Platform Lifts for Home
Four types of platform lift are used in UK homes, and they suit very different situations. Compare rises, footprints, costs and grant funding in one place.
What counts as a platform lift for the home
A platform lift raises an open or enclosed platform vertically or along an incline, usually slowly and usually under hold-to-run control. That distinguishes it from a passenger lift, which is faster, enclosed and governed by different standards.
For domestic use, four types matter:
Step lifts (short-rise vertical platform lifts). An open platform that travels up to around 3 metres. Used at entrances, split levels and raised patios, indoors or outdoors. Often needs no structural work at all.
Incline platform lifts. A folding platform that runs on a rail along an existing staircase, carrying a wheelchair user and their chair. The stairs remain usable when the platform is folded.
Through-floor homelifts. A cab or open platform that travels through a hole cut in the floor between two storeys. The most common answer for a two-storey house where the user cannot transfer to a stairlift seat.
Enclosed cabin lifts. A self-supporting shaft with a closed cabin, usually installed against a wall or through a floor. More expensive, but weatherproof, quieter and better looking in a prominent position.
Worth naming what is not a platform lift: a stairlift carries a seated user and is a different machine entirely, and a dumbwaiter carries goods only and must never carry people.
Comparing the four types
Type | Typical rise | Where it goes | Indoor / outdoor | Structural work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Step lift | Up to 3 m | Entrances, split levels, terraces | Both | Often none, or an 80mm pit |
Incline platform lift | Follows the staircase | Existing stairs, straight or curved | Both | Rail fixed to treads or wall |
Through-floor homelift | One storey | Corner of a room, through the ceiling | Indoor | Floor opening, sometimes a beam |
Enclosed cabin lift | Up to ~4 m and above | Against a wall, or through a floor | Both | Base and pit usually needed |
Structure note: first HTML embed.
What platform lifts for home use cost
These are typical UK starting prices for supply and installation. Every one of them moves with rise, site access, groundworks and finish, so treat them as a floor rather than a quote.
Type | From (installed) | Main cost drivers |
|---|---|---|
Step lift | £6,389 | Travel height, platform size, pit vs ramp, outdoor siting |
Incline platform lift | £8,000 | Straight vs curved rail, number of stops, landing arrangement |
Through-floor homelift | £17,500 | Builder's work, floor opening, cab vs open platform, finishes |
Enclosed cabin lift | ~£10,000 | Number of stops, shaft construction, door configuration |
Curved stairlift (for comparison) | £3,400 | Rail complexity, turns and landings |
Outdoor stairlift (for comparison) | £2,500 | Rise, weatherproofing, powder coating |
The gap between a step lift and a through-floor homelift is the single biggest decision in this whole category. If a short rise solves your problem, it is worth being certain a full storey lift is genuinely needed before committing to three times the budget.
Space, structure and power
Most people assume the lift is the hard part. Usually the building is.
Requirement | Step lift | Incline platform lift | Through-floor homelift |
|---|---|---|---|
Footprint | ~1.3 × 1.3 m upwards | Rail plus folded platform on the stairs | ~1.1 × 1.5 m on both floors |
Pit | None, or 80mm | None | Usually none |
Headroom | Rise plus gate height | Not applicable | Full floor-to-ceiling, plus clearance |
Power | Single phase 230V 13–16A | Single phase 230V | Single phase 230V, dedicated circuit |
Floor loading | Concrete or reinforced base | Existing staircase must be sound | Joists may need trimming or a beam |
Two things catch people out. First, a through-floor lift needs the same footprint upstairs as down, and the upstairs room is usually a bedroom where that space is already spoken for. Second, an outdoor step lift needs drainage at the base — standing water in a pit is the most common cause of early faults.
For product-level dimensions, see our individual model pages, including the Opal step lift.
Grants and VAT relief
Two separate routes can reduce what you pay, and they work independently of each other.
Disabled Facilities Grant
The Disabled Facilities Grant is administered by your local council for adaptations that are necessary and appropriate for a disabled person living in the property. Maximum awards differ by nation:
Nation | Maximum grant |
|---|---|
England | £30,000 |
Wales | £36,000 |
Northern Ireland | £25,000 |
Scotland | Separate Scheme of Assistance, set locally |
The grant is means tested for most adult applicants, and is not means tested for children. Councils can also run discretionary top-up schemes above the mandatory cap, and some do — it is always worth asking. In practice the cap covers most step lifts and many through-floor lifts outright, but rarely covers a complex enclosed installation with significant building work.
The process runs through an occupational therapist assessment and takes months rather than weeks, so start early. Our full guide is here: Disabled Facilities Grant and platform lifts.
VAT relief
A lift installed in a private residence for the use of a disabled person can qualify for zero-rated VAT under HMRC's rules for disabled and older people. Where the original supply is zero-rated, subsequent repairs and maintenance normally follow at 0% too, provided the eligible person is still using the lift.
This is not automatic. Your installer will ask you to complete a declaration of eligibility, and it is the installer's responsibility to confirm the supply actually qualifies. If your circumstances are unusual, ask the installer to seek written confirmation from HMRC before you sign.
Together, a DFG award and VAT relief can change the arithmetic substantially on a domestic installation.
Planning permission and building regulations
For most homes, an internal platform lift is not development and does not need planning permission. An external lift may do, particularly if you are in a conservation area, the property is listed, or the lift is visible from a highway. Check with your local planning authority before ordering.
Building regulations are more likely to apply. Cutting a floor opening for a through-floor lift is structural work and needs approval. Part M applies to new build and material alterations rather than most straightforward retrofits, but your installer or building control officer will tell you which route applies to your job.
Listed buildings are a separate conversation. Reversible, floor-mounted step lifts are usually easier to get consent for than anything requiring a permanent opening.
Which type fits your situation
If... | Consider |
|---|---|
You need to get over 3–6 steps at an entrance | Step lift |
The problem is a raised patio, terrace or garden level | Step lift, outdoor specification |
The user stays in their wheelchair and the stairs are sound | Incline platform lift |
The user cannot transfer to a stairlift seat and needs both floors | Through-floor homelift |
You want a lift that looks like part of the house | Enclosed cabin lift |
The user can transfer to a seat and only needs the stairs | Stairlift, not a platform lift |
You need to move shopping, laundry or bins between floors |
If two rows describe you, it is usually worth getting quotes for both. Installers survey free, and the difference in cost between the two options is often smaller than expected once groundworks are priced.
Running costs and servicing
A domestic platform lift should be serviced at least once a year, and the service contract is the cost most buyers forget to budget for. Servicing covers the drive, safety edges and sensing plates, gate interlocks, emergency stop, battery back-up and controls.
Electricity use is minimal — these are low-duty machines that spend most of the day idle. Battery back-up units are the main consumable, and typically need replacing every few years.
If your lift is zero-rated for VAT, servicing on the same lift for the same person should be too.
Getting quotes
Platform Lift UK matches homeowners with vetted installers who cover their 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 will be indoors or outdoors
Whether the user will remain in a wheelchair, and which model
Rough dimensions of the space available, on both levels if relevant
Whether you are applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant
FAQs (plain text)
What is the difference between a platform lift and a homelift? A homelift is one type of platform lift. "Platform lift" is the broad category covering step lifts, incline platform lifts, through-floor homelifts and enclosed cabin lifts. A homelift specifically travels between storeys inside a house.
How much does a platform lift cost for a home in the UK? Step lifts start from around £6,389 installed, incline platform lifts from around £8,000, and through-floor homelifts from around £17,500. The final figure depends on rise, site conditions, groundworks and finish.
Can I get a grant for a platform 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 operating a separate Scheme of Assistance. It is means tested for most adults and administered by your local council.
Do I pay VAT on a home platform lift? Possibly not. A lift installed in a private residence for a disabled person can qualify for zero-rated VAT. You will need to complete a declaration of eligibility, and your installer confirms whether the supply qualifies.
Do platform lifts need planning permission? Internal lifts generally do not. External lifts may, particularly on listed buildings or in conservation areas. Building regulations approval is usually needed where a floor opening is formed.
How much space does a platform lift need? A step lift needs roughly 1.3 by 1.3 metres upwards. A through-floor homelift needs around 1.1 by 1.5 metres on both floors, which is the constraint most people hit first.
Can a platform lift be installed outside? Yes. Step lifts, incline platform lifts and enclosed cabin lifts are all available in outdoor specifications with weather-resistant finishes. Outdoor installations need proper drainage at the base.
How often does a home platform lift need servicing? At least annually. Servicing covers the drive, safety devices, gate interlocks, emergency stop and battery back-up. Where the lift was zero-rated for VAT, servicing for the same user should be zero-rated too.
