Summary: Doors that are wide make it possible for people who use mobility devices like wheelchairs to enter and leave spaces.

Who it helps: People who use wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and other mobility devices.

Additional benefits: Wide doors also help caregivers pushing strollers, anyone carrying or wheeling luggage or goods, and groups walking together.

People who use wheelchairs need doors to be wide enough so that they can enter and leave spaces without getting stuck. Wheelchairs differ in width depending on their material, size, and whether or not they are manual or motor-powered.

A door should be 37 inches/95 centimeters wide when fully open so that people who use wheelchairs can easily enter or exit a space. Note that some older standards require less, but this measurement is important for people who use larger powered wheelchairs.

Wide doors also help people with other disabilities, as they are easier for people to navigate with walkers, crutches, or other devices. Other people benefit too: for example, someone carrying a bag does not need to worry about the bag getting knocked by the door’s sidepost.

Action: Measure the width of your door when open. Open the door fully. Measure in a straight line from one side of the door to the other at the latch with a tape measure.

You can learn more about accessibility from Ta11y, and stay tuned for new content on physical accessibility. Ta11y also partners with the New England ADA Center in distributing its accessibility checklists.