Home Elevator Cost by State
Home elevator cost by state: what each state requires before a lift goes into a private home, who may install it, and what installers earn there.
- US benchmark, typical 2 floors
- $30,000–$50,000
- US benchmark, shaftless
- $20,000–$35,000
- US, each floor over two
- $9,000–$15,000
These are US installed prices. In your state, the permit fee, what installers earn and the building work in your house move a quote up or down, and each state's fee and pay are set out state by state. Prices by kind of lift
State Fees, Rules and Installer Pay
| State | State permit or inspection | State fee, added to the price | Licensed installer for home work | Installer pay an hour, against the US median | State help to pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes: state permit, licensed third-party inspectorAlabama Department of Labor | $250 permit, two inspections included | Yes: a licensed elevator contractor | $49.866% under the US median | Medicaid waiver |
| Alaska | No: local rules govern a home liftAlaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development | No state fee; the town permit applies | No elevator licence from the state | $43.00 (electrician)42% over the US median | Medicaid waiver (up to $40,000), grant |
| Arizona | Yes: state permit, then an inspection every yearIndustrial Commission of Arizona | Not published by the state | Yes: an R-12 licence for elevator contractors | $29.36 (electrician)3% under the US median | Medicaid waiver, low-cost loan |
| Arkansas | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeArkansas Department of Labor and Licensing | No state fee; the town permit applies | Yes: licensed mechanic or accessibility technician | $29.5844% under the US median | Medicaid waiver (up to $7,500), low-cost loan |
| California | No: handled by the local building departmentCal/OSHA | No state fee; the town permit applies | C-11 licence for elevator contractors | $67.8828% over the US median | Medicaid waiver (up to $7,500), property tax break |
| Colorado | No: local building departments handle itColorado Department of Labor and Employment | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: houses are exempt from state rules | $59.3112% over the US median | Medicaid waiver (up to $14,000) |
| Connecticut | Yes: plan approval, first inspection onlyConnecticut Department of Administrative Services | $250 plan review, $250 first certificate | Yes: licensed elevator contractor | $37.28 (electrician)23% over the US median | Low-cost loan, grant |
| Delaware | No: local building department onlyNo state elevator inspection office; county and city building departments | No state fee; the town permit applies | Yes: state licensed elevator mechanic | $30.63 (electrician)1% over the US median | Medicaid waiver, low-cost loan |
| Florida | No: local building department onlyFlorida Department of Business and Professional Regulation | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $50.355% under the US median | Medicaid waiver, low-cost loan |
| Georgia | Partly: permit and first inspection onlyGeorgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner | $400 plus $50 per opening | Yes: residential elevator certification | $40.1424% under the US median | Tax credit, grant, low-cost loan |
| Hawaii | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeHawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations | No state fee; the town permit applies | Yes: licensed elevator mechanic | $46.38 (electrician)53% over the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver, property tax break |
| Idaho | No: a local building permit is allIdaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses | No state fee; the town permit applies | No elevator licence, but an electrical licence is required | $30.29 (electrician)same as the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Illinois | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeOffice of the Illinois State Fire Marshal | No state fee; the town permit applies | Licensed contractor; home jobs may be exempt | $64.2722% over the US median | Medicaid waiver, grant, low-cost loan |
| Indiana | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeIndiana Department of Homeland Security | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $44.4216% under the US median | Medicaid waiver, low-cost loan |
| Iowa | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeIowa Department of Inspections | No state fee; the town permit applies | No state elevator licence | $55.435% over the US median | Medicaid waiver, low-cost loan |
| Kansas | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeKansas State Fire Marshal | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $40.7523% under the US median | Tax credit, Medicaid waiver, low-cost loan |
| Kentucky | Yes: state permit and inspectionsKentucky Department of Housing | $125 yearly inspection for home elevators | Yes: licensed elevator contractor | $20.5161% under the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Louisiana | No: homes exempt, local permit onlyLouisiana Office of State Fire Marshal | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $29.59 (electrician)3% under the US median | Medicaid waiver, low-cost loan |
| Maine | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeMaine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $69.0831% over the US median | Grant, low-cost loan |
| Maryland | Yes: register the lift, then one final inspectionMaryland Department of Labor | Not published by the state | Yes: an elevator or lift mechanic licence | $58.7811% over the US median | Tax credit, low-cost loan |
| Massachusetts | Partly: a permit and an acceptance test; no yearly inspectionMassachusetts Board of Elevator Regulations and the Office of Public Safety and Inspections | $40 permit plus $10 per $1,000 | Yes: a mechanic licensed by the state | $66.5526% over the US median | Low-cost loan |
| Michigan | Yes: a permit and a final inspection, nothing moreMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs | $400 plus $50 per floor, inspection included | Yes: a licensed elevator contractor must do it | $47.6710% under the US median | Medicaid waiver |
| Minnesota | Yes: state permit and inspectionMinnesota Department of Labor and Industry | $100 permit plus 1.5% of job cost | Yes: limited residential licence or higher | $61.5516% over the US median | Medicaid waiver (up to $40,000), low-cost loan |
| Mississippi | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeMississippi Insurance Department | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $29.26 (electrician)4% under the US median | Medicaid waiver |
| Missouri | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeMissouri Department of Public Safety | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $60.9415% over the US median | Low-cost loan |
| Montana | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeMontana Department of Labor and Industry | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home elevators are outside the licence law | $43.4518% under the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Nebraska | Partly: counties over 100,000, installation inspection onlyNebraska State Fire Marshal | $125 preliminary, $200 initial inspection | Yes, in counties over 100,000 | $56.587% over the US median | Medicaid waiver (up to $10,000), low-cost loan |
| Nevada | Yes: state inspections, one of them before a saleNevada Division of Industrial Relations | $400 for installation inspections | Yes: a state certificate as elevator mechanic | $68.2529% over the US median | Grant, low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| New Hampshire | Partly: elevators may need approval; lifts exemptNew Hampshire Department of Labor | No state fee; the town permit applies | Licensed mechanic for elevators, not chairlifts | $30.21 (electrician)1% under the US median | Property tax break, Medicaid waiver |
| New Jersey | Partly: permit and initial inspection onlyNew Jersey Department of Community Affairs | $227 inspection plus $70 plan review | Yes: licensed elevator mechanic | $66.3125% over the US median | Medicaid waiver (up to $15,000), low-cost loan |
| New Mexico | No: local building permit onlyNew Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $34.3435% under the US median | Medicaid waiver, grant, low-cost loan |
| New York | No: handled by the local building departmentLocal code enforcement under the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code; NYC Department of Buildings Elevator Division in New York City | No state fee; the town permit applies | Yes: a hired installer needs a state licence | $65.2523% over the US median | Grant, property tax break |
| North Carolina | No: local building department handles itNorth Carolina Department of Labor | No state fee; the town permit applies | No state elevator licence | $51.782% under the US median | Medicaid waiver, low-cost loan |
| North Dakota | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeNorth Dakota State Electrical Board | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $31.59 (electrician)4% over the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Ohio | Partly: a permit, but no periodic inspectionsOhio Department of Commerce | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: work only on homes is exempt | $50.494% under the US median | Medicaid waiver (up to $15,000) |
| Oklahoma | Yes: the state inspects new installsOklahoma Department of Labor | Up to $500 review, $150 inspection | Yes: new installs need a licensed contractor | $50.694% under the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Oregon | Partly: state permit and install inspection onlyOregon Department of Consumer and Business Services | From $98, scales with project cost | No: home work is exempt | $66.6426% over the US median | Medicaid waiver |
| Pennsylvania | No: local building permit insteadPennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry | No state fee; the town permit applies | No state elevator licence | $56.377% over the US median | Low-cost loan |
| Rhode Island | Partly: a state acceptance inspection, no yearly checks afterRhode Island Department of Labor and Training | 1% permit fee, $120 inspection | Elevator companies need a state licence | $35.62 (electrician)17% over the US median | Grant |
| South Carolina | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeSouth Carolina Department of Labor | No state fee; the town permit applies | No state elevator licence | $43.6817% under the US median | Medicaid waiver, low-cost loan |
| South Dakota | No: local building department onlyNo state elevator program; city and county building departments | No state fee; the town permit applies | No state elevator licence | $55.926% over the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Tennessee | No: local building permit onlyTennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development | No state fee; the town permit applies | No state elevator licence | $48.319% under the US median | Medicaid waiver (up to $6,000) |
| Texas | Partly: a single inspection; no state permitTexas Department of Licensing and Regulation | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: installs in homes are exempt | $49.117% under the US median | Grant, Medicaid waiver (up to $7,500) |
| Utah | No: no state permit or inspection for a homeUtah Labor Commission | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: home work is exempt | $38.9726% under the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Vermont | Partly: exempt unless rented or a condoVermont Department of Public Safety | Rentals, condos: $25 permit, up to $100 inspection | Not needed unless rented or condo | $30.49 (electrician)same as the US median | Low-cost loan, grant |
| Virginia | No: local permit only, no yearly inspectionLocal building departments enforcing the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code | No state fee; the town permit applies | Yes: state accessibility mechanic certification | $52.042% under the US median | Tax credit, Medicaid waiver (up to $5,000), low-cost loan |
| Washington | Yes: permit and one-time inspectionWashington State Department of Labor & Industries | $105.50 inspection plus cost-based permit | Yes: limited residential elevator licence | $65.9525% over the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Washington, D.C. | Partly: permit and final inspection onlyDC Department of Buildings | $93.50 new elevator permit | Yes: licensed elevator contractor | $58.9312% over the US median | Grant, Medicaid waiver |
| West Virginia | Partly: acceptance test and sale inspection onlyWest Virginia Division of Labor | $100 Division inspection, private inspectors vary | Limited accessibility technician licence | $31.16 (electrician)3% over the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Wisconsin | Partly: permit and inspection at install onlyWisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services | $320 plans, $640 to $720 inspection | Yes: licensed elevator contractor | $37.3329% under the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
| Wyoming | No: local building department onlyNo state elevator program; local city and county building departments | No state fee; the town permit applies | No: electrical licence for wiring only | $36.59 (electrician)20% over the US median | Low-cost loan, Medicaid waiver |
Pay is the median hourly wage of elevator and escalator installers in each state (US median $52.84), from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. In the states marked "electrician", BLS publishes no elevator installer figure, so the electrician median stands in and is set against the US electrician median ($30.38).
Where you live matters less for home elevator cost by state than the lift you pick and the house you put it in. The state mostly affects permits and inspections. The numbers here are national, so call a nearby dealer now to get your local price.
What Does Each Kind of Elevator Cost, Installed?
The kind of lift you choose drives most of the bill. Below are typical installed prices, drawn from the middle of the ranges published by cost guides and dealers. Our about page explains the method.
| Kind of lift | Installed price, 2 floors | Shaft or pit |
|---|---|---|
 Shaftless home elevator | $20,000–$35,000 | No shaft or pit |
 Small one person lift | $25,000–$30,000 | No shaft or pit |
 Hydraulic elevator | $25,000–$56,500 | Built shaft and a small pit |
 Traction or cable elevator | $27,000–$50,000 | Built shaft and a shallow pit |
 Through floor lift | $30,000–$60,000 | No shaft, an opening in the ceiling |
 Pneumatic vacuum elevator | $35,000–$60,000 | No shaft or pit |
Installed for two floors. Also priced: a platform lift (an open platform, not an enclosed elevator) $5,000–$20,000, and a glass elevator $50,000–$100,000.
The shaft is the enclosed column that houses the elevator as it moves. When a lift is built around one of these, you'll generally land somewhere between $25,000 and $56,500 installed.
What Drives the Price in Your Home?
HomeGuide reports an average of about $48,000 installed for a two-story lift. Fixr gives a national average close to $50,000.
Dealer quotes range from $35,000 to $80,000, since they fold in tax, shipping, and installation, per Lifeway Mobility.
Every level past the second tacks another $9,000 to $15,000 onto the bill. Putting a new shaft into a house you already own adds $5,000 to $25,000, per Willow.
Only a written quote after someone visits your home tells you which numbers fit your situation. Call now and we will match you with a nearby dealer who can measure.
Permits and Inspections by State
Sources publish permit costs as ranges, and they disagree:
- HomeGuide lists $300 to $2,000 per project
- Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators quotes $1,000 to $3,000 per project
- Willow, for Colorado, says $500 to $2,500 per project
Each inspection visit costs $150 to $700. For a pneumatic lift, expect $150 to $400.
The rules themselves differ a lot:
- A few states, such as Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, and Washington, demand both a state permit and an inspection for home lifts.
- Others, such as California, Colorado, Idaho, and Pennsylvania, leave homes in the hands of the local building department.
- Private homes get a pass in some states, among them Arkansas, Florida, and Louisiana.
- Texas wants one inspection but skips the state permit.
Find out your state's rule before signing anything, since it decides who handles the paperwork. A nearby dealer already has that answer, so pick up the phone and ask.
What Do Installers Earn State by State?
Every quote includes labor. The US median for elevator installers is $52.84 an hour, and for electricians it is $30.38 an hour.
Installers in Maine earn more, at $69.08. Nevada follows at $68.25, and California isn't far behind at $67.88. Kentucky sits at the low end with $20.51, well below what installers make nationally.
When You Need a Licensed Installer
Several states want a licensed elevator contractor or mechanic on the job for home lifts, among them Alabama, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Nevada. Others skip this, including Colorado, Texas, and Ohio for home-only work.
If your state asks for a licence, ask any installer to show it.
Get Your Local Price
One call connects you with a nearby dealer who can visit, measure, and hand you a written quote.
Common Questions
What does it cost on average to install a residential elevator?
Across all types, typical installed prices fall between $30,000 and $50,000. For two floors, the average lands near $48,000 to $50,000.
Which home elevator type costs the least?
Platform lifts cost the least, at $5,000 to $20,000. Next come shaftless lifts, at $20,000 to $35,000.
Is pneumatic pricier than other types?
It ranks near the top, with typical prices running $35,000 to $60,000. Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators, the manufacturer, puts an average two-floor lift at roughly $45,000.
Talk to a Lift Installer Near You
One call gets you a local home elevator dealer who can measure your house and put a written price on it.