Platform & home lifts in Ireland, the 2026 buyer's guide

Last updated: 21 October 2026

When a stairlift won't do the job, typically because the user is a wheelchair user, transfers are unsafe, or the stairs are unusable, a platform or home lift is the alternative. They are more expensive and more invasive to install than stairlifts, but the Housing Adaptation Grant covers up to €40,000 of the cost, and for households that need one, they are transformative.

How much does a home lift cost in Ireland? A new through-floor home lift for a two-storey house costs about €20,000 to €30,000 or more, a short-rise vertical platform lift about €8,000 to €15,000, and a cabin lift from about €30,000. The Housing Adaptation Grant can pay up to €40,000 of the cost.

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Types of home lift

Through-floor lifts

The most common residential lift in Ireland. Travels from the ground floor through a hatch in the ceiling to the first floor. Self-contained, no separate machine room required. Suitable for most homes with sufficient ceiling clearance and a layout that allows a roughly 1m × 1m footprint upstairs and down.

Vertical platform lifts

Open or partially-enclosed platforms that travel a short vertical distance, typically up to 3m. Common at front entrances with steps, between split-level rooms, or to raise a wheelchair user onto a deck or patio.

Cabin lifts

Fully enclosed mini-lifts with a shaft. Premium option, looks like a small commercial lift, suits new builds or major renovations. Most expensive category, €30,000+.

When to choose a platform lift over a stairlift

• Wheelchair user. A stairlift requires a transfer onto the seat, not safe for many wheelchair users.
• Unsafe transfers. Severe arthritis, advanced Parkinson's, post-stroke spasticity often make stairlift seat transfers impossible.
• Narrow or spiral stairs. Some stairs simply cannot accommodate a stairlift.
• Multiple users in the home. A through-floor lift serves anyone; a stairlift is sized for one user.
• Anticipating future needs. If decline is expected, a lift may be the better long-term investment.

Cost comparison

Indicative figures, before VAT, for a household with income up to €37,500 after the disregards and deductions, the band where both grants cover 100% of the approved cost. Neither grant pays the VAT. You may be able to reclaim the VAT on the lift itself from Revenue if it is for a person with a disability. Use the eligibility checker to see what your specific household qualifies for.

Home lift and platform lift grants

A through-floor home lift or a platform lift is covered by the Housing Adaptation Grant, which pays up to €40,000. With a household income up to €37,500 it can cover the whole approved cost, including the building work to fit the lift, apart from the VAT. Above that it pays a smaller share, down to 30% for incomes up to €75,000.

A through-floor lift needs an occupational therapist report, and it helps if the report names the lift and explains why a stairlift will not do. The council asks for the installer’s written quote (some councils want it with the form), and it must approve the work before anything starts. Sources: Housing Adaptation Grant guidelines, December 2024 and the national application form, checked 21 October 2026.

Read what the grant covers for home lifts, and which counties move fastest, or see the full Housing Adaptation Grant guide.

What's involved in installation

1. Site survey, installer measures, identifies the path through the floor, checks ceiling joists, confirms power.
2. Structural assessment, most through-floor lifts cut through existing ceiling joists; this requires a structural calculation and possibly building control notification.
3. Floor cut and frame, typically 1 day on site.
4. Lift installation, 2 to 4 days for through-floor; 1 to 2 days for vertical platform.
5. Commissioning and handover, testing, training the user, paperwork.
6. Annual servicing, required to keep the warranty valid; typically €150 to €300 per year.

FAQs