Free ADA Parking Requirements Calculator & Accessible Space Checker

Under the 2010 ADA Standards, a parking lot or garage with 1 to 25 spaces needs at least 1 accessible space, and the minimum rises in steps under Table 208.2 (4 for 76 to 100 spaces, 2 percent of the total for 501 to 1000). At least 1 of every 6 accessible spaces, or fraction of 6, must be van accessible.

Enter each lot or garage to get the required accessible and van-accessible spaces, the rule behind each number, and a check of your current lot. Based on the federal 2010 ADA Standards; your state or city may require more.

ADA parking calculator

Enter each parking lot or garage separately. Results update as you type and show the rule behind every number.

Quick presets (fills the first facility)

Lot 1

Count parking stalls only. Access aisles are not parking spaces.

0 to 100,000.

Required accessible spaces

4

Van-accessible (included)

1

Standard accessible car

3

Share of all spaces

4%

Lot 1 with 100 spaces needs at least 4 accessible spaces, including 1 van-accessible space and 3 standard accessible car spaces.

How this was calculated

  • Table 208.2, row 76 to 100: 4 accessible spaces.
  • 208.2.4: 1 van space for every 6 or fraction of 6 accessible spaces. 4 accessible spaces need 1 van-accessible space.

Accessible Space Checker (optional)

Enter what this facility has now to see whether it meets the federal minimum.

Not checked yet.

Not legal advice. Federal 2010 ADA Standards baseline only, not legal advice. State and local codes (for example California CBC Chapter 11B) and the IBC and ICC A117.1 can be stricter. Confirm with your local building department or an accessibility specialist.

Lot 1 with 100 spaces needs at least 4 accessible spaces, including 1 van-accessible space and 3 standard accessible car spaces.

Accessible stall layout helper

A to-scale illustration of the required accessible stalls in one 90-degree row, with two spaces sharing each access aisle as 502.3 allows. It is an illustration, not a design. Angled van spaces need their own aisle on the passenger side (502.3.4).

Van space 132 in (11 ft) + 60 in (5 ft) aisleTotal width for 4 accessible stalls and 2 aisles: 45 ft (540 in)
VAN11 ft5 ftsharedCAR8 ftCAR8 ft5 ftsharedCAR8 ft

Hatched areas are access aisles. Stall length is drawn at 18 ft for illustration only; the ADA Standards set widths, not stall length.

Van space 96 in (8 ft) + 96 in (8 ft) aisleTotal width for 4 accessible stalls and 2 aisles: 45 ft (540 in)
VAN8 ft8 ftsharedCAR8 ftCAR8 ft5 ftsharedCAR8 ft

Hatched areas are access aisles. Stall length is drawn at 18 ft for illustration only; the ADA Standards set widths, not stall length.

Dimensions to build to (ADA 502)

  • Car space: 96 in (8 ft) wide minimum, marked to define the width.
  • Van space: 132 in (11 ft) wide minimum with a 60 in (5 ft) aisle, or 96 in wide where the aisle is 96 in (8 ft) wide minimum.
  • Access aisles: 60 in wide minimum, full length of the spaces they serve, marked to discourage parking, and two spaces may share one.
  • Spaces and aisles at the same level, with slopes not steeper than 1:48.
  • Van spaces, their aisles, and the vehicular route serving them: 98 in (8 ft 2 in) vertical clearance minimum.
  • Signs with the International Symbol of Accessibility, "van accessible" on van signs, 60 in minimum from the ground to the bottom of the sign.

How many ADA parking spaces are required?

Table 208.2 of the 2010 ADA Standards sets the minimum number of accessible spaces for each parking facility, based on the total spaces provided in that lot or garage. The rows matching your entries above are highlighted.

Table 208.2 Parking Spaces, 2010 ADA Standards
Total parking spaces provided in the parking facilityMinimum required accessible spaces
1 to 251
26 to 502
51 to 753
76 to 1004
101 to 1505
151 to 2006
201 to 3007
301 to 4008
401 to 5009
501 to 1,0002 percent of total
1,001 and over20, plus 1 for each 100, or fraction thereof, over 1000

In plain language: 1 accessible space for up to 25 spaces, then 1 more for each step in the table up to 9 for 401 to 500 spaces. From 501 to 1,000 spaces it is 2 percent of the total, and from 1,001 up it is 20 plus 1 for each 100 spaces, or fraction of 100, over 1,000. Any fraction is rounded up to the next whole space (ADA 104.2), so 2 percent of 501 spaces (10.02) means 11 accessible spaces.

Special facilities: hospital outpatient facilities need 10 percent of patient and visitor spaces (208.2.1). Rehabilitation facilities specializing in conditions that affect mobility and outpatient physical therapy facilities need 20 percent of patient and visitor spaces (208.2.2). Employee spaces at those facilities use Table 208.2.

Residential facilities (208.2.3): where at least one space is provided per dwelling unit, provide 1 accessible space for each unit required to have mobility features. Where more than one space per unit is provided, 2 percent, but no fewer than 1, of the additional resident spaces must also be accessible. Guest, employee, and other non-resident spaces use Table 208.2.

Each facility counts separately (208.2): Two 26-space lots each need 2 accessible spaces, so the site needs 2 + 2 = 4. Running Table 208.2 on the combined 52 spaces would give only 3, which is too few.

Exception (208.1): parking used only for buses, trucks, other delivery vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, or vehicular impound does not have to meet 208, provided lots accessed by the public have a passenger loading zone complying with 503. Where no parking is provided at all, no accessible spaces are required.

Van-accessible parking requirements

For every 6 accessible spaces required, or fraction of 6, at least 1 must be a van space (208.2.4). That means 1 van space for 1 to 6 accessible spaces, 2 for 7 to 12, and 3 for 13 to 18. Van spaces count toward the accessible total. A lot that needs 13 accessible spaces needs 3 van spaces and 10 standard accessible car spaces, not 13 plus 3.

A van space is 132 in (11 ft) wide with a 60 in (5 ft) access aisle, or 96 in (8 ft) wide with a 96 in (8 ft) aisle. Van spaces, their aisles, and the vehicular route serving them need at least 98 in (8 ft 2 in) of vertical clearance (502.5), which matters in parking garages. The "van accessible" sign is informative and does not restrict the space to vans only.

ADA parking space dimensions and access aisles

  • Car spaces: 96 in (8 ft) wide minimum, marked to define the width (502.2).
  • Van spaces: 132 in (11 ft) wide minimum, or 96 in wide where the access aisle is 96 in wide minimum (502.2, Exception).
  • Access aisles: 60 in (5 ft) wide minimum (502.3.1), extending the full length of the spaces they serve (502.3.2), and marked to discourage parking in them (502.3.3). Two spaces may share one aisle, and aisles must adjoin an accessible route (502.3).
  • Aisle location: aisles must not overlap the vehicular way. They may be on either side of the space, except that angled van spaces need the aisle on the passenger side (502.3.4).
  • Surface: aisles at the same level as the spaces they serve, with no changes in level and slopes not steeper than 1:48 (502.4).
  • Vertical clearance: 98 in minimum for van spaces, their aisles, and the vehicular routes serving them (502.5).

Where accessible spaces must be located

  • Accessible spaces that serve a building go on the shortest accessible route from parking to an accessible entrance (208.3.1).
  • Where parking serves more than one accessible entrance, spread the accessible spaces out so each is on the shortest accessible route to those entrances.
  • In a parking facility that does not serve a particular building, put them on the shortest accessible route to an accessible pedestrian entrance of the parking facility.
  • All van spaces may be grouped on one level of a multi-story parking facility (208.3.1, Exception 1).
  • Spaces may be in a different parking facility only if that gives substantially equal or greater accessibility in distance, parking fee, and user convenience (208.3.1, Exception 2).
  • At residential facilities, resident accessible spaces go on the shortest accessible route to the dwelling unit entrance they serve (208.3.2).

Signs

Accessible spaces are identified by signs with the International Symbol of Accessibility, and van space signs add the words "van accessible". Signs must be at least 60 in above the ground, measured to the bottom of the sign (502.6, 216.5).

Two exceptions apply (216.5): signs are not required where a site has 4 or fewer parking spaces in total, including the accessible ones, or at residential facilities where spaces are assigned to specific dwelling units. The space, aisle, and other requirements still apply. The ADA Standards do not set sign color or size; state and local rules may.

Common mistakes

Calculating on the site total instead of per facility

Table 208.2 applies to each parking facility. Two 26-space lots each need 2 accessible spaces, so the site needs 2 + 2 = 4. Running Table 208.2 on the combined 52 spaces would give only 3, which is too few.

Forgetting the van space

Every facility that needs accessible spaces needs at least 1 van-accessible space, and 1 more for each additional 6 or fraction of 6. Van spaces are part of the accessible total, not in addition to it.

Counting the access aisle as a parking space

Access aisles are not parking spaces. Count only stalls in your total, and mark the aisles so nobody parks in them (ADA 502.3.3).

Rounding fractions down

Where a percentage leaves a fraction, the next whole number is required (ADA 104.2). 2 percent of 501 spaces is 10.02, so 11 accessible spaces are required, not 10.

How to calculate ADA parking requirements

  1. Count spaces per facility

    Count the parking spaces in each lot or garage separately. Add another facility for each one on the site, and leave out access aisles, which are not parking spaces.

  2. Pick the facility type

    Choose General for most businesses, or Hospital outpatient, Rehabilitation or outpatient physical therapy, or Residential, then fill in the extra counts that type asks for.

  3. Read the required accessible and van spaces

    See the minimum accessible spaces, how many must be van accessible, the standard accessible car spaces, and the exact rule that produced each number.

  4. Check your current lot

    Enter how many accessible and van-accessible spaces you have now to see whether each facility meets the minimum or is short, and by how many.

  5. Print or share

    Copy the results with citations, share a link that restores your facilities, or print the inputs, results, and Table 208.2.

ADA parking requirements FAQ

How many handicap parking spaces are required?

Table 208.2 of the 2010 ADA Standards sets the minimum per parking facility: 1 accessible space for 1 to 25 spaces, 2 for 26 to 50, 3 for 51 to 75, 4 for 76 to 100, 5 for 101 to 150, 6 for 151 to 200, 7 for 201 to 300, 8 for 301 to 400, 9 for 401 to 500, 2 percent of the total for 501 to 1000, and 20 plus 1 for each 100 or fraction over 1000. Hospital outpatient facilities need 10 percent and rehabilitation and outpatient physical therapy facilities need 20 percent of patient and visitor spaces.

How many accessible parking spaces must be van accessible?

For every 6 accessible spaces, or fraction of 6, at least 1 must be a van space (ADA 208.2.4). So 1 to 6 accessible spaces need 1 van space, 7 to 12 need 2, and 13 to 18 need 3. Van spaces count toward the accessible total; they are not extra.

How wide is an ADA parking space and access aisle?

A car space is 96 in (8 ft) wide minimum and an access aisle is 60 in (5 ft) wide minimum. A van space is 132 in (11 ft) wide with a 60 in aisle, or 96 in wide with a 96 in (8 ft) aisle. Aisles run the full length of the space, are marked to discourage parking, and two spaces may share one aisle (ADA 502.2 and 502.3).

Do small parking lots with fewer than 25 spaces need an accessible space?

Yes. A parking facility with 1 to 25 spaces needs at least 1 accessible space, and because 1 of every 6 must be van accessible, that space must be a van space. Where a site has 4 or fewer spaces in total, the accessible space does not need an identification sign (ADA 216.5, Exception 1), but its size, aisle, and other requirements still apply.

Does every parking lot on a site count separately?

Yes. Where a site has more than one parking facility, the accessible spaces are calculated for each lot or garage on its own count, not on the site total (ADA 208.2). Two 26-space lots each need 2 accessible spaces, so the site needs 2 + 2 = 4. Running Table 208.2 on the combined 52 spaces would give only 3, which is too few.

Sources and limits

Rules come from the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design published by the US Access Board (sections 104.2, 208, 216.5, and 502), checked October 26, 2026. Residential details follow the Access Board's Guide to the ADA Standards, Chapter 5: Parking.

Not legal advice. Federal 2010 ADA Standards baseline only, not legal advice. State and local codes (for example California CBC Chapter 11B) and the IBC and ICC A117.1 can be stricter. Confirm with your local building department or an accessibility specialist. This calculator does not cover passenger loading zones, EV charging, on-street parking, or accessible routes beyond the parking space.

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