Home lifts
A home lift carries one to three people between floors in a small car. Compact through-floor lifts need no shaft, just a hole in the floor; larger lifts carry a wheelchair.
Updated Oct 21, 2026
Types of home lift
| Type | How it works | Building work |
|---|---|---|
| Through-floor (shaftless) | A small car on its own rails passes through a hole in the floor | Floor opening and a power supply |
| Hydraulic | Pushed up by a hydraulic ram | Usually a shaft or enclosure |
| Traction | Cables and a counterweight | Usually a shaft |
| Vacuum (pneumatic) | Air pressure in a clear tube | A round tube through the floor |
Space and building work
A compact two-person through-floor lift needs about 1.05 × 0.81 m (Stiltz Duo floor cut-out, maker's specification). Check your rooms with the home lift space checker. Stiltz states typical standard building work at about £2,500 in the UK.
What it costs
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
Home lift or stairlift?
A home lift costs several times as much as a straight stairlift but carries a wheelchair or walker and leaves the stairs free. See stairlift vs home lift.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home lift cost?
In the UK, through-floor lifts start from about £15,000–17,000 excluding VAT, and hydraulic or traction lifts cost more (Checkatrade, Stiltz). See the table for your country.
Do you need planning permission for a home lift?
Usually not for a lift inside a house, but building regulations can apply to the floor opening. Ask the installer and your local building control.
Can a home lift carry a wheelchair?
Wheelchair models with a larger car can; compact two-person lifts are for people who can stand or use a walker.
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