How much does a home lift cost in the UK?
Stiltz gives a starting price for its range of £17,000 excluding VAT. That is one supplier's starting price. It isn't a market average or a fixed price for every through-floor lift.
A useful example, but not a full quote
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Cost component | Supplier information | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Range starting price | From £17,000 excluding VAT | Which model and version does this price apply to? |
| What the starting price includes | Lift, delivery, professional installation and 12-month warranty | Ask exactly what is included and excluded. |
| Standard building work | Typically around £2,500 in the supplier guide | The guide also says typical quotes include standard work. Check whether it is already included in your total so you don't count it twice. |
| VAT on building-work example | Not clearly stated beside the £2,500 figure | Ask which VAT rate applies and what the final amount will be. |
| Other suppliers / model prices | We couldn't find this information on the supplier's current website | Ask for written quotes showing the full installed price. |
Stiltz’s pricing guide is the source of these figures. Don't assume the £17,000 starting price applies to every Duo or Trio model.
Make sure the building work is included
Ask for a written list covering the floor opening, any structural work, the electrical supply and the finishing work around the lift. Installing a through-floor lift can involve several trades, even if the lift supports itself. Ask who will organise the different parts of the work.
Ask exactly what 'making good' includes. Plaster ready for decoration is not the same as completed painting, and reinstating a small area of flooring is not the same as replacing a room’s floor covering. Ask about waste removal and any fee for approvals.
Our building-work guide gives the questions to resolve before the work is scheduled. Do not arrange an opening from a brochure footprint or assume the building work is identical in every house.
Size, entrances and controls affect the specification
A compact passenger model and a lift for a wheelchair user with an attendant are different purchases. The quote should clearly state the inside dimensions, entrance width, who can travel in the lift and the total weight it can carry. A model that fits the room may still be awkward to enter.
Through-entry arrangements, powered doors, seats, alternative controls and increased travel may change the cost. Separate the features you actually need from optional finishes and cosmetic extras. Ask the supplier to explain any change between the first estimate and the detailed survey.
Use the home-lift comparison to identify products worth discussing, then compare the same practical requirements rather than the same headline description.
Allow for the costs after installation
Obtain the servicing schedule and charges after the initial warranty. Ask whether cover includes call-outs, labour, parts and batteries, and what happens outside normal working hours. A standard warranty is not necessarily a maintenance contract.
Ask how the emergency call facility connects and whether any ongoing charge applies. Also discuss later removal: taking out the machinery and reinstating a structural floor opening are separate pieces of work. We couldn't find a reliable standard price for removal or annual servicing.
If you're working out the longer-term cost, start with the supplier's actual prices and make it clear where you have had to estimate future costs. Do not treat a projected ten-year total as a price guarantee. The maintenance and removal guide explains the main distinctions.
VAT, funding and comparing totals
Ask for the price before VAT, the VAT rate used and the final amount you will pay. Disability-related VAT relief can apply where the relevant conditions are met; a home lift bought simply as a convenience should not be assumed to qualify. The stairlift reduced-rate rule for older people must not be applied to every vertical lift.
If you may seek grant support, check the process before committing to a supplier. Funding approval and any required building approvals are separate matters. Read the funding and VAT guide for the official starting points.
Put each quote beside the same list of required work and equipment. Ask for written clarification wherever an item is excluded, provisional or described only as “standard”. The figure that matters most is the final amount you will have to pay for a complete working installation, with any future servicing and maintenance responsibilities made clear.