Ramps for Sliding Door Tracks: What Fits and How to Measure

Sliding doors come up in a lot of our calls about ramps. The track looks small, but it’s raised, it’s narrow, and it catches walker legs, wheelchair castors, trolleys and toes. The good news is that it’s usually one of the easiest access problems in a house to fix.

Quick answer

Measure the height of the track above the floor on each side of the door. For most tracks, a low aluminium threshold ramp (12, 15, 20 or 25mm) on the outside, and often a second one on the inside, smooths it out. If the outside step down is bigger than the track itself, a rubber threshold ramp is the better choice. Either way, the ramp sits up against the track, so the door still slides.

Why sliding door tracks are awkward

• There are often two level changes. The track sits up above the inside floor, and the outside deck or paving is often lower again.
• The track is narrow. Small wheels drop into the gap between the rails instead of rolling over them.
• The door has to keep working. Anything you add can’t sit where the door panel slides or where the screen door runs.

Step 1: Measure both sides

Lay a straight edge across the top of the track so it sticks out over the floor, then measure down to the floor in millimetres. Do it on the inside and on the outside, at both ends of the opening. Use the highest number on each side.

The two sides are often different heights, especially where a deck or paving has settled. That difference decides what you need on each side.

Step 2: Measure the opening

Measure the clear width the door opens to, not the full door frame. The ramp should cover that opening, so a wheelchair or walker doesn’t have to line up exactly. Our aluminium threshold ramps come in 1000, 1500 and 2000mm lengths, and our rubber ramps are 900mm or 1000mm wide.

Step 3: Choose the ramp for each side

Step 4: Keep the door working

Before you buy, slide the door fully open and closed and look at where it travels. The ramp should butt up against the edge of the track, not sit on top of the rail the door rolls on. If there’s a screen door on the outside track, check it can still close too.

Aluminium threshold ramps are thin and sit neatly against the track. Rubber ramps are heavier and stay put without screws, which suits outside decks and paving.

What about the gradient?

For low tracks, the ramp is so short that the slope is easy for most people. Once the outside drop gets bigger, gradient matters more. Our rubber ramps come in 1:8 and 1:10, and 1:10 is the gentler of the two. Our guide How to Measure for a Door Threshold Ramp shows how much floor space each gradient needs, and the ramp calculator works it out for you.

Not sure? Send us a photo

Take a photo of the track from the side with a tape measure standing up against it, inside and out, and send it to us on WhatsApp (0402 704 800), or call (03) 7073 2121. We’ll tell you what fits on each side. Around Melbourne we can also measure and fit it for you.

Standard sizes are dispatched from Epping within 4–5 business days, then delivered Australia-wide. The delivery price shows at checkout.

Common questions

Do I need a ramp on both sides of a sliding door?

Often, yes. The track usually stands up above the inside floor as well as the outside. Measure both sides. If the inside is only a few millimetres, you may only need the outside ramp.

Will a ramp stop the door from closing?

Not if it sits against the track rather than on it. Check the door’s path before you fit anything, and keep the ramp clear of the rail the door rolls on.

Can I use a ramp on a sliding door to a deck?

Yes. Measure from the top of the track down to the deck boards. Rubber ramps work well outside because they’re heavy, grippy and don’t rust.

What if my track is higher at one end?

Use the highest measurement. If the difference is more than about 10mm across the opening, send us a photo, because a custom ramp may fit better.