Halfpipe and quarter pipe designer with printable build plans
RampSmith is a skate ramp designer that runs in your browser. Set the height, transition radius, width, flat bottom and deck depth of a halfpipe, mini ramp or quarter pipe, and it draws a live 3D model and works out the build plans: a full-size transition template with its pivot point and offsets, a 4×8 plywood sheet layout, a cut list, a shopping list and a cost estimate. No sign-up is needed.
What the plans include
- 3D model
- Perspective, side, front and top views, an X-ray mode that shows the framing, and dimension labels.
- Transition template
- The exact curve to cut from 3/4" plywood: pivot height, cut radius, a coping notch, and an offset table every 6" for checking the curve.
- Sheet layout
- How the templates fit on 4×8 sheets, including interlocking two per sheet or splicing on a strip when a template is taller than 48".
- Cut list
- Every part with quantity, length and material: templates, transition ribs, deck joists, flat-bottom framing, rail posts and coping.
- Shopping list and cost
- Plywood sheets (with about 10% waste), 2×4s in stock lengths, coping, and screws, priced with estimates you can edit to match your lumber yard.
How to design a ramp
- Pick a type. Choose Halfpipe or Quarter pipe, or start from a preset such as a 4' mini ramp.
- Set the dimensions. Height is from the flat bottom to the top of the deck; a bigger transition radius gives a mellower curve. Width, flat bottom, deck depth and rib spacing are adjustable too.
- Choose options. Steel coping, deck rails, a plywood or Skatelite surface, and whether to nest templates to save plywood.
- Check the warnings. RampSmith flags transitions that are very steep or very mellow, short flat bottoms, narrow ramps and templates that need splicing.
- Print or share. Open the Plans and Materials tabs, then Print plans, copy a Share link, or Save the design in your browser.
Common ramp sizes and materials
These figures come from RampSmith's own calculations for its presets, with steel coping, deck rails, two layers of 3/8" plywood, 8" rib spacing and template nesting turned on. Costs use the default price estimates in US dollars; select a ramp to open it in the designer and adjust anything.
| Ramp | Height × radius | Width | Overall length | Vert | Templates | Plywood sheets (3/4" + 3/8") | 2×4s | Est. materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3' mini ramp | 3' × 5' | 8' | 23' 2" | None | 6 | 3 + 14 | 59 | $1,408.20 |
| 4' mini ramp | 4' × 6' | 8' | 27' 3-3/4" | None | 6 | 7 + 18 | 63 | $1,863.40 |
| 5' mini ramp | 5' × 7' | 12' | 33' 5" | None | 12 | 16 + 32 | 146 | $3,801.40 |
| 10.5' vert ramp | 10' 6" × 9' 6" | 16' | 43' | 1' | 12 | 12 + 62 | 206 | $5,453.00 |
| 4' quarter pipe | 4' × 5' 6" | 8' | 9' 3-1/2" | None | 3 | 4 + 6 | 26 | $840.80 |
| 6' quarter pipe | 6' × 7' 6" | 8' | 11' 4-1/8" | None | 3 | 6 + 8 | 30 | $1,082.00 |
How RampSmith calculates a ramp
- Transition
- The curved part of the ramp is an arc of a circle with the transition radius. When the height is no more than the radius, the transition rises the full height over a horizontal length of r·sin θ, where cos θ = 1 − h/r.
- Vert
- If the height is greater than the radius, the curve reaches vertical and the remaining height (height − radius) is a straight vertical wall.
- Template cut radius
- The riding radius plus 3/4", because the templates sit underneath two layers of 3/8" surface plywood. The pivot is measured straight up from the template's bottom front corner.
- Coping
- 2-3/8" steel pipe set 1/4" above the deck and 3/8" proud of the riding surface; the templates get a matching notch and the top rib is moved clear of it.
- Sections and templates
- Ramps wider than 8' are built as side-by-side sections no wider than 8', so every rib comes from one 8' 2×4. Each section gets enough templates to keep them no more than about 4' apart.
- Template nesting
- With nesting on, templates are shortened when that lets two interlock on one 4×8 sheet, and the rest of the deck is framed with 2×4 stringers on legs.
Frequently asked questions
What does RampSmith give me?
A live 3D model of your ramp and a set of build plans: a side elevation, a full-size transition template drawing with its pivot point, cut radius and offsets every 6", a 4×8 sheet layout for cutting the templates, a cut list, a shopping list and an estimated materials cost. Plans can be printed or saved as a PDF from the print dialog.
How do you draw a transition template for a halfpipe or quarter pipe?
Mark a pivot point straight up from the template's bottom front corner, then swing an arc from it with a trammel or a non-stretch string. The cut radius is the riding radius plus 3/4", because the template sits underneath two layers of 3/8" plywood. For RampSmith's 4' mini ramp (6' transition), that is a 6' 3/4" cut radius with the pivot 6' 4-1/4" up. Cut one template, check it against the offset table in the plans, then trace it for the rest so every wall matches.
How much plywood and lumber does a 4 ft mini ramp need?
RampSmith's 4' mini ramp preset (4' tall, 6' radius, 8' wide, 8' flat bottom, 4' decks) works out to 7 sheets of 3/4" plywood for 6 transition templates, 18 sheets of 3/8" plywood for a two-layer riding surface and decks, and 63 2×4s. Sheet counts include about 10% waste. Change any dimension and the cut list and shopping list update instantly.
How much does it cost to build a mini ramp?
At RampSmith's default price estimates (USD, including steel coping and deck rails), a 3' mini ramp comes to about $1,408.20, a 4' mini ramp about $1,863.40 and a 4' quarter pipe about $840.80. Lumber prices vary a lot by region and season, so enter your local prices in the Materials tab to get a real number.
What transition radius should I use for my ramp height?
RampSmith's presets use a transition radius about 1.25 to 1.7 times the ramp height, which suits most mini ramps and quarter pipes. A radius under about 0.75 times the height feels steep and fast, and a height under 0.4 times the radius is very mellow. If the height is greater than the radius, the extra height becomes vertical wall ("vert") above the curve; most vert ramps run 6–18" of vert.
What is the difference between a halfpipe, a mini ramp and a quarter pipe?
A quarter pipe is a single curved wall (transition) with a deck on top. A halfpipe is two quarter pipes facing each other across a flat bottom. A mini ramp is a halfpipe short enough that it has no vertical section at the top — usually 2–6 feet tall — while a vert ramp is tall enough that the walls go fully vertical before the coping.
What should I use for the riding surface?
RampSmith plans for either two layers of 3/8" plywood with the seams staggered, or Skatelite over a 1/2" plywood base. Skatelite is a harder, smoother and longer-lasting surface, but costs far more per sheet (RampSmith's default estimates are $230.00 versus $42.00 for 3/8" plywood); the shopping list prices whichever you pick.
Can I save, share or print a design?
Yes. Save keeps designs in your browser on that device (no account needed), Share link copies a URL that opens the exact design, Snapshot downloads a PNG of the 3D view, and Print plans opens printable plans with the template drawing, offsets, cut list and shopping list.
What units does RampSmith use?
Imperial units: feet and inches with fractions to the nearest 1/8", and template offsets to the nearest 1/16". Plywood is planned in standard 4×8 sheets and framing in 2×4 stock lengths of 8', 10', 12' and 16'. Prices are in US dollars.