A residential elevator helps you maneuver between the floors of your home without having to navigate a stairway or ramp. These home transport systems improve vertical mobility in the home and can help seniors or disabled individuals maintain their independence. The space you need for a residential elevator depends on how many levels you need to go and where you plan to install the elevator.
What are the Minimum Space Requirements for a Home Elevator?
In general, you need at least 20 to 25 square feet of space to install a residential elevator. You might also need about 8 inches of pit space dug into the ground beneath the elevator, depending on the style of residential elevator you plan to use. The smallest kind of home elevator is usually a pneumatic vacuum elevator, which is also “pit-less” by design.
Standard residential elevator cabs typically measure about 3 feet wide by 4 feet deep, which necessitates a hoistway measuring at least 4 feet wide and 5 feet deep. Some smaller home elevators measure just 3 feet by 3 feet, around 9 feet square, but designs this small may be unable to comfortably accommodate a wheelchair or multiple people.
4 Size Considerations for a Residential Elevator
Several factors affect how much space you need for your residential elevator. Consider the following when deciding how much space your home elevator will require:
1. Wall Width
A home elevator typically uses a rail system attached to a wall, so the width of the wall matters when considering whether you have enough space. Having 30 square feet of available space might not be enough if you don’t have a wide enough wall to hook the rail onto.
2. Door Width
Residential elevators often have doors measuring 36 inches wide to accommodate a wheelchair, although some smaller models may have doors as slim as 21 inches wide.
3. Clearance Around the Elevator
In addition to the space taken up by the physical cab, the elevator housing, and the mechanisms that make the elevator run properly, you also need running clearance around the perimeter of the car. There should be enough room for the doors to open correctly and for passengers to get onto the elevator and disembark at each level. You also need clearance above the elevator. Many models require at least 6 inches of overhead clearance above the top of the elevator. Local building codes may specify a certain amount of clearance at the top or sides, so you need to take those requirements into account as well.
4. Space for Drive Components
You may need room for any exterior electrical system and drive components that power your elevator. Some home elevators have a drive system mounted in the hoistway, minimizing the necessary space outside the shaft. Other elevators require an external machine room for the drive.
For existing homes trying to retrofit, you might also need to rewire part of your electrical system to accommodate the home elevator, so you need sufficient space behind the walls to route new electrical wires. In some cases, installing a home elevator means rerouting other systems in your home, such as an HVAC system or water pipes in your walls. When considering space requirements for your home elevator, you need to account for these changes and where you plan to move ductwork or plumbing as well.
5 Personal Considerations Affecting Elevator Size
Aside from the physical constraints present at your home, there may be personal considerations that affect how big your residential elevator has to be:
1. Elevator Capacity
Most residential elevators are designed to carry multiple people or up to a thousand pounds. You may need more space if you want a larger elevator that can handle moving more people than the current one.
2. Medical Equipment Transport
If you plan to transport personal medical equipment, such as a wheelchair, portable dialysis machine, or oxygen tank, up and down on your elevator, you might need more space than if you only plan to move a single individual at a time between floors.
3. Number of Floors
Most residential elevators are designed with a shaft length of 25 to 50 feet, so moving between two or three floors is possible with a smaller home elevator. If your home includes more than two or three levels, you might need a larger elevator with a longer shaft. Remember to count finished basements and attic space as a level if you want the elevator to go that far.
4. Weight Capacity
The weight capacity of your elevator may limit how many people or what equipment you can bring into the cab. If you plan to move heavier items (1,000 lbs.) between floors, consider whether you need a larger elevator with a maximum weight capacity.
5. Extra Features
The more features you want on your residential elevator, the more space you may need. Exterior doors that slide into the wall adjacent to the elevator need wall space to accommodate the door panels. Doors that swing outward may require more clearance in front of the elevator.
Automatic door operation devices mounted inside the elevator cab take up space, which may necessitate a larger cab for comfort. If you want a seat inside the elevator, that also requires a bigger cab, which increases the overall footprint of your residential elevator. In some cases, there is a trade-off between desired features and size, so you need to decide what things are most important to you in a home elevator and whether your available space can accommodate those features.
Understanding Residential Elevator Size and Key Considerations
When planning to install a home elevator, one of the first things to consider is the residential elevator size. The size of the elevator is not only determined by the physical space available in your home but also by your unique needs and preferences. Whether you need the elevator for convenience, mobility, or medical purposes, understanding the dimensions and how they impact the installation is crucial.
Here are some key factors that affect the residential elevator size:
1. Space Availability
The size of the area available in your home plays a critical role in determining the type of elevator you can install. For smaller spaces, a pneumatic vacuum elevator with a compact design may be the best choice, while larger homes may require hydraulic systems with more space.
2. Weight Capacity and Number of Users
If you plan to move multiple people or heavier equipment, you may need to opt for a larger residential elevator size with increased weight capacity. A larger cabin ensures more comfort and flexibility in moving between floors.
3. Elevator Features
Additional features such as automatic doors, a seat inside the elevator, or special medical equipment storage can increase the space requirements. These extra features add to the overall residential elevator size, so it’s important to balance these desires with the space you have available.
4. Number of Floors
The height and number of floors the elevator will cover also impact its size. For multi-story homes, a longer shaft and a larger residential elevator size are required to accommodate the full distance between floors.
5. Customization for Specific Needs
Customizing your residential elevator size for medical needs, such as transporting a wheelchair, oxygen tank, or other equipment, will affect the dimensions of the elevator. The design should account for these additional factors, ensuring the elevator is functional for everyone in the home.
By understanding these considerations and working with an expert, you can choose the right residential elevator size that fits both your space and functional needs.
Types of Residential Elevators and Size Constraints
The type of home elevator you choose might affect the minimum or maximum size you can get. Some types of elevators are designed for smaller buildings, while others are built larger and intended for bigger residential spaces. (Maximum square footage for home elevator = 15 ft² per code)
Hydraulic Elevators
Hydraulic elevators tend to be larger than other models, so you won’t get the smallest sizes with this type of residential elevator. Luxury elevators, such as the Savaria Infinity Luxury Home Elevator, and residential elevators with larger weight capacities tend to use hydraulics. Minimum pit sizes of around 8 inches and minimum overhead clearance heights of 92 inches or more make the space requirements for hydraulic elevators even larger.
In-Line Drive Elevators
An in-line drive elevator eliminates the need for a separate machine room, minimizing the necessary space for installation. Glass and birdcage elevators with a cable-driven system are designed for placement in the center of a room instead of along a wall, so you don’t need to find wall space to accommodate them, just sufficient floor space.
Pneumatic Elevators
Ideal for retrofit, a pneumatic vacuum elevator takes up minimal space and requires little in the way of home construction to install. Curved inline door openings, a slim external cylinder, and a pit-free design make this one of the smallest home elevators available.
Some models have an external cylinder size of 30 inches and a door opening of 21.5 inches. They accommodate a single person standing up, so adding a seat or using a wheelchair generally isn’t possible with this type of home elevator. A pneumatic elevator can be installed through balcony or floor landings. Pneumatic elevators also tend to cost less than systems that require a full shaft built into your home or a separate space for a drive mechanism.
Other Options for Smaller Spaces
If your home doesn’t have enough space for a full residential home elevator, there may be other options to consider. A wheelchair lift lets you move easily between two levels and tends to take up less space than an elevator. Wheelchair lifts may be particularly useful for spaces where the levels are not a full floor apart. These systems work especially well to transport a wheelchair user from the ground to a porch or between a sunken living room and the rest of the house.
Stair lifts are another alternative to residential home elevators that take up less space. These systems attach to a rail installed along the side of a stairway and let users sit on a specially designed chair for transport up or down the stairs.
Determining the Right Size Residential Elevator for Your Home
If you’re installing a home elevator in an existing home, retrofitting the space to accommodate your new residential elevator may take some work. Some people use an existing closet or alcove as the initial space where the elevator is installed. Building a residential elevator in a newly constructed home lets you adjust the space to fit the elevator you want. The overall installation takes from two to six weeks, depending on the specific type of residential elevator you choose.
Because home elevators are custom-installed to fit your particular house, you need to consult an expert to decide which elevator works best in your space. Ready for a free quote? Contact us today! Let the professionals at Day Elevator & Lift help you find the right fit for your home and family. Contact us at (800) 758-5438 or fill out our online contact form for more information about home elevator options in your area.
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About Day Elevator & Lift, a KLEEMANN Company
DAY Elevator & Lift, a KLEEMANN Company, specializes in the consultation, design, and installation of elevators, lifts, and a wide range of accessibility products and solutions for both residential and commercial use. As a trusted partner for homeowners, contractors, builders, developers, and architects, we focus on convenience, safety, and full ADA compliance, ensuring seamless integration of our product solutions into a single-family home, a multi-unit community, a commercial building, such as office buildings, airports, stadiums, shopping centers, theatres, museums, and industrial facilities. DAY Elevator & Lift will partner with you through every phase of your project.
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Author
This article was developed with the support of the Day Elevator & Lift team.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Elevator and lift systems are complex machines, and all installations, repairs, and inspections must be performed by a licensed and qualified technician. Always consult a professional to ensure your equipment complies with local building codes and safety requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum space for a home elevator?
You need at least 20-25 square feet for the elevator installation, with additional space required for the elevator’s components.
What are the different types of residential elevators?
The main types include hydraulic, in-line drive, and pneumatic elevators, each with specific space and installation requirements.
Can I install a home elevator in an existing home?
Yes, but retrofitting might require adjustments to walls, electrical systems, or plumbing to accommodate the elevator.
How long does it take to install a residential elevator?
The installation typically takes from two to six weeks, depending on the elevator type and your home’s layout.
Do residential elevators require a machine room?
Some residential elevators, like in-line drive models, don’t need a separate machine room, while others, such as hydraulic elevators, require extra space for the drive components.