My dog’s veterinary physical therapist has always told me that it’s better to teach a dog to use a ramp before they need it, not when they need it. Getting one of the best dog ramps before your dog needs it will ensure they can hop in and out of the car, on and off the bed, and more for a long time to come.
Dog ramps are ideal for young puppies with open growth plates, injured dogs who need to reduce joint strain, aging pups who are losing mobility, small dogs who can’t reach tall places, long-backed dogs who are prone to injuries, and dogs who are too big for their owners to safely lift.
But before you buy a dog ramp, there are some safety measures to take. Here’s how to pick the best dog ramp for your dog.
Traits We Want in the Best Dog Ramps
Length: Longer dog ramps have gentler inclines so, generally, the longer the better. A good rule of thumb is to select a ramp that will offer between 18 and 27 degrees of incline, based on the height you need.
Width: The width of a dog ramp should be at least a few inches wider than the widest part of your dog’s shoulders and hips. This ensures they feel comfortable walking up and down it normally and don’t need to squish their gait to fit.
Weight support: A ramp that doesn’t support your dog’s weight will be wobbly, unstable, and could collapse under them, potentially causing injury and/or an aversion to using the ramp. Ensure you choose a ramp that offers enough weight support for your dog’s size.
Surface material: Dog ramps should have lots of traction. A slippery dog ramp will likely cause injury, negating the injury prevention perks of using a ramp regularly. Choose an option with rubber, textured carpet, or other grippy surfaces.
Portability (for dog ramps for cars): If you’re using a dog ramp for your car, it should be portable and light enough to easily unfold, fold, and load back in the car.
The Best Dog Ramps
| Whole Dog Journal Rating | Product and Maker | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | EveryYay Portable Pet Ramp | $133 | This ramp is the longest we tested, which allows for a large variety of gentle angles. Intended for loading in and out of the back of the car, this is a wide, sturdy option for medium and large breed dogs. |
| PetSafe Happy Ride Foldable Dog Car Ramp | $60 | The PetSafe Happy Ride ramp is lighter and more portable than the EveryYay ramp but it’s a bit shorter and narrower, so very large dog breeds may have trouble using it. However, it’s narrow enough to use as a dog ramp for side doors, as long as the floor height isn’t above 24 inches. |
 | Frisco Plastic Easy Step Cat & Dog Stair | $46 | Though the carpet top piece isn’t the best quality, this budget-friendly step is a great middle ground between no assistance and a full ramp. It’s also deep enough for most medium and large dogs to use comfortably. |
| DoggoRamps Large Bed Ramp | $425 | It can be difficult to find indoor ramps that are both long enough and wide enough for large dogs. The DoggoRamps Large Bed Ramp is ideal for big dog owners, as it is 70 inches long, 18 inches wide, and holds up to 200 pounds. It also includes a rail that will keep your dog feeling secure as they get on and off the bed. |
| EveryYay Rise & Climb Indoor Pet Ramp | $183 | This carpet-lined pick is a good indoor ramp for assisting small dogs onto couches and other low furniture. Because it is not that long, it’s not the best option for steeper furniture. |
| Doggo Ramps Step-Ramp | $150 | Though impeccably well made, the Doggo Ramps step ramp was a bit too shallow for my medium-sized tester dogs but it could be a good choice for households with active small or toy breeds. |
Best Dog Ramp for Cars: EveryYay Portable Pet Ramp
The EveryYay Portable Pet Ramp is long, sturdy, portable, and wide enough for even large dogs. Longer ramps provide a gentler incline for dogs and this 72-inch-long dog car ramp is long enough to reach into tall SUVs and trucks without making a steep, unstable angle for your dog.
I love that this ramp has a safety tether that you can clip onto the rear latch hook of an SUV or hatchback vehicle. That extra layer of safety means you don’t have to worry about the ramp slipping out from underneath your dog (especially important for the safety of injured dogs or senior dogs).
This ramp folds in half and locks for storage, has a carrying handle, and weighs 17.6 pounds. It’s not the most lightweight dog car ramp, so folks who aren’t able to lift much weight may reconsider this as their top option. However, what it lacks in lightweight design, it makes up for in sturdiness, width, and length. It’s long enough, wide enough, and has a large enough weight capacity (200 pounds) for most dogs.
My tester dogs also appreciated the surface on this ramp, which is a mix between carpet and plastic. It was overall very grippy and didn’t cause slipping.
Because of its width, this ramp does not fit as a dog car ramp for side doors in most vehicles.
Best Dog Ramp for Smaller Vehicles: PetSafe Happy Ride Foldable Dog Car Ramp
The PetSafe Happy Ride Foldable Dog Car Ramp is a good pick for lower-to-the-ground vehicles like sedans, hatchbacks, and some mid-size SUVs. The shorter 62-inch length makes this ramp too steep for most full sized SUVs and trucks, even if you are using it to load your dog in and out of the back of the car.
This ramp works safely for heights up to 24 inches. If your car falls within that height range, this is also a good pick for a dog ramp for side doors. It’s narrow enough to sit on the seat in most vehicles, even if you don’t have a ton of door clearance.
The surface on this ramp isn’t as supportive as some of the other options since it’s harder and thinner. It has a sandpaper-like quality and if the ramp is set at too steep an angle, dogs tend to splay their toes for traction when going down. We didn’t have any issues with our tester dogs going up this ramp.
This ramp is also a good option as a dog ramp for stairs. Just set it over short sets of stairs indoors or outdoors if you have a senior or injured dog who needs help navigating steps. It’s sturdy, only weighs 10 pounds, and is easy to fold, unfold, and move around.
Best Dog Ramp for Couches: Frisco Plastic Easy Step Cat & Dog Stair
If your dog is fairly active and just needs a boost up to their favorite spot on the couch, the Frisco Plastic Easy Step Cat & Dog Ramp is a good option. It’s deep enough for most dogs to use it comfortably, though it does have a 50-pound weight limit. With shallower steps, my tester dogs tended to put their front paws on it, then jump onto the furniture over the step, negating the use of the step to help their rear ends.
The carpet piece on the top of this step is removable and machine washable for easy cleaning, though it isn’t the best quality and had frayed edges straight out of the box.
If your dog doesn’t need a full ramp, or if you have a very small dog who just needs help with getting onto tall couches or chairs, this is the way to go.
Best Indoor Dog Ramp for Large Dogs: DoggoRamps Large Bed Ramp
The DoggoRamps Large Bed Ramp is the best option for helping big dogs on and off the bed. It offers 70 inches of walkway space, an 18-inches width, and holds dogs up to 200 pounds. It can be used for beds from 20 inches up to 35 inches tall and the long length provides a gentle incline for older dogs.
This ramp features safety rails at the top and on one side, so your dog doesn’t feel insecure while going up and down. The Pawgrip surface is rubbery and offers secure grip, even for large, heavy dogs. There was a small nick in the rubbery surface of my tester unit, likely from transit, but if your dog has very long nails, it could also damage the surface.
This ramp is impeccably handmade of real wood and comes in five different finishes so you can match the furniture in your bedroom. It’s pricey, but is a sturdy, high-quality bed ramp option for large dogs, short and heavy breeds (like Bulldogs and Basset Hounds), or for households with multiple dogs.
My tester dogs took to this ramp easily because of the sturdy base and wide, grippy surface. It also comes with a safety rope to keep it from sliding away from the bed.
Best Indoor Dog Ramp for Small Dogs: EveryYay Rise & Climb Indoor Pet Ramp
The EveryYay Rise & Climb Indoor Pet Ramp is a good option for smaller dogs needing to get on and off of couches and other furniture inside. It’s collapsible, so it easily fits under the bed, under the couch, or in the closet when not in use. It also locks into a folded position for easier storage.
The length of this ramp is only about 40 inches, so it’s best suited for the three lower height settings to make the incline easier on your dog, though it technically can be used at a fourth height of 24 inches. The textured carpet on this ramp is grippy enough for small and light dogs (think dogs under 40 pounds). With larger, heavier dogs, we noticed some paw splaying and a bit more slippage due to the extra weight.
Other Dog Ramps We Tested
Doggo Ramps Step-Ramp
The Doggo Ramps Step-Ramp is beautifully made with real wood, handles for carrying, a storage cubby compartment, and a rubbery surface that offers good traction for dogs. However, I found this ramp to be a bit awkwardly sized. It requires a six inch jump up and down it, but is also only 14 inches deep, so it’s not quite big enough for dogs over about 20 pounds, depending on their height and length.
This could still be a good option for homes with fairly active small dogs if you’re looking to reduce the strain on their back caused by full height jumping (especially for the long/low breeds like Dachshunds and Corgis). Or, if you’re limited on space and need something compact, this is could be an option if your dog is on the smaller side.
