Find a cheap Elevator!

FAQ

• How much does an Elevator cost?

  The cost depends heavily on the design, lifting height, number of stops, load capacity, cabin size and structural effort. Compact home lifts or vertical lifts often start at around €18,000. For larger systems over several floors, a range of €25,000 to €50,000 or more is realistic. Classic lifts with a shaft, elaborate outdoor construction or high-quality glass and design features can be considerably higher. Ceiling openings, foundation, structural engineering and electrical work should always be factored in.

• What funding and grants are available?

  From care level 1, the long-term care fund can pay up to €4,180 per person in need of care if the Elevator makes home care easier or enables more independence. If several eligible people live together, up to €16,720 per measure is possible. In addition, the KfW grant 455-B for barrier reduction has been available again since 2026: for individual measures up to 10% of the eligible costs, maximum €2,500. Alternatively or additionally, the KfW loan 159 of up to €50,000 per residential unit is available. Important: applications must be submitted before signing the contract and before installation.

• Does an Elevator need a shaft or a pit?

  That depends on the design. Classic lifts usually need a shaft, shaft head, pit and technical coordination. Many home lifts and vertical lifts, by contrast, are self-supporting and manage without a separate machine room and often without a deep pit. For retrofitting, depending on the model, a ceiling opening or a compact outdoor structure is sufficient. Whether this is possible depends on structural engineering, floor slabs, fire protection, location and the state building code.

• How much space does an Elevator need?

  Compact home lifts often need only around 1 m² of floor space; wheelchair-accessible versions need correspondingly more. In addition, safe access and manoeuvring areas at the stops are required. For wheelchair use, 90 cm clear passages and a 150 x 150 cm manoeuvring area are important guide values. Common installation locations are the stairwell void, hallway, living area, storage room or outside façade. The best position results from everyday use, structural engineering, pipework, fire protection and escape routes.

• How much electricity does it use?

  The power consumption of a private Elevator is usually manageable in everyday use, because the system only needs noticeable energy while moving. Many home lifts run on normal 230-volt household current; depending on the model, a separate fused circuit may be necessary. The actual costs depend on the number of trips, lifting height, drive and standby consumption. In the quote, power input, connection requirements and maintenance costs should be shown separately.

• How many floors can an Elevator connect?

  In a private home, Elevators often connect two to three levels. Depending on the model, more stops and greater lifting heights are also possible. With every additional floor, the requirements for guidance, structure, doors, controls, fire protection and the rescue concept increase. For a few steps a vertical platform lift is usually more economical; for whole floors an Elevator offers considerably more comfort and future-proofing.

• How safe is an Elevator?

  Elevators for carrying people are subject to clear safety requirements. Systems faster than 0.15 m/s fall under the EU Lifts Directive; slower lifting and platform solutions are usually covered by machinery law and the appropriate standards. Depending on the design, equipment includes door interlocks, emergency stop, emergency lowering, a battery or emergency power solution and a two-way emergency call. In Germany, additional inspection and operator obligations may apply.

• How long does installation take?

  The installation work itself for a self-supporting home lift can take just a few days. The overall project time is longer, however, because planning, measuring, structural engineering, funding applications, possible permits, manufacturing and on-site building work have to be completed beforehand. A ceiling opening, foundation or outdoor extension lengthens the process. A timescale of several weeks is therefore realistic, and longer still for complex lifts.

• How does the comparison work?

  You state the building type, number of floors, desired stops, use with or without a wheelchair and possible installation locations. Specialist companies from your region then check whether a home lift, vertical lift, outdoor lift or another solution fits. For a binding quote, an on-site appointment, measurement and technical inspection follow. This clarifies structural engineering, power connection, ceiling opening, shaft solution, funding and ongoing obligations.

• What follow-up costs arise?

  Follow-up costs arise for electricity, maintenance, fault service, wear parts and, depending on the design, recurring inspections. In Germany, lifts carrying people must be inspected before commissioning and regularly by approved monitoring bodies; the specific obligations depend on the system and its use. For private home lifts, running costs are usually lower than for heavily used lifts, but they should be transparently itemised in the quote.