The correct wheelchair door width

UK regulations surrounding door widths vary depending on the type of building and whether the door is for public access.

Wheelchair Accessible Door Widths for Homes

Often private doors are widened to create wheelchair accessible entrances and exits that allow disabled occupants to enjoy easy access into their home or garden.

Internal doorways can be widened to support individuals as they travel from room to room.

Such alterations can ultimately allow disabled occupants to stay in their own home rather than having to resort to moving.

Building Regulations for Dwelling Doors

Part M, Section 1B of the Building Regulations states that an entrance door should have a minimum clear opening width of 775mm when measured with the below diagram (1.1).

Ideally, the door opening should be 900mm wide for a wheelchair user.

Any obstruction such as a radiator should not be placed opposite or close to the doorway.

The corridor should not be reduced below a minimum width of 750mm and is ideally 900mm for a wheelchair user.

Click images to enlarge.

If a step into the dwelling is unavoidable, the rise must be at a maximum 150mm and aligned with the outside face of the door threshold.

Any threshold should be an accessible one; this can be achieved by installing a ramp to the external door to provide step-free access.

Please consult the below PDF for the full list of requirements under Documents M, Volume 1 Dwelling - access to and use of buildings.

Disabled Door Widths for Public Buildings

Doorways in public buildings can be widened to accommodate large volumes of traffic, including pedestrians, wheelchair users, prams and wide equipment.

Additionally, with the outbreak of COVID-19, decision-makers in schools, hospitals, and other public facilities are having wider doors installed to create one-way systems in buildings and to provide additional space between individuals.

Building Regulations for Public Building Doors

Document M, Volume 2 states that accessible doors should be wide enough to allow various individuals to use, including wheelchair users, people with assistance dogs, those carrying luggage, parents with small children and pushchairs (including double buggies that are wider than wheelchairs).

People should be able to see other individuals approaching from opposite directions. Please note that revolving doors are not considered accessible by the regulations.

Please see below for the minimum effective clear widths for both single and double doors:

Click images to enlarge.

Please consult the below PDF for the full list of requirements under Documents M, Volume 2 – Buildings Other Than Dwellings.

Wide Wheelchair Ramps

If you require access over a threshold, we can help. Our modular ramp can match the width of different doorways.

Ramp Widths Available:

1000mm – Our suggested width for ‘Dwellings’. Approved Document M1 & the British Standards BS 8300-1:2018
1200mm – The minimum width for ‘Communal’ residential usage. Approved Document M1 & the British Standards BS 8300-1:2018
1500mm – The minimum width for ramps for ‘buildings Other Than Dwellings’. Approved Document M2 & the British Standards BS 8300-1:2018
Customisable – Any of platform widths stated above can be bolted together to make up a customised width.