What is the required door width for a wheelchair? Standards and the correct measurements to take

Key points to remember

• The Quebec Building Code requires 850 mm of clear width per door opening along an unobstructed path ( Section 3.8.3.6), measured with the door open at a 90-degree angle.
• The nominal width of the door is not the clear width: order a 36-inch (915 mm) door to get an 850 mm clear opening. A 32-inch door leaves only 760 to 775 mm.
• Always compare the overall width of the chair, never the seat width: 60 to 72 cm for a standard manual wheelchair, up to 80 cm for some electric models, with 5 to 8 cm of clearance on each side.
• The door alone is not enough: allow for a 1,000 mm passage width, 600 mm of clearance on the left side, a turning area of 1,700 x 1,700 mm, and a beveled threshold of no more than 13 mm.
• In a private home, the Code does not apply to routine renovations, but its dimensions remain the best guideline, and some assistance programs require compliance with them.
• The SHQ’s Home Modification Program and the tax credit for helping seniors remain in their homes can help fund door-widening projects.

A wheelchair that catches on the doorframe every time it passes through always signals the same thing: the home is no longer adapted to the person living there. Before installing a ramp, a stairlift, or an accessible bathroom, the width of the doorways must be adjusted to preserve independence at home. Here are the target widths, the accessibility standards in effect in Quebec, and the proper way to measure before undertaking any work.

The short answer: 850 mm of clear width, so a 36-inch door

In Quebec, the Building Code (Chapter I, Buildings, which incorporates the amended 2020 National Building Code) requires, in Section 3.8.3.6 , a clear width of at least 850 mm for each doorway along an unobstructed path, measured with the door open. In a dwelling, the same requirement applies to doors along the path leading to at least one bathroom. This is the minimum regulatory requirement to allow a wheelchair to pass through.

That’s the catch, and the RBQ states it clearly: the nominal width of the door has nothing to do with the clear width. When opened to 90 degrees, the door panel occupies part of the opening, and the door stop and hardware take up a few more centimeters. You must therefore order a door wider than 850 mm to achieve an 850 mm clear opening: in practice, a 36-inch (915 mm) door. A 32-inch (813 mm) door leaves only 760 to 775 mm of usable passage width, which is below the minimum.

You may also come across the figure of 800 mm. It comes from the RBQ’s previous guidelines on housing accessibility and visitability recommendations, which are based on an older edition of the Code. For a new construction project or a renovation subject to current regulations, the applicable measurement is 850 mm.

For a sliding door, an opening of approximately 1,900 mm is required to provide 850 mm of clearance, taking into account the overlap of the panels.

Exactly how wide is a wheelchair?

It all comes down to the overall width of the device, including the wheels, handrails, and armrests. The seat width, on the other hand, does not indicate the required clearance.

Useful rule of thumb: For a manual wheelchair, the overall width exceeds the seat width by 18 to 22 cm. A 45-cm seat width therefore results in a wheelchair that is 63 to 67 cm wide. Electric models are often wider, as the frame must accommodate the motors and batteries.

Next, add a 5- to 8-cm margin on each side. A 68-cm armchair will indeed fit through a doorway that’s 76 cm wide. But each time you pass through, it becomes an exercise in precision, and this is rarely feasible on a daily basis for someone with limited mobility or whose hands are frail.

A note on the term “PMR”

The terms “PMR door” and “PMR standards” often appear in search results. PMR stands for “person with reduced mobility” and comes from French regulations. In Quebec, the law and official terminology instead refer to people with disabilities, barrier-free design, and barrier-free pathways. The criteria for a French PMR door largely align with those of the Quebec Code, but never cite a French standard to justify construction work here. Canadian requirements are the law.

Accessibility Standards Applicable in Quebec

Three references address this issue, and they do not apply to the same buildings.

Section 3.8, “Accessibility,” of the Quebec Building Code applies to new buildings and subject renovations. In addition to the 850 mm clear width for door openings, it specifies a clear, obstacle-free passage width of at least 1,000 mm (Section 3.8.3.2), which may be reduced to 850 mm over a maximum length of 600 mm under certain conditions. It limits door thresholds to a maximum height of 13 mm. It requires a clearance on the strike side of 300 mm or 600 mm, depending on the direction of opening, for a swing door without an electric opening mechanism. It also requires a handle that can be operated without gripping force or wrist rotation—that is, a lever handle rather than a round knob. In terms of height, the operating mechanism must be installed between 900 and 1,100 mm from the floor, and controls (switches, thermostats, buttons) between 400 and 1,200 mm.

The CSA/ASC B651 standard, Accessible Design for the Built Environment, is the Canadian best-practice guideline, which is often more stringent than the Code. It specifies a clear floor area of at least 800 x 1,350 mm for a stationary position and 1,700 x 1,700 mm for an unobstructed U-turn, in addition to detailed requirements for maneuvering spaces at doors.

That leaves the RBQ’s accessibility recommendations. While they are not mandatory for private residential buildings, they serve as guidelines: a step-free entrance, thresholds less than 13 mm high, doors with a generous clear width, and an accessible bathroom on the ground floor.

In a facility open to the public (ERP), the requirements of the Code apply. In a private home, however, you are under no legal obligation to widen your doorways. Nevertheless, these same dimensions serve as a good guideline, since they are based on the actual dimensions of mobility devices.

Around the door: the maneuvering space is just as important

A door that’s wide enough is useless if the wheelchair can’t fit in front of it. Four dimensions are just as important as the width of the opening.

First, the lateral clearance on the handle side. Pulling a door toward you requires 600 mm of clear space on the strike plate side. Without this space, the user ends up in the door’s path and cannot step back while pulling.

Next is the turning area. The CSA/ASC B651 standard requires 1,700 x 1,700 mm for an unobstructed U-turn, and the Code requires landings measuring 1,700 x 1,700 mm at the top and bottom of ramps leading to a door. The 1,500-mm dimension commonly cited is a standard design minimum, not the Canadian requirement. It is in hallways and bathrooms where this issue really comes into play.

The width of the hallway also matters. The Code specifies 1,000 mm, while best practices recommend 1,200 mm. A 900-mm-wide hallway makes it impossible to turn 90 degrees toward a door, even if the door is the perfect size.

Finally, the threshold. The Code sets a maximum height of 13 mm and requires that it be beveled, with a maximum slope of 1:2 between 6 and 13 mm. Beyond that, the small front wheels will hit the threshold. A beveled transition or a threshold plate solves the problem at little cost.

The Other Aspects of a Barrier-Free Journey

Door width is just one factor among many. To ensure that movement throughout the home is truly comfortable, also check the slope of outdoor accessways: on a barrier-free path, a ramp must have a clear width of at least 1,000 mm, a uniform slope of no more than 1:12 (8.33%), and landings measuring 1,700 x 1,700 mm at the top, bottom, and intermediate levels. When the elevation difference makes the ramp too long, the RBQ itself recommends a platform lift.

The floor surface deserves the same attention. The floors along the route must be stable, firm, and slip-resistant, with no sudden changes in level. A thick rug or a poorly finished ceramic threshold can block a wheelchair just as effectively as a door that’s too narrow.

Also, provide a clear area of at least 800 x 1,350 mm in front of any fixtures the user needs to reach: countertops, sinks, controls, and mailboxes. And keep light switches, handles, and buttons between 400 and 1,200 mm above the floor so they remain within reach from a wheelchair.

These criteria apply to both residential buildings and buildings open to the public, where the installation of compliant ramps, automatic doors, and elevators is a requirement rather than an optional improvement.

How to Measure Your Door Correctly

1. Open the door to 90 degrees, as usual.
2. Measure between the inner surface of the open door panel and the opposite door frame at the narrowest point. This is the actual clear width—the only one that matters.
3. Take the measurement at wheel height—about 200 to 300 mm from the floor—where the stops and baseboards narrow the passage.
4. Note the height of the threshold and the width of the approach corridor on both sides.
5. Compare to the overall dimensions of the device, including a 5-cm margin.

If the clear width is less than 850 mm, you are in violation of the Code. If it is less than 750 mm, passage becomes difficult for most wheelchairs, and modifications are required.

What should you do when the door is too narrow?

The solutions range from the simplest to the most complex.

Full-clearance hinges swing the door panel out of the doorway, freeing up a few centimeters of clearance. They’re inexpensive and can sometimes be all it takes to make up the last few centimeters needed. Removing the door—or replacing it with a curtain—remains an option in a room where privacy isn’t a major concern.

A sliding door or pocket door frees up the entire opening and eliminates the need for a swing radius—a double benefit in a narrow hallway. However, it requires a wall that is free of plumbing and electrical wiring.

Widening the doorway is the real solution: the contractor will expand the opening to accommodate a 36-inch door. Check with an engineer to see if the wall is load-bearing.

Then there is the automatic door opener, which is useful when grip strength is limited and is often installed at the main entrance.

The choice depends on three factors: the clear width needed, the available clearance around the door, and the level of convenience desired for everyday use. As part of a comprehensive renovation, these projects are rarely undertaken in isolation: a ground-level entrance, an access ramp, an accessible bathroom, and a platform lift or home elevator when there is a flight of stairs to navigate.

Manual or electric: two different sizes

Two people with disabilities do not necessarily have the same space requirements. Compact manual wheelchairs fit through standard 30-inch doorways. Electric wheelchairs with raised leg rests are longer and require more space to turn, so they need wider accessible spaces whenever they change direction.

Measure the actual device in use, with the user seated and all accessories installed: bag, oxygen cylinder, and leg rests in the operating position. The total depth is just as important as the maximum width in determining whether the living space can be made accessible without major renovations.

Financial Assistance: The Program and Tax Credit You Need to Know About

In Quebec, the Société d’habitation du Québec’s Home Adaptation Program (PAD) funds home modifications for people with disabilities—including door widening—with assistance of up to several thousand dollars per case. In addition, there is the tax credit for home care for seniors offered by Revenu Québec. Depending on the situation, the CNESST or the SAAQ may also cover the cost of the work if the loss of mobility results from a work-related or traffic accident. Amounts and eligibility criteria vary from year to year: check with your municipality or CLSC before beginning the work.