Commercial Lift vs Home Lift
The differences that matter — load capacity, regulatory requirements, cost, and what each type is actually designed for.
Commercial lifts and home lifts share the same basic principle — a cab that travels vertically between floors — but they are built to very different specifications, governed by different standards, and priced accordingly. Choosing the wrong category can mean a lift that is over-engineered for a home renovation, or dangerously under-specified for a commercial building.
This guide compares commercial and home lifts across the factors that actually matter for a buying decision: load, speed, regulatory compliance, cost, and ongoing maintenance.
Commercial Lift vs Home Lift: Key Differences
The critical differences between commercial and home lifts — load, speed, regulatory requirements, and cost.
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| Factor | Commercial lift | Home lift |
|---|---|---|
| Load capacity | 630–2,000 kg (8–26 persons) | 250–450 kg (2–6 persons) |
| Travel speed | 0.63–2.5 m/s | 0.15–0.5 m/s |
| Duty cycle | Continuous — rated for hundreds of trips/day | Intermittent — low daily use only |
| Governing standard | AS 1735.12 (electric) or AS 1735.7 (hydraulic) | AS 1735.18 or platform lift provisions |
| Plant registration | Required in all states | Required if rise > 2.5 m (most states) |
| Installed cost | $80,000–$400,000+ | $30,000–$80,000 |
| Annual maintenance | $2,500–$8,000/year | $600–$1,800/year |
Cost ranges are indicative installed prices excluding GST. Actual costs depend on configuration, number of stops, and site conditions.
Lift companies in Australia
Browse profiles, compare service areas, and check reviews.
Shotton Lifts
NDIS★ 5.0 (9 reviews)
Family-owned Australian lift manufacturer since 1977. 80+ staff. Design, engineer, manufacture, install and service from Dandenong South VIC. NDIS registered.
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LiftFit Australia
NDIS★ 5.0 (8 reviews)
Victoria-based NDIS registered lift provider, est. 2011. Partners with Cibes, Savaria, and Kalea. Residential, commercial, and platform lifts.
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Easy Living Home Elevators
★ 5.0 (7 reviews)
Australia's #1 home elevator supplier since 1998. 100% Australian-owned. 11,000+ elevators in service across 6 states.
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EcoLift
★ 5.0 (3 reviews)
Family-owned Sydney lift company. European-parts-based installations for reliability and cost-efficient servicing.
View profile →
EMS Elevator Group
★ 5.0 (2 reviews)
Sydney-based bespoke elevator company specialising in installation, modernisation, and maintenance. 24/7 support.
View profile →
Austand Elevator
★ 5.0 (1 reviews)
Adelaide-based global MRL elevator specialist. 30+ years experience, 2,000+ clients, lifts installed in 32 countries. Inventor of the Pre-Assembled Lift.
View profile →
LiftQuotes is a comparison platform. Companies shown are filtered by relevance to this page. Listing does not imply endorsement. LiftQuotes may receive a referral fee when you request quotes.
Still deciding? Get quotes for both options
Installers will assess your site and recommend the right specification.
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I need a lift installed
I have a lift that needs attention
Commercial lifts and home lifts share the same basic principle — a cab that travels vertically between floors — but they are built to very different specifications, governed by different standards, and priced accordingly. Choosing the wrong category can mean a lift that is over-engineered for a home renovation, or dangerously under-specified for a commercial building.
This guide compares commercial and home lifts across the factors that actually matter for a buying decision: load, speed, regulatory compliance, cost, and ongoing maintenance.
Commercial Lift vs Home Lift: Key Differences
The critical differences between commercial and home lifts — load, speed, regulatory requirements, and cost.
Swipe to compare →
| Factor | Commercial lift | Home lift |
|---|---|---|
| Load capacity | 630–2,000 kg (8–26 persons) | 250–450 kg (2–6 persons) |
| Travel speed | 0.63–2.5 m/s | 0.15–0.5 m/s |
| Duty cycle | Continuous — rated for hundreds of trips/day | Intermittent — low daily use only |
| Governing standard | AS 1735.12 (electric) or AS 1735.7 (hydraulic) | AS 1735.18 or platform lift provisions |
| Plant registration | Required in all states | Required if rise > 2.5 m (most states) |
| Installed cost | $80,000–$400,000+ | $30,000–$80,000 |
| Annual maintenance | $2,500–$8,000/year | $600–$1,800/year |
Cost ranges are indicative installed prices excluding GST. Actual costs depend on configuration, number of stops, and site conditions.
Lift companies in Australia
Browse profiles, compare service areas, and check reviews.
Shotton Lifts
NDIS★ 5.0 (9 reviews)
Family-owned Australian lift manufacturer since 1977. 80+ staff. Design, engineer, manufacture, install and service from Dandenong South VIC. NDIS registered.
View profile →
LiftFit Australia
NDIS★ 5.0 (8 reviews)
Victoria-based NDIS registered lift provider, est. 2011. Partners with Cibes, Savaria, and Kalea. Residential, commercial, and platform lifts.
View profile →
Easy Living Home Elevators
★ 5.0 (7 reviews)
Australia's #1 home elevator supplier since 1998. 100% Australian-owned. 11,000+ elevators in service across 6 states.
View profile →
EcoLift
★ 5.0 (3 reviews)
Family-owned Sydney lift company. European-parts-based installations for reliability and cost-efficient servicing.
View profile →
EMS Elevator Group
★ 5.0 (2 reviews)
Sydney-based bespoke elevator company specialising in installation, modernisation, and maintenance. 24/7 support.
View profile →
Austand Elevator
★ 5.0 (1 reviews)
Adelaide-based global MRL elevator specialist. 30+ years experience, 2,000+ clients, lifts installed in 32 countries. Inventor of the Pre-Assembled Lift.
View profile →
LiftQuotes is a comparison platform. Companies shown are filtered by relevance to this page. Listing does not imply endorsement. LiftQuotes may receive a referral fee when you request quotes.
Still deciding? Get quotes for both options
Installers will assess your site and recommend the right specification.
What are you looking for today?
I need a lift installed
I have a lift that needs attention
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