The average home elevator costs $4,190, but prices range from $2,723 to $5,934 depending on the elevator type, size, and number of floors.
The average home elevator costs $4,190 but the price ranges between $2,723 and $5,934. The final price depends on the type of elevator, whether it’s a retrofit, how many floors it needs to reach, and the level of customization.
Installing a home elevator won’t just make transporting a big grocery haul upstairs a breeze. A home elevator can make your house more wheelchair accessible and add to its resale value. Read on for everything you need to know about budgeting for this home feature.
The final cost of a home elevator depends mainly on the type of elevator. Different brands have different features, but the basic mechanics remain the same. Your elevator installer can recommend the best elevator for your home.
| Elevator Type | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Vertical platform lift | $5,000–$20,000 |
| Pneumatic elevator | $35,000–$60,000 |
| Hydraulic elevator | $25,000–$50,000 |
| Shaftless elevator | $15,000–$25,000 |
| Cable-driven elevator | $15,000–$35,000 |
| Geared traction elevator | $25,000–$38,000 |
| Gearless traction elevator | $29,000–$55,000 |
| Outdoor elevator | $2,000–$10,000 |
A vertical platform elevator is a low-cost option for indoor elevators, serving as a basic lifting device that can travel up to 14 feet. It typically costs from $5,000 to $20,000. You can install it both indoors and outdoors, and you can customize it in various ways.
In some cases, you may need structural modifications to your home, such as adding more studs or ramps—in this case, expect to pay extra.
Pneumatic elevators are the most expensive, so expect to pay $35,000 to $60,000. Manufacturers will have their own pneumatic home elevator price lists showing specific options and associated costs.
Pneumatic elevators have glass cabins, which give the home a modern look and the passengers a glimpse of the view outside. This style takes the least space, and it's meant to be visible (if you’re looking for a private elevator, the pneumatic elevator is not for you).
Pneumatic elevators use vacuum pressure to move the cab from one floor to another.
On average, hydraulic elevators cost between $25,000 to $50,000. These elevators operate with a hydraulic pump connected to a cylinder that raises and lowers a piston to move the elevator cab.
It's one of the most durable options and doesn't need a separate mechanical room, making the design slim and quiet compared to other elevators. It serves a large capacity and a higher number of floors, so it's perfect for making a wheelchair-accessible home.
A shaftless elevator costs between $15,000 and $25,000. It's small and compact, making it ideal for single-person use in small spaces, and can only travel up to one floor. Installation only requires drilling through your ceiling or attaching the unit to your home's exterior.
If you'd like to have a custom-built elevator, you may have options like tile, wood paneling, or the ability to conceal the elevator behind walls. For a custom elevator, be prepared to pay an additional $70,000 or more.
Expect to pay between $15,000 and $35,000 for a cable-driven elevator and factor in $2,000 to $3,000 for cable replacement every three to five years.
This common type probably springs to mind when you think of home elevators. It uses a pulley system of traction steel ropes that attach to a counterweight drum and activates via an electric motor gearbox. These lifts don’t need tons of space, but the drum is pretty bulky.
You’ll pay between $25,000 and $38,000 for a geared traction elevator. Operating through a system of geared pulleys, it takes longer to reach your floor than gearless models, but this helps lower your energy bills. Their maximum traveling distance is 250 feet, which isn’t a problem in a home setting. Be ready for higher maintenance bills than with gearless models.
The average price to buy and install a gearless traction elevator is between $29,000 and $55,000. You might opt for this compact model if you’re retrofitting in your current home. It uses a track and counterweight system, so they don’t need pits or rooms for mechanics like pulley elevator systems. You just need ample space above the shaft to accommodate the operating equipment.
The price of an outdoor elevator ranges from $2,000 to $10,000, making it one of the most affordable, low-cost home elevator types on the market.
Outdoor elevators are made from durable materials like aluminum, which can withstand the elements. They also come with various platform sizes and features to match your needs.
The cost of hiring an elevator installer amounts to between $700 and $15,000. This wide variation in price is due to the fact that some homes may require a lot more labor than others for the installation. If your home needs modifications to make space for a new elevator (called retrofitting), installation is more complicated and will cost on the higher end.
When you hire a local elevator company, some of the tasks that will factor into their total charge include:
Site Inspection: $70–$1,500
Framing and Shaft Construction: $200–$4,500
Lift and Wiring Set Up: $300–$6,000
Installing Doors and Sensors: $100–$2,000
Testing and Adjustments: $30–$1,000
You’ll also need to budget for ongoing home elevator maintenance by a professional. Use our home elevator troubleshooting guide to understand the types of problems you may encounter with your elevator.
Home elevator installation often requires a full home remodel. We recommend contacting a pro to ensure the whole process goes smoothly.
Most elevator companies have pro installers, but general contractors in your area can also provide these services if they have the right credentials and local codes allow it. In some areas, general contractors can install smaller elevators (those 5,000 pounds and under) and lifts, while other jurisdictions require elevator installers with specialty licenses to do the work. Your local building permit office can tell you the laws that apply to your home.
General contractors can also manage the entire project for you, from planning and purchasing to final inspections. If your project includes a home retrofit or other construction, you may want to hire a contractor to oversee the work even if an elevator company is doing the actual elevator installation. Contractors cost an average of $4,000 and charge $300 to $500 per day.
Materials and labor are the bulk of most elevator installation projects, but other specifics can increase the cost of your job. Here’s what factors in.
You’ll pay $1,000 to $40,000 for the equipment to install an elevator. You might think of an elevator as just a box in an open shaft, but all elevators have added machinery and systems that make them run, and the specifics will impact your overall cost.
Hoistway: This is the shaft where the elevator car moves, but shaftless elevators don’t require a hoistway. Depending on your elevator model, the hoistway will be more or less complicated, which will change the cost of your system.
Machine room: Most machine rooms house the control box, hydraulic tank, drum motor, cables, and other equipment specific to the elevator model. Elevators without a machine room have self-contained motors and controllers inside the elevator shaft.
Structure equipment: The elevator structure holds the elevator up in the shaft and includes guide rails, rail brackets, the counterweight system, and mechanical devices for the drive system. Since every elevator model differs, this structure and equipment will have different costs.
Car: Elevator cars, the area where passengers ride, can be simple to luxurious, and your choices will affect the overall cost. Adding seating, lighting, mirrors, specialty paneling, or matching the car’s decor to that of your home can add $300 to $5,000 or more to the project.
Installing an elevator requires preparing the area, which can cost between $500 and $15,000 to prepare the site for the cabin.
The more floors your elevator goes up, the more labor and parts there are. For every floor above one story, budget an extra $5,000 to $15,000. So, if you have a tall four-story home, your bill could go up by $15,000 to $45,000.
If your building is three or four stories high, you’ll also have to rule out vertical platform lifts or shaftless models—they can only travel a maximum of two floors.
Installing an elevator in a new home is easier and costs less than adding one to an existing home. You can plan for the elevator in new construction designs and leave the space required for the shaft and elevator equipment. Likewise, replacing an old or non-functioning elevator with an updated model can be more affordable than starting from scratch.
When retrofitting a new elevator in an existing home, your contractor will need to find and clear space for the elevator pit and shaft, modify heating and cooling systems to serve that space, and move any existing electrical and plumbing systems that are in the way. You can pay up to three times more to add an elevator to an existing home than to build one during the original construction.
Want to match your elevator with your home’s overall aesthetic? Customized modern glass paneling or wooden Victorian features push home elevator prices over $50,000. Adding smaller design features, built-in phones, or music speakers won’t break the bank, but it’s worth comparing quotes for basic customizations.
Accordion fold gate doors are a standard option for home elevators, but they’re not the most attractive design. Add up to $25,000 for a decorative door that seamlessly fits your home design or a modern, automatic sliding door. Fitting a concealed door can be a good investment in terms of resale.
To keep your elevator legally compliant, safe, and running smoothly, beef up your budget as follows.
| Home Elevator Requirements | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Building permit | $200–$2,000 |
| Annual inspection | $75–$300 |
| Annual maintenance contract | $200–$350 |
While maintenance contracts are optional, they can be worthwhile. Elevator repair and upkeep can be pricey, with contractors charging between $75 and $100 per hour for labor alone. Annual inspections are often thrown in as part of the contract.
Many brands offer a range of prices and styles, so the one you choose will ultimately depend on your style and budget.
| Elevator Brand | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Easy Climber | $12,000–$16,000 |
| Telecab | $28,000–$35,000 |
| Stiltz | $20,000–$25,000 |
| Inclinator | $25,000–$35,000 |
Where you live can impact the cost of a home elevator. Large cities tend to have more expensive labor costs than suburban areas and smaller cities. Rural homes, far from elevator installers, may also result in more expensive elevator installs, simply because there’s less competition.
Before budgeting for the cost of a home elevator, it makes sense to consider your specific needs and if similar home upgrades can better fulfill those needs (and for less money). Two other common home upgrades similar to elevators include stair lifts and dumbwaiters.
A dumbwaiter is not designed to move people up and down between floors. Instead, they’re ideal for transporting goods. For instance, if your kitchen is on the second floor, you could use a dumbwaiter to lift groceries up without needing to carry them up the stairs. Similarly, dumbwaiters are useful for moving clean and dirty laundry between floors, as well as trash that needs to be taken outside.
Home dumbwaiters cost between $8,000 and $12,000. This makes them much more affordable than a home elevator, but it means that the people who live in your home would still need to be able to take the stairs. Dumbwaiters simply reduce the dangers of carrying heavy items up and down stairs, particularly for people with mobility issues.
Installing a stair lift costs between $2,300 and $24,000, depending on the size and path of your stairs and the type of stair lift you purchase. This still makes them more affordable to install than the typical home elevator.
Stair lifts also require less major home remodeling and are easier to remove if you move out of the house. However, a stair lift is not ideal if you use a wheelchair or walker. People with mobility devices may be better suited to a home elevator.
That said, you can get a platform stair lift that accommodates wheelchairs, though these are more expensive—and only make sense for straight (and wide) staircases. A wheelchair platform lift costs between $5,000 and $20,000 for a standard straight staircase.
Not sure if a stair lift makes sense when making your home accessible for people using wheelchairs? Use our guide to wheelchair-accessible homes as you navigate all the home updates you need to consider.
Even if you bought a home elevator kit, installing an elevator is not an average DIY project. It’s a complicated endeavor requiring intense electrical and renovation work. You’ll need to know how to knock down load-bearing walls and add reinforcement to ensure your house can carry the weight of the elevator.
It’s not just the complicated machinery and building work that make a DIY home elevator installation impossible. Local safety and accessibility laws often require a licensed professional to complete the project. This is one job that must be left to the pros; in no scenario should you attempt to install a home elevator on your own.
Though installing an elevator comes with a hefty price tag no matter what, there are some things you can do to make it somewhat more budget-friendly:
Opt for a Basic Design: Simple vertical platform lifts and cable-driven elevators are the most wallet-friendly options. Ask yourself whether you really need that dream top-of-the-range pneumatic model with customized glass panels.
Stick With Small Options: Is a spacious 5-by-7-foot elevator essential for your family? You’ll save a lot by opting for a more compact 3-by-4-foot design, even if you can only fit one person in at a time.
Fewer Floors: Do you need elevator access to all the floors of a four-story townhouse? If not, installing a lift to reach only the second story delivers big savings.
Avoid Retrofitting: Are you debating whether to install an elevator during a new home build? Remember that doing it at this stage is more cost-effective than ripping out and retrofitting later on.
DIY Prep or Finish Work: If you’re a keen DIYer, check with your contractor to see if there are any simple prep or tidy-up jobs you can do to reduce their labor charges.
Home elevators might be costly, but they can offer an ROI of about 50%. If you install an elevator in your home, you may see a return of 10% to 20% of your home’s value. Of course, the final figures will depend on your neighborhood, property type, and the elevator you install.
To get the biggest ROI, match the type of elevator with your property. For example, choose a luxury elevator for an upscale home and match the elevator’s architectural and decor style to your home design.
If your home has three or more stories, an elevator may make more sense (than in a two-story home) and appeal more to buyers. However, buyers searching for a forever home may like the option of an elevator for long-term accessibility and comfort, so even a simple elevator can increase your home’s value.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
A home elevator is a fantastic way to improve your home’s accessibility. Elevators allow anyone, even those who use wheelchairs or walkers, to safely move between floors within your home.
Dumbwaiters may allow you to move items up and down floors, and stair lifts can move people up and down, but elevators are the best option if you need space for people, their belongings, and/or mobility aids such as wheelchairs.
That said, home elevators cost more than other options, such as stair lifts. Consider your needs and your budget when deciding the best way to make your home more accessible to a person with a disability or a person who is aging in place.
Home elevators are safe, but you should first get a home inspection to install an elevator properly. Safety codes ensure that a pro installs your elevator properly and safely. You’ll also need to apply for a building permit.
If you want the elevator to be more secure, you’ll want to add overrides or safety devices. Many of these precautions are included in the elevator price, although some may cost an additional $2,500.
Installing a home elevator could take anywhere from a week to multiple months. This depends on the complexity and size of the elevator, the availability of materials, and the level of remodeling before and after that is required. When you get quotes from elevator installers, ask about project timelines—both how soon they can start and how long they expect the installation to take.
The average cost to install a stair lift ranges from $2,000 to $20,000, depending on the type of stair lift. Other cost factors include the stair lift length, style, location, weight capacity, comfort options like padding and footrests, and power source.
Labor costs also impact the overall price. Always hire a pro for projects that require technical know-how, electrical work, and installation of heavy moving parts, as they can be too complicated or dangerous for DIYers. While stair lifts are an investment, they can be an affordable way to make your home accessible.
