Clear Doorway Width for a Wheelchair
Aging Parent Rescue is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you.
Minimum clear width at a single doorway. Measure with the door open at 90°, from the face of the door to the stop on the opposite side.
ADA 404.2.3 and ANSI A117.1. Not binding on a private home — it is the width a chair actually passes through.
A “32-inch door” in a catalogue is a 32-inch frame. With a standard hinge, the open door itself sits in the opening and eats 1.75–2″. Real clearance is closer to 30″.
What each width lets through
| Clear width | Passes |
|---|---|
| 36″+ | Everything, including a wide or powered chair, comfortably |
| 32″ | Standard manual wheelchair, straight on, slowly |
| 28–30″ | Narrow rollator or walker. Most wheelchairs will not |
| Under 28″ | Walker only, and knuckles will catch |
Getting width back without rebuilding the wall
Swing-clear offset hinges move the door out of the opening and recover almost the full 1.75″. They fit the existing frame. This is the first thing to try, before anyone talks about widening a doorway.
Do not forget the approach
A chair needs room to line up with the door. If the doorway opens off a narrow hallway, the hallway needs about 36″ for a straight approach, more if the chair has to turn into the door.