Will a home lift fit in my home?
Measure a free spot downstairs that lines up with a free spot upstairs: see whether a compact through-floor lift or a wheelchair platform fits, and what it typically costs.
Measure the free spot downstairs; the same spot upstairs must be free too, and the ceiling must allow a hole through the floor.
A compact two-person through-floor lift fits this space.
Typical price in United Kingdom: £15,000 – £33,000 · Plus building work, typically from £2,500.
Sources: Stiltz Duo Alta technical specification, checked Oct 21, 2026 · Savaria V-1504, checked Oct 21, 2026 · Checkatrade (2024-05), checked Oct 21, 2026 · Stiltz (UK), checked Oct 21, 2026
Where a home lift can go
A through-floor lift needs a spot downstairs and the same spot directly above, with a hole cut through the floor between them. Common places are a corner of the living room under a bedroom, a hallway, or a large cupboard.
- Compact two-person lifts without a shaft need about 1.05 × 0.81 m for the floor cut-out (Stiltz Duo, from the maker's US specification).
- Wheelchair users need a larger car or platform; a standard vertical platform measures about 0.91 × 1.37 m (Savaria V-1504).
- Power: many compact lifts plug into a normal socket; check with the maker.
Home lift or stairlift?
A home lift costs more and needs building work, but it carries a wheelchair or a walker, suits narrow or spiral stairs, and leaves the stairs completely free. Compare both in the guide stairlift vs home lift.
Typical prices in United Kingdom
GBP
| What | Price range | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Home lift | £15,000 – £33,000excl. VAT Through-floor lifts without a shaft from £15,000 (Checkatrade) or £17,000 excluding VAT (Stiltz); hydraulic £23,000–28,000, traction £28,000–33,000, vacuum from £28,000. | Through-floor lifts without a shaft from £15,000 (Checkatrade) or £17,000 excluding VAT (Stiltz); hydraulic £23,000–28,000, traction £28,000–33,000, vacuum from £28,000. |
| Building work for a home lift | from £2,500 Typical building work for a through-floor lift: the floor opening, a power supply and making good. | Typical building work for a through-floor lift: the floor opening, a power supply and making good. |
Disabled people pay no VAT on a stairlift, its installation and repairs (GOV.UK).
Sources: Checkatrade (2024-05), checked Oct 21, 2026 · Stiltz (UK), checked Oct 21, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much space does a home lift need?
A compact two-person through-floor lift needs about 1.05 × 0.81 m of floor; wheelchair models need more. The checker compares your space with published footprints.
Does a home lift need a shaft?
Many compact home lifts run on their own rails without a shaft or a pit, travelling through a hole in the floor. Hydraulic and traction lifts usually need a shaft.
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