Wheelchair platform lifts
Platform lifts carry a wheelchair user without leaving the chair: an inclined platform lift runs along the stairs on a rail, and a vertical platform lift (step or porch lift) lifts straight up a short height.
Updated Oct 21, 2026
Inclined platform lifts
- A folding platform on a rail along the stairs, straight or curved.
- Needs wide stairs: platforms are typically 750–800 mm wide (Garaventa Xpress II sizes are 750 × 900 to 800 × 1,250 mm), so stairs of about 90 cm or more.
- Needs room at the top and bottom to roll on and off.
- Rated loads around 250 kg for user and wheelchair (Xpress II).
Vertical platform lifts (step and porch lifts)
- For a few steps at an entrance, a porch or a split level.
- The Savaria V-1504, for example, travels up to 72 in (Prestige) or 120 in (Lux) with a 36 × 54 in platform and a 750 lb (340 kg) capacity.
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
Which one fits?
The 3D planner checks both against your stairs when you choose "stays in the wheelchair".
Frequently asked questions
How wide must stairs be for a wheelchair platform lift?
Platforms are typically 75–80 cm wide, so the stairs usually need about 90 cm or more, plus room at the top and bottom. A survey confirms.
What is a porch lift?
A vertical platform lift for a few steps at an entrance or porch: the wheelchair rolls on and the platform rises straight up.
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