Home Elevator Cost in Washington

Nothing affects the price more than the kind of lift you pick. A shaftless model travels through a hole cut into the floor, so there is no enclosure to build around it. We gathered these figures by comparing published price ranges, a method our about page explains.

In a pneumatic model, air pressure inside a clear tube lifts and lowers the car. Nationally, a two-story home elevator usually lands between $30,000 and $60,000 once installed.

Every floor beyond two generally costs another $9,000 to $15,000. The shaft is the enclosed space the elevator moves through. If your house does not have one, expect to pay another $5,000 to $25,000 to add it. We'll look at your floor plan and tell you whether you need a shaft, so you know the full price before anything is built.

Each new, altered, or moved lift in a single-family home must be inspected by the Department of Labor & Industries Elevator Program. Under Washington's fee rules, the size of the permit fee is tied to what the equipment and labor cost overall.

After that initial visit passes, a single-family home carries on with no yearly check or certificate to operate unless the owner requests one, so there is no annual certificate charge from the state to plan around.

The state permit belongs to licensed elevator contractors only, so a homeowner cannot pull it. Washington also requires licensed workers on home lifts, though their licence level is below the one for commercial elevators. Some licences cover only smaller home lifts like stair chairlifts, so your installer needs a licence that covers home elevators. If you live in the home, you can do maintenance on your own private lift without a licence. Installation still needs a licensed contractor.

New lifts have to meet the safety standards Washington put in place as of October 2, 2023. Elevators, platform lifts, and stair chairlifts each have their own safety standard.

In Seattle, the city handles elevator permits and inspections, so the state fee table may not describe your permit costs. Permits there come from Seattle's Department of Construction and Inspections/elevator-and-escalator-permit/frequently-asked-questions); a licensed elevator contractor must still file the application. Inspections are handled by the city as well.

Washington elevator installers make a median of $65.95 an hour. Nationally, the median is $52.84 an hour. Carpenters handle the framing and the floor opening; their median wage in the state is $35.67 an hour. Washington installer wages run higher than the national figure, so your quote may come in a bit higher than national price ranges. Ready to see your real number? Call us and we'll walk through your house and give you a written quote that includes the permit and inspection fees.

• Loans from the Northwest Access Fund: A partner of the state's assistive technology program, this organization offers loans of up to $60,000, with terms as long as ten years for home modifications, and it charges no fees. Rates are set by its board and can shift from month to month.
• DDA waivers: The Developmental Disabilities Administration's Core and Community Protection waivers cover up to $12,192 a year in home adaptations. Approval in advance and bids from contractors are required, and the project cannot enlarge the home's floor space. The Basic Plus, CIIBS, and IFS waivers each set their own yearly caps.

Both loan applications and waiver bids go smoother with a written quote from a contractor who holds a licence.

Reach out and we'll put together a written quote for your home covering the lift, any construction work, and permit fees. A licensed elevator contractor will measure your house and apply for the state permit, so the full cost is clear before any work starts.