Surprisingly, for some, our lifts are space-friendly, requiring remarkably little room. Whether you are planning a renovation or retrofitting an existing property, understanding exact footprint measurements helps ensure a smooth installation.
Our lifts operate on self-supporting vertical rails that bear the entire weight of the unit, requiring no load-bearing walls or deep elevator shafts.
If you are researching the smallest home lift size in Australia, the Compact Elegance Home Lift boasts one of the smallest footprints on the market, covering just a 0.8m² surface area while comfortably carrying two people. Likewise, our Compact Elegance Plus is an ideal small home lift, covering a 1.44m² surface area while accommodating up to 250kg or a standard wheelchair.
Compact Home Lift Specification Comparison
To help you measure your room accurately, the table below breaks down the exact millimetre dimensions, headroom, and load capacities for both models:
Compact Elegance:
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Surface Footprint Area: 0.8 m²
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Overall Footprint (W x D): 1090 mm x 850 mm
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Internal Lift Floor (W x D): 779 mm x 673 mm
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Internal Car Height: 1937 mm
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Passenger Capacity: 2 Persons (170 kg max)
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Required Overhead Headroom: 2400 mm (Upper floor ceiling)
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Pit / Shaft Requirement: Zero Pit Required
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Power Supply: 230V / 10A Standard Wall Outlet
Compact Elegance Plus:
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Surface Footprint Area: 1.44 m² (1.35 m² footprint)
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Overall Footprint (W x D): 1080 mm x 1360 mm
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Internal Lift Floor (W x D): 773 mm x 1147 mm
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Internal Car Height: 1937 mm
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Passenger Capacity: Wheelchair / 2–3 Persons (250 kg max)
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Required Overhead Headroom: 2430 mm (Upper floor ceiling)
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Pit / Shaft Requirement: Zero Pit Required
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Power Supply: 230V / 10A Standard Wall Outlet
Key Architectural & Builder Requirements
Keep in mind that our easy-to-install home lifts save time as well as space. A standard home elevator installation takes just one to two days after a simple ceiling aperture is prepared by a qualified builder.
Unlike conventional elevators or a traditional stairlift, our models require no separate machine rooms or loud hydraulic pumps. Powered by a whisper-quiet, rope-braked gear motor-driven system, the lift plugs directly into a standard 10-amp household socket.
Because minimal building work is needed, overall installation expenses remain low. To learn more about factors that influence overall home lift cost and home elevator price, explore our comprehensive Ultimate Guide to Home Lifts in Australia.
Ideal Installation Locations Across Your Home
Engineered in a neutral warm grey aluminium casing with a see-through car body, the lift naturally matches any home environment without overwhelming your living space.
Because the lift structure is self-supporting, you have complete flexibility over placement. Popular installation spots include:
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Standard Room-to-Room: Travelling directly from a downstairs living room into an upstairs bedroom.
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Stairwell Void: Utilizing the unused dead space inside a turning staircase.
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Cupboard Retrofit: Tucking the lift discreetly inside a bedroom wardrobe or storage closet.
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Thru-Car Access: The Elegance Plus Thru-Car option allows front and rear entrance/exit, making split-level or stairwell entry even easier.
Bringing Accessibility into Your Australian Home
Adding a home elevator no longer requires massive structural modifications or losing valuable floor space. With footprints starting at just 0.8m², Compact Home Lifts offer an elegant, energy-efficient solution tailored to suit virtually any modern Australian floor plan.
FAQs:
1. What is the minimum floor space required for a compact home lift?
Answer: The minimum floor space required for a small residential lift is as little as 0.8m² (covering an overall footprint of 1090mm × 850mm for the Compact Elegance). This footprint is smaller than a standard armchair and allows a 2-person lift to fit seamlessly into tight corners, stairwell voids, or modified cupboard spaces.
2. Do compact home lifts require a pit or separate machine room?
Answer: No. Unlike conventional commercial elevators, modern compact electric home lifts are completely pitless and require no separate machine room. The self-contained wire-rope drive motor is housed directly inside the lift car roof structure, allowing the unit to install straight onto your existing floor surface without concrete slab excavation.
3. How big does the ceiling cutout (aperture) need to be for a residential lift?
Answer: The required ceiling opening depends on the lift model. For the Compact Elegance, a builder typically prepares an opening of approximately 1090mm × 850mm. For larger wheelchair-accessible models, the required opening is approximately 1080mm × 1360mm. Exact dimensions should always be confirmed during the planning and site assessment stage.
4. What overhead ceiling height (headroom) is needed on the top floor?
Answer: Most compact home lifts require a minimum ceiling height of approximately 2400mm, while wheelchair-accessible models typically require around 2430mm of headroom. These requirements are generally compatible with standard Australian residential ceiling heights, meaning most homes can accommodate the lift without roof modifications.
5. What type of electrical power supply is needed to run a compact lift?
Answer: Compact home lifts operate using a standard Australian 230V / 10A household power supply. They connect to a dedicated domestic power outlet and are designed to be energy efficient, with power consumption that is typically comparable to common household appliances during operation.
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With 2,500+ installed lifts, Compact Home Lifts is a leading Australian provider of electric home lifts.
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