey ·
If a presenter or an honoree uses a wheelchair, the stage needs a ramp or a lift — and it is worth planning for one before anyone asks. Ramps take far more floor than steps, so they shape the stage and the room around it.
Here are the numbers, a quick way to work out the length, and what to do when the ramp won't fit.
The numbers
- Slope: 1:12 at most — 1″ of rise for every 12″ of ramp. 1:16 is gentler and better where the room allows.
- Width: at least 36″ clear. Keep turns to a minimum.
- Run: a single ramp run climbs no more than 30″ before a level landing, and landings are at least 60″ long.
- Handrails: on both sides of any ramp that rises more than 6″, at about 36″ high (the ADA range is 34–38″).
How long the ramp has to be
| Stage height | Ramp at 1:12 | Ramp at 1:16 |
|---|---|---|
| 12″ | 12′ | 16′ |
| 16″ | 16′ | 21′ 4″ |
| 24″ | 24′ | 32′ |
| 32″ | 32′ (two runs with a landing) | 42′ 8″ (two runs with a landing) |
At 1:12 the arithmetic is simple: every inch of stage height needs a foot of ramp. At 1:16 it needs a foot and a third.
When the room can't fit a ramp
A good rule of thumb is to keep a ramp-served stage at 30″ or lower, so one run does it. Above that the ramp needs a landing and grows long enough to cost seats or block an aisle.
If the room can't give up the floor, rent a wheelchair lift for a backstage entrance instead. It takes a fraction of the space and keeps the ramp off the audience side entirely.
Ramps versus steps
- Ramps make smooth transitions between levels and can be built into the scenery.
- They make large award-group photos easy, with people standing along the slope.
- They take a much bigger footprint than steps, which eats stage and floor space.
- Curved ramps need real engineering to build and to travel.
- A steep ramp is harder to walk than steps: people lean forward going up and back coming down.
Planning a ramp in EVT3D
EVT3D checks every ramp against a 1:12 slope as you build it. A new ramp starts 4′ wide with 36″ handrails on both sides, so you see how much floor it really takes in the room before the seating chart is final.
Questions we get
How long does a ramp need to be for a 24-inch stage?
24′ at the maximum 1:12 slope, or 32′ at the gentler 1:16. At 1:12, every inch of stage height needs a foot of ramp.
What is the minimum width for an ADA stage ramp?
36″ of clear width, with as few turns as possible. Wider is easier for a wheelchair user and anyone walking alongside.
What if there isn't room for a ramp?
Rent a wheelchair lift for a backstage entrance. It takes far less floor than a ramp, which matters once a stage is over about 30″ high.
More guides
Read the guide →
Stage height, steps and railings
Common deck heights, step rise and run, when a stage needs rails, skirting versus fascia, and glow tape.
Lay it out in 3D before you build it.
EVT3D is browser-based 3D event design software. Put the stage, steps, ramp and seating in a real venue at real dimensions, check it from the seats, and share it with your client as a 3D walkthrough. The free plan needs no credit card.