National price ranges
Fixr: $35,000 to $60,000, average $50,000; about $10,000 more per extra floor.
When it is worth it
- A wheelchair user must reach more than one floor.
- There is a stacked closet or space for a shaft.
When to try something else first
- A stair lift would do: Fixr puts straight lifts at a small fraction of the cost.
- Daily life can move to one floor.
What moves the price
- Shaft construction or a shaftless through-floor model.
- Number of floors (Fixr: about $10,000 per extra floor).
- Permits, inspections and annual service.
DIY or hire it out
Not a DIY job.
Tax note. IRS Publication 502 lists this among home changes that usually do not raise a home's value, so the cost can count as a medical expense if you itemize and total medical costs pass 7.5% of adjusted gross income:
Installing porch lifts and other forms of lifts (but elevators generally add value to the house).
(IRS Publication 502, 2025)
Where this shows up in the home check
Keepstead suggests this fix when one of these checks fails. Run the home check to see whether it is a priority for your home.
- The stairs are easy to climb today, or bed, bath and kitchen are all on one floor (hallways and stairs)
Frequently asked questions
Is a home elevator tax deductible?
Only partly, at most. IRS Publication 502 says elevators generally add value to the house, so only the cost above the increase in value can count as a medical expense.
Elevator or stair lift?
A stair lift suits someone who can sit and stand on their own; an elevator suits wheelchair users and households planning to stay for many years.