Though most wheelchair ramps are permanently attached to the building, portable wheelchair ramps are not permanently attached to a building or vehicle. Wheelchair ramp rental companies provide portable wheelchair ramps for rent or purchase.

Permanent wheelchair ramps are usually made of wood or cement. Portable wheelchair ramps are most often made of steel. These steel wheelchair ramps are durable but may need to be occasionally treated to prevent rusting.

The surface of many steel wheelchair ramps are mesh to allow water to pass through the ramp surface. The mesh prevent water from forming puddles on the ramp surface. Handrails run along the sides of portable wheelchair ramps.

Portable wheelchair ramps for buildings are modular ramps that are shipped and installed in sections. The wheelchair ramps can be installed to meet the wheelchair ramp guidelines by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The wheelchair guidelines in the Americans with Disabilities Act describe the ideal slope for wheelchair ramps as 12:1 or twelve units in length for every one unit in height. If a wheelchair ramp needs to be two feet high at the highest point, then the ramp should be twenty-four feet long.

Since portable wheelchair ramps are not considered permanent structures, building permits are not required. Homeowners who have had a portable wheelchair ramp installed do not typically have to have a new tax assessment.

Unlike permanent wheelchair ramps that are commonly built by contractors, portable wheelchair ramps can usually be installed in a matter of days. When the ramp is no longer needed, the wheelchair ramp can be dismantled and removed often without any lasting signs that the ramp had been there.

A portable wheelchair ramp is ideal for people who temporarily need to use a wheelchair. A portable wheelchair ramp may also be beneficial for use for special events.

Renting a portable wheelchair ramp is often financially sound when the ramp is needed for less than six months. If the person who rents a wheelchair ramp needs the ramp longer than anticipated, some wheelchair ramp rental companies will apply part of the rental fees paid towards the purchase of the wheelchair ramp.

Portable wheelchair ramps for vehicles are often available through wheelchair ramp rental companies and electric wheelchair companies. Because electric wheelchairs are extremely heavy, portable wheelchair ramps are often used to load them into vehicles.