Accessible Lifts
What makes a lift accessible, the types available for homes and public buildings, the UK standards that apply, and what they cost — in one plain guide.
What makes a lift "accessible"
Accessibility is about independent use. A lift is accessible when someone can get in, operate it and get out without help. In practice that means:
Enough room for a wheelchair, and ideally an accompanying person, to enter and turn
A wide, clear doorway the platform or cabin can be driven straight through
Reachable controls set at a height a seated user can operate, with tactile and often Braille markings
Level access on and off, with no lip or step to cross
Handrails and anti-slip surfaces for people who are unsteady on their feet
Clear signals — visual and audible — for people with sensory impairments
A stairlift, by contrast, carries a seated user and requires them to transfer out of a wheelchair, so it is an accessibility aid but not an "accessible lift" in the sense a wheelchair user needs.
The types of accessible lift
Type | What it is | Where it fits | Indoor / outdoor |
|---|---|---|---|
Step lift | Open platform, rises up to ~3 m | Entrance steps, split levels | Both |
Incline platform lift | Folding platform on a stair rail | Existing staircases | Both |
Through-floor homelift | Platform or cab between two storeys | Homes | Indoor |
Enclosed platform lift | Closed cabin in a low-rise shaft | Homes and public buildings | Both |
Accessible passenger lift | Conventional lift built to EN 81-70 | Offices, shops, public buildings | Indoor |
Structure note: first HTML embed.
The first four are platform lifts — slower, hold-to-run, and lighter on structural work. The fifth is a full passenger lift, faster and fully automatic, and it is what most new public buildings need to satisfy the building rules.
Standards and building rules
This is where home and commercial projects diverge. For a home adaptation the rules are light; for a public building they are not.
EN 81-70: the accessibility standard for passenger lifts
<cite index="4-1">EN 81-70 specifies the minimum requirements for the safe and independent access and use of lifts by people, including persons with disabilities.</cite> <cite index="2-1">It applies to new passenger and goods passenger lifts built to EN 81-20, and can also be used as a helpful basis for other lift types such as inclined lifts.</cite> The standard defines three accessible cabin sizes:
Cabin type | Approx. size | Accommodates |
|---|---|---|
Type 1 | 1000 × 1250 mm | One wheelchair user |
Type 2 | 1100 × 1400 mm | Wheelchair user plus one accompanying person |
Type 3 | 2000 × 1400 mm | Wheelchair user able to turn, or a stretcher |
<cite index="7-1">A Type 2 cabin, with a clear door opening of 900 mm, is the minimum requirement for lifts in new buildings.</cite> Always confirm exact dimensions against the current standard with your lift consultant — the figures above are indicative.
Part M and the Equality Act
Approved Document M of the Building Regulations governs access to and use of buildings. For most new and materially altered non-domestic buildings it requires a suitable accessible passenger lift, meeting EN 81-70, where vertical circulation is needed. Where a full passenger lift is not reasonable, a platform lift built to EN 81-41 can be an acceptable alternative in defined circumstances.
Running alongside is the Equality Act 2010, which places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments so disabled people are not put at a substantial disadvantage. Access is not simply a building-control box to tick at completion; it is an ongoing duty. That is often what drives an accessible lift into an existing building that predates current standards.
Platform lift standards
Vertical platform lifts are built to EN 81-41 and inclined platform lifts to EN 81-40. These are the machinery safety standards for platform lifts, distinct from EN 81-70, which applies to conventional passenger lifts. If a supplier quotes you a standard, it is worth checking it is the right one for the lift type.
What accessible lifts cost
Typical UK starting prices for supply and installation. They are a floor, not a quote — every figure moves with rise, access, groundworks and finish.
Type | From (installed) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Step lift | £6,389 | Cheapest; often no structural work |
Incline platform lift | £8,000 | Straight rail cheapest; curved costs more |
Enclosed platform lift | £10,000 | Weatherproof, better finish |
Through-floor homelift | £17,500 | Includes builder's work |
Accessible passenger lift | Quoted per project | Shaft, stops and specification dependent |
Accessible passenger lifts for commercial buildings are quoted per project rather than from a list price, because the shaft, number of stops and specification vary enormously. For a fuller domestic breakdown, see our disabled platform lifts prices guide.
Accessible lifts at home vs in public buildings
At home | In a public building | |
|---|---|---|
Usual type | Platform lift | Accessible passenger lift, or platform lift |
Key standard | EN 81-41 / EN 81-40 | EN 81-70, plus Part M |
Legal driver | Personal need | Building Regs and Equality Act |
Funding | DFG and VAT relief | Business cost; capital allowances may apply |
Restricted use | Not usually needed | Often key-switched or supervised |
At home, the choice is led by the person's needs and what the building allows, and the funding routes below can cover much or all of the cost. In a public building the choice is led by the rules, and the duty is on the operator to get it right and keep it working.
For domestic projects, our platform lifts for home guide walks through the four types in detail.
Funding an accessible lift
Disabled Facilities Grant (homes)
Council funding for adaptations that are necessary and appropriate for a disabled person at home. Maximums by nation:
Nation | Maximum grant |
|---|---|
England | £30,000 |
Wales | £36,000 |
Northern Ireland | £25,000 |
Scotland | Separate Scheme of Assistance, set locally |
Means tested for most adults, not means tested for children, and administered by your local council. Full detail in our Disabled Facilities Grant guide.
VAT relief (homes)
A lift installed in a private residence for a disabled person can be zero-rated for VAT, removing 20% from the supply. You complete a declaration of eligibility and the installer confirms the supply qualifies. This applies to domestic use, not to commercial passenger lifts.
Choosing the right accessible lift
If... | Consider |
|---|---|
You need to clear steps at a home entrance | Step lift |
A wheelchair user needs an existing staircase | Incline platform lift |
A home user needs both floors and can't use a stairlift | Through-floor homelift |
You want a lift that looks built-in at home | Enclosed platform lift |
You're fitting out a new or altered public building | Accessible passenger lift to EN 81-70 |
You're retrofitting access to an older public building | Platform lift to EN 81-41, or a passenger lift |
If two rows fit, get quotes for both — installers survey free, and once groundworks are priced the gap between options is often smaller than expected.
Getting quotes
Platform Lift UK matches you with vetted installers who cover your area. The service is free to you; installers pay us only when we refer a genuine enquiry.
Before you enquire, it helps to have:
The vertical rise, floor to floor or ground to landing
Whether the lift is for a home or a public building
Whether it will be indoors or outdoors
Whether the user stays in a wheelchair, and which model
For public buildings, whether Part M or an Equality Act duty applies
FAQs (plain text)
What is an accessible lift? An accessible lift lets someone get in, operate it and get out independently, whatever their mobility. At home that usually means a platform lift for a wheelchair user; in a public building it means a passenger lift built to the EN 81-70 accessibility standard.
What is the difference between a platform lift and an accessible passenger lift? A platform lift is slower, hold-to-run, and needs little structural work, built to EN 81-41 or EN 81-40. An accessible passenger lift is a conventional automatic lift built to EN 81-70, which is what most new public buildings require.
What standard do accessible lifts have to meet? Passenger lifts for accessibility are built to EN 81-70. Vertical platform lifts are built to EN 81-41 and inclined platform lifts to EN 81-40. In buildings, Approved Document M and the Equality Act 2010 also apply.
How much does an accessible lift cost in the UK? Home platform lifts start from around £6,389 for a step lift, rising to £17,500 for a through-floor homelift. Accessible passenger lifts for commercial buildings are quoted per project, depending on the shaft, number of stops and specification.
Do accessible lifts need planning permission? Internal lifts usually do not. External lifts may, especially on listed buildings or in conservation areas. Building regulations approval is generally needed where a floor opening is formed or in new and materially altered buildings.
Can I get help paying for an accessible lift at home? Yes. The Disabled Facilities Grant provides up to £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales and £25,000 in Northern Ireland, with Scotland running a separate scheme. A domestic lift for a disabled person can also be zero-rated for VAT.
Does a public building legally need an accessible lift? Where vertical access is required, most new and materially altered non-domestic buildings must provide a suitable accessible lift under Approved Document M. The Equality Act 2010 also places an ongoing duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
