Which lift should you buy?
An independent, vendor-neutral selector. Tell us your floors, passengers and building type — get the right lift type, capacity, speed and an honest price idea. We don't sell lifts.
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MRL gearless traction
Mid-rise standard: no separate machine room, smooth ride, and energy-efficient gearless drive.
This is a vendor-neutral starting point, not a final specification. The number of lifts especially needs a proper traffic study. Confirm everything with a licensed lift engineer before you buy.
How to choose — the guide
The selector above is built on these standard rules. Use them to sanity-check any quote a vendor gives you.
1 · Lift type & speed, by number of floors
| Building height | Recommended type | Typical speed |
|---|---|---|
| Home / 2–3 stops, up to 4 persons | Home lift — hydraulic, screw or compact MRL | 0.3–0.5 m/s |
| Up to ~6 floors (low-rise) | Hydraulic or MRL gearless traction | ~1.0 m/s |
| 7–15 floors (mid-rise) | MRL gearless traction | ~1.5 m/s |
| 16–25 floors | Gearless traction (with machine room) | 2.0–2.5 m/s |
| 25+ floors (high-rise) | High-speed gearless traction | 2.5 m/s and above |
2 · Capacity, by passengers
Rated at roughly 68 kg per person (per Indian and international lift standards). Pick capacity for your peak demand, not the average.
| Passengers | Rated load | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 4 persons | ≈ 272 kg | Small homes, low-traffic residential |
| 6 persons | ≈ 408 kg | Standard apartment lift |
| 8 persons | ≈ 544 kg | Most common residential / small office |
| 10 persons | ≈ 680 kg | Busy residential / commercial |
| 13 persons | ≈ 884 kg | Commercial; minimum for hospital stretcher car |
| 16–20 persons | ≈ 1088–1360 kg | High-rise, offices, malls |
3 · A price idea — read the caveat first
| Category | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home lift (2–3 stops) | ₹8–25 lakh | Hydraulic ₹8–20L · traction ₹10–25L+ · screw ₹14–30L |
| Low-rise passenger lift (≤6 floors) | ₹6–18 lakh / lift | Hydraulic or MRL, basic finish |
| Mid-rise MRL (7–15 floors) | ₹12–25 lakh / lift | Gearless, standard cabin |
| High-rise traction (16+ floors) | ₹18–40 lakh+ / lift | Higher speed & capacity, premium finish |
Add annual maintenance (AMC) of roughly ₹20,000–₹75,000 / year, plus civil work and GST. Sources: published 2026 price guides from Indian lift suppliers (Elite, Nibav, Stage, Cube) — figures vary by vendor.
4 · Local vs branded — what the extra money buys you (later)
For a reference 6-passenger, ~5-floor MRL lift, the gap between a local fabricator and a global brand is roughly 2×. The savings are upfront; the difference shows up later — in safety, service and spare parts.
| Tier | Indicative price | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Local / unbranded | ₹6–9 lakh | Cheapest upfront — verify BIS certification, parts & service first |
| Domestic branded (e.g. Johnson) | ₹8–12 lakh | National service network, certified components |
| Global branded (KONE, Otis, Schindler) | ₹12–18 lakh | Top safety & tech, widest service, best resale |
What the extra money buys you — and you feel it later:
- Certified safety — auto-rescue device (ARD), safety brakes and door sensors as standard.
- Service network — a breakdown call that is actually answered, anywhere in India.
- Genuine spare parts for 15–25 years — cheap lifts can be “orphaned” when the maker disappears.
- Energy efficiency — gearless drives cut the electricity bill every month.
- Longevity & resale — a 20–25 year life with proper AMC, and higher property value.
- Accountability & warranty — a name that answers if something goes wrong.
Sizing a backup for your lift?
Once you've picked the lift, our other tools help with the rest.
Read the buying guide →Size lift backup (ERD) →Independent & not legal/engineering advice. LiftInverter.com does not sell lifts and takes no vendor payment for placement. This tool is a starting point only; the number of lifts in particular needs a proper traffic study. Always confirm the final specification with a licensed lift engineer before purchase.