Types of Elevators You Can Have at Home

Updated August 2026

Installing a home elevator changes how you move through your home. For many homeowners, it helps them plan for the future. For some, it supports accessibility needs today. For others, it makes daily life easier, while adding a touch of luxury.

If you’re looking at different types of home elevators, it’s helpful to understand how they vary in size, structure, installation needs, and cost. Arrow Lift offers different types of elevators to fit your unique situation.

Key Takeaways

• There are several types of home elevators, each with its own advantages
• Traditional elevators offer the most customization and capacity.
• Shaftless and pneumatic elevators need less structural modification.
• Pit and shaft requirements vary by elevator type.
• The right option depends on layout, budget, and long-term mobility preferences.

What Types of Elevators Can You Install in a Home?

The most common types of home elevators include:

1. Traditional home elevators installed in a shaft
2. Glass or panoramic elevators
3. Pneumatic vacuum (tube) elevators
4. Shaftless elevators
5. Pitless configurations

Each type provides vertical access in a different way. Here’s a quick comparison of home elevator types:

Traditional Home Elevator

A traditional home elevator is installed inside a framed shaft and enclosed by swing or sliding doors. These elevators offer the most options for customization, including:

• Interior finishes
• Lighting
• Door styles
• Automatic sliding doors

These elevators can usually hold more than one passenger. They can also accommodate a wheelchair or scooter. As with all modern home elevators, they have emergency brakes, door interlocks, two-way phone systems, and battery backups in case of a power loss.

Another advantage of traditional home elevators is that they can increase the resale value of your home. Many buyers appreciate elevators as a standout feature or a way to age in place.

Most traditional residential elevators require about 25 square feet of floor space. About 15 square feet is inside the cab, and the rest is used to support the structure and equipment.

Because this type needs a shaft and pit, it’s often added during new construction or major remodeling.

Glass Home Elevator

Glass home elevators use transparent panels in the cab, doors, or shaft walls. Some are traditional in-shaft systems with glass finishes. Others are fully enclosed glass tube systems, typically called pneumatic vacuum elevators. 

Glass models can:

• Provide open sightlines between floors
• Create a more visible architectural feature
• Have similar structural needs to traditional home elevators (unless pneumatic)

Glass elevators are usually chosen for their look and design rather than structural differences.

Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator

Pneumatic vacuum elevators, sometimes called tube elevators, are a type of glass-like elevator that uses air pressure instead of cables or hydraulics to move the car within its shaft. The elevator’s car and shaft are made with plexiglass panels that allow for panoramic views during travel. 

These elevators:

• Do not need a conventional shaft
• Do not need a pit
• Have a compact footprint
• Travel two to five floors

Because they need less construction, pneumatic elevators work well in existing homes with an open space of some sort, such as a foyer or great room. They are also more energy-efficient and have a modern appearance. Some models are large enough to carry a wheelchair, while others can only transport one standing user at a time.

Shaftless Home Elevator

Shaftless elevators are designed only for two-story travel. They need fewer structural changes than traditional residential elevators. 

Features typically include:

• No shaft
• No pit 
• Smaller footprint
• Battery backup for power outages

Instead of traveling within a shaft like other types of elevators, the elevator car of a shaftless elevator moves along a rail attached directly to the wall or floor.

Shaftless elevators are often used in remodels or in homes where there isn’t enough space to build a full elevator shaft. Different sizes are available, with some models large enough to accommodate a wheelchair.

Pitless Home Elevator

Pitless home elevator configurations are designed to avoid the need for a traditional pit.

Depending on the model, pitless elevators may be:

• Traditional-style
• Vacuum-style
• Shaftless
  

These setups can make installation easier in existing homes where changing the foundation isn’t ideal. However, the home still must have proper structural support and framing.

Home Elevator Alternatives

If accessibility is your main goal, an elevator is not the only solution.

Vertical Platform Lift

Vertical platform lifts (VPLs) travel straight up and down and can accommodate a wheelchair. They are often installed in garages, on porches, or in low-rise areas.

Vertical platform lifts:

• Travel up to 14 feet
• Have a shorter travel height than most elevators
• Are typically less customizable

Vertical platform lifts in homes are designed for accessibility and function, not as decorative or architectural features.

Stair Lift

Stair lifts attach directly to the staircase and carry a seated user between levels.

Stair lifts:

• Usually do not require additional construction
• Cost substantially less than elevators
• Suitable for individuals who can transfer into and out of a chair independently

They do not carry wheelchairs and are limited to the staircase path.

How to Choose the Right Type of Home Elevator for Your Needs

Choosing among elevator types depends on:

• Available floor space
• Whether a shaft can be framed
• Whether a pit can be built
• Number of floors
• Wheelchair accessibility requirements
• Budget

In new homes, traditional elevators often offer the most flexibility. In remodels, traditional home elevators are also common, but shaftless or pneumatic systems may reduce the need for structural changes. Most decisions begin with your home’s layout, then move to design and customization preferences.

If you’re considering a home elevator, Arrow Lift can review your layout and explain which systems fit your space. Contact us today to learn more and start planning your new home elevator.

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