Last reviewed and updated: 10 November 2026
If you use a wheelchair and live in a house with stairs, a home lift can carry you between floors without leaving the chair. This guide covers which lifts take a wheelchair, the models sold in the UK, what they cost, how to measure for one and how to fund it.
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The short answer: for two floors, the usual choice is a through-floor lift big enough for a wheelchair. Shortlist the Stiltz Trio+, its premium sister the Lifton TRIO, the Terry Harmony and the Stannah Uplifts S3. For three or more floors, or a short rise over steps, you need a platform lift, such as the Aritco HomeLift Access, the Stannah Midilift or Terry’s Melody platform lifts. A stairlift cannot carry a wheelchair at all.
| Model | Type | Wheelchair access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stiltz Trio+ | Through-floor cabin, two floors | Yes: ramp included; Thru-Car option opens both sides | 1,047 × 1,280 mm outside (advertised as 1.25 m²), 250 kg, plugs into a 13 A socket |
| Lifton TRIO | Through-floor cabin, two floors | Yes: takes a full-sized wheelchair | Premium brand of the Stiltz group: same engineering, upgraded finish |
| Terry Harmony | Through-floor, open platform, two floors | Yes: Terry calls it “perfect for wheelchair users” | 250 to 280 kg; up to 3.6 m of travel; needs a dedicated 240 V supply |
| Stannah Uplifts S3 | Through-floor cabin, two floors | Yes: up to three people or a wheelchair user | 250 kg; listed at £19,500 installed |
| Aritco HomeLift Access | Platform lift in its own shaft | Yes | 2 to 6 floors, up to 13 m; from 1,300 × 1,160 mm outside; needs more space than a through-floor lift |
| Stannah Midilift | Platform lift | Yes | For a short rise or where a compact vertical platform suits the layout |
Specifications are from each maker’s own pages, checked in September and October 2026. Measure your chair against the maker’s platform size before you shortlist.
Wheelchair home lifts at a glance (2026)
| Best type | A through-floor lift for two floors. A platform lift for three or more floors, or a short rise |
|---|---|
| Lowest published prices | £15,500 (Morgan Ellis, Stiltz wheelchair version), £16,000 including VAT (My Mobility UK, Stiltz Trio+), £19,500 (Stannah Uplifts S3) |
| Our installed band | £17,000–£25,000. Platform lifts serving several floors can reach £40,000 |
| Installation | 1–3 days for through-floor models; no pit or machine room |
| Funding | Disabled Facilities Grant up to £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales and £35,000 in Northern Ireland; 0% VAT for disabled users |
Which lifts take a wheelchair
Three kinds of home lift can carry a seated wheelchair user. A fourth cannot.
Through-floor lifts travel through an opening cut in the ceiling and serve two floors. The standard one- and two-person models are too small for a wheelchair. Each maker sells a wheelchair-size version: the Stiltz Trio+, Lifton TRIO, Terry Harmony and Uplifts S3. These are the most common choice for a wheelchair user in an ordinary two-storey house.
Platform lifts carry the chair on a flat platform with low-level controls and a ramp or level entry. Home versions from Aritco and Cibes run in their own shaft and serve up to six floors. Short-rise platforms, such as Terry’s Melody range and the Stannah Midilift, lift a chair over a few steps or a change of level.
Cabin lifts in a shaft work like a small passenger lift. They take a wheelchair and one or two standing passengers, but they need more building work and cost more.
Stairlifts have a seat, not a platform, so they do not carry a wheelchair. See stairlift vs home lift.
For a comparison of every type, see types of home lift.
How to choose: measure three things first
- Your chair, and whether a carer rides too. Measure the width and length of the chair with your feet on the footplates. Powered chairs are bigger than manual ones. Wheelchair models carry 250 kg or more.
- The height between floors. Through-floor lifts have a travel limit. Terry lifts stop at 3.6 m, Wessex at 3.0 or 3.5 m, and the Stiltz Trio+ at 4.5 m as standard (6 m as an option).
- How many floors you need. Through-floor lifts serve two. For three or more, you need a platform or shaft lift.
An occupational therapist can assess what size of lift you need, and that assessment is also the first step to a Disabled Facilities Grant. See how much space a home lift needs for every model’s footprint and ceiling height.
Features to look for
Platform size. For comparison, building regulations guidance for lifts in non-domestic buildings asks for a car at least 1,100 mm wide by 1,400 mm deep. Domestic through-floor lifts are smaller: the Stiltz Trio+ measures 1,047 × 1,280 mm from the outside. So check the maker’s internal platform size against your own chair rather than assuming any “wheelchair” model fits. Some makers say not every wheelchair fits their wheelchair model.
Doors on two sides. A through-car layout lets you roll in one side and out the other, so you never reverse the chair. This matters most where the landing is tight.
Controls you can reach seated. Look for controls between 900 and 1,200 mm from the floor, with large buttons, plus call buttons on each floor or a remote.
A level threshold. The edge of the platform should be flush with the floor or have a very low ramp, with no gap that can catch a wheel.
For the safety systems every lift should have, see home lift safety for elderly users.
Can a wheelchair user and a carer travel together?
It depends on the model, so read the maker’s wording. Stannah describes the Uplifts S3 as carrying up to three people or a wheelchair user. Platform lifts in a shaft, such as the Aritco HomeLift Access, come in larger sizes and are the usual choice where a carer must ride with the chair. 1st Choice Home Lifts prices “larger or enclosed home lifts” for “wheelchair users and their carer” from £16,000+, excluding VAT. If a carer will ride, tell the surveyor, because it changes both the model and the price.
Wheelchair home lift costs
Wheelchair-size lifts cost more than the standard one- and two-person models. These are the lowest prices UK sellers publish for named wheelchair models:
- £15,500: Stiltz wheelchair version, installed (Morgan Ellis, published August 2025, VAT not stated)
- £16,000 including VAT: Stiltz Trio+ (My Mobility UK). The same seller’s price guide puts product plus installation at £21,000 to £26,000
- £19,500 installed: Stannah Uplifts S3 on the Uplifts homelifts page; its FAQ page says £19,995
Our installed band for wheelchair-rated through-floor lifts is £17,000–£25,000, and platform lifts serving several floors can reach £40,000. Building work, electrical work and making good may be extra, so ask for a fully itemised quote. See the home lift price guide and the price tracker for every published figure.
If the lift is for someone with a long-term illness or disability, it can be zero-rated for VAT. See who gets 0% VAT on a home lift.
Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)
A Disabled Facilities Grant is a council grant to adapt a disabled person’s home. The maximum is £30,000 in England and £36,000 in Wales. In Northern Ireland it is £35,000, and the Housing Executive can approve up to £70,000 at its discretion. Scotland works differently, through the Scheme of Assistance: see home lift grants in Scotland.
The grant is means-tested for adults, so the amount depends on income and savings. It starts with an occupational therapist’s assessment, and the process can take several months, so start early. See the OT assessment and DFG process, step by step, check your eligibility with the grant checker, and see what your council has been allocated.
Wheelchair lift brands and models
- Stiltz Trio+: a through-floor cabin with a ramp and a Thru-Car option. See our Stiltz review.
- Lifton TRIO: the same Stiltz-group engineering with a premium finish. See our Lifton review.
- Terry Harmony: an open through-floor platform in four sizes, the largest 1,055 × 1,465 mm outside. Terry also sells Melody platform lifts. See our Terry Lifts review.
- Stannah Uplifts S3: a through-floor cabin with half-height, full-height or dual doors and a low-ceiling option. See our Stannah review.
- Aritco HomeLift Access: a platform lift in its own shaft, 2 to 6 floors. See our Aritco review.
- Cibes: Swedish platform lifts in a shaft, for multi-floor homes. See our Cibes review.
To compare every model by footprint, floors and wheelchair access, use the home lift finder.
Planning and installation
Plan the landings as well as the lift. You need clear space on each floor for the chair to approach and turn, typically at least 1,500 mm in front of the lift. The route from the lift to the rooms you use should also be step-free and wide enough. If you are having an OT assessment for a grant, the OT will look at the whole route. A lift fitted inside a house does not normally need planning permission: see planning permission for a home lift.
How much of the market is wheelchair-ready
Wheelchair access is no longer a speciality product. In our Market Report 2026, 73 per cent of the 22 current UK models can carry a wheelchair user. The real differences are now platform size, door width and whether you can turn the chair or must reverse out, so measure your chair before you shortlist.
Wheelchair home lifts: questions
What is a wheelchair home lift? A home lift with a platform big enough for a person to stay seated in their wheelchair between floors. It avoids moving a bed downstairs or being carried up.
How much does a wheelchair home lift cost? Published prices for wheelchair-size through-floor lifts start at £15,500 (Morgan Ellis, Stiltz wheelchair version), £16,000 including VAT (My Mobility UK, Stiltz Trio+) and £19,500 (Stannah Uplifts S3). Our installed band is £17,000–£25,000. Disabled users pay no VAT, and a Disabled Facilities Grant can cover up to £30,000 in England.
Can a through-floor lift take a wheelchair? Yes, if it is the wheelchair-size model. The Stiltz Trio+, Lifton TRIO, Terry Harmony and Uplifts S3 all take a wheelchair. The smaller one- and two-person models do not.
Can I use it on my own? Yes. You roll on, press and hold a button or use a remote, and roll off. Most have call buttons on each floor as well.
What happens in a power cut? A correctly installed and serviced lift lowers on battery power. See what happens to a home lift in a power cut.
Does a wheelchair lift add value to a house? Not reliably; it depends on who buys. See does a home lift add value.
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