Stiltz makes the most practical home lift for ordinary homes. Its shaftless, through-floor design needs no separate shaft, pit or machine room, installs in days rather than weeks, and even plugs into a standard domestic socket — which keeps both the price and the disruption well below a traditional elevator. It’s a genuinely strong choice for aging in place.
If you’ve looked at home elevators and balked at the price and the building work, Stiltz is the brand that changes the maths. It pioneered the compact, self-supporting through-floor lift for ordinary homes, and it’s become one of the most popular residential lifts in the US for exactly that reason: it goes where a conventional elevator can’t, for a good deal less. Below we cover how it works, what it really costs, the models, the safety features, and the honest trade-offs — so you can judge whether it fits your home before anyone visits.
We don’t sell Stiltz lifts and we’re not affiliated with the company. This review is our independent take, drawn from published pricing, the product range, and how it compares to the alternatives — including the cheaper option, a stairlift, that may suit some readers better.
Who Stiltz is
Stiltz is a residential-lift manufacturer founded in the UK that now operates internationally, including a well-established US presence. Its whole identity is built around one clever idea: a home lift that doesn’t need a traditional elevator shaft, pit or machine room. The lift is self-supporting — it carries its own structure — and travels through a small opening cut between two floors, sealing the gap automatically when it parks upstairs. That lets it fit into a hallway, a closet, or the corner of a living room with far less construction than a conventional elevator. (You may also see the identical product sold as “Lifton” in some markets — it’s the same lift under a different name.)
The company’s mission is squarely aimed at aging in place and independent living: a lift that’s safe, reliable and stylish enough to blend into a normal home, installed by local partners who carry out a free in-home survey before quoting. Stiltz lifts have been fitted in thousands of US homes, and the brand has become a default reference point whenever someone asks “what’s the smallest, least disruptive home elevator I can get?”
How a Stiltz lift works
Understanding the mechanism explains why Stiltz costs less and installs faster than a traditional elevator. Rather than a hydraulic ram in a pit or a cable system in a hoistway, a Stiltz lift uses a self-supporting dual-rail design with the drive housed neatly within the structure. The cab climbs its own rails through a tidy opening in the floor; when it’s parked on the upper level, the hole below is automatically closed off so there’s no open gap. Because the lift supports itself, it can sit against a single wall or even free-stand in a corner, and it doesn’t demand the structural hoistway a conventional elevator needs.
Just as importantly for an older household, a Stiltz lift runs from a standard domestic power socket — no special three-phase supply — and draws only modest power, comparable to a household appliance. A built-in battery backup gently lowers the cab to the floor below if the power fails, so no one is ever left stranded. The ride is quiet and smooth, and the controls are simple: a constant-pressure button the user holds, with call-and-send controls at each floor.
How much does a Stiltz lift cost?
Like every home lift, Stiltz is quote-only — the final figure depends heavily on your home — but published guidance gives a clear picture. The compact two-person Duo typically starts around $20,000–$25,000, and the larger, wheelchair-capable Trio around $30,000–$35,000, before customisation. A fully installed Stiltz project usually lands between $25,000 and $45,000.
| Model | Typical installed | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Duo (Classic / Alta / Vista) | $20,000–$30,000 | 1–2 standing passengers |
| Trio (Alta) | $30,000–$45,000 | Up to 3, incl. wheelchair |
As with any through-floor lift, the biggest swing in the final number isn’t the lift — it’s the site preparation: cutting and reinforcing the floor opening and finishing the trim, drywall and paint so it looks built-in. Two homes can choose the same model and pay quite different totals for that reason. A dedicated electrical circuit, permits and inspection add the rest. For the full picture across all brands, see our home lift cost guide.
What’s usually included in a Stiltz quote is the lift unit, delivery, the manufacturer’s standard installation (setting and commissioning the lift), and the warranty. What varies — and what you should ask to see itemised — is the structural work around the opening, the electrician’s time for the dedicated circuit, and any permit and inspection fees. Because the base unit and standard install often land in the mid-$20,000s to low-$30,000s, the finishing and prep work is where one quote pulls ahead of another. Get two or three quotes so you can compare not just the headline price but exactly what each one covers.
The Stiltz range
Stiltz keeps things refreshingly simple with two families:
- Duo — the compact two-person lift that suits most aging-in-place situations. Variants include the Classic (the space-saving standard), the Alta (a modern, quiet update), the Vista (panoramic glass panels for a more open feel), and a Thru Car with entry on one side and exit on the other for open-plan layouts.
- Trio — a larger cabin that comfortably takes a wheelchair and up to three passengers, for those who need more space or roll-on access.
All models offer customisable finishes, colours and cabin options, a battery backup that lowers the lift safely in a power cut, and quiet, smooth travel. They’re designed to blend into the home rather than dominate it.
Duo or Trio — which to choose
For most aging-in-place situations, the Duo is the right answer: it’s the more compact and more affordable family, fits the widest range of spaces, and comfortably carries one or two standing passengers — plenty for someone who finds the stairs tiring but is otherwise mobile. Choose the Trio when a wheelchair is part of the picture, or may be in future: its larger cabin takes a wheelchair and up to three passengers, at a higher price and with a slightly larger footprint that may need a bit more structural work. A good rule of thumb: if the user walks (even with difficulty), the Duo usually suits; if they use or are likely to use a wheelchair, plan for the Trio. The in-home survey is the moment to talk this through honestly, since the floor opening is sized to the model you pick.
Safety features
Because a home lift carries a person between floors, Stiltz builds safety in to meet the US residential-elevator standard (ASME A18.1). The cab moves only while the user holds a constant-pressure control, so it can’t run away, and call-and-send controls at each floor let it be summoned. Safety sensors on the underside stop the lift if it meets an obstruction, and the floor opening is automatically closed off when the cab is parked upstairs, so there’s no open hole to fall through. A battery backup gently lowers the lift if the power fails, and an emergency stop and alarm are included. These features come as standard rather than as paid extras, which is exactly what you want on a piece of equipment an older person will use daily and often alone.
Reputation & ownership experience
Stiltz has built a strong reputation around doing one thing well: compact, low-disruption home lifts that look good in an ordinary house. Owners tend to highlight the small footprint, the quiet ride and how much less invasive the install was than they feared. The consistent caveat — true of the whole category — is that it’s a significant purchase, and that the experience depends partly on the local partner who surveys, installs and services the lift, since Stiltz reaches customers through regional installers. As with any home lift, the smart move is to confirm who will handle service and how quickly in your area, and to get the warranty and maintenance terms in writing. Run day to day, owners generally report low running costs and few problems beyond routine wear, which is what you’d hope for from a precision accessibility system. Servicing is predictable and the lift, once in, tends to fade quietly into daily life.
Not sure what a Stiltz lift would cost in your home?
Pricing is quote-only and depends on your floor layout. Answer a few questions and we’ll point you to the guides that help you judge a fair price.
What we like, and what to watch
✓ Strengths
- No shaft, pit or machine room — far less building work
- Fits tight spaces a conventional elevator can’t
- Fast install, often just a few days
- Plugs into a standard domestic socket; energy-efficient
- Wheelchair-capable Trio model
- Battery backup for power cuts
- Self-contained — can often move with you
- Considerably cheaper than traditional elevators
✕ Watch-outs
- Still a major purchase ($20k+)
- Smaller cabin than a traditional elevator
- Floor opening and finishing still needed
- Quote-only pricing — compare carefully
- Service quality depends on the local partner
- Designed for two to three floors, not tall buildings
Installation & ownership
One of Stiltz’s biggest practical advantages is the install: once the site survey and any permits are done, the lift itself often goes in within a few days, versus the one-to-three weeks a hydraulic or traction elevator can take. The work centres on the floor opening rather than a hoistway, so disruption is limited. A typical project runs: free in-home survey and quote, order and lead time for the unit, then a short on-site install where the partner cuts and reinforces the opening, sets the lift, connects the dedicated circuit, commissions and safety-tests it, and finishes the surrounding trim. Many homeowners are using the lift within a day or two of the crew arriving.
Day to day, running costs are modest — electricity use is comparable to a household appliance — and ownership comes down to a periodic service and safety inspection, typically a few hundred dollars a year, which keeps the lift safe and the warranty intact. Long-term issues tend to be minor wear items rather than major mechanical failures. Ask your installer to confirm the warranty terms, what the annual service covers, and the local inspection requirement in writing before you commit; clear answers there are the mark of a reputable partner.
Customisation & finishes
One reason Stiltz works in ordinary homes is that it’s designed to look intentional rather than clinical. You can specify the cabin colour and finish, the flooring, and on certain models panoramic glass panels (the Duo Vista) for a lighter, more open feel. The Thru Car configuration adds a second doorway so you can enter on one floor and exit on the other side upstairs, which suits open-plan layouts. Practical options such as remote controls and upgraded wall panels are available too. None of this changes what the lift does, but it’s what lets a Stiltz lift sit in a hallway or living-room corner without looking like an afterthought — and it’s worth discussing finishes at the survey stage, since some choices affect both the look and the final price.
The Stiltz buying process
A Stiltz purchase runs through a local partner and typically goes: a free in-home survey, where the partner assesses the space, the floor structure and where the opening can go; a written quote covering the lift, the standard install and (you should insist) the site-prep, electrical, permit and finishing work; an order and lead time for the unit and any custom finishes; and then the installation itself, usually a few days once permits are in hand, ending with commissioning, a safety test and a walkthrough of the controls. Because the survey is free and no-obligation, it’s genuinely worth booking even if you’re only weighing options — a good partner will leave you better informed about whether a lift, a stairlift or something else fits your home, regardless of whether you buy.
How Stiltz compares
| Option | Typical installed | Shaft/pit/machine room? | Install time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stiltz (through-floor) | $20,000–$45,000 | None | A few days |
| Pneumatic vacuum | $35,000–$60,000+ | None | 2–3 days |
| Traditional hydraulic/traction | $50,000–$75,000+ | Required | 1–3 weeks |
| Luxury glass panoramic | $70,000–$120,000+ | Varies | Weeks |
Versus a traditional elevator (Savaria, Inclinator and similar): Stiltz is cheaper, quicker to fit and far less invasive, at the cost of a smaller cabin and a more contemporary look. If you want a large, enclosed, finish-rich elevator and can accommodate a hoistway, a traditional brand may suit better; if you want the least disruptive lift that still takes a wheelchair, Stiltz is hard to beat. Versus a pneumatic vacuum lift: both avoid a shaft, but pneumatic models are pricier and can be a little noisier, while Stiltz offers a wider cabin choice. See our home lift brand comparison and Savaria review.
Versus a stairlift: this is the more important comparison for many families. A stairlift costs a fraction of a Stiltz lift and suits anyone who can still walk but finds the stairs hard. A Stiltz lift earns its premium when a wheelchair is involved, when you want the staircase kept completely clear, or when you value a discreet, value-adding, whole-home solution. Our stairlift vs home lift guide walks through the decision.
Our honest take: Stiltz is the home lift we’d point most families toward if a home lift is genuinely the right answer. It’s practical, well-judged and far less disruptive than the alternatives. But it’s still a $20,000-plus commitment — so if a stairlift would safely meet the need, that’s usually the smarter money. Reach for Stiltz when a wheelchair, a layout that defeats a stairlift, or a long-term plan makes a lift the better fit. When it is the right fit, few home lifts make the decision easier or the installation less daunting.
Who Stiltz is best for
A Stiltz lift makes most sense for homeowners who want to age in place in a home where stairs are becoming a real barrier, who don’t want the cost and upheaval of a traditional elevator, and who value a tidy, modern lift that fits an ordinary room. The Trio in particular is a strong choice where a wheelchair is involved. It’s less suited to those who specifically want a large, classic enclosed elevator, or whose need could be met just as safely by a stairlift at a fraction of the price.
It also tends to appeal to adult children arranging a solution for a parent: the compact footprint means it can go in without redesigning the house, the install is quick and low-disruption, and the safety features and battery backup offer genuine reassurance for someone who’ll often use the lift alone. If that describes your situation — and a stairlift genuinely won’t meet the need — Stiltz is one of the first brands worth getting a survey from. As always, book a couple of quotes so you can compare not just price but the local partner who’ll look after the lift for years to come.
Paying for a Stiltz lift
At $20,000-plus, a Stiltz lift is a significant outlay, so it’s worth knowing the funding picture before you rule it out on price. No single grant usually covers a home lift in full, but several can contribute, and the rest is commonly financed. For eligible veterans with severe service-connected disabilities, the VA’s SAH grant (up to $126,526 in FY2026) is the one program that can genuinely fund a lift; Medicaid HCBS waivers and a medical-expense tax deduction may each chip in; and many homeowners cover the balance with home equity (a HELOC) — helped by the fact that, unlike a stairlift, a home lift can add value back to the property. Our grants, Medicare & financing guide walks through every route. It’s the right place to look before deciding a Stiltz lift is out of reach.