If you have become a wheelchair user now or in the future, you will know that moving safely between floors can quickly become one of the biggest challenges at home.
Stairs are often the main barrier. And while stairlifts can work for some people, they’re not always suitable or safe for wheelchair users.
This guide is written for wheelchair users themselves, as well as families and carers supporting them. It’s also useful for anyone navigating life after an accident, injury, or sudden change in mobility.
With clear expert advice, we’ve been supplying stairlifts and home lifts for over 20 years. We’re here to provide you with clear, honest information to help you understand whether a vertical platform lift like a home lift for wheelchair users could be the right solution for your home.
In a hurry? Here’s the short answer
Many wheelchair users choose a through-floor home lift because it offers step-free access between floors without the need to transfer from your wheelchair. The right solution depends on your wheelchair, your mobility, your home layout, and the total weight the lift needs to carry, which is why a proper assessment is essential.
Can wheelchair users use a stairlift on the stairs?
Some wheelchair users can use a stairlift, but only in specific circumstances.
A stairlift requires you to:
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Transfer safely from your wheelchair onto the stairlift seat
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Travel up or down the stairs while seated in a comfortable postural position
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Be seated safely for the journey whilst in travel
This relies on good balance, upper body strength, and the ability to transfer consistently and safely.
When a stairlift might work
A stairlift may be suitable if:
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You can transfer independently or with minimal assistance
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Your wheelchair use is occasional
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There is enough space at the top and bottom of the stairs for safe transfers
When a stairlift is not suitable
A stairlift is usually not appropriate if:
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Transfers are unsafe or have the physical strength to do this (if unassisted)
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You use a wheelchair full time
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You require assistance from a carer for transfers and still find it difficult to transfer
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Balance, strength, or fatigue fluctuate day to day
In these situations, a stairlift may not be suitable for your needs.
We do have a showroom in Calne, Wiltshire and Ferndown, Dorset where you can try out a range of stairlifts. Our Calne showroom also has a working wheelchair home lift and a static one too so you can see how they look and operate. Showroom appointments can be booked by calling us on 01249 477699.
Why home lifts are often chosen by wheelchair users
A home lift removes the stairs from the equation altogether.
Through-floor home lifts are designed to provide level, step-free access between floors, allowing you to:
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Wheel directly into the lift
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Travel between floors without transferring
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Exit at floor level upstairs or downstairs
For many wheelchair users, this feels safer and is a much easier option to travel between floors.
Home lifts are also often chosen because they:
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Reduce the safety risk of transfers
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Support changing mobility over time
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Can be used by more than one person in the household (depending on model)
Range of home lifts suitable for wheelchair users
Not all homelifts are the same. The right choice depends on your wheelchair size, the weight that the lift has to hold, usability and safety, and being able to fit it into the space in your home.
Through-floor home lifts
Through-floor lifts travel vertically through a cut-out in the ceiling and floor, stopping flush at each level.
They are popular with wheelchair users because they:
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Offer step-free access
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Don’t require a lift shaft or a pit to recess the platform into
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Can often be positioned in a corner of a room (normally living room to bedroom but can be installed in other areas of the home)
These domestic home lifts are designed specifically for private homes and are not commercially rated for public buildings. They will travel from one floor to the next, but not multiple floors.
Stiltz Trio by Stiltz Home Lifts
The Stiltz Trio is designed to accommodate a wheelchair user and an additional standing passenger if required.
Key features of the Stiltz Trio homelifts:
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One fixed platform size
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Designed for wheelchair access
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Compact footprint compared to traditional lifts
Because the Trio platform size is fixed, suitability depends on:
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The size of your wheelchair
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Manoeuvring space in your home
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Total combined weight of users
Unique to the Stiltz Trio, they also have the Thru-Car option lift, where you can wheel in the front entrance and on the next level wheel out of the back entrance.
Wessex VM and Wessex VE
The Wessex VM and Wessex VE are through-floor lifts that can be specified with different platform sizes and a range of home lift options to make the lift more customised for your needs.
This flexibility can be particularly helpful if:
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You use a larger wheelchair
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You use a powered wheelchair
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A carer may need to travel with you (VE model only)
Being able to choose the type of lift platform size allows the home lift installation to be matched more precisely to your needs. The VM model is only available for one wheelchair user, as it is not a fully enclosed platform someone cannot stand in it whilst in travel.
Manual and powered wheelchairs: what matters most
Home lifts are residential lifts that can be suitable for both manual and powered wheelchairs — but assessment is essential.
The most important factor is the safe working load of the lift.
This includes the combined weight of:
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The wheelchair user
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The wheelchair itself
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Any additional passenger, such as a carer
Powered wheelchairs and carers can significantly increase the total load, which must always remain within the lift’s rated capacity.
This is one of the reasons why a home visit is needed to gain an accurate understanding of needs and to do a correct assessment that involves a full survey of your home.
Space and layout considerations
Wheelchair suitability isn’t just about the lift — it’s about how you access it.
A home survey will look at:
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Clear floor space at entry and exit points
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Turning circles for your wheelchair
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Door positions and approach angles
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Floor-to-floor height
Photos alone rarely show the full picture, which is why in-person assessment is necessary, and we do this no-obligation free estimate as part of our service to you.
Safety Features and considerations for wheelchair users
Modern home lifts are built with multiple safety features.
Key features include:
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Emergency stop controls
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Emergency lowering systems in the event of a power cut
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Obstruction sensors
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Level access at floor height
For wheelchair users, these features help ensure travel is controlled, predictable, and safe.
Costs for wheelchair-suitable home lifts
Home lifts suitable for wheelchair users typically start from around £13,500+.
Costs vary depending on:
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Lift model and platform size
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Building work required and other preliminary works to prepare the site for the installation
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Travel height
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Optional features
When a home lift may not be the right solution
A home lift isn’t always the answer.
It may not be suitable if:
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There is no suitable location for installation
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Space is extremely limited inside the home
In these cases, alternative solutions may be more appropriate like converting downstairs, adding an extension or even moving home. We won’t specify a product if we know it won’t work for your circumstances.
The importance of a proper home survey
For wheelchair users, surveys go beyond measurements.
We consider:
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How you use your wheelchair day to day and how we can get a person centred solution for you so it works for you and your environment
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Whether assistance is needed
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Input from occupational therapists where present
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Future changes in mobility
This ensures the solution is safe, comfortable, easy to use, practical, and right for you.
Choosing the right solution
The right home lift should:
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Fit your wheelchair comfortably
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Support safe, independent movement
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Work for your home and your lifestyle
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — and that’s okay.
Book a free home survey
At 1st Choice Stairlifts & Home Lifts, we’ve been fitting lifts in real homes across the South and South West for over 20 years. We are authorised dealers, with manufacturer trained staff on the Wessex and Stiltz Lifts range of domestic lifts.
We offer free, no-obligation home surveys with clear, practical advice.
If you’re a wheelchair user considering a home lift, we’re here to help you understand your options.
???? Book a free home survey and get advice tailored to you and your home.
Home lifts for wheelchair users: frequently asked questions
Can a powered wheelchair use a home lift?
Yes, many home lifts can be suitable for powered wheelchairs. What matters most is the safe working load of the lift, which includes the combined weight of the wheelchair user, the wheelchair itself, and any additional passenger such as a carer. This must always stay within the lift’s rated capacity. The powered wheelchair must also be able to fit on one of the available platform sizes.
Can a carer travel in the lift with a wheelchair user?
In some cases, yes. This depends on the platform size, whether there is space for the wheelchair user and carer, and the total combined weight of everyone using the lift. Models with variable platform sizes, such as the Wessex VE can hold larger chairs.
Do wheelchair home lifts need a shaft?
Most modern through-floor home lifts designed for private houses do not need a traditional lift shaft. They travel through a cut-out in the floor and stop flush at each level, helping to keep disruption to a minimum.
Is a home lift safer than a stairlift for wheelchair users?
For many wheelchair users, a home lift is safer because it removes the need to transfer on and off a stairlift seat. However, suitability depends on the individual, their mobility, and their home layout, which is why a proper assessment is essential.
