5 Questions to Ask When Considering a Wheelchair Lift for Your Home

A wheelchair lift, also known as a vertical platform lift, provides wheelchair access between different levels . They work well for steps, raised entryways, decks, porches, or garage thresholds. In the right setting, it can be an effective alternative to a ramp or a home elevator.

At the same time, residential wheelchair lifts are not a one-size-fits-all solution. A number of factors affect whether a home platform lift works for a given property. These include travel height, available space, user needs, and installation location.

This guide covers six questions to help you review wheelchair lift options and understand the factors involved.

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick overview of the questions covered below.

Key Takeaways

• Home wheelchair lifts address the specific access challenge of short vertical distances. For example, a few steps in the garage, porches, or staircases attached to backyard decks. 
• The right lift for you will depend on more than just travel height. Layout, habits, and long-term needs all factor in.
• Asking the right questions early can help narrow your options and focus your research.
• A professional evaluation is the best way to identify the vertical platform lift  solution that fits your home.

Question 1: Where Will the Wheelchair Lift Be Used in Your Home?

Before comparing lift models, it’s important to identify exactly where the lift will be used. The installation location narrows the available options and shapes many of the decisions that follow.

Much like lifts in commercial spaces, wheelchair lifts for home use can be installed in a variety of areas. One common application is front entryways with a few steps to the door. Others include side or rear entrances, garages, covered porches, and outdoor decks. Each site comes with its own constraints for space, exposure to the elements, and installation requirements.

As you evaluate your home, consider every area where accessibility may be a challenge, not just the most obvious one. Some homeowners initially focus on the front entrance, only to realize the garage is their primary point of entry. 

If accessibility is needed in more than one area of the home, mention it during the consultation. In some cases, a single residential wheelchair lift can address multiple access challenges. In others, a combination of accessibility solutions may make more sense.

Question 2: How Much Vertical Travel Do You Need?

Once you’ve identified the installation site, next consider how much vertical travel the lift needs to provide. Travel height is one of the main factors affecting which accessibility solutions are appropriate.

Home wheelchair lifts are used to travel shorter vertical distances of 14 feet or less. As the required travel distance increases, the available options may change. 

If the goal is to gain access between all floors of a home, a platform lift is often no longer the best solution, and a home elevator could be a better fit.

Question 3: Who Will Be Using the Wheelchair Lift, and How Will They Use It?

Wheelchair users are not the only people who may benefit from a residential wheelchair lift. In some situations, the user may rely on a wheelchair full-time. In others, they may use a walker or another mobility aid. Some households may also need enough platform space for a caregiver to accompany the user.

As you evaluate your needs, consider the following questions:

• Will the lift be used independently? If so, controls should be easy to reach and operate without assistance.
• Who is the primary user? A full-time wheelchair user may need a different platform size or weight-capacity than someone who uses a mobility aid less often.

Question 4: What Space and Layout Constraints Does Your Home Have?

The footprint of the wheelchair lift, its location, and the surrounding structures all affect which solutions will work for a home.

A standard vertical platform lift requires space for the lift itself to travel, as well as space at the upper and lower landing areas. This is important to ensure clear entry and exit to use the lift.  If a vertical platform lift is not workable, other accessibility options may be worth considering. In some homes, an inclined platform lift that follows an existing staircase may be an option. However this depends on the staircase layout and available space. 

Indoor and outdoor installations often have different requirements. Weather exposure and entry/exit points are both important factors to consider. Nearby features such as doors, railings, and walkways can also affect which lift options make sense and where the lift can be installed.

As you look at your space, consider:

• Approximate dimensions of the proposed installation area
• Features above and below the installation area, such as flooring, framing, or ceilings
• Existing elements that could affect placement, including doors, railings, or utility lines

Question 5: What Investment Makes Sense for Your Situation?

Cost is one of the most common questions homeowners have when researching a wheelchair lift for home use. The challenge is that pricing depends on several project-specific factors. As a result, costs can vary significantly from one installation to the next. However, we find that in most cases the average cost for a home wheelchair lift ends up being between somewhere $15,000 to $25,000. More complex jobs can cost more. 

The table above highlights some of the biggest cost factors, including travel height, installation location, site conditions, and lift type. For example, a simple indoor installation with minimal site preparation will typically be on the lower end of the price range. On the other hand, an outdoor installation that requires significant structural work may be on the higher end.

Of course, cost is only one part of the decision. It’s important to find a home platform lift that will meet the user’s needs reliably over time. This will often provide greater value in the long-term than a lower-cost option that requires more frequent service. Durability, warranty coverage, and service support all contribute to the overall ownership experience.

Because every home is different, an on-site evaluation is the best way to understand realistic pricing.

• Obstruction-free gate or door operation
• Smooth entry and exit from the platform

Even a few inches of additional space in front of the lift can help in tight entryways, landings, or other compact installation areas.

Putting These Questions into Practice

As we’ve seen, choosing a wheelchair lift involves more than comparing products. Installation location, travel height, user needs, available space, durability requirements, and project costs all impact which solutions may be appropriate for a particular home.

Sometimes it can be difficult to think through all of these aspects on your own. Whether you know the answers to these questions, or need some help thinking through it all, our team at Arrow Lift is happy to help you in the process. The best first step is to have one of our Experts come out for a professional evaluation of your home and accessibility needs. A consultation will allow an expert to assess the installation area and discuss available options. It will also help you to get a more accurate understanding of project requirements, timeline, and investment.

At Arrow Lift, we love helping homeowners identify clear solutions that meet their accessibility goals. A free consultation can help turn the questions in this guide into a concrete plan that fits your property and long-term needs.

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