Small House Lifts Price in the UK: Costs in 2026
TL;DR
A small house lift costs £15,000 to £40,000 installed in the UK. A through-floor lift for two floors runs £13,000 to £25,000, and a grant can cover up to £30,000.
Table of Contents
Small house lift price: the short version
A small house lift costs £15,000 to £40,000 installed in the UK. That is the Swift Lifts guide figure for 2026. A through-floor lift for two floors costs £13,000 to £25,000 installed, and a realistic two-floor platform project with the building work included runs £20,000 to £25,000 all in. A Disabled Facilities Grant can cover up to £30,000 in England, and eligible disabled people pay 0% VAT on the lift and the installation.
A house lift is not a stairlift. A stairlift carries one person up the stairs on a rail. A house lift carries a person, a wheelchair and often a carer, in a small cabin or on a platform that moves between floors through a hole cut in the floor. The type of lift decides the price, and so does the building work around it.
Figure 1: A glass home lift beside a curved marble staircase. A through-floor lift needs a hole cut in the floor and a small amount of building work around it.
House lift prices by type
| Lift type | Typical installed cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Through-floor platform lift | £13,000 to £25,000 | Most common for two floors. No shaft needed. |
| Screw-drive lift | £18,000 to £40,000 | Small cabin, quiet, needs a small shaft. |
| Vacuum lift | £29,500 to £45,000 | Clear tube, air pressure moves the cabin. |
| Hydraulic lift | £22,000 to £50,000 | Smooth and strong, needs a machine room or cabinet. |
| Traction lift | £25,000 to £55,000 | Ropes and counterweight, like a full passenger lift. |
| Reconditioned lift | £8,000 to £18,000 | Refurbished unit, shorter guarantee. |
What the named models cost
Two names come up again and again in UK small lift prices. Stiltz makes the Duo and the Trio, and Swift makes the SWIFT Lite and the SWIFT Pro.
| Model | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stiltz Duo | £12,000 to £22,000 installed | Two people, fits in a corner of a room. |
| Stiltz Trio | £18,000 to £20,000 | Three people or a wheelchair and a carer. |
| Stiltz Trio Plus, full project | £22,500 to £28,000 | Lift plus building work, all in. |
| SWIFT Lite | From £18,100 | Two floors. Add £1,900 per extra floor. |
| SWIFT Pro | From £19,050 | Two floors, larger cabin. Add £1,900 per extra floor. |
Worked example: a Stiltz Duo project
Take a Stiltz Duo at £12,000 to £22,000 installed, and add the building work: cutting the floor opening, finishing the edges and making good, which Stairlift Aftercare puts at £2,500 to £4,000. The project total is £14,500 to £26,000. The Disabled Facilities Grant ceiling of £30,000 covers that whole range, and 0% VAT on a £20,000 project saves £4,000. That is the comparison that matters: the grant ceiling, the VAT saving and the project total, not the lift price alone.
Running costs
A lift costs money to keep running. A platform lift costs £400 to £1,500 a year to service, and a passenger lift costs £600 to £2,400 a year, according to BASE Lift Services, reviewed in May 2026. Budget for a service contract from the first year, and ask the installer what the call-out charge is outside the contract.
VAT and grants
If the lift is for a disabled person, the supply and installation can be charged at 0% VAT. That saves £4,000 on a £20,000 project. The Disabled Facilities Grant can cover up to £30,000 in England, and you apply through your local council with an occupational therapist assessment. The grant is means-tested for adults. Get the VAT treatment and the grant decision in writing before you order, because both change the price by thousands.
Sources: Swift Lifts small lift installation cost UK 2026 (most small home lifts £15,000 to £40,000 installed; SWIFT Lite from £18,100; SWIFT Pro from £19,050 for two floors; £1,900 per extra floor; realistic two-floor platform project £20,000 to £25,000 all in; Disabled Facilities Grant up to £30,000 in England; 0% VAT for eligible disabled people); UK Home Lifts prices, reconciled 12 October 2026 (through-floor £13,000 to £25,000; vacuum £29,500 to £45,000; screw-drive £18,000 to £40,000; traction £25,000 to £55,000; hydraulic £22,000 to £50,000; reconditioned £8,000 to £18,000; install £1,500 to £6,000); Stairlift Aftercare Stiltz prices (Duo £12,000 to £22,000 installed; Trio £18,000 to £20,000; Trio Plus full project £22,500 to £28,000; building work £2,500 to £4,000; 0% VAT saves £4,000 on a £20,000 project); BASE Lift Services, reviewed May 2026 (platform lift maintenance £400 to £1,500 per year; passenger lift £600 to £2,400 per year). Prices checked 14 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a small house lift cost?
£15,000 to £40,000 installed in the UK. A through-floor lift for two floors costs £13,000 to £25,000, and a realistic two-floor project runs £20,000 to £25,000 all in.
Can I get a grant for a house lift?
Yes. A Disabled Facilities Grant can cover up to £30,000 in England. Apply through your local council with an occupational therapist assessment.
Do I pay VAT on a house lift?
Not if the lift is for a disabled person. The supply and installation can be charged at 0% VAT, which saves £4,000 on a £20,000 project.
How much does a house lift cost to run?
A platform lift costs £400 to £1,500 a year to service, and a passenger lift £600 to £2,400 a year. Budget for a service contract from the first year.
Is a house lift better than a stairlift?
They do different jobs. A stairlift carries one person up the stairs. A house lift carries a person, a wheelchair and often a carer between floors. A lift costs far more, and it needs building work that a stairlift does not.
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