| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Petstep Original Folding Pet Ramp |
| Best on a Budget | PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Pet Ramp |
| Best for Indoor Use | PETSAFE CozyUp Wooden Cat & Dog Ramp |
| Best Collapsible Ramp | Titan Collapsible Pet Ramp |
| Best for Travel | PetSafe Happy Ride Telescoping Dog Car Ramp |
Dogs of different sizes tend to experience issues with their joints as they get older. Aside from providing them with proper nutrition and plenty of play and exercise, you can also help them by facilitating mobility when it comes to the use of stairs. Stairs can cause undue stress on your dog’s sensitive joints. With a dog ramp for stairs, you can make getting up and down the stairs, on and off the bed, and in and out of your car a lot simpler for them. Most dog owners don’t even consider the use of dog ramps unless their dog has developed some kind of mobility issue. However, a ramp for stairs for dogs is a great preventative measure to ensure that your dog can live out the rest of his days comfortably, without dealing with any of the pain associated with arthritis conditions.
Dog ramps are a fantastic tool that you can incorporate into your dog’s daily life. However, with so many options, many people get overwhelmed and click away from the search page when they brave an online search. To simplify things for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best dog ramps for stairs. Our aim is to supply you with a high-quality selection to help you decide within just a few minutes. We cover the best overall ramp for stairs for dogs, the best budget-friendly option, the best for indoor use, the best collapsible ramp, and the best ramp for travel. Although they serve the same purpose, they each have different features that make them ideal for specific situations. We also provide you with some helpful tips on how to select the best dog ramp for your dog, along with some simple pros and cons for each.
Check Amazon- Features a non-slip, rubberized walking surface
- Made from durable composite plastic
- Can be used indoors or outdoors
- Very easy to clean
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Has a durable wooden frame
- Features a high traction carpet surface
- Classic look
- Comes with a generous landing area at the top
Check Amazon- Collapsible, portable and lightweight
- Features a textured surface for better grip
- Has a sturdy aluminum frame
- Can be used for any size dog
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Incredibly strong, can support pets up to 400 pounds
- Very light and easy to carry
- Features high traction surface and side rails
- Locks with a safety latch
A-Z-Animals Top Picks for Dog Ramps for Stairs
#1 Best Overall: Petstep Original Folding Pet Ramp
The best overall dog ramp for stairs is the PetStep Original Folding Pet Ramp.
This ramp features a unique, soft, non-slip, rubberized walking surface that feels good on your dog’s paws. It provides enough traction to handle all weather conditions and it feels natural on their paws. Some pet ramps use irritating materials to create traction that feels like sandpaper. Your pet’s comfort is important, not just for his mobility, but also for his paws. Other ramps might include materials like carpet which can easily trap dirt and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Instead, this ramp is made durable with composite plastic construction that’s ultra-strong and can hold up to 500 pounds.
The simplicity in construction and the incredible durability of this folding pet ramp is what make it number one on the list. You can use this indoors or outdoors and as it’s made with easy-to-clean plastic you can just take a little soap and water to it and it’ll look good as new. It won’t rust or corrode like other ramp models. It’s proven to prevent and reduce arthritis and dysplasia pain in pets, and it weighs only 18.5 pounds, which makes it easy to take wherever you go. There are cut-out handles on both sides so that you can easily adjust it to any surface and there are heavy-duty rubber grips at each end to keep the ramp in place during use.
The only drawback to this product that we can find is that some customers have reported that it is quite big and heavy to move around, even when folded.
Pros and Cons of the Petstep Original Folding Pet Ramp
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This ramp has a unique, non-slip rubber surface which provides good grip in all weather conditions. | It is quite heavy to move around. |
| The ramp is made from durable plastic. | |
| It can hold up to 500 pounds. | |
| This ramp is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. | |
| It features heavy-duty rubber grips to keep it in place. |
- Features a non-slip, rubberized walking surface
- Made from durable composite plastic
- Can be used indoors or outdoors
- Very easy to clean
2. Best on a Budget: PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Pet Ramp
A dog ramp doesn’t need to break the bank, and the best budget-friendly option is the PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Pet Ramp.
This portable ramp is super lightweight and a great budget-friendly option to keep on hand when your dog needs a little extra help getting around. Most dog ramps tend to cost around $100 or more but this one comes in at nearly half the cost.
This ramp has a high traction surface and is equipped with side rails to keep your pup from slipping or falling when he’s walking on the ramp. It’s easy to store because it folds in half and locks with a safety latch so you can easily keep it at home or in your car when you’re on the go. It supports pets up to 150 pounds and has four rubber feet to keep the ramp secure while your dog uses it. It measures 16 inches in width and 62 inches in length.
Unfortunately, this ramp is not suitable for larger dogs weighing more than 150 pounds. Also, some customers have reported that their bigger dogs found the ramp to be a bit narrow for them.
Pros and Cons of the PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Pet Ramp
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This ramp is lightweight and easy to move around. | It is not suitable for dogs weighing more thian 150 pounds. |
| It has a high traction surface to provide good grip for dogs. | It can be a little narrow for some dogs. |
| It features side rails to prevent dogs from sliding off the ramp. | |
| This ramp is suitable for dogs weighing up to 150 pounds. |
- Weighs only 10 pounds
- Easy to carry
- High-traction surface
- Has small side rails
3. Best for Indoor Use: PetSafe CozyUp Wooden Cat & Dog Ramp
When you need a good ramp option to use indoors the best option is the PetSafe CozyUp Wooden Cat & Dog Ramp.
This ramp is designed with a durable wooden frame that supports up to 120 pounds and has a high traction carpet surface that doesn’t just look great but it also keeps your dog from slipping off the ramp when he’s climbing it. Use this to help your dog onto the sofa or onto your bed to improve quality time together.
It has a decorative white, wood finish that looks great in any home, no matter what your interior decor style is. They kept the color palette neutral, and the finish is a classic look that complements any design. The smooth climbing angle helps your dog use the ramp with ease and it also has a generous landing area at the top that gives your dog a little extra stability when making the final transition onto either your sofa or bed.
However, this ramp is not suitable for pets weighing more than 120 pounds. Also, some custoemers have reported that the carpet can be a little slippery for some dogs.
Pros and Cons of the PetSafe CozyUp Wooden Cat & Dog Ramp
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This ramp has a durable wooden frame. | It is not suitable for dogs weighing more than 120 pounds. |
| It features a high traction carpet to provide dogs with good grip. | The carpet can be a little slippery for some dogs. |
| It features a landing area at the top. | |
| It is suitable for dogs weighing up to 120 pounds. |
- Has a durable wooden frame
- Features a high traction carpet surface
- Classic look
- Comes with a generous landing area at the top
4. Best Collapsible Ramp: Titan Collapsible Pet Ramp
A sturdy dog ramp for stairs is everything but sometimes they can get clunky and make the space in your car or in your storage room feel crowded. To solve that problem we recommend the Titan Collapsible Pet Ramp which is portable and lightweight.
This ramp is made with plastic, weighs only 13 pounds, and has a textured surface for better grip. It’s designed specifically to save space. You can open it with one hand and carry it with one hand too! It’s ideal for use with any size dog, so long as he weighs less than 180 pounds. The construction is rigid, made with a sturdy aluminum frame. The grooved surface and large rubber feet keep your dog from slipping, which is the fear of all dog owners when using ramps.
The main drawback to this product is that it is shorter than some other ramps, which makes the incline steeper.
Pros and Cons of the Titan Collapsible Pet Ramp
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This ramp weighs only 13 pounds, making it easy to move around. | It is shorter than some other ramps, making the incline steeper. |
| It has a sturdy aluminum frame. | |
| It features a grooved surface to provide good traction for dogs. | |
| It has rubber feet to keep it stable. |
- Collapsible, portable and lightweight
- Features a textured surface for better grip
- Has a sturdy aluminum frame
- Can be used for any size dog
5. Best for Travel: PetSafe Happy Ride Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp
If you need to take your dog ramp on the road with you then we suggest the PetSafe Happy Ride Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp.
This ramp is designed to be ultra-portable, super lightweight, and easy to pack up in your car, minivan, or SUV. Although it’s lightweight, it’s incredibly strong, supporting pets up to 400 pounds. However, it only weighs 13 pounds, which makes it easy to carry and lift out of the car between stops. It has a high traction surface and side rails to make sure that your dog is safe when climbing up and walking down the ramp. It slides inward and locks with a safety latch, so you don’t have to spend much time putting it into your vehicle or pulling it out.
Unfortunately, some pup parents have found that this ramp is too steep for smaller dogs.
Pros and Cons of the PetSafe Happy Ride Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This ramp can support up to 400 pounds. | The incline is too steep for smaller dogs. |
| It weighs only 13 pounds which makes it easy to move around. | |
| It features a high traction surface. | |
| It has side rails to keep dogs safe while using it. |
- Incredibly strong, can support pets up to 400 pounds
- Very light and easy to carry
- Features high traction surface and side rails
- Locks with a safety latch
Choosing the Best: What to Look For
Material
If you’re looking for a dog ramp for stairs that can be used for outdoor adventures when the weather can get unpredictable, durable material is of utmost importance. Although some dog ramps have a carpet-like texture, that is soon to get muddy and moldy during a trip out following a rainstorm. Instead, something easy to clean like durable plastic that you can easily hose down is a better option. If you’re looking for a permanent addition to your home, a decorative, freestanding design may just be the best dog ramp to opt for. Consider your needs and make your choice of material based on those!
Purpose
Choosing a material is based on purpose but there’s more to the purpose than the material. For instance, an adventurous dog needs durable materials but a dog ramp for adventures should also be lightweight and portable. Being able to easily pack up your dog ramp when you’re on the go is a huge plus, especially if in addition to being lightweight, it’s collapsible. Then, you have tons more space for all your other adventure equipment.
Price
A solid ramp for stairs for dogs is an investment for your pup’s joint health, no matter his age or size. You can find a good option even when you’re looking to save. The budget-friendly option on the list above works well enough to help your dog while being less expensive than some of the other models. Be sure to choose a dog ramp that fits your budget while also fitting your and your dog’s needs!
Up Next
- The Best Dog Ramps for Cars — Check out the very bed dog ramps for cars here!
- The Best Dog Ramps for Beds — If your pup struggles to get on and off the bed then look no further than these top-rated suggestions!
- The Best Dog Pool Ramps: Reviewed and Ranked — If your pup loves to splash around in the pool then why not get a pool ramp to help them climb in and out.
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Petstep Original Folding Pet Ramp |
| Best on a Budget | PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Pet Ramp |
| Best for Indoor Use | PETSAFE CozyUp Wooden Cat & Dog Ramp |
| Best Collapsible Ramp | Titan Collapsible Pet Ramp |
| Best for Travel | PetSafe Happy Ride Telescoping Dog Car Ramp |
The Best Dog Ramp for Stairs FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is a ramp or stairs better for dogs?
Generally, dog ramps are the better choice, especially if your dog is in his senior years. It’s a lot easier on your dog’s joints and you can prevent the development of or further deterioration of joint conditions. If you notice your pup is struggling to get onto your couch, bed, or into the car, a dog ramp is in order. If you’re concerned about space, opt for a collapsible ramp that you can easily store.
Which dog ramp is best?
This depends on your needs. For dogs that need help getting in and out of the car, choose a portable, lightweight, collapsible option that you can keep in the trunk of your vehicle. If the problem is getting on and off the couch or bed, you may do well with a freestanding dog ramp you can place in the perfect position and leave untouched so your dog can use it as needed throughout the day or night.
Are ramps or stairs better for dogs with arthritis?
Ramps every time. When your dog is able to take forward steps without having to lift his knees, he’s supported with his mobility. If your dog has short legs, a ramp is a total lifesaver too. Although in his younger years, your dog may not display discomfort when climbing stairs or jumping on and off elevated surfaces, a dog ramp is much easier on his joints and can help to prevent or delay the development of arthritis symptoms.
Are dog ramps worth it?
Absolutely. It’s a small investment that makes a big difference for your pup. Ramps protect your dog from injury! That not only helps your pup over the course of his life, but prevents undue stress for you when you have to make emergency vet visits for any injuries sustained.
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