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German Ramp Gradients: DIN 18040-2 Accessible Ramp Rules

DIN 18040-2's numbers for an accessible ramp in Germany — max 6% gradient, 150 cm landings, 120 cm width — with separate checks for approach paths and Land rules.

DIN 18040-2:2011-09 Clause DE DIN 18040-2

The requirement

For a barrier-free ramp, DIN 18040-2 caps the gradient at 6% (1:16.7), with no cross-fall on the ramp run. Check the Land rules and building use before applying this standard to a job.

DIN 18040-2 is “Barrierefreies Bauen — Wohnungen”, Germany’s barrier-free building standard for homes. The current edition is 2011-09. Every fixed ramp figure on this page comes from it.

What you’re buildingThe gradient rule
Barrier-free rampDIN 18040-2 — no steeper than 6%
Everyday ramp on a private houseCheck the rules for its use and location

The barrier-free ramp run. DIN 18040-2 sets the slope at no steeper than 6% (1:16.7). It allows no cross-fall on the ramp run itself. It also sets:

  • Landings at least 150 cm × 150 cm at the top and the bottom.
  • A landing at least 150 cm long after every 600 cm (6 m) of run and at changes of direction.
  • Handrails on both sides, 850–900 mm above the finished ramp or landing.
  • Usable width of at least 120 cm.
check scope and local rules≥ 150 cm≤ 6%
DIN 18040-2:2011-09 · Wohnungen

Outdoor paths have a separate test. Section 4.2.1 normally limits their slope to 3%. It allows up to 6% with rest areas at most 10 m apart. Those areas must slope no more than 3%. Entry areas have their own rules. Do not use a ramp’s limit for every part of the access route.

Which one applies?

Check the Land’s adopted technical rules and any changes to this standard. Check the dwelling’s access duties and the contract too. A private house is not proof that no rule applies. The designer should record the route, its users and the rules used to set it out.

Work it out on site

You’re building a barrier-free ramp. The threshold sits 300 mm above the path. How long does the ramp need to be?

  1. Apply the 6% cap. 6% means 6 mm of rise for every 100 mm of run, or 1:16.7. 300 mm ÷ 0.06 = 5000 mm (5 m) of run, as a minimum.
  2. Add the landings. A landing at least 150 cm goes at the top and the bottom. A 5 m run sits under the 600 cm (6 m) trigger, so no extra landing is needed. Two landings are enough here.
  3. Check the width. Keep the usable width at least 120 cm.

So: about 5 m of ramp at 6%. A 150 cm landing at each end. At least 120 cm of clear width. The slope calculator does the rise-over-run maths for you.

Do it in 5 seconds

Sources

Related building rules

Frequently asked questions

What's the maximum gradient for a ramp in Germany?
It depends what the ramp is for. DIN 18040-2 caps a barrier-free ramp at 6% (1:16.7), with no cross-fall on the ramp run. That cap only applies where barrier-free access is required. Other ramps need a check against the rules for their use and location.
What about the path or approach surface leading up to a ramp?
For outdoor paths, section 4.2.1 normally limits slope to 3%. Up to 6% is allowed with rest areas at intervals no greater than 10 m. Those areas must slope no more than 3%. Entry areas have their own rules.
How long do the landings need to be?
At least 150 cm × 150 cm at the top and the bottom of a barrier-free ramp. You also need a landing at least 150 cm long after every 600 cm (6 m) of ramp run.
What handrail and width does an accessible ramp need?
Handrails on both sides, 850–900 mm above the finished ramp or landing. The usable width must be at least 120 cm. Both figures come from DIN 18040-2.
Is DIN 18040-2 mandatory for every ramp I build?
No. DIN 18040-2 is the barrier-free design standard. It applies where barrier-free access is itself required. Check the Land rules, building use and contract. Do not assume that a private house has no access duties.