Residential Elevator Cost
Residential elevator cost for two floors is usually $30,000 to $50,000 installed. It moves with the kind of lift, the floors it serves and whether the house is already built: the table prices each kind, three questions price your house.
- Most two-floor homes pay
- $30,000–$50,000
- Cheapest kind (shaftless) from
- $20,000
- Each floor over two
- +$9,000–$15,000
- Yearly service
- $300–$760
Installed Price by Kind and Number of Floors
| Kind of lift | Installed, 2 floors | 3 floors | 4 floors | Takes a wheelchair | Extra in a house already built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shaftless home elevator | $20,000–$35,000 | $29,000–$50,000 | Max 3 floors | Some models | +$1,550–$5,900 for the floor opening, wiring and permit |
 Small one person lift | $25,000–$30,000 | $34,000–$45,000 | $43,000–$60,000 | No | +$1,550–$5,900 for the floor opening, wiring and permit |
 Hydraulic elevator | $25,000–$56,500 | $34,000–$71,500 | $43,000–$86,500 | Some models | +$8,550–$35,900 for the shaft, wiring and permit |
 Traction or cable elevator | $27,000–$50,000 | $36,000–$65,000 | $45,000–$80,000 | Some models | +$8,550–$35,900 for the shaft, wiring and permit |
 Through floor lift | $30,000–$60,000 | Max 2 floors | Max 2 floors | Some models | +$1,550–$5,900 for the floor opening, wiring and permit |
 Pneumatic vacuum elevator | $35,000–$60,000 | $44,000–$75,000 | $53,000–$90,000 | Some models | +$1,550–$5,900 for the floor opening, wiring and permit |
Most two-floor homes pay $30,000–$50,000; the cheapest kinds start at $20,000. Each installed price covers the lift, delivery and fitting in a house with room for it. In a house already built, add the extra work given for that kind.
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. Middle of published installed prices for each kind (half the sources quote less, half more), rounded to $500. Sources: HomeGuide, Fixr, Angi and the manufacturers. Shaft work in an existing home: Willow. Lifts outside the house: outdoor elevators and hillside lifts. Want it in writing? Ask a local dealer for a written quote.
Price Your Own House in Three Questions
Answer three questions to see a price range for your house.
The price for every kind of lift and number of floors is in the table on this page.
For a two-story house, the typical residential elevator cost is $30,000 to $50,000, installed. That's the middle ground across ten price ranges published by manufacturers, dealers and cost guides. What you actually pay comes down to three things: the kind of lift you pick, how many floors it has to reach, and how much work your house needs to make room for it.
Home Elevator Prices by Type
Most home elevators travel in a shaft, a boxed-in column from floor to floor. If your house needs changes to make room for a shaft, Willow, a Colorado installer, says that can add $5,000 to $25,000, and an installer can look at your home and tell you what it would need. A shaftless elevator needs no boxed-in column and rises through an opening cut in the floor, and the published prices for it are lower.
A pneumatic elevator is a see-through tube that uses air pressure to raise and lower the car. A platform lift is just a plain open platform that lifts a person, often someone in a wheelchair, over a short distance.
Every kind, priced for two, three and four floors: installed price by kind and floors.
These are the middle-of-the-road figures from published prices for each type, so your quote may land a bit above or below. Prices vary by company and home, so use these as a starting point and get a few quotes. Plan on $9,000 to $15,000 more for every floor past two.
Home Elevator Installation Cost
Installed prices may already include some of this work, so check each quote to see what is included before adding any of these costs to your budget.
| Piece of the work | Usual cost if the quote leaves it out |
|---|---|
| Structural changes | $5,000–$25,000 |
| Crew labor plus project management | $8,000–$20,000 |
| Engineering and design fees | $3,000–$8,000 |
| Electrical circuit of its own | $250–$900 |
| Electrical panel upgrade | $1,300–$4,000 |
| Permit fees | $300–$2,000 |
| Each inspection visit | $150–$700 |
Willow is the source for the labor, design, and structural figures. The electrical, permit, and inspection figures come from HomeGuide. You will not need every line. A panel upgrade, for instance, only comes into play if the panel you have now cannot handle the added load.
Time is part of the picture too. HomeGuide gives 4 to 5 weeks of build prep when a shaft is involved, and just 1 to 3 weeks without one. Cambridge Elevating says delivery takes another 8 to 10 weeks once your plans get the green light.
Building an Elevator Into a New Home
For a new home, Nationwide Lifts estimates installation labor at $5,000 to $10,000, but that is not the total elevator price. Nationwide Lifts quotes $1,500 to $2,000 for each added stop during new construction, well below the typical $9,000 to $15,000 per added floor, so ask what each quote includes.
Adding one partway through construction is pricier: one contractor told Forbes to expect $45,000 to $60,000 for the whole project.
Popular Models and Their Prices
| Brand | Model | Kind | Price | Floors or travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Elite Plus Residential Elevator | hydraulic | $23,995 (list price for the equipment) | 40 ft of travel |
 | Duo Alta | through-floor | $27,000–$29,000 (quoted by a dealer) | 2 floors |
 | Telecab 17 | through-floor | $30,000–$35,000 (quoted by a dealer) | 2 floors |
 | PVE30 | pneumatic | $35,000–$50,000 (estimate from cost guides) | 5 floors |
 | Elevette and other models | various | $25,000–$35,000 (estimate from cost guides) | Up to 6 floors |
 | Connect (Compact, Classic, XL) | through-floor | From $35,000 (manufacturer's range) | 2 floors |
A list price covers the equipment only; dealer quotes and ranges include fitting. Every brand and model, side by side.
Running Costs and Help Paying
- Yearly service
- $300–$760
- Power
- About $0.10 a day
- Repairs to set aside
- $500–$1,500 a year
Sources: Angi (service), RetirementLiving (power, about 1 kWh a day), Willow (repairs, a Colorado estimate). A repair visit is billed at $75 to $100 an hour (HomeAdvisor).
- VA Specially Adapted Housing grant
Up to $126,526 (FY 2026) for veterans with a qualifying service-connected disability.
- USDA Section 504 repair loan or grant
A loan up to $40,000, or a grant up to $10,000 at age 62 or older, for very-low-income homeowners in rural areas.
- Medical expense tax deduction
The part of the cost that does not raise your home's value can count as a medical expense.
Rules and help in your state: home elevator cost by state.
Questions People Ask
Which kind of home elevator costs the least?
A platform lift costs $5,000 to $20,000 installed, but it is not the same as a home elevator. If you want a full elevator, Nationwide Lifts shows entry-level models with standard finishes listed at $20,000 to $30,000.
What does an ordinary home elevator run?
Bruno lists installed elevators starting at $35,000, while Nationwide Lifts lists basic models with standard finishes at $20,000 to $30,000. Upgrades add to that. Fixr says going up a cab size tacks on $10,000 or more, and per Angi, automatic sliding doors can run the bill up by as much as $25,000.
Are there yearly costs with a home elevator?
There are. Maintenance runs $300 to $760 a year, averaging $510, per Angi.
Do finishes move the price much?
Yes, they can. Angi prices cab extras such as seats, lighting, mirrors, and paneling at $300 to $5,000. Fancy glass or other elaborate custom work can push the total past $50,000.
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.