Free mini ramp plans.
Step-by-step mini ramp plans for 8' and 12' wide ramps, 2' to 3' tall. Pick a size and we'll show you every part, how it goes together and exactly what to buy. Tap the skeleton to learn each piece, explode it, or try to build it yourself.
Every part is in the right spot. Now go drop in.
Materials
Updates live for the size you picked. Quantities are estimates for a standard build, so grab about 10% extra for mistakes and bad boards.
These plans are a general guide for a backyard mini ramp. Check local rules before you build, use exterior-rated materials outdoors, and always skate with a helmet.
Mini ramp specs by size
| Size (wide × tall) | Radius | Transition length | Footprint* | Transition studs | 4×8 surface sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8' × 2' | 5' | 4' | 22' | 16 | 5 top + 10 base |
| 8' × 2½' | 5½' | 4' 7¼" | 23' 2¾" | 20 | 6 top + 12 base |
| 8' × 3' | 6' | 5' 2¼" | 24' 4¾" | 22 | 6 top + 12 base |
| 12' × 2' | 5' | 4' | 22' | 16 | 7 top + 14 base |
| 12' × 2½' | 5½' | 4' 7¼" | 23' 2¾" | 20 | 8 top + 16 base |
| 12' × 3' | 6' | 5' 2¼" | 24' 4¾" | 22 | 9 top + 18 base |
How to build a mini ramp, step by step
- Pick your spot. Find flat ground a couple of feet bigger than the ramp footprint. Set concrete blocks or pressure-treated sleepers about every 4 ft and level them.
- Cut the transition ribs. Use a string compass to draw the radius for your height on ¾" plywood (5' for a 2' ramp, 5½' for 2½', 6' for 3'). Cut one with a jigsaw, sand it smooth, then trace it to make the rest: 4 ribs for an 8' wide ramp, 6 for 12' wide.
- Frame the transitions. Stand the ribs up and screw 2x4 studs between them every 8" on center along the curve. Double up the top stud where the coping goes.
- Mount the coping. Notch the top of the ribs, set 2⅜" OD steel pipe so it sits about ¼" proud of the ramp face, and bolt it down about every 2 ft.
- Build the decks. Frame a 3' or 4' deep box of 2x4s with joists every 16" and legs cut so the deck plywood ends up flush with the top of the transition. Bolt each deck to its transition.
- Add the flat bottom. Frame a 4', 6' or 8' flat with joists every 8", set it between the transitions and carriage-bolt everything together.
- Lay the base layers. Bend two layers of ⅜" plywood onto the curve, starting at the bottom. Stagger the seams of the second layer by half a sheet and screw every 8" into every stud.
- Add the top skin. Lay ¼" Masonite (covered ramps) or Skatelite (outdoor ramps) with a small gap between sheets and countersink every screw.
- Finish the decks and rails. Screw ¾" plywood onto the deck frames tight to the coping and add a safety rail across the back.
- Drop in. Sweep it, check for proud screws, wax the coping and skate with a helmet.
*Footprint with 3' decks and an 8' flat bottom. Use the builder above for exact cut lists and shopping lists for every size.
Mini ramp questions
What size mini ramp should I build?
For most backyards, an 8' wide × 3' tall ramp with a 6' radius and 8' flat is the sweet spot. Go 2' to 2½' tall if you're learning or short on space, and 12' wide if you want room for two lines or doubles sessions.
How much does it cost to build a mini ramp?
Lumber prices move around, but a basic 8' wide ramp with a Masonite top usually lands somewhere between a few hundred and around a thousand dollars in materials. Skatelite, 12' widths and taller ramps cost more. Use the shopping list above to price it out at your local store.
What radius should the transitions be?
A common rule of thumb is a radius about twice the ramp height. These plans use a 5' radius for 2' ramps, 5½' for 2½' ramps and 6' for 3' ramps, which keeps them a little mellow and fun for all levels.
Masonite or Skatelite?
Masonite (hardboard) is cheap and super smooth but falls apart if it gets wet, so use it for covered or tarped ramps. Skatelite costs more but holds up outside for years.
What coping should I use?
Most mini ramps use 2⅜" outside diameter steel pipe (Schedule 40 or 80). Bolt it down about every 2 feet so it sits slightly proud of the ramp surface.
How long does it take to build?
With two or three friends and the right tools (circular saw, jigsaw, drill, impact driver, level), most people build an 8' ramp in one long weekend.
Ramp built? Now make it yours.
Custom decks, stickers and banners for your backyard spot, your crew or your next session.