As you age, you may find that moving between floors using the stairs has become more challenging. Installing a home lift is a simple way to adapt your home and transform your day-to-day life, allowing you to travel throughout your house independently. Before you invest in a new home lift, taking accurate measurements is essential to help you choose the right location and ensure a smooth installation.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step of measuring for a home lift — from understanding lift dimensions to identifying any obstructions that might affect your chosen placement.
What size is a home lift?
Lift dimensions can vary slightly, depending on the chosen model. For residential settings, lifts are usually designed to be compact enough to fit comfortably within most homes without requiring significant structural changes.
The size of your lift model will largely reflect what you’re using it for. At Stiltz, we offer residential home lifts that are suitable for multi-person use and larger models for wheelchair access.
Compact home lifts
Smaller residential lifts, such as the Stiltz Duo, have a footprint of around 0.55m². The Duo+ has a width of 1047mm and a depth of 810mm, while the Duo Classic has a slightly smaller depth of 800mm. If you’re using our dual-exit ThruCar model, you’ll need enough space for an 842mm depth. These dimensions are ideal for fitting into tight spaces in homes where only one or two people will be using the lift.
Wheelchair-friendly home lifts
On the other hand, if you need a larger lift — particularly if you’re adapting your home to be more wheelchair-friendly — you’ll typically need space for a footprint closer to our Stiltz Trio model at 1.25m². The Trio+ has a total width of 1047mm and a depth of 1280mm. This provides a great amount of space for easy access and manoeuvrability when using a standard-size wheelchair.
Learn more about finding the best home lift for you with our helpful guide.
What is the platform size of a home lift?
The platform is the area of the lift where you’ll stand or sit. When you’re shopping for your home lift, this measurement is crucial, as it determines how comfortable the lift will be to use and whether it meets your specific needs.
For example, a smaller platform will be suitable if you only need a lift for personal use. However, if you use a wheelchair or require additional support, you will need a lift with a larger platform size.
What does shaft size mean for a home lift?
The shaft size refers to the vertical space required for the lift to travel between floors. In most home lifts, the shaft only needs to cover the distance of a single floor, making it easier to integrate into different parts of the home.
However, since ceiling heights can vary depending on the property’s age, measuring your home’s ceiling height accurately is essential to ensure your chosen lift model’s height will fit in the space.
Things to consider when measuring for a home lift
When you’re considering a home lift, it’s important to take precise measurements to ensure it fits seamlessly into your chosen space. Factors like the amount of clearance, ceiling height, and potential obstructions can all impact how well the lift functions and how easy it is to use, so it’s vital to consider how a home lift might fit into your space ahead of time.
Let’s look at each of these considerations to prepare for your new home lift:
1. Amount of clearance around the lift
One crucial step in measuring for a home lift is making sure there’s enough clearance, or ‘extra space’, around the lift itself. This is essential for moving comfortably as you enter and exit and allowing the doors to open fully without getting stuck on any nearby obstacles. If you use a wheelchair, having plenty of clearance is especially important for manoeuvring your chair into place.
While the amount of space you’ll need can vary depending on door size and your personal needs, as a general rule, you should aim for at least 800mm of clearance around the lift doors. This will make daily use easier and help make getting in and out of the lift as easy as possible.
2. Ceiling height
Ceiling height is another important factor to consider when measuring for your home lift, as you’ll need to make sure that the lift can travel smoothly between floors. For the upstairs of your home, a Stiltz home lift typically requires a minimum height of 2370mm to fit comfortably.
If your home has lower ceilings, the lift cab can also be adjusted to be 150mm shorter, allowing it to fit in rooms with limited overhead space. This means the through floor lift can fit into even more places than hydraulic and traction lifts simply cannot go. Of course, if the height of the lift is shortened, it will also reduce the internal dimension of the lift, so this might not be the most suitable option for taller people. But for the average user, this should work without any problems.
It’s also recommended that you have at least eight inches of clearance downstairs so your Stiltz engineer can easily remove the cover panel and gain access to the electronic components.
3. Any obstructions
When planning for your new home lift, it’s helpful to look for any fixed obstacles that could get in the way. Factors like plumbing pipes, wiring, or other structural fixtures can sometimes limit your options for where the lift can be placed. If your chosen spot has immovable objects that don’t leave enough space for the lift to be installed beside them, you may need to look at alternative locations or get some advice on how to work around them.
For added peace of mind, a Stiltz engineer can advise you on suitable locations during your pre-installation home visit.
How to measure for your home lift in 4 steps
Installing a home lift requires careful planning to choose the best location that allows you to travel between floors easily. With a few measurements, you’ll soon be able to determine whether you can fit a home lift into your space.
What you’ll need
Thankfully, measuring your home for a new residential lift is a simple task that requires very few tools. To get started, you’ll need:
- A measuring tape (in mm)
- Paper to write your measurements down
- A sturdy step ladder
- An assistant to keep you steady (or do the measuring for you)
1. Choose your installation location
Before you can start measuring for your home lift, you’ll need to decide where you would like it to be installed. Think about areas in your home where the lift would be most convenient and accessible. Some common places to install a home lift include spare rooms, large unused cupboards, or even utilising space like a garage area that connects to the main living areas.
When choosing a location, it’s important to remember that you’ll need enough space on both the lower and upper floors of your home for the lift to be able to pass through without any obstructions.
Once you’re ready to start measuring, clear any furniture away from the chosen area to provide a true sense of the space available. This will make it easier to gauge how much room you have to work with and help you visualise how the lift will fit into your home.
2. Measure the ceiling height
Accurate ceiling height measurements ensure that your lift will fit smoothly between floors.
Start by placing the end of the measuring tape level with the ceiling and then extend the tape out until it touches the floor. If you’re struggling to reach the ceiling, use a sturdy step ladder while wearing anti-slip footwear and have someone assist you to avoid falls. Make sure to measure the entire distance from the floor to the ceiling, taking note of the height in millimetres (mm).
Remember to record the ceiling height for both floors of the home where the lift will pass through.
This can be a tricky step to complete on your own, so we encourage you to ask a family member or friend to help you if you need assistance.
3. Measure the clearance from the wall
Making sure that you have enough clearance from the wall to fit the entire lift and allow the doors to open fully is essential.
To measure the available space, start from the wall behind your chosen installation spot and extend the tape measure towards the middle of the room. There should be enough room to enter and exit the lift easily, and if you’re using a wheelchair, there should also be room to wheel the chair forward when leaving the lift.
Repeat this step on the upper floor to ensure there is enough clearance to leave or enter the lift at both ends.
4. Measure the width required
To ensure there’s enough room for the lift, you’ll also need to measure the width of your chosen space. Using your measuring tape, record the width of the installation area from wall to wall, or from the wall to the nearest immovable object. Repeat this step on the upper floor to make sure there is enough space for the lift when it’s in use.
With these measurements, you’ll need to check that the lift footprint will fit comfortably with extra room around it for accessibility and ease of movement.
If your lift has a wider footprint, consider how this will affect the flow of your room or corridor. Taking these measurements will ensure that the lift integrates smoothly into your home without causing any congestion.
If you’re struggling to measure your space for a home lift, don’t worry. As part of the installation process for a Stiltz home lift, a friendly Home Life Advisor (HLA) will visit your home to complete a comprehensive consultation. This involves discussing your potential home lift options and where they could fit in your home.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install a home lift if my ceilings are unusually low?
Yes, you can usually still install a home lift even if your ceilings are lower than average. Some models, such as our Stiltz home lifts, can be adjusted to fit spaces with a reduced ceiling height.
For instance, with the Duo or Trio home lift, the cab can be shortened up to 150mm to fit homes with lower ceilings. During your consultation with a Stiltz engineer, you will be able to discuss any adjustments needed to fit a lift into your specific space.
How many floors can a home lift cover?
Most home lifts are designed to travel between two floors, making them ideal for providing easy movement in multi-storey homes. Our Stiltz home lifts are freestanding and self-supporting, which means they don’t require load-bearing walls for installation. This makes them more versatile when it comes to placement options within the home. For homes with more than two floors, additional lifts may be needed to accommodate higher levels.
How much space do I need around the lift for a wheelchair?
If you’re a wheelchair user, you will need extra clearance around the lift to help you wheel in and out. Typically, around 800mm of clearance is recommended on each side where the doors open, allowing space for easy entry and exit. This ensures you can move freely and that there’s enough room to manoeuvre without bumping into any nearby furniture or walls.
Transform your home with Stiltz
While taking accurate measurements can feel intimidating at first, this is the first step in preparing your home for a lift that can enhance your independence and mobility. From choosing the right location to checking door clearance, ceiling height, and other details, each step brings you closer to a home that’s easier to navigate.
At Stiltz, we offer a range of home lifts designed to fit seamlessly into your space. Our Duo model is compact and perfect for smaller areas, while the Trio home lift provides additional room for wheelchair users.
Our team of experts are always available to help you make the best choice for your home. Contact us today to learn more about our home lifts and start the process of transforming your home to age in place.