Through-floor lifts · UK prices
What a home lift costs
A through-floor home lift is five to ten times the price of a stairlift. A Stiltz Duo is commonly £12,000 to £22,000 installed, and a Trio project lands between £22,500 and £28,000 once building work is counted. For most people a stairlift does the same job for a tenth of that — but not for everyone.
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Home lift prices, 2026
Figures below are typical UK installed prices excluding VAT. Nearly every home lift is quoted after a survey, because the building work varies more than the lift does.
| Lift | Typical installed | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Stiltz Duo | £12,000 – £22,000 | Two-person, smallest footprint, the most common domestic through-floor lift |
| Stiltz Duo Classic | £17,000 – £20,000 | The enclosed-cabin version of the Duo |
| Stiltz Trio | £18,000 – £20,000 | Three-person, or wheelchair with an attendant |
| Stiltz Trio Plus, full project | £22,500 – £28,000 | Real-world total once specification and building work are included |
| Building work, through floor | £2,500 – £4,000 | Forming and finishing the floor opening — often quoted separately |
| Floor opening preparation | £500 – £2,000 | Varies with floor construction and the age of the property |
The lift price and the project price are different things. A quote for the lift alone can be several thousand pounds under the figure you actually pay, because forming the hole between two floors, making good the ceiling and the floor, and any electrical work are separate trades. When you compare quotes, compare project totals, and ask specifically what building work is excluded.
VAT is the other large variable. If the lift is for someone chronically sick or disabled and it is for domestic use, the supply and installation can normally be zero-rated — on a £20,000 project that is £4,000. Ask for the eligibility declaration.
Home lift or stairlift?
Honestly, most people asking this want a stairlift. It is the cheaper, faster, less disruptive answer and it solves the same problem. The cases below are where it genuinely does not.
A wheelchair goes up with the user
A stairlift moves a person between two chairs. If transferring is not possible, or you would need a second wheelchair upstairs, a through-floor lift is the answer rather than a preference.
The staircase cannot take a rail
Very narrow, spiral, or open on both sides. Some staircases simply will not take a stairlift safely, and a good surveyor will tell you so.
The stairs still need to be usable
A stairlift rail narrows the staircase for everyone else. In a busy household, or where a carer needs clear access, that matters more than the price difference.
Long-term planning, not immediate need
A home lift adds a permanent facility to the house. A stairlift is a piece of equipment that comes out again. Which of those you want is a property decision as much as a mobility one.
Get a stairlift survey too, even if you are fairly sure. It costs nothing, and a straight lift at £2,000 to £4,000 fitted resolves the great majority of situations that people initially bring to us as home lift enquiries. Stairlift prices →
Questions people ask
How much does a Stiltz home lift cost?
A Stiltz Duo is commonly £12,000 to £22,000 installed excluding VAT, with the Duo Classic around £17,000 to £20,000. A Trio is typically £18,000 to £20,000, and a full Trio Plus project usually lands between £22,500 and £28,000 once specification and building work are included. Stiltz do not publish a fixed price list because the building work varies more than the lift does.
How much does a home lift cost in the UK overall?
Budget £15,000 to £28,000 as a project total for a two or three person through-floor lift, including £2,500 to £4,000 of building work to form and finish the floor opening. Cheaper quotes usually exclude the building work, so compare project totals rather than lift prices.
Is a home lift cheaper than moving house?
Almost always, yes, once you count stamp duty, agents, legal fees and removals. That is the comparison most people are actually making, and it is the one that makes a £20,000 lift look reasonable.
Do you pay VAT on a home lift?
Usually not, if the lift is for someone chronically sick or disabled and it is for domestic use. The supply and installation can be zero-rated, which on a £20,000 project is £4,000. You sign a short eligibility declaration provided by the supplier.
What is the cheapest home lift in the UK?
At the entry end, a Stiltz Duo can be installed from around £12,000 with some suppliers. Below that you are no longer comparing home lifts, you are comparing against a stairlift at £2,000 to £4,000 fitted, which for most situations does the same job.
How long does a home lift take to install?
The lift itself is typically a few days on site. The variable is the building work around it, which depends on the floor construction and how the ceiling below is finished. Ask for a total site time, not just the lift installation time.
Get a home lift quote
Tell us which floors you need to connect and whether a wheelchair goes up with the user. If a stairlift would do the job for a tenth of the price, we will tell you that too.
Comparing against a stairlift? Stairlift prices.
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