Wheelchair lifts are available in a wide variety of designs. A distinction must be made between aids that follow the course of the stairs and those that choose a vertical transport path. The most common variants are platform elevators, ceiling elevators and stair caterpillars, or vertical platform elevators, lifting platforms or vertical elevators. Which wheelchair lift is the best choice should always be selected individually.
Especially for wheelchair users, stairs can become an insurmountable obstacle. But there are wheelchair lifts that give wheelchair users back their freedom and independence. Most wheelchair lifts can be used without the help of an attendant. The most common varieties of wheelchair lift are platform elevators, ceiling elevators and stair caterpillars, or vertical platform lifts, lifting platforms or vertical elevators.
Prices and Costs
A wheelchair 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.
Factors affecting price
The cost of a wheelchair 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, a wheelchair lift is in most cases a custom-made product. So, in summary, the following factors further drive up the overall price:
No | Cost Factors |
---|---|
1. | Complexity and slope angle of the stair |
2. | Number of steps |
3. | Effort during installation |
4. | Height to overcome |
5. | Additional equipment and appearance |
6. | Weatherproof for outdoor installation |
7. | Load capacity and load bearing capacity |
8. | Drive speed |
9. | Number of stops |
10. | Type of drive (electric motor, traction drive, rack and pinion drive / gear drive) |
The above factors thus ensure that manufacturers generally can not give a blanket price information. At the current time, the average price range for a wheelchair lift over one floor is around 5,000 to 10,000 €. Used models are already available for less than 3,000 €, but it is important to pay close attention to whether the model is suitable at all. When buying a new wheelchair lift, a manufacturer can only provide a cost estimate after an on-site inspection. In addition, you should consider in advance whether the wheelchair lift must also have special or adapted equipment. In this way, the manufacturer can prepare an offer perfectly tailored to your needs.
Acquisition costs
A wheelchair lift often allows barrier-free access without extensive remodeling of the living environment. It can be installed within a very short time and is cheaper to purchase than conventional elevators. When buying a wheelchair lift, you should expect to pay at least 5,000 €. These prices are standard market prices and do not refer to a single manufacturer. For a single-family house with 1 floor and larger conversion costs, prices of up to 10,000 € can quickly arise. If the wheelchair lift is installed for a wheelchair user, up to 4,000 € subsidy can be applied for and claimed from the care insurance, if a corresponding care degree is available.
The price of a wheelchair lift depends on various factors such as load capacity, travel speed, number of stopping points, height, type of drive, model and appearance. Wheelchair lifts for outdoor use are understandably more expensive than those for indoor use. The real purchase costs can be determined very accurately by obtaining several cost estimates from different lift manufacturers -and service providers.
An incalculable size remains however the costs of the necessary rebuilding measures at the single family house. If larger excavations are necessary at the single-family dwelling, additional costs can develop. Therefore, before buying a wheelchair lift, find out about “all” the costs involved and financial subsidies. 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 €.
Lift type | Stair form | Area | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Stairlift | straight stairs | Inside | 3,800 to 9,700 € |
Stairlift | curved stairs | Inside | 8,000 to 15,000 € |
Stairlift | straight stairs | Outside | 4,000 to 7,500 € |
Platformlift | straight stairs | Inside | 9,000 to 15,000 € |
Platformlift | curved stairs | Inside | 12,000 to 25,000 € |
Platformlift | straight stairs | Outside | 9,000 to 15,000 € |
Platformlift | curved stairs | Outside | 15,000 to 25,000 € |
Lifting Platform | Height up to 1.79m td> | Outside | 8,000 to 15,000 € |
Lifting Platform | Height up to 3m | Outside | from 17,500 € |
Prices and customization options vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. Flat price quotations such as a price per 1 meter height or per stair step do not exist. In general, you can say that the more steps are overcome and the more weight it must transport, the more expensive it is. For each additional meter, you should expect to pay at least 2,000 € more, not including conversion costs. A wheelchair lift that is attached to the outside staircase, has a rail length of around 2 meters, has 2 stopping points, moves via a hydraulic drive and can be used by a wheelchair user should cost at least 8,000 € including 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 wheelchair lift providers in your region, which you can compare at your leisure and without risk.
Costs for maintenance and servicing
Wheelchair lifts are low-emission, durable, lightweight and space-saving. A wheelchair 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 wheelchair 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 a wheelchair lift are made up of consumption during travel and standby times. For a wheelchair 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 approx. 78 €. Platform lifts in single-family homes stand still 99% of the time. The energy costs therefore depend primarily on how much the elevator is used, whether the drive installed is suitable for the particular usage situation and what height the wheelchair lift has to climb. As a rule, more than 50% of the power consumption of wheelchair 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 wheelchair lift or to pay it off monthly by installments. Here it is advisable to compare the prices of the different offerers in detail and in peace with one another – that saves cash 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.
Platform lifts for wheelchair users
The platform lift is mounted on the stairs. A platform moves along the course of the stairs on a rail in this version of the wheelchair lift. Platform lifts are large enough for a wheelchair and also have the required load capacity. When not in use, the platform can be folded away automatically. This ensures that pedestrians can continue to use the stairs without restrictions.
Platform lifts are designed so that wheelchair users can use the lift without the assistance of an attendant. There is also no need for repositioning. The platform lift can be installed on both straight and curved stairs. The platform lift is also suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Simple models are available from just under 10,000 €. Platform lifts are thus in the middle price segment of wheelchair lifts.
List of Anieter companies and manufacturers
No. | Manufacturer and supplier |
---|---|
1. | Thoma Aufzüge GmbH |
2. | Hauck Stairlifts |
3. | GARAVENTA Lift GmbH |
4. | Högg-Lift GmbH |
5. | Lifta |
6. | Lehner Lifttechnik GmbH |
7. | Ango Reha Technik |
8. | Weigl Aufzüge GmbH & Co. KG |
9. | Bavaria Treppenlift e.K. |
10. | Lift Reith GmbH & Co. KG |
11. | Cama Treppenlift GmbH |
12. | P+S Aufzüge GmbH |
13. | sani-trans GmbH |
14. | Veigel GmbH + Co. KG |
15. | Frankenlifte |
Type | Prices |
---|---|
Straight stairs in the house | from 8,000 € |
Spiral staircases in the house | from 12,000 € |
Straight outdoor stairs | approx. 9,000 € |
Curved exterior stairs | approx. 13,000 € |
Ceiling lifts and hover lifts
Ceiling lifts are attached to the ceiling. The wheelchair is moved along the stairs by means of a special suspension device. Using a ceiling lift as a wheelchair lift has several advantages. The space required by a ceiling lift is much smaller, because no objects need to be mounted on the stairs. For pedestrians, the entire staircase therefore remains usable.
In addition, significantly tighter curve radii are possible with the ceiling lift. This makes it possible to use it even with a spiral staircase. The ceiling lift can also be coupled to a rail system, which can help to achieve even greater independence (transport from room to room, transfer in the bathroom). However, ceiling lifts for wheelchair users are usually more expensive than platform lifts.
Stair crawlers for wheelchair users
Stair caterpillars differ from other stair lifts in that they are not connected to the stairs. Rather, they are aids that allow a wheelchair to negotiate steps. There are stair caterpillars that can be used by wheelchair users alone and those that require an attendant. For the latter, a platform can also be used, which makes the stair caterpillar universally compatible with any wheelchair.
Stair caterpillars have the advantage that they can be used not only for one but for almost any staircase. Therefore, they increase mobility not only in your own home but everywhere. Stair caterpillars are also less expensive than other wheelchair lifts. Since they do not require assembly, the second-hand purchase is also a particularly favorable alternative in this case. A disadvantage, however, is the fact that stair climbers are perceived as less comfortable by some wheelchair users.
Platform elevators for wheelchair users
Platform elevators are usually used when installation in the staircase area is out of the question for structural reasons. The platform elevator allows transportation in the vertical and thus does not follow the course of the stairs. The platform of the wheelchair lift is often accessed via a small ramp. Platform elevators are particularly comfortable and easy to operate by dead man’s control.
They are also suitable for heights over 2 meters. Platform elevators can be installed both inside a building and outside. As a rule, the platform is open at the top and the lift is firmly anchored in a shaft frame. In terms of price, platform elevators are above stair elevators, but below passenger elevators.
Wheelchair lifts
Another form of wheelchair lift is the lifting platform. The lifting platform is primarily used when only a small difference in height must be overcome. This is usually only a few steps, for example, in front of the front door of a house. However, Lifting Platforms can also be used inside a building without any problems. One advantage is their easy installation. It can be done independently of the stairs and requires little space.
There are also mobile lifting platforms that can be used as wheelchair lifts for example for minivan or disabled transportation. Such mobile lifting platforms do not require a fixed installation. Therefore, they can usually be rented at a reasonable price. If a Lifting Platform is to be purchased new, it usually costs about as much as a comparable platform lift.
Vertical Lifts and Home Lifts
Probably the most convenient form of wheelchair lift is the vertical lift. In principle, this is a normal elevator, but optimized for ease of retrofitting into an existing building. A masonry shaft can therefore generally be dispensed with. The installation and assembly of a vertical elevator is quick and easy.
Elevator platforms are usually available in various sizes. However, dimensions and load capacity are usually always sufficient to transport a wheelchair comfortably and safely. Elevators can be used both indoors and outdoors, connecting several floors. However, they are the most expensive version of the wheelchair lift and therefore cost significantly more than other solutions.
Room bunk lifts
Prices for bunk elevators usually start at around 15,000 €. Installation involves cutting a neat hole through the ceiling and floor of a room, through which the lift travels from upstairs to downstairs and vice versa. Floor elevators also often require structural changes to the property before installation can take place. As with all interior elevators, the cost depends greatly on the individual structural conditions on site.
It is important to plan very carefully before installing an interior floor elevator. Be sure to consider aspects such as the size of the wheelchair and the weight the elevator will need to support. Depending on the number of structural changes that need to be made to the property, installing an elevator can take several days. The company representative will advise you on this and other issues during the initial home visit. A team of engineers will then work out the installation details. Although installation is expensive, the cost is more than offset by the resulting freedom. Please fill out the request form to get a quote for a bunk elevator.
The city of Frohburg is looking for a used lift for wheelchair users for outdoor installation. The height to be overcome is 72 cm. Connection areas are available. Please offer: new, used, rent
As a private person I am looking for a used vertical lift so that my mother, who is in a wheelchair, can get into our apartment. There is a height difference of 1m to overcome. Please offer: used.