Outdoor lifts: Compare prices & costs – Used, New, Rent

Stair lifts, platform lifts and lifting platforms can be installed not only indoors but also outdoors. Such outdoor lifts allow people with limited mobility to maximize their independence. Special materials and precautions ensure that outdoor lifts are safe, comfortable and weather resistant. Through careful design and resistant components, a comparably high service life is also achieved.

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Stairs are not only located inside buildings. Also in front of the apartment door a few steps can become a major obstacle. Stairlifts or platform lifts can, however, also be used outdoors and thus provide for independent living. Classic outdoor lifts are hoists, vertical lifts and platform lifts for wheelchair users. However, stair lifts are also offered by most manufacturers in special variants for outdoor use.

Prices and costs

An outdoor lift allows older people to enjoy a new lease on life. The initial cost depends on many different factors, so depending on the equipment and customization, the lift can be significantly cheaper or more expensive than previously thought.

Photo: © Best Vector Elements

The cost of an outdoor lift is made up of many different factors. Here it depends among other things on which model one decides, which drive is needed and which additional equipment the lift should have. Furthermore, the price is also calculated according to the height to be overcome and the load capacity. In addition, the lift must be adapted to the structural and personal situation of the customer. Basically, therefore, an outdoor lift is in most cases a custom-made product. So, in summary, the following factors further drive up the overall price:

The above factors thus ensure that manufacturers generally cannot give a blanket price information. At the current time, the average price range for an outdoor lift over one floor is around 10,000 to 15,000 €. Used models are already available for less than 7,000 €, but here it is important to pay close attention to whether the model is suitable at all.

When purchasing a new outdoor lift, a manufacturer can only provide a quote after an on-site inspection. In addition, you should consider in advance whether the outdoor lift must also have special or customized equipment. In this way, the manufacturer can prepare an offer perfectly tailored to your needs.

Acquisition costs

An outdoor lift allows barrier-free access often without extensive reconstruction of the living environment. It can be installed within a very short time and is cheaper to purchase than conventional elevators. When buying an exterior lift, you should expect to pay at least 5,000 €. These prices are standard market prices and do not refer to a single manufacturer. In the case of a single-family house with 1 floor and larger conversion costs, prices of up to 10,000 € can quickly arise. If the external lift is installed for a wheelchair user, up to 4,000 € of subsidy can be applied for and claimed from the care insurance, if a corresponding nursing care degree is available.

The price of an outdoor lift depends on various factors such as load capacity, travel speed, number of stopping points, height, type of drive, model and appearance. Outdoor lifts with a rain cover are understandably more expensive than those with an open cabin. The real purchase cost can be determined very accurately by obtaining several estimates from different lift manufacturers -and service providers.

On the other hand, an incalculable factor remains the cost of the necessary remodeling work on the single-family home. If larger excavations are necessary at the single-family house, additional costs can arise. Inform therefore before the purchase of an external lift about “all” resulting costs and financial promotions. In addition to the care cost subsidy for measures to improve the individual living environment, the state-subsidized KfW Bank promotes measures to reduce barriers with favorable loans of up to 50,000 €.

Photo: © Atiketta Sangasaeng

Prices and customization options vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. There are no blanket price quotes such as a price per 1 meter of height or square meters of cabin area. Generally speaking, the higher an outdoor lift is and the more weight it can carry, the more expensive it is. For each additional meter, you should expect at least 2,000 € in additional costs without costs for conversion work.

An outdoor lift, which is mounted on the outside of the facade, is about 2 meters high, has 2 stopping points, moves via a hydraulic drive and can be used by a wheelchair user or a maximum of 4 people at the same time, should cost at least 8,000 € with installation. The purchase is costly and should be carefully planned. With a price comparison over treppenlifto.de much money can be saved. You will receive up to three free and non-binding offers from outdoor lift providers from your region with an inquiry, which you can compare at your leisure and without risk.

Costs for maintenance and servicing

Outdoor lifts are low-emission, durable, lightweight and space-saving. An outdoor lift only needs to have its oil and seals changed every 5 years. The material required for this is freely available and costs around 100 €. For the professional implementation of the oil -and seal change, one should expect costs of about 500 €. The cost of labor for maintenance is about 1,000 €. As a rule, a partial or full maintenance contract is concluded with the lift manufacturer from whom the outdoor lift is purchased to regulate maintenance for a period of five or ten years. The costs for maintenance, inspection, cleaning, lubrication, adjustment work and the replacement of wear parts are then usually regulated on a flat-rate basis.

Energy costs

The energy costs for an outdoor lift are made up of consumption during travel and standby times. For an outdoor lift in a single-family house with 1,500 trips per year, i.e. about 4 trips per day, one should expect energy costs of 200 kWh standby power and 100 kWh travel power. At an electricity price of 0.26 €/kWh, this results in annual costs of about 78 €.

Photo: © Atiketta Sangasaeng

Exterior lifts in single-family homes are idle 99% of the time. So the energy costs depend primarily on how much the elevator is used, whether the installed drive is suitable for the particular usage situation and what height the outdoor lift has to overcome. As a rule, more than 50% of the power consumption of outdoor lifts is consumed in standby (idle) mode. To save energy costs, you should make sure when buying that LED lamps are installed instead of halogen or incandescent lamps and that a timer function exists for lighting and electronics.

Rent or pay in installments.

Many manufacturers also offer the possibility to rent the outdoor lift or pay off monthly by installment. Here it is advisable to compare the prices of the various providers in detail and in peace with each other – this saves money. Furthermore, it can’t hurt to talk to your bank advisor about a financing model. In some cases, a bank loan may have lower interest rates than a loan through the respective lift manufacturer. In addition, an on-site inspection and estimate should be non-binding and free of charge.

Outdoor stair lifts

In addition to indoor stair lift models, outdoor stair lifts are also available from nearly every manufacturer. These are weatherproof and located outdoors. They are used to climb steps in front of the main entrance to a home or to the garden. When a ramp is not appropriate, buildings that require public access are sometimes provided with an outdoor stair lift. Visitors who use wheelchairs can then easily access the premises.

Photo: © Pavel105

The cost of an outdoor stair lift for a basic model is about 5,500 €. Such a lift is ideal for difficult staircases or for access to the garden, when various obstacles are in the way. In most cases, installation takes less than a day, and a 2 to 10 year warranty is provided. Outdoor stairlifts can be slightly more expensive than indoor stairlifts due to their added durability and weather resistance. Like indoor stairlifts, there are models for straight and curved stairs. They come standard with a padlock that can be used to secure the lift against theft.

Outdoor stairlifts, like any other stairlift, are equipped with standard features, including user-friendly controls. There is also usually a wireless remote control that can be used to call the lift when needed. A safety harness is often standard so that the user cannot fall off the lift and injure themselves in the garden or on the stairs. Outdoor stair lifts are very low maintenance and usually come with a plastic or plastic cover to protect them from the weather when not in use.

The installation process begins with a consultation from a stairlift representative who will visit the property, perform measurements and discuss options with you. A surveyor then assesses the structural and building situation at the site where the lift is to be installed. The actual price of the outdoor stair lift depends on individual circumstances. An amount of €5,500 is an estimate and may be higher or lower. For a personalized quote, please fill out our request form.

An outdoor stair lift can greatly improve the quality of life for a person with mobility issues. In addition to providing access to the front of a home, an outdoor stair lift can re-open the garden in a way that would be unthinkable without it. Rarely is a garden completely flat or have shallow access points. Installing an outdoor stair lift is the perfect solution, whether the user is an avid gardener or enjoys getting out into the fresh air on a regular basis.

Platform Outdoor Lift

Platform lifts are particularly suitable for wheelchair users. However, they are not just for wheelchairs. A platform lift can also be used to transport other loads (for example, strollers, shopping, drink crates). Some manufacturers also offer platform lifts with folding seats, so they can be used to transport people without a wheelchair. They are also classically offered as outdoor lifts. Since they are usually made entirely of metal, they hardly differ from platform lifts for indoor use.

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The outdoor platform lift is made of weather-resistant materials and has a particularly robust design. This is also necessary, because in the course of a year, the lifts have to go through a lot due to the weather: Rain, snow and heat must not affect them. To ensure a long service life, outdoor lifts must be well protected against moisture and corrosion. This is a basic requirement for a long service life.

Purchasing a platform lift

When buying a platform lift for outdoor use, you should pay attention to high-quality components. All sensitive components, such as the control system and the drive should be housed protected against all weather conditions as well as dust. Like all other stairlifts, outdoor lifts should be serviced regularly. Good service will ensure safe operation and long life of the outdoor lift. Many suppliers offer protective covers that provide additional protection for the platform lift when not in use.

Photo: © Copyright by Ascendor GmbH

Platform lifts are offered for both straight and curved stairs. Both variants are basically suitable for outdoor use as well. Prices for platform lifts start at about 10,000 € for straight stairs. Adapting a platform lift for curved stairs incurs additional costs of at least 5,000 €. In turn, the design as an outdoor lift results in additional costs of at least 1,000 €. So the individual price depends on various factors.

Outdoor platform lifts and vertical lifts

Typical alternatives to the outdoor platform lift are homelifts and vertical lifts. Both are always offered as outdoor lifts as well. Lifting Platforms are only suitable for overcoming small heights, for example a few steps. In return, Lifting Platforms are very easy to assemble and usually do not require any individual adjustments. Depending on the equipment, a Vertical Lift is almost equivalent to a normal Elevator. With a vertical lift, therefore, higher distances can be overcome. For this, however, the costs are significantly higher. While there are Lifting Platforms already from about 10,000 €, vertical lifts are significantly more expensive.

Stair lifts for outdoor use

People with limited mobility who do not rely on a wheelchair often turn to seat lifts. Seat lifts are the classic stair lift. They supported people’s mobility in a safe and comfortable way, enabling a whole new way of life. Seat lifts can also be designed as outdoor lifts. Almost all manufacturers offer adapted seat lift models for outdoor use. They differ from an indoor seat lift primarily in the use of different materials. For example, outdoor lifts use water-repellent seat surfaces, while indoor lifts tend to use soft seat cushions.

PhotosSource: tkelevator.com

The entire mechanism is also designed to be particularly resistant, so that the effects of weather can not cause any damage. Seat lifts are available for curved and straight stairs. Both variants are also offered as outdoor lifts. Prices for seat lifts on straight stairs start at around 5,500 €, while stair lifts for curved stairs cost at least twice that. Due to the more elaborate design and higher-quality materials, additional costs of at least 1,000 € are incurred in each case when used as an outdoor lift.

Tips when buying an outdoor lift

When buying, you should pay particular attention to the fact that the stairlift has been explicitly designed for use as an outdoor lift. It should therefore meet at least the IP 65 protection class. Since outdoor lifts are usually freely accessible, the control unit should be housed in a protected location and secured, for example, by means of a key. If the staircase is to be used by many passers-by, it is advisable to include the stairlift intelligently in its use.

For example, the rails of the stairlift can be used as a handrail for pedestrians in some models. Exterior lifts can also usually be folded together and thus take up hardly any space when not in use. In the purchase considerations should also include used stairlifts or stairlifts for rent. Both can be favorable alternatives if no customization is needed (for example, for straight stairs or for a lift).

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