Forklift Ramp Incline Calculator

Use this online forklift ramp calculator to determine the appropriate slope for your forklifts, ensuring they can navigate your warehouse safely.

Typically, most forklifts can safely travel on ramps with a gradient between 5% and 12.5%. However, common sense should always prevail—if a ramp appears too steep for your forklift, it likely is, and operators should avoid using it.

Input your data in the green-bordered fields below and press Enter to calculate.

OSHA Forklift Ramp Requirements

OSHA defines a ramp, incline, or slope as any area where forklifts are operated that exceeds an angle of 10 degrees. The OSHA regulation CFR 1910.178 sets the following standards:

• Grades must be ascended or descended slowly.
• When driving on a grade exceeding 10%, loaded trucks must keep the load facing uphill, whether traveling up or down the ramp.
• Loads should be tilted back across all grades, if applicable. The load should only be raised enough to clear the driving surface.

Ramp Angle Formula

To determine the angle of a ramp, use the following formula: Divide the amount of rise by the amount of run, then multiply that by 100.

The rise is the height from the base of the ramp to its tallest point. The run is the total length of the ramp.

Example:

Ramp height: 18 inches (1.5 feet)
Ramp length: 180 inches (15 feet)

The formula is height/length × 100 = degrees

In this case, 18 inches ÷ 180 inches = 10 degrees.

Conclusion: The ramp has a 10-degree angle, making it compliant with OSHA ramp safety guidelines.