How Much Does a Home Elevator Cost in 2025?
A home elevator costs $4,196 on average, but prices often range from $2,715 to $5,925. Get in touch with an elevator professional for an accurate quote based on your needs.
Home elevator installations provide an accessible and convenient way to move between floors, often costing between $2,715 and $5,925.
Location can significantly impact these prices, as labor and material costs differ by region.
Factors influencing the cost include location, size, quality, number of floors, permits, inspections, and whether it's a retrofit.
Home elevators can increase property value by 10% to 20% and offer enhanced accessibility and convenience.
Pneumatic elevators are the most costly type, and outdoor elevators or vertical platform lifts tend to be the least costly.
This article was created using automation technology and thoroughly fact-checked and edited by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Installing a home elevator can make every floor of your house easier to reach. Plan on spending about $4,196 on average, with most projects landing between $2,715 and $5,925. Regular maintenance keeps it running smoothly and ensures safety, so hiring a licensed professional is paramount for proper installation and dependable performance.
Home Elevator Cost Factors
Several factors influence the cost of installing a home elevator. These include the type of elevator, the number of floors it serves, the brand, and whether it's a retrofit. Understanding these elements can help you make informed decisions and budget accordingly.
Elevator Type
The type of elevator you choose significantly affects the overall cost. Each style offers unique features suited to different needs and home designs. Selecting the right elevator ensures it fits seamlessly into your home while meeting your accessibility requirements.
| Elevator Type | Features | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical Platform Lift | Low-cost, basic lifting device capable of traveling up to 14 feet | $5,000–$20,000 |
| Pneumatic Elevator | Highest cost, using vacuum pressure to move glass cabins between floors | $35,000–$60,000 |
| Hydraulic Elevator | Hydraulic pump connects to a cylinder which raises and lowers a piston, moving the elevator cab | $25,000–$50,000 |
| Shaftless Elevator | Small, compact, and ideal for single-person use or in small spaces—can only travel one floor | $15,000–$25,000 |
| Cable-Driven Elevator | Uses a pulley system of steel ropes, a counterweight drum, and electric motor gearbox | $15,000–$35,000 |
| Geared Traction Elevator | Uses geared pulleys to operate, reducing energy usage but also slowing movement | $25,000–$38,000 |
| Gearless Traction Elevator | Uses a track and counterweight system—compact and ideal for retrofitting | $29,000–$55,000 |
| Outdoor Elevator | Affordable and made of durable materials to withstand the elements | $2,000–$10,000 |
New Construction vs. Retrofit
Whether you’re breaking ground on a new build or adding a lift to your current place makes a big difference in price. It’s cheaper to plan the shaft and mechanics while the house is still on paper, which lets you pick any elevator style you like. Retrofitting an existing home often means carving out space for a pit and shaft, moving pipes and wires, and patching walls—so expect to pay up to three times more for a retrofit.
If you retrofit your home with an elevator, you’ll need to clear space for the elevator pit and shaft (except when installing certain elevator types), reroute plumbing and electrical lines from the space, and reconfigure your heating and cooling systems. All of this means that retrofitting an elevator can cost as much as three times more than installing an elevator in a new home.
Permits and Inspections
Just like any major upgrade, you’ll need a building permit and regular inspections to keep your elevator code-compliant. Many homeowners bundle the yearly inspection—$75 to $300—into a maintenance contract so it’s one less thing to remember.
You also need to get a building permit in order to install a home elevator. Elevator building permit costs vary by region and can cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000.
Labor and Maintenance Costs
Labor and upkeep make up a big slice of the final bill. The installer will base their quote on your elevator style, home size, and whether they’re working in new construction or carving space out of an existing wall. Budget for yearly maintenance, too—it keeps the lift safe and running smoothly.
Installation Labor Costs
Plan on labor being a major line item. Your local elevator installer will charge more for larger homes, specialty elevator models, or tricky retrofits that call for extra framing and wiring.
All in all, home elevator labor installation costs anywhere from $700 to $15,000, which is in addition to the cost of site preparation and the equipment itself. Here’s a breakdown of common elevator labor cost factors:
| Elevator Installation Labor Task | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Site inspection | $70–$1,500 |
| Site preparation | $500–$15,000 |
| Framing and shaft construction | $200–$4,500 |
| Lift and wiring setup | $300–$6,000 |
| Door and sensor installation | $100–$2,000 |
| Testing and adjustments | $30–$1,000 |
Maintenance and Repair Costs
Regular elevator repair and maintenance are absolutely essential to ensure safety. On average, elevator repair costs between $75 and $100 per hour in addition to any equipment costs your local elevator repair service might charge.
Alternatively, you might consider signing an annual maintenance contract with the company that installed your elevator. This ensures you get the maintenance work you need on a regular basis, which tends to be less expensive. Most annual maintenance contracts for elevators cost between $200 and $350 per year.
Does Installing an Elevator Increase Home Value?
A home elevator is a splurge, but it can pay you back. Many homeowners see roughly a 50% ROI and a 10% to 20% boost in resale value—especially when the elevator matches the home’s style and market. Your neighborhood and property type will ultimately set the ceiling on that return.
Elevators provide two major selling points: luxury and accessibility. Not only do elevators add a flashy touch to any home, but they ensure the house is accessible to people with wheelchairs or those living with disabilities.
Budgeting for a Home Elevator
If you're looking to save on your home elevator without sacrificing safety or quality, consider these cost-saving strategies:
Choose a simpler, lower-cost model—think vertical platform or cable-driven—if you don’t need the glass-cab showpiece.
Limit the size of the elevator cab to what you need—you’ll pay far less for a 3-by-4-foot elevator designed to fit one person than a 5-by-7-foot cab that fits the whole family.
Avoid retrofitting when possible—it’s much less expensive to install an elevator during a new build, so consider paying for it if you plan to live in a house for a very long time.
Limit how many floors your elevator services—you may only need it to go up to the second level versus all the way up to the third or fourth floors.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need full-home accessibility, an elevator usually wins out. A lift carries you—and any wheelchairs, walkers, or groceries—between floors in one trip. Stair lifts move only one seated rider, and dumbwaiters handle items, not people. For whole-house freedom of movement, the elevator delivers the most complete, future-proof solution.
The installation timeline for a home elevator varies by the size and scope of the project. A simple, straight-up install can wrap in about one week, but projects that call for new shafts, framing, or electrical reroutes can stretch into several months. Ask each bidder for a start date and a step-by-step schedule so you know exactly when the cab will be ready to ride.
Yes—when a licensed pro does the work and the unit is inspected every year. The installer pulls the right permits, tests the safety sensors, and confirms the cab meets local code. You can add extras like key locks or phone alerts for even more peace of mind. Stick to the maintenance schedule, and the elevator will stay as safe as any other major system in your home.
Stair lifts run about $2,000 to $20,000 installed and work well if you just need a chair to get up one flight. They don’t handle wheelchairs or large items, and curved or extra-long rails drive the price up. Elevators cost more, but they move people plus gear and add resale value. Compare both options with a pro to see which fits your mobility goals and budget.
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