Pew cuts are created by shortening the ends of several pews so that persons using wheelchairs or other mobility devices can sit within the main body of the congregation—not in a designated section, not blocking aisles, and not confined to the back.

Dimensions & Design

• Shorten pews by at least 36 inches (the space a wheelchair would occupy). If providing two adjacent spaces, each should be a minimum of 33” wide.

• Pew cuts should be at least 48” deep if entered from the front or rear.

• If entered from the side, spaces need to be at least 60” deep to allow room to turn and face forward.

• Shortening only one pew is not recommended—it usually intrudes on the leg space of the person behind.

Placement & Choice

• Ask current wheelchair users where they prefer to sit. Like everyone else, people with disabilities expect to choose. Needs differ:

  • Some prefer the back for restroom access.

  • Others prefer the front to lip-read or see better.

  • Some want to sit near the center for better sight lines.

• Site lines are important—center pew cuts in sloped sanctuaries often give the best view.

• Improve aesthetics by placing symmetrical cuts, such as:

  • On the outside of the first row on both sides.

  • On the center aisle midway down.

  • On the center aisle in the back.

Construction & Flexibility

• Most churches use skilled members or hire a carpenter/cabinet maker. The process: remove the pew end, cut the bench 36” or 66” shorter, and reattach with proper bracing.

• To avoid losing seating, place chairs with armrests in the cutouts. Ushers can remove them when wheelchair access is needed.

• Chairs with armrests also support people who need assistance standing.

Companion Seating

• Wheelchair spaces should have an open space next to them.

• Consider placing a laminated “companion seating” card with the accessibility symbol on the pew next to the cut.

How Many Spaces?
According to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design:

If your congregation is aging, consider providing more than the minimum. Also provide an equal number of chairs with armrests.

By Charlotte Hawkins Shepard, Ph.D. and Deaconess Lynn Swedberg. Revised 3/28/24.
2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design