Most outdoor wheelchair lifts for home use are porch lifts: a compact platform with a gate and side rails that travels straight up next to the steps. The person stays seated in the wheelchair or scooter from start to finish, so no one needs to stand up or shift onto another seat. Once installed, an outdoor porch lift typically costs somewhere between $12,000 and $18,000.
Porch Lift Basics
In plain terms, a porch lift is a platform that moves up and down inside a short tower rather than following the stairs; the formal name is a vertical platform lift. It sits next to the steps and raises its platform level with the deck or doorway, so it works in spots where a ramp would swallow too much of the yard.
Porch lifts for the home from Bruno, Harmar, and AmeriGlide all hold up to 750 lb. According to Angi, putting one in takes one to three days or longer, and a platform lift keeps working for roughly 20 to 25 years.
Who a Porch Lift Suits
Pick it when the rider is in a wheelchair or scooter and is not able to transfer onto a seat. The chair and rider ride the platform as one, so a family member never has to do any lifting.
Power supply counts outside. The Bruno VPL is offered in a battery model that keeps working through a power cut, so the rider is not stuck out on the deck if a storm knocks out the electricity, as 101 Mobility explains.
Porch Lift or Stair Lift
With a stair lift, a chair glides along a rail attached to the steps, and the person must sit in it. When the person can sit down and stand up with a bit of support, an outdoor stair lift costs less: a new straight model for eight steps runs about $4,810 to $10,500 installed.
When the person cannot get out of the wheelchair, a stair lift seat is no use, and the porch lift is the right call despite the higher price. Porch lifts hold 750 lb; outdoor stair lifts carry lower limits, anywhere between 280 lb and 400 lb depending on the model.
Which Porch Lift Fits Your Deck Height?
Your deck height determines the model. Start at the spot on the ground where the lift will sit, measure up to the deck floor's surface, then line that figure up against each model's maximum lift height.
| Lift | Weight limit | Top lift height |
|---|---|---|
| Bruno VPL series (VPL-3153, VPL-3175, VPL-3210B) | 750 lb | 53 in, 75 in or 123 in |
| Harmar Highlander | 750 lb | 53 to 171 in |
| AmeriGlide Hercules 750 | 750 lb | 160 in |
As an example, a deck reached by seven steps stands about 54 inches high, and the Bruno VPL-3175 covers that with height left over. Per Vertical Platform Lifts, the Harmar Highlander serves the tallest decks, reaching 171 inches.
What a Porch Lift Costs
Once it's installed, an outdoor porch lift usually costs about $12,000 to $18,000, according to 101 Mobility. That's far more than the lift itself: the AmeriGlide Hercules 750 sells for $4,999 as a kit, and the Bruno VPL lists at $6,499 through a dealer, both before installation.
Angi puts home wheelchair lifts of all kinds at $1,200 to $11,800. An installed outdoor porch lift often costs more than that, so it's wise to budget for $12,000 to $18,000.
Common Questions
Can a wheelchair lift go on the outside of a house?
It can. This is exactly what a porch lift is for: it rests on a pad next to the outdoor steps and rises up to the deck or doorway. If you choose an outdoor stair lift in a cold state, check its temperature rating, since only the Bruno Elite Outdoor and Harmar Summit are rated down to 0°F.
Can I rent a porch lift rather than buy one?
You can. Short-term rental is an option for platform lifts.
Will the VA cover the cost of a porch lift?
No. The VA's HISA grant, short for Home Improvements and Structural Alterations, does not cover porch lifts. The VA lists them among excluded items, so veterans should not plan on that grant for this cost.
Does buying a used wheelchair lift save money?
For a used outdoor stair lift, expect around $1,500 to $4,500, well under the price of new.