If you’re looking into how much a Stiltz Duo Classic home lift costs, you’re probably weighing up whether a through floor lift is the right investment for your home. This guide, written by Multicare Home Lifts, breaks down the real-world pricing, what’s included, where extra costs appear, and how to reduce what you pay.
Key Takeaways
- A new Stiltz Duo Classic home lift typically costs from around £17,000 to £20,000 + VAT in the UK in 2026, with the final price depending on survey results, specification, and building work.
- This guide is written by Multicare Home Lifts, an independent UK supplier and installer, so we explain Stiltz style pricing, what’s included, and where extra costs usually appear.
- Standard building work to fit a duo classic lift as a through floor lift is often £2,500 to £4,000, depending on property age, layout, and finishes.
- Many customers buying a domestic lift for medical or mobility reasons may qualify for VAT relief and can also explore funding such as a disabled facilities grant from their local council.
- An accurate quotation for any floor lift requires a free home survey, because structural details, power supply, and options like half height door configuration or extra safety features affect the final price.
How Much Does a Stiltz Duo Classic Home Lift Cost in 2026?
The short answer: expect a fully installed stiltz duo classic to cost between £17,000 and £20,000 + VAT in a typical two storey UK home. This is a guide figure, not a formal quote, and every property is different.
That price covers the lift unit itself, delivery, standard professional installation, and a 12 month warranty. Stiltz Duo lift prices for the hardware alone range from around £12,000 to £16,200, with the Stiltz Duo Classic starting from around £13,000. However, installation costs may exceed £17,000 depending on complexity and site preparation, making it important to look at the full project cost rather than unit price alone.
UK home lifts generally cost between £15,000 and £28,000 depending on site specific factors. The duo classic lift sits as one of the more affordable home lift models in the market, which is part of its appeal. It belongs to the broader duo home lift range of efficient two person lifts designed for residential use. Wheelchair users who need a full sized wheelchair to travel between floors should consider a stiltz trio lift instead, at a higher price point.
Multicare Home Lifts offers free, no obligation surveys anywhere in mainland UK to pin down an exact figure for your property.
What Affects the Price of a Duo Classic Domestic Lift?
Stiltz-style domestic lifts are bespoke to each home, so several practical factors push the price up or down. Factors affecting home lift pricing include lift model, installation requirements, and structural modifications.
Key cost drivers include:
- Floors served – most duo lifts travel between ground and first floor (one floor), but home lift installations typically connect two floors and can serve multiple levels with additional engineering, which increases cost.
- Lift location – hallway, bedroom to landing, or stairwell void. Some placements are structurally simpler. A position near load bearing walls might seem logical, but the stiltz lift uses a self supporting structure, so wall strength matters less than clear headroom and joist layout.
- Property age and construction – solid concrete floors, steel beams, or unusual layouts often need more expensive building work.
- Travel height and headroom – higher ceilings or split level homes may require additional components.
- Electrical requirements – the duo lift requires a standard 13 amp power socket, but some homes need upgraded circuits or new spurs run to the correct position.
- Aesthetic choices – finishes, décor integration, and soundproofing around the aperture can slightly increase the project cost.
A professional survey from Multicare Home Lifts is the only reliable way to understand how these variables apply to your property.
What’s Included in the Typical Cost of a Duo Classic Home Lift?
When you see figures like “from £17,000 ex. VAT” for a stiltz home lift, this usually covers a comprehensive package rather than just the lift car on its own.
A Multicare-style quotation for a duo classic normally includes:
- Supply of the domestic lift with standard safety features: battery back up system, emergency lowering, obstruction sensors, and interior controls.
- Delivery to site within the agreed UK region.
- Professional installation by trained engineers, standard installation of the duo lift can be completed in one day once building work is finished.
- Commissioning, testing, and handover, including a user demonstration and safety briefing covering remote controls and the interior telephone help system.
- 12-month guarantee on parts and labour, with the option to discuss extended cover or a maintenance plan.
Some suppliers bundle a basic service visit in the first year. Multicare can arrange ongoing maintenance to keep running costs predictable. Building work, special finishes, and non-standard electrical upgrades are itemised as separate line items for full transparency.
Building Work and Installation Costs for a Through-Floor Duo Classic
The duo classic is a through-floor lift with a self supporting structure, so building work is modest compared with a conventional lift requiring a dedicated lift shaft. Stiltz home lifts do not require extensive structural alterations, but minor building work is usually needed.
Typical building work includes:
- Cutting and trimming the aperture in the upper floor to match technical drawings.
- Supporting and trimming around joists to maintain structural integrity.
- Installing or upgrading the dedicated electrical supply (a standard 13 amp power socket in the correct position).
- Making good ceilings, flooring, and decorative finishes (plastering, skirting, and basic painting).
Standard building work is usually around £2,500 but can vary significantly based on project complexity. In many standard two storey UK homes, this work falls in the £2,500 to £4,000 range, rising where there are concrete floors, listed buildings, or complex pipework.
Multicare coordinates trusted builders or works with your own contractor, and all costs are agreed in writing before work starts. Building prep typically takes 2 to 4 days, with lift installation immediately afterwards, installation can be completed in as little as one day, keeping disruption to a minimum. Installation requires minimal building work and disruption overall.
Standard Features of the Stiltz Duo Classic and How They Impact Value
The duo classic is the original stiltz lift design, focused on practicality, safety, and a small footprint rather than luxury finishes. Even at the starting price, it comes loaded with features that make it a genuinely usable home elevator.
Standard features include:
- Stiltz dual rail technology – the dual rail technology means no need for load bearing walls, making the lift suitable for homes that can’t accommodate a conventional lift shaft. The Duo Classic uses a quiet electric drive system and does not require hydraulic machinery or a separate machine room.
- Compact cabin – the small footprint (around 0.55 m²) fits into corners of lounges, bedrooms, or landings where other domestic lift options simply won’t go.
- Half height door with interlocks, the lift cannot move unless the door is closed. A full height light curtain and height light curtain style sensors across the entrance detect objects: the lift detects any obstruction and prevents travel. Each lift includes an obstruction sensor for safety.
- Neutral cream exterior and solid sides, designed to blend with a typical existing home décor scheme rather than draw attention.
- Quiet electric drive motor – no air pressure systems or noisy hydraulics, just a quiet electric drive motor that carries two person lifts smoothly between floors. The Duo Classic carries two people up to one floor in under 30 seconds, with a maximum weight limit of 170 kg. Stiltz lifts have a maximum weight limit of 170 kg across the duo range.
- Internal LED downlights illuminate the lift car during use, and Stiltz lifts feature a battery backup system for power outages, allowing safe descent during a power cut.
- Remote control operation – you can call the lift remotely using remote controls from either floor.
These built in safety features mean even the starting price represents a practical, future-proof mobility solution rather than a basic platform lift.
Options, Upgrades and Alternative Models in the Duo Home Lift Range
While the duo classic is the best known model, customers can choose from wider duo home lifts and several optional extras, all of which affect final price. Accessibility needs can influence the choice of lift model and associated costs.
The main variants:
| Model | Key Difference | Relative Price |
| Duo Classic | Original two person lift with solid sides and neutral finish – the original duo classic and original stiltz lift design | Base |
| Duo+ | A compact home lift upgraded with a contemporary and versatile look, curved shape, and clearer panels | Slightly above Classic |
| Stiltz Duo ThruCar | Double entry with exit points on opposite sides, ideal for stairwell voids – adds an automatic door and complexity | Above Classic |
| Stiltz Trio Lift | Designed for wheelchair users needing a full sized wheelchair space, includes a gently angled ramp to handle the extra weight burden | Significantly higher |
All the same features, (dual rail technology, battery backup, obstruction sensors) carry across the range, though other home lift models add capabilities.
Common optional extras include upgraded interior lighting, grab rails, fold down seats, additional remote controls for carers, and configurations for walking frames or future wheelchair transition. Multicare Home Lifts helps compare the duo classic with other domestic lift options, ensuring the chosen solution is truly future proof.
Funding, VAT Relief and Disabled Facilities Grants
Even compact classic lifts are a significant purchase. Fortunately, several funding routes can reduce what you actually pay.
VAT relief applies when a home lift is installed to meet the needs of a chronically sick or disabled person. VAT relief may apply for individuals with long-term illnesses or disabilities, and the supply and installation may qualify for zero rated VAT under UK rules. On a £17,000 to £20,000 project, eliminating 20% VAT saves £3,400 to £4,000, a substantial reduction. Multicare can guide customers through the paperwork.
Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is available via local councils in England (up to £30,000), Wales (up to £36,000). Support may also be available in Northern Ireland through Housing Executive adaptation grants, subject to eligibility and local assessment. It’s means tested and requires an occupational therapist assessment, but can contribute towards or fully cover the cost of through floor lifts for mobility. Waiting times and processes vary by council, so factor this into project planning.
Other funding routes include equity release, family contributions, or simply comparing the cost against alternatives. Where some homeowners look at stair lifts as a cheaper option, a stiltz duo classic is often a better long-term alternative to a stairlift, particularly when mobility may worsen over time.
Multicare Home Lifts regularly works alongside occupational therapists and grant officers, helping ensure specifications align with funding criteria.
Running Costs, Servicing and Long-Term Value
The buying cost is only part of the picture. Ongoing costs for duo home lifts are modest.
Energy: the stiltz duo lift plugs into a standard 13 amp power socket and draws no more electricity than any other household appliance when running. Standby electricity consumption is low and, for most households, typically amounts to only a small addition to monthly energy bills.
Servicing: an annual service is recommended after the first year. Expect a few hundred pounds per year depending on cover level and emergency response times. Regular servicing avoids unexpected breakdowns and extends the life of the domestic lift. Unlike other conventional lift systems that rely on hydraulic mechanisms, the quiet electric drive motor and dual rail design mean fewer components to maintain.
Long-term value: compare the cost of a duo classic with moving to a bungalow (£30,000+ in fees and stress), paying for residential care, or repeatedly refitting stair lifts over many years. A well-maintained domestic lift can ease everyday tasks, help carry heavy or awkward items between floors, and make life easier for people planning to remain in their home long term. It also adds accessibility value to the property as the UK population ages.
How Multicare Home Lifts Helps You Choose and Install the Right Duo Classic
Multicare Home Lifts is an experienced UK supplier and installer of domestic lifts, including stiltz homelifts and through floor lifts. We’re not tied to a single manufacturer’s sales targets, so our advice is genuinely independent.
Here’s our typical process:
- Initial enquiry – we discuss your mobility needs, floors to be served, and whether a duo classic, alternative duo model, or larger floor lift is best.
- Free home survey – a Home Lift Advisor visits to confirm technical feasibility, ideal location, and specification. The installation process is explained step by step.
- Clear, itemised quotation – covering the lift, building work, electrical work, and optional extras, with VAT and potential relief clearly shown. Nothing is completely hidden in small print.
- Project coordination – scheduling builders and installers to keep disruption short. The manufacturing time for a stiltz lift is as little as four weeks.
- Installation, handover, and aftercare – including maintenance reminders and rapid fault response.
We also advise on DFG applications and liaise with occupational therapists. A survey is always the most reliable way to confirm how much a stiltz duo classic-style home lift will cost in your particular property. Contact Multicare today for free, tailored advice.
FAQs
These questions address common points about duo classic pricing and practicalities not fully covered above.
Is a Stiltz Duo Classic cheaper than a stairlift?
A single straight stairlift is usually cheaper upfront than a duo classic domestic lift. However, multiple stair lifts on different floors or curved tracks can approach or exceed through floor lift pricing. Duo home lifts often offer better long-term usability, especially if walking ability worsens over time, and do not obstruct the staircase for other family members. For a detailed comparison, see our guide on homelifts vs stairlifts.
How long does it take from order to installation?
In 2026, typical UK lead times are around four to six weeks from order to installation for a duo classic. The manufacturing time for a Stiltz lift is as little as four weeks. Building work usually takes 2 to 4 days, followed by one to two days for lift installation and commissioning. Multicare coordinates dates to minimise disruption.
Do I need planning permission for a Duo Classic home lift?
Most internal domestic lifts in existing UK homes, including duo classic through floor lifts, do not require full planning permission because the work is entirely internal. Listed buildings or properties in conservation areas may need additional approvals for structural changes. Multicare can advise when to speak to the local authority, see our guide on retrofitting a homelift into a listed or period property.
Can a Duo Classic be used by wheelchair users?
The duo classic is designed as a compact two person lift and is generally too small for most wheelchairs. Wheelchair users needing a full sized wheelchair to travel between floors should consider a stiltz trio lift or similar wheelchair-sized domestic lift instead. Multicare can compare dimensions, turning space, and cost so you choose the right model from the outset. Lift models vary in price, with the Duo Classic being one of the more affordable options and the Trio+ sitting higher.
What happens if there is a power cut while the lift is in use?
Modern duo home lifts, including the duo classic, are fitted with a battery back up system designed to allow the lift to descend safely to the lower floor and open the door during a power cut. Stiltz lifts feature a battery backup system for power outages as standard. Multicare engineers check these safety systems during commissioning and routine services, and users receive clear instructions during handover so users can be safely lowered to the lower floor during a power cut.