A Practical Guide to Choosing the Right Lift Size for Your Home
You shouldn’t have to choose the smallest model that will fit. The right size will influence how comfortable the lift is to use, who it can accommodate, how easily it integrates into the property, and whether it continues to meet your needs in years to come.
Looking beyond the footprint from the outset can help avoid unnecessary compromise and lead to a more long-term investment.
Stepping Beyond Footprint
When comparing home lifts, it’s easy to focus on the footprint shown in a brochure – but the lift’s external footprint is only one part of the overall installation. The structural opening, shaft arrangement, and internal platform size all influence how the lift fits and how comfortable it is to use.
Modern home lifts often use compact engineering and self-supporting shaft systems to make efficient use of the available space. This means a lift can occupy a relatively modest footprint while still providing a fair amount of usable room inside.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Lift Size
Before comparing dimensions, it’s worth thinking about how the lift will be used in everyday life. The answers often determine the most suitable size.
How many people will use it?
A lift intended for one person may have different requirements to one used by a couple, a family, or someone who may occasionally travel with a carer.
Will a wheelchair need to fit?
If wheelchair access is required now or could be in the future, the lift should provide enough space for both the user and comfortable manoeuvring. In some cases, additional room may also be needed for a companion or carer.
How many floors will it serve?
The number of stops, door positions and overall travel height can all influence the lift that’s most appropriate. It’s also worth considering whether the property may be extended or altered in the future.
What space is available?
Existing homes, extensions, new builds, and loft conversions each have their own constraints, so the available space should always be considered alongside the lift’s intended use.
Typical Home Lift Sizes Explained
Home lifts are available in a range of sizes, each suited to different properties and ways of living. Consider which category best matches your home and how you expect to use it.
Compact home lifts are designed for properties where space is limited. Models such as the Aritco HomeLift Compact have a relatively small footprint, making them well suited to townhouses and existing homes where creating additional space may not be possible.
Standard home lifts provide comfortable space for moving between floors, best if you’re carrying shopping, transporting laundry, or simply looking for easier access around the home. Lifts such as the Aritco HomeLift strike a balance between capacity and space efficiency for many households.
Accessible home lifts are intended for situations where additional space is required. The Aritco HomeLift Access, for example, is designed to accommodate wheelchair users and can also provide room for a companion or carer where needed.
Each model is available in different dimensions, so try to consider the level of accessibility required, now or in the foreseeable future.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
It can be tempting to choose the largest lift available, but a bigger platform isn’t always the best fit. Larger lifts require more space and may involve additional building preparation, without necessarily improving everyday usability.
A well-chosen size can provide comfortable access while making efficient use of the available space.
How Lift Size Affects Installation
Certain home lifts may require a bigger structural opening, different door arrangements, and additional preparation before installation can begin. Depending on the model, factors such as pit depth, headroom, and the available fixing points also need to be considered during the planning stage.
Where internal space is limited, an external installation may be possible using a purpose-built enclosure.
Planning for the Future
The right lift should support how you live today and how your needs may change over time. A lift that feels appropriately sized now may continue to provide comfortable access if mobility changes, a wheelchair becomes necessary, or support from a family member or carer is needed in the future.
Considering these possibilities early can reduce the need for further adaptations later and help ensure your home remains accessible for the long haul.
See our complete guide to accessible living and designing inclusively →
Choosing the Right Size Starts With the Property
There is no universal ‘best’ home lift size. The right choice depends on the property, the available layout, the people who will actually use the lift, and what you want it to achieve looking ahead. A considered assessment will always lead to a better recommendation than measurements alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
| How much space does a home lift need? | There isn’t a single answer, as the space required depends on the lift model and how it’s installed. It’s also important to distinguish between the platform itself and the overall structural opening. A site survey is the best way to determine what will work in your home. |
| What is the smallest home lift available? | Compact home lifts are designed for properties where space is limited. While these models have a smaller footprint than larger alternatives, they are not automatically the right choice for every home. |
| Can a home lift fit a wheelchair? | Yes. Many home lifts are available with larger platform sizes designed to accommodate wheelchair users comfortably. Depending on the installation, there may also be space for a companion or carer to travel alongside the user. |
| Can lift sizes be customised? | Many home lift ranges are available in a choice of platform sizes and configurations to suit different properties and requirements. The available options vary by model, so it’s usually a case of selecting the most appropriate configuration rather than creating a completely bespoke size. |
| Does a larger lift cost more? | In general, larger lifts tend to cost more than smaller models. However, the overall investment also depends on factors such as the number of floors served, the level of building work required, finishes, and the chosen specification. |
| Can lift size affect installation time? | It can. Larger lifts may require additional preparation before installation, although the overall timescale depends just as much on the property and how ready the site is. Once preparation is complete, many modern modular home lifts can still be installed within a relatively short period. |
Speak to Gartec About Home Lift Sizes
If you’re planning a home lift, our experts can help you identify the most suitable size for your property and requirements. Our team offers expert advice and even initial site surveys, with no obligation to proceed.