Lift installation cost: what decides the price of a new lift in the UK

In short: lift installation cost depends far more on the building than on the lift. The type and size of lift, the number of floors, whether a shaft and pit already exist, how much building work is needed, the finishes, the approvals and access to the site all change the price. A platform lift in a building with space ready for it costs much less than a passenger lift that needs a new shaft through an occupied building. We don’t publish fixed prices, because every building is different, but this guide explains each factor so you can budget sensibly and compare quotes fairly.

This guide is for building owners, developers, architects, managing agents and facilities teams in the UK planning a new lift. We install passenger lifts, platform and through-floor lifts, goods lifts, service lifts and dumbwaiters, and every project starts with a free survey.

Why lift installation cost varies so much

Two buildings asking for “a lift” can need very different projects. In one, the architect has left a shaft, pit and power supply ready, and the job is to fit the lift. In another, there is no space at all, and the project includes structural work, a new shaft, a pit dug into the ground floor, a new power supply and making good every floor the lift passes. The lift itself may cost much the same in both; the lift installation cost of the whole project does not.

That is why any quote worth relying on starts with a survey.

Two buildings, one lift: how lift installation cost changes

Imagine the same passenger lift going into two buildings:

• Building A is a new office block. The architect has designed a shaft, pit and machine space to suit the lift, and the electrician has run a supply to the right place. The lift installation cost is mainly the lift: design, manufacture, delivery, fitting, testing and handover.
• Building B is a converted older building with no lift. A shaft has to be formed through each floor, a pit dug into the ground floor slab, the structure strengthened, a new power supply run in, and every landing made good and decorated. The lift may cost much the same as in Building A, but the project costs far more, and takes longer.

This is why we survey before we quote, and why the quotes you receive for “the same lift” can be very different.

The 10 factors that decide lift installation cost

1. The type of lift. Passenger lifts, platform lifts, through-floor lifts, goods lifts, service lifts and dumbwaiters use very different equipment.
2. Size and capacity. A larger car carrying more people or heavier goods needs larger equipment and a larger shaft.
3. Number of floors. Each extra floor adds travel, landing doors, controls and installation time.
4. Drive type. Traction lifts suit taller buildings and frequent use; hydraulic lifts suit lower rises. Machine-room-less lifts save space but suit some buildings better than others.
5. The shaft. Whether a shaft exists, needs adapting, or has to be built from scratch, inside or outside the building.
6. Pit and headroom. Some lifts need a pit below the lowest floor and headroom above the top floor; digging a pit or raising a roof adds cost. Low-pit and low-headroom designs can help.
7. Builder’s work. Structural openings, making good, fire separation, lighting and decoration around the new lift.
8. Power supply. Some buildings need a new or upgraded supply for the lift.
9. Finishes. The car interior, landing doors, lighting, handrails, mirrors and controls can be simple or high specification.
10. Approvals, access and programme. Building Regulations, planning permission or listed building consent, how easily equipment can be delivered and installed, and whether work has to fit around people using the building.

Lift installation cost by type of lift

• Passenger lifts. The main choice for offices, blocks of flats, hotels and public buildings. Passenger lift cost depends most on the number of floors, the car size, the drive type and the shaft. BS EN 81-20 and BS EN 81-50 cover new passenger and goods lifts.
• Platform lifts. Slower lifts for step-free access over a short rise or a few floors, built to BS EN 81-41. They usually need less building work, which keeps the lift installation cost down where they are suitable.
• Through-floor lifts. Serve two floors through an opening in the floor, needing little space; suitable in some buildings for access between two levels.
• Goods lifts. Built for loads, trolleys and pallets rather than people; cost depends on capacity, car size and door type.
• Service lifts and dumbwaiters. Small lifts for food, drink and stock in restaurants, pubs and hotels; cost depends on capacity, the number of floors and the hatches.

Commercial lift prices: what is different about commercial buildings

Commercial lift prices are usually higher than the price of a simple access lift, because commercial buildings tend to need:

• Larger cars and higher capacities for staff, visitors and goods.
• More floors and more frequent use, which points to traction lifts.
• Accessibility to current standards. BS EN 81-70 sets accessible car sizes, and Approved Document M expects a passenger lift for access between storeys in most non-domestic buildings.
• Fire and evacuation features in taller buildings, such as firefighting lifts (BS EN 81-72) and evacuation lifts (BS EN 81-76).
• Work around occupied buildings, with out-of-hours working and protection for tenants.

When comparing commercial lift prices, compare like with like: the same car size, capacity, floors, drive type, finishes and scope of building work.

The government publishes Approved Document M, which sets out the access requirements for new buildings and material alterations in England, and the HSE explains the duties for lifting equipment used at work in its guidance on lifting equipment at work. Both shape the lift you need, and so the lift installation cost.

New buildings and existing buildings

• New buildings. When the lift is planned from the start, the shaft, pit, headroom and power are designed in, and the lift installation cost is mostly the lift itself. Involve the lift company at design stage so the space suits the lift.
• Existing buildings. Adding a lift to a building that never had one usually costs more, because of structural work, a new shaft or enclosure, a pit and making good. A platform lift or a compact passenger lift can sometimes fit where a standard lift won’t. See our lift installation in London guide for existing and listed buildings.

Lift installation cost in blocks of flats

Adding or replacing a lift in a block of flats has its own cost drivers:

• Residents still need access, so the work has to be planned around them, sometimes with out-of-hours working.
• Space is often tight, especially in older blocks; a platform lift or an external shaft may be the only option.
• Leaseholder consultation. Where leaseholders pay through the service charge, Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires consultation before major works where any one leaseholder’s contribution will be more than £250. Clear, itemised quotes make this easier.
• Phasing. In blocks with two lifts, replacing one at a time keeps a lift running, but can add to the programme.

Lift installation cost in older and listed buildings

Older buildings often add to the lift installation cost because of the structure, limited space and the need to protect original features. If the building is listed, alterations that affect its character usually need listed building consent from the local council, and the lift may need finishes chosen to suit the building. Allow time and budget for the extra design and approvals, and involve the council early.

How timing affects lift installation cost

• Out-of-hours working to protect residents, tenants or a business costs more than working in normal hours.
• A rushed programme can mean extra labour and less choice of equipment.
• Delays between trades, such as the lift team waiting for builder’s work to finish, add cost.
• Lead times. New lifts are made to order, so ordering early keeps the programme, and the cost, under control.

Either way, a survey before the quote is what turns a rough idea of lift installation cost into a firm price you can budget for.

What is usually inside and outside a lift quote

A lift company’s quote normally covers the lift itself: design, manufacture, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and handover. Check whether it also includes:

• Builder’s work: the shaft, pit, openings, making good and decoration.
• Electrical work: the power supply to the lift and lighting in the shaft.
• Scaffolding or temporary works inside the shaft.
• The first thorough examination before the lift is used.
• Fees for approvals, such as Building Regulations.

A low quote that leaves out builder’s work can end up as the more expensive project.

Lift installation cost by type of building

• Offices: passenger lifts sized for busy periods, often traction lifts, with finishes to suit the building and work planned around tenants.
• Blocks of flats: reliable passenger lifts that residents depend on, with car sizes that take wheelchairs, prams and furniture.
• Hotels: guest lifts with high-quality finishes, plus service lifts for housekeeping and luggage.
• Restaurants and pubs: dumbwaiters and service lifts sized for trays, crates and kegs, with hatches to suit the kitchen and bar.
• Schools, healthcare and public buildings: accessible passenger or platform lifts built to BS EN 81-70 and BS 8300, often with work planned around term times or opening hours.
• Shops and warehouses: goods lifts sized for the loads, trolleys and pallets they carry.

What our free survey tells you about lift installation cost

Our survey looks at how the lift will be used, the space and structure, the power supply, access for deliveries and installation, and the approvals likely to be needed. From it, we can tell you which lift types would work, what building work each needs, and give you a firm quote for each option, so you can see where the lift installation cost really comes from before you commit.

Running costs after installation

The lift installation cost is only part of the cost of owning a lift. Budget for:

• Maintenance. Planned servicing from one to twelve visits a year, depending on the lift and its use. See our lift maintenance cost guide.
• LOLER thorough examinations, normally at least every six months for lifts that carry people and are used at work. We arrange LOLER thorough examinations, carried out by an independent examiner, so every examination stays impartial; the fee is charged separately.
• Repairs and parts over the lift’s life. See our lift repair cost guide.
• Energy. Modern drives, LED lighting and standby modes reduce running costs.

How to keep lift installation cost down

• Involve the lift company early, so the building is designed around the lift rather than the other way round.
• Choose the right lift, not the biggest. A platform lift may meet access needs at lower cost where a passenger lift isn’t required.
• Use standard car sizes and finishes where possible; bespoke designs cost more.
• Plan builder’s work and the lift programme together, so trades aren’t waiting for each other.
• Allow time for approvals, so the project isn’t rushed or delayed.
• Think about maintenance from the start, choosing a lift that can be maintained easily for its whole life.

How to compare lift installation quotes

• Was the building surveyed before the quote?
• What exactly is the lift: car size, capacity, floors, speed, drive type and standards?
• What building and electrical work is included, and what isn’t?
• What finishes are included?
• What is the programme, from order to handover?
• What happens at handover: documents, training and the first thorough examination?
• Who will maintain it, and what will that cost?

Questions to ask before you budget for a new lift

• Who will use the lift, how often, and do they include wheelchair users?
• How many floors does it need to serve?
• Is there space for a shaft, pit and headroom, or does a smaller lift suit better?
• Is the building listed, or in a conservation area?
• Will the building be occupied during the work?
• What is the deadline, and how long will approvals take?

Lift installation cost words explained

• Shaft (or well): the enclosed space the lift travels in.
• Pit: the space below the lowest floor that most lifts need.
• Headroom: the space needed above the top floor.
• Builder’s work: the construction work around the lift, such as openings, the shaft and making good.
• Machine-room-less lift: a lift with its drive inside the shaft, saving space.
• Platform lift: a slower lift for short rises and step-free access, built to BS EN 81-41.
• Commissioning: testing and setting up the lift before it goes into use.

What to have ready for a lift installation quote

• The building address, floor plans or drawings, and the floors to be served.
• Who will use the lift and what it needs to carry.
• Any existing shaft, pit or machine room details.
• Any approvals already in place or needed.
• Your timescale and whether the building is occupied.

We offer a free lift survey and quote, and our lift installation page shows the lifts we install. Read our lift installation process guide for each stage from survey to handover.

Questions people ask