Home lift costs

How much does a home lift cost to install?

The price depends on the type of lift, how many floors it serves and the work your home needs. Here is what decides the cost, what a quote should include and how to get a guide price for your home.

  • Free guide price
  • No obligation
  • Compare UK installers

Updated November 2026

A compact through-floor home lift in a living room
Your guide price
  • Compact through-floor lift £00,000
  • Wheelchair home lift £00,000
  • Shaft lift £00,000
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A few quick questions about your home. Free and no obligation.

What you pay for

Six things that decide the price

Two homes can pay very different amounts for the same lift. These are the factors an installer looks at.

Type of lift

The biggest single factor. A compact through-floor lift costs far less than a hydraulic, vacuum or traction lift in a shaft.

Number of floors

Each extra floor adds to the mechanism, the installation and the building work.

Building work

Cutting the floor opening, moving pipes or cables, the power supply and making good. Older homes often need more.

Where it goes

A straightforward spot in a hall or living room costs less to prepare than a complex one.

Size and capacity

A lift car big enough for a wheelchair user or two people needs a stronger drive and more space.

Finishes and extras

Glass panels, colours, lighting, remote controls and extra safety features all add to the price.

Compare the options

Home lift types and how they compare

How the main types compare on cost, space and building work. Your guide price shows the figures for your home.

Compact through-floor lift

Compact through-floor

Relative cost £

The most popular choice for UK homes.

  • No shaft or pit
  • Small footprint, often fitted in a day
  • One or two people, two floors
Wheelchair home lift

Wheelchair home lift

Relative cost ££

A larger lift car for a wheelchair user or two people.

  • Larger footprint
  • More preparation work
  • Doors can open on either side
Shaft home lift

Shaft lifts

Relative cost £££

Hydraulic, traction or vacuum lifts for larger homes.

  • A shaft, and often a pit or machine space
  • More floors and higher capacity
  • Higher servicing costs
Comparing quotes

What a quote should include

Ask every installer for the same, fully itemised breakdown so you are comparing like with like.

  • The lift and the size of the lift car
  • A site survey of the floors, ceiling and space
  • Installation by qualified lift engineers
  • Building work, electrics and making good
  • VAT, and whether any relief applies
  • The warranty and what it covers
  • Servicing costs once the warranty ends
Questions

Home lift cost questions

Why is there no price on this page?

Because the price depends so much on your home. Your guide price takes your lift type, floors and property into account, so it is far more useful than a national range. It takes a few questions and is free.

Is the guide price a quote?

No. It is a guide to help you budget. An installer will survey your home and give you a fixed quote.

Does a home lift cost a lot to run?

Home lifts use little electricity. Budget for regular servicing to keep the lift safe and the warranty valid, and ask each installer what a service costs.

Do I need planning permission?

Usually not, because the work is internal. Listed buildings and homes in conservation areas may need consent, so check early.

See what a home lift would cost in your home

Answer a few quick questions to get your guide price, then compare quotes from UK installers. Free and no obligation.

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