Old dog stuck at the car door? Dog ramps and stairs, by weight limit

Your old dog stares at the open car door, then at you. The jump that used to be easy now needs a lift.

Five steps and you'll know which dog ramp or stairs to order tonight.

Fastest fix: weigh, measure, then pick the job

1. Weigh your dog and pick only from products rated for that weight or more.
2. Measure the height: Car floor or bumper for a car ramp, top of the mattress or cushion for bed stairs.
3. Car: Start with the PetSafe Happy Ride Extra Long ramp (see PetSafe Happy Ride at Amazon).
4. Bed or couch: Start with PetSafe CozyUp stairs (see PetSafe CozyUp at Amazon).
5. Check the fit on day one: set it at the height you measured, lock any latch, and make sure the feet sit flat.

Dog suddenly can't make a jump it made last month? Book a vet check too. The ramp gets your dog into the car; the vet looks at why the jump got hard.

Car ramp or bed stairs: pick the job first

A car ramp is long, folds or telescopes, and travels in the trunk. Bed stairs and bed ramps get set once, beside the bed. An 87 in car ramp at the bedside turns the bedroom into a runway.

• Big dog, SUV or truck: a telescoping car ramp (PetSafe Happy Ride, up to 300 lb). It adjusts 47 to 87 in, so it fits more than one car.
• Big dog, fixed-length car ramp: a folding ramp (PetThem 71 in, up to 250 lb). It folds for the trunk, with no sliding parts.
• Small or medium dog, light ramp: the TRIXIE 59 in ramp (up to 55 lb, an 8.8 lb ramp). Budget pick; folds in half with a latch.
• Bed or couch, dog still climbs steps: stairs (PetSafe CozyUp, 25 in, up to 200 lb). Four steps in a 28 x 18 in footprint.
• Bed or couch, steps are the problem: a bed ramp (Chuiendi wooden, 5 heights, up to 250 lb). A slope instead of steps.
• Small dog up to 35 lb, low bed: foam stairs (EHEYCIGA 18 in). Foam steps with a washable cover.

Our picks: car ramps

11. Big dogs and tall cars: SUVs and trucks, rated up to 300 lb: PetSafe Happy Ride Extra Long Telescoping Dog Ramp

• The catch: It weighs 18 lb and runs 87 in fully extended, so lifting it into the trunk is a two-hand job.

• Skip it if: The job is the bed or couch. CozyUp stairs stay put beside it.

• Telescopes from 47 to 87 in, so one ramp works for cars, trucks and SUVs.
• Slides in and locks with a safety latch.
• Rubber feet, a high-traction surface and side rails.

22. Big dogs who need a long walk-up, rated up to 250 lb: PetThem Extra-Long Foldable Dog Ramp, 71 in

• The catch: Folded, it's still 17.2 x 5 x 19 in. Measure the trunk before you order.

Best forBig dogs who need a long walk-up, rated up to 250 lb

The catch

Folded, it's still 17.2 x 5 x 19 in.

Skip it if

Your dog is over 250 lb.

Check price at Amazon

Read the PetThem Extra-Long Foldable Dog Ramp review

• Skip it if: Your dog is over 250 lb. The Happy Ride is rated to 300.

• 71 in long and 17.2 in wide: one long, wide walk-up, no sliding sections.
• Aluminum alloy frame that folds to 17.2 x 5 x 19 in for the trunk.
• High-traction fabric where the paws land.

Our picks: bed and couch

33. PetSafe CozyUp Folding Dog Stairs, 25 in

Best forDogs who still climb steps but can't make the jump: rated to 200 lb

The catch

It needs a 28 x 18 in patch of floor beside the bed.

Skip it if

The top of your mattress sits above 25 in.

Check price at Amazon

Read the PetSafe CozyUp Folding Dog Stairs review

• The catch: It needs a 28 x 18 in patch of floor beside the bed.
• Skip it if: The top of your mattress sits above 25 in.
• Four steps with side rails and non-skid feet.
• Replaceable tread covers.
• Folds flat when guests need the floor.

44. Chuiendi Wooden Dog Ramp, 55 in

• The catch: Solid pine is heavy to move. Pick a spot and leave it there.

Best forDogs who'd rather walk up a slope than climb steps, rated up to 250 lb

The catch

Solid pine is heavy to move.

Skip it if

Your bed top sits above 27.17 in, its highest setting.

Check price at Amazon

Read the Chuiendi Wooden Dog Ramp review

• Skip it if: Your bed top sits above 27.17 in, its highest setting.

• Five heights from 19.29 to 27.17 in, so it can match the bed.
• Rubber anti-slip pads and side rails.
• Folds, no assembly.

55. Small dogs and a low bed or couch: 4 foam steps, 18 in tall: EHEYCIGA Foam Dog Stairs, 18 in

• The catch: The cover washes, the foam inside doesn't. Give it 24 to 48 hours to expand out of the box.

Best forSmall dogs and a low bed or couch: 4 foam steps, 18 in tall

The catch

The cover washes, the foam inside doesn't.

Skip it if

Your dog weighs over 35 lb.

Check price at Amazon

Read the EHEYCIGA Foam Dog Stairs review

• Skip it if: Your dog weighs over 35 lb.

• 4 steps of 30D foam, 18 in tall, for a low bed or couch.
• The cover zips off and washes, so the dog hair goes in the machine, not the foam.

Budget alternative: TRIXIE 59 in Pet Ramp

• Best for: Small to medium dogs, when you want an 8.8 lb car ramp you can lift · Budget pick
• The catch: It's 59 in long. Check it against your car's load floor height.
• Skip it if: Your dog is over 55 lb.
• Side rails and a high-traction surface.
• Folds in half with a latch.

Check price at Amazon

Weight limits at a glance (maker ratings)

• PetSafe Happy Ride Extra Long (car ramp, telescoping 47 to 87 in): 300 lb
• PetThem 71 in (car ramp, folding): 250 lb
• Chuiendi wooden 55 in (bed ramp, 5 heights): 250 lb
• PetSafe CozyUp 25 in (stairs, 4 steps): 200 lb
• TRIXIE 59 in (ramp, folding): 55 lb
• EHEYCIGA 18 in (foam stairs): 35 lb

How to measure before you buy

1. Weigh your dog, then compare it with each maker limit in the list above.
2. Measure from the floor to the car's load floor or bumper, with the door open.
3. Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress or couch cushion.
4. Match the height: CozyUp is 25 in, EHEYCIGA is 18 in, Chuiendi sets between 19.29 and 27.17 in.
5. Measure the floor space or trunk where it will live, folded and unfolded.

Setup on day one