Find a cheap Platform lift!

FAQ

• How much does a Platform lift cost?

  For straight staircases indoors a Platform lift usually costs between EUR 9,000 and 15,000, for curved or spiral staircases between EUR 13,000 and 25,000. Manufacturers quote entry prices from about EUR 10,300 for straight and EUR 16,500 for curved installations, each including delivery, installation and VAT. By far the biggest cost driver is the custom-made curved rail, not the location: for straight installations some manufacturers even quote the same starting price outdoors as indoors, while curved ones cost around EUR 2,000 more. A realistic surcharge for outdoor installation is EUR 1,000 to 2,500.

• 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 Platform lift 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.

• Who is a Platform lift suitable for?

  A Platform lift is mainly suitable for wheelchair users who stay seated in their wheelchair during the ride. The decisive advantage is the transfer it avoids: a seat lift requires getting out and leaves the wheelchair behind on the other floor. A rollator, walking aid or pram can travel along too, and many models also have a folding seat. Mobility scooters usually fail not because of the load capacity but because of their length: they often measure more than 140 cm and do not fit on a standard platform. Note also that an accompanying person is not allowed to ride along. Where someone must accompany the user, a home lift is the right solution.

• What is the difference between straight and curved Platform lifts?

  On straight staircases the rail runs without a change of direction; it is made from standard profiles and installed quickly. Curved staircases need a custom-made rail that follows bends, landings, pitch and usable width exactly. This difference affects the price more than any other factor: with the same manufacturer, straight and curved installations are around EUR 6,000 to 8,000 apart. Because a wheelchair and platform need considerably more room than a seat lift, planning is tighter. In older buildings in particular, the survey decides whether a Platform lift fits technically and comfortably.

• How much space and stair width is needed?

  The platform must suit the wheelchair; 80 x 100 cm is standard, and 80 x 130 cm for long electric wheelchairs. As usable stair width, plan about 100 to 110 cm for straight and 110 to 120 cm for curved staircases with a standard platform; very narrow special platforms manage with around 90 cm. Folded up, the platform projects 30 to 50 cm into the stairwell. This is exactly where many projects in apartment buildings fail: there the staircase must remain usable as an escape route, and in practice a remaining clear width of about 60 cm is required. That is not regulated uniformly nationwide but depends on the state building code and the building authority. In detached and semi-detached houses these requirements do not apply.

• What load capacity does a Platform lift have?

  Many Platform lifts carry 225 to 300 kg, individual models somewhat more. Note that the permissible load can decrease as the incline increases. What counts for the selection is the total weight of user, wheelchair, accessories and luggage. A folding wheelchair weighs around 20 kg, an electric wheelchair usually about 60 kg and in individual cases more than 100 kg, a mobility scooter 99 to 150 kg. With a manual wheelchair, load capacity is therefore practically never the problem; with a heavy electric drive it becomes the defining criterion. Specialist companies also check whether the staircase and fixing points can bear the load permanently.

• Can a Platform lift be used outdoors?

  Yes. Outdoor models are used on entrance steps, cellar accesses and garden paths. They need galvanised or powder-coated components, a control unit with protection class IP54 or better, non-slip platforms, clear water drainage and, depending on the location, a heated rail. A foundation is only needed for free-standing installation and costs around EUR 500 to 1,500; if the rail can be fixed to load-bearing steps or to the wall, it is not required. Contrary to what is often assumed, a straight outdoor installation is not more expensive than the same installation indoors. Maintenance, however, is higher: outdoors two services a year are usual instead of one.

• How safe is a Platform lift?

  The equipment includes access ramps and safety bars to prevent rolling off, underrun protection with obstacle sensors, an emergency stop and a hold-to-run control where the button must be kept pressed. In a power cut, an emergency lowering function or the battery brings the platform to the next stop. The relevant standard is EN 81-40 for inclined stairlifts; it limits the travel speed to 0.15 m/s. As a result a Platform lift legally counts as machinery rather than as a lift. A recurring inspection obligation by a monitoring body generally does not apply in a private home, only above 3 m of fall height or with commercial use.

• How does the comparison work?

  You describe the staircase, wheelchair, location and intended use. Specialist companies from your region then check whether a Platform lift makes sense on the existing staircase or whether a step lift, vertical platform lift or structural changes suit better. An on-site survey is indispensable: no manufacturer quotes a binding price without an inspection, because every rail is made to measure. What is measured is the rail run, platform size, load capacity, parking position, power supply and the door swing areas along the route, the most common cause of collisions. Comparing offers pays off more than any subsidy: in an undercover supplier test, quotes for the same requirement ranged from EUR 7,521 to 17,396. Make sure the quotes come from genuinely independent companies, because several brands sometimes belong to the same supplier. In apartment buildings, the owners association's consent and fire safety come on top.

• What follow-up costs arise?

  A Platform lift incurs ongoing costs for maintenance, electricity and wear parts. A maintenance contract usually costs EUR 200 to 400 a year indoors and EUR 400 to 600 outdoors, where two appointments are usual. The battery lasts 3 to 5 years, replacing it costs EUR 250 to 400 and is often not included in basic contracts. Electricity comes to about EUR 65 to 110 a year, with the larger share going to continuous charging in the parking position rather than to travelling. Check in the quote whether call-out, safety inspection, emergency service and battery replacement are included and what response time is promised. The service life is 10 to 15 years.