Summary
A "home lift" covers several genuinely different products, and mixing them up is the single most common cause of a wildly wrong ballpark figure. A through-floor lift travels vertically between two floors through a hole cut in the existing ceiling/floor structure — no lift shaft is needed, and the unit is typically supplied as a self-contained package by specialists such as Stannah, Terry Lifts, or Access BDD. A vertical platform lift covers a shorter rise — a single step, a half-landing, a split-level change — and may be open (with balustrade) or partially enclosed. A domestic passenger lift/home elevator is closer to a small commercial lift: a cabin running in a proper lift shaft, usually specified for a genuine multi-storey lift as part of a new build or major renovation, not a retrofit accessibility aid.
For a general contractor, the value in understanding home lift pricing is similar to stairlifts (see stairlift installation pricing guide): the lift unit is almost always supplied and commissioned by a specialist manufacturer or accredited installer, but the builder's work around it — the structural floor opening, fire compartmentation of the shaft or lift well, electrical supply, and making good — is genuinely a builder's scope, and is regularly missed from a customer's mental budget. Unlike a stairlift, a home lift almost always requires notifiable structural work (Part A) and fire safety consideration (Part B, since a lift well or through-floor opening breaches the floor's fire compartmentation), so Building Control involvement is close to unavoidable.
This guide covers the three main home lift types, their price drivers, the builder's-work cost that sits alongside the unit price, funding routes (DFG and VAT relief, on the same basis as stairlifts), and two worked examples — a through-floor lift retrofit and a domestic elevator in a new-build extension.
Key Facts
- Through-floor lift — the most common home lift type; a self-contained shaftless unit that travels vertically through a purpose-cut opening in the floor/ceiling between two storeys, arriving and departing through a hatch that closes automatically once the lift moves away
- Open through-floor lift — unenclosed platform (sometimes with a simple guard rail), lower cost, most commonly specified for a wheelchair user moving between a hallway and an upstairs bedroom
- Enclosed/cabin through-floor lift — fully enclosed cabin, quieter running, more domestic in appearance, preferred where the lift is used by non-wheelchair as well as wheelchair users and where noise/draught from the shaft opening matters
- Vertical platform lift — shorter-rise unit for a single change of level (a step, a half-landing, split-level living); can be surface-mounted with minimal structural work if there's no floor penetration involved
- Domestic passenger lift/home elevator — a genuine lift cabin running in a built lift shaft/well, typically hydraulic or traction drive; the highest-cost option, usually specified in new builds, major renovations, or where more than two storeys need to be connected
- Floor opening size — a typical through-floor lift needs an opening roughly 900mm × 1,400mm to 1,100mm × 1,600mm depending on model; the exact dimension is set by the manufacturer's spec, not a rule of thumb — confirm against the specific unit before pricing the opening
- Structural floor opening work — cutting a domestic timber floor/ceiling for a through-floor lift needs trimmer joists (doubled joists) framing the opening, engineered per Building Regulations Part A — this is genuine structural carpentry, not a simple hole-saw job, and should be priced and engineered accordingly (see structural engineer)
- Fire compartmentation — a through-floor lift opening breaches the fire-separating floor between storeys; Building Control will require the shaft/enclosure around the lift's travel path to maintain the fire rating of the floor it penetrates (commonly 30 or 60 minutes, per Approved Document B), typically achieved with fire-rated plasterboard lining to the lift's enclosure
- Power supply — through-floor and platform lifts typically run from a dedicated fused spur or small circuit (13A–20A depending on model); this is notifiable electrical work under Building Regulations Part P
- Weight capacity — domestic through-floor and platform lifts commonly carry 230–400kg (roughly one wheelchair user plus an attendant, or two ambulant passengers); confirm the specific model's rated capacity against the intended use
- Travel speed — domestic home lifts run considerably slower than commercial passenger lifts, typically around 0.15 m/s, which keeps them outside the scope of full passenger lift regulation in many configurations — but always check the specific product's classification against BS EN 81-41 or BS EN 81-70 rather than assuming
- Relevant safety standard — through-floor and platform lifts — BS EN 81-41:2010, vertical lifting platforms for persons with impaired mobility
- Relevant safety standard — domestic passenger lifts with a shaft — BS EN 81-70:2021+A1:2022, alongside general lift safety standards BS EN 81-20/50 where closer to a small conventional passenger lift
- LOLER 1998 (SI 1998/2307) — lifting equipment carrying persons requires thorough examination at least every 6 months by a competent person; a maintenance/ownership obligation the customer takes on after installation
- Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) — means-tested, up to £30,000 in England (higher in Wales and Scotland), can contribute to a home lift following an Occupational Therapist assessment — see disability adaptations for the full process; because home lifts frequently exceed the grant ceiling, the DFG often covers only part of the total cost and the customer needs to understand this gap early
- VAT relief — home lifts installed for a disabled person can qualify for VAT zero-rating under the same disabled persons' relief that applies to stairlifts (VAT Act 1994, Schedule 8, Group 12); the "aged 60+" mobility aids relief under VAT Notice 701/7 applies specifically to certain listed goods and
- Lead time — through-floor and platform lifts commonly have a 4–10 week lead time from order to delivery; domestic passenger lifts with a bespoke shaft can run considerably longer, especially where the shaft itself is new-build structural work
Quick Reference Table
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Try squote free →| Lift type | Typical rise | Structural work required | Unit price (supply + install) | Builder's work (opening, fire enclosure, electrics) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical platform lift, no floor penetration (single step/split-level) | Up to ~1m | Minimal — surface-mounted base, guarding | £8,000–£12,000 | £500–£1,500 |
| Open through-floor lift (unenclosed platform) | One storey (~2.4–2.7m) | Floor opening, trimmer joists, guarding | £10,000–£15,000 | £2,000–£5,000 |
| Enclosed/cabin through-floor lift | One storey | Floor opening, trimmer joists, fire-rated shaft lining | £13,000–£18,000 | £3,000–£6,500 |
| Through-floor lift, two storeys (loft/second-floor access) | Two storeys | Two floor openings, extended fire enclosure | £16,000–£24,000 | £4,000–£9,000 |
| Domestic passenger lift/home elevator, retrofit shaft | Multi-storey | Full lift shaft/well construction, structural opening at each floor | £18,000–£35,000+ | £5,000–£15,000+ |
| Domestic passenger lift, new-build shaft (built in from the start) | Multi-storey | Shaft built as part of new construction — marginal extra over retrofit | £15,000–£28,000 | Included in build cost, not a separate retrofit |
| Annual/6-monthly LOLER thorough examination | — | — | — | £120–£280 per visit |
Detailed Guidance
Choosing the right lift type before pricing
Establishing which of the three lift types the customer actually needs is the first step, and it changes the price by a factor of two or three. A single change of level — a step up to a raised patio, a half-landing, a split-level lounge — is a vertical platform lift job, not a through-floor lift. Moving between a full storey for a wheelchair user or someone who can no longer manage stairs is the classic through-floor lift application. A genuine multi-storey passenger lift, specified for a new-build or major renovation rather than a retrofit accessibility aid, is the domestic elevator category, priced and engineered very differently. Confirm the actual rise, the number of floors connected, and whether the job is a retrofit or new-build before quoting even a ballpark figure.
The structural floor opening — the most commonly underpriced element
Cutting an opening for a through-floor lift is genuine structural carpentry, not a simple hole through the ceiling. Joists interrupted by the opening need trimming, with load transferred to new trimmer joists (doubled or engineered timber, or steel on longer spans) designed to carry what the cut joists previously carried. This is Building Regulations Part A work and usually needs a structural engineer, particularly where the opening interrupts more than one or two joists (see structural engineer and structural calculations). Pricing a home lift on unit cost alone, without a proper structural opening quote, is the single most common source of an underquoted job in this category.
Fire compartmentation of the shaft/enclosure
A through-floor lift, by definition, breaches the fire-separating floor between two storeys — the floor that would otherwise contain a fire for a set period (commonly 30 or 60 minutes under Approved Document B for a dwellinghouse). Building Control will require the lift's enclosure to maintain that fire rating, typically with fire-rated plasterboard lining and fire-stopping around the opening's perimeter. This is an area where corners get cut on cost-conscious retrofit jobs, and it's specifically checked by Building Control inspectors, so it should never be treated as optional.
Electrical supply and commissioning
Home lifts need a dedicated electrical supply — commonly a fused spur or small dedicated circuit, sized to the specific unit's manufacturer specification. This is notifiable electrical work under Part P and must be certified by a registered competent person, exactly as with a stairlift's supply (see stairlift installation pricing guide). Commissioning — running the full travel, testing door/gate interlocks, safety edges, and emergency lowering/backup systems — is carried out by the manufacturer's own installer, not the general building contractor.
Funding routes — DFG and VAT relief, with a funding gap to manage
The Disabled Facilities Grant process for a home lift follows the same route as a stairlift or bathroom adaptation — means-tested, following an OT assessment, applied for through the local authority (see disability adaptations). The practical difference with home lifts is that the DFG ceiling (£30,000 in England, higher in Wales and Scotland) frequently does not cover the full cost of a domestic elevator, and can be tight even for a through-floor lift once structural and fire-enclosure work is included. Be upfront with customers early about the likely gap, rather than letting them discover it after an OT assessment. VAT relief follows the same disabled-persons framework as stairlifts (VAT Act 1994, Schedule 8, Group 12);.
Worked example 1 — through-floor lift, single storey, existing bungalow-to-loft-room conversion, straightforward retrofit
Scenario: A homeowner with progressive mobility loss needs to move between the ground floor and an existing first-floor bedroom. Standard joist floor, no existing services in the way, enclosed cabin-style unit chosen for noise and appearance.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Through-floor lift unit, enclosed cabin, supply + manufacturer install | £14,500 |
| Structural engineer's calc for floor opening (single opening, standard joists) | £550 |
| Trimmer joist carpentry, both floors, 2-person team, 2 days | £900 |
| Fire-rated plasterboard lining to enclosure, both floors | £650 |
| Electrical supply (new fused spur, Part P certified) | £280 |
| Making good (ceiling/floor finishes around opening, redecoration) | £600 |
| Building Control notification/inspection fee | £350 |
| Total cost to installer/main contractor | £17,830 |
| Margin on builder's-work elements (20%, unit typically passed through at fixed manufacturer price) | £480 |
| Quoted price (ex VAT) | £18,310 |
| If VAT zero-rated (disabled person's relief, correctly declared) | £18,310 |
| If standard-rated (no relief applies) | £21,972 |
Worked example 2 — domestic passenger lift, new-build shaft in a two-storey rear extension
Scenario: A self-build/major renovation project includes a two-storey rear extension with a lift shaft designed in from the outset, connecting ground and first floor, intended for long-term accessibility rather than an immediate disability need.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Domestic passenger lift unit, hydraulic drive, supply + install (new-build shaft, no retrofit penalty) | £22,000 |
| Lift shaft/well construction (included in extension structural cost, priced here as the marginal extra over a standard stud/blockwork stairwell) | £4,500 |
| Electrical supply, dedicated circuit, commissioning | £650 |
| Building Control notification (part of the wider extension application) | £0 (folded into extension Building Notice) |
| Total cost | £27,150 |
| Margin (20%, blended across supply and builder's work) | £5,430 |
| Quoted price (ex VAT) | £32,580 |
| VAT: standard-rated at 20% (new-build extension work is typically standard-rated unless a specific relief applies) | £39,096 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a through-floor lift cheaper than a stairlift?
No — a through-floor lift is significantly more expensive than even a curved stairlift (see stairlift installation pricing guide), because it requires structural floor-opening work, fire compartmentation, and a self-contained lift mechanism rather than a rail fixed to the stair treads. It's chosen when the customer cannot use a stairlift at all — commonly a permanent wheelchair user, or a staircase unsuitable for a stairlift rail.
Does a home lift installation always need Building Control approval?
In practice, yes for through-floor lifts and domestic passenger lifts — the structural floor opening is Part A work and the fire compartmentation of the resulting enclosure is Part B work, both notifiable. A vertical platform lift with no floor penetration may not trigger the same structural notification, but always check with the Building Control Body before assuming exemption.
Can I install a home lift as a general builder, or does it need a specialist?
The lift mechanism — platform/cabin, drive system, safety interlocks, and commissioning — is supplied and installed by the manufacturer or an accredited specialist, as with stairlifts. A general contractor's genuine scope is the structural floor opening, fire-rated enclosure, electrical first-fix, and making good, coordinated around the specialist's visit, not instead of it.
What's the ongoing cost after installation?
Budget for a LOLER thorough examination at least every 6 months (£120–£280 per visit, since home lifts are lifting equipment for carrying persons under LOLER 1998), plus the manufacturer's recommended servicing schedule, often a condition of warranty. Make sure customers understand this ongoing commitment before committing to the capital cost.
Regulations & Standards
Building Regulations Approved Document A — structure; governs the floor-opening and trimmer joist design for any through-floor lift or lift shaft
Building Regulations Approved Document B — fire safety; governs the fire compartmentation of the lift's enclosure or shaft where it breaches a fire-separating floor
Building Regulations Approved Document M — access to and use of buildings; relevant to accessible design where the lift forms part of a wider accessibility adaptation
Building Regulations Part P (Electrical safety) — notifiable work for the lift's dedicated electrical supply
BS EN 81-41:2010 — safety rules for the construction and installation of vertical lifting platforms for persons with impaired mobility
BS EN 81-70:2021+A1:2022 — accessibility to lifts for persons, including persons with disability (supersedes the withdrawn BS EN 81-70:2003)
BS EN 81-20 / BS EN 81-50 — general safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts, relevant where a domestic installation is closer to a conventional passenger lift than a shaftless platform unit
LOLER 1998 (SI 1998/2307) — Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations; mandates thorough examination at least every 6 months for lifting equipment carrying persons
VAT Act 1994, Schedule 8, Group 12 — zero-rating for goods and services supplied to disabled persons, including home lifts
HMRC VAT Notice 701/7 — mobility aids for the elderly relief
Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 — statutory basis for the Disabled Facilities Grant
GOV.UK — VAT relief for disabled and older people — official guidance on VAT zero-rating eligibility for mobility aids and home adaptations
Foundations (National Body for Home Improvement Agencies) — Disabled Facilities Grant process and eligibility guidance
British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) — trade body covering home lift and mobility equipment suppliers
HSE — LOLER 1998 — thorough examination requirements for lifting equipment
Institution of Structural Engineers — guidance on structural floor openings and when an engineer is required
stairlift installation pricing guide — stairlift pricing, DFG and VAT relief process shared with home lifts
disability adaptations — Disabled Facilities Grant process, OT assessment, and Part M accessibility detail
structural engineer — when a structural engineer is required for the floor opening and trimmer joist design
structural calculations — structural calculation triggers relevant to floor openings and load transfer