Passenger Lifts Sizes


Who Decides on the Size of a Lift?

If you’ve ever found yourself squeezed into a decidedly undersized lift, you may have wondered how lift size gets decided. At Tower Lifts we design, manufacture and install bespoke passenger lifts for residential and commercial clients in the UK. Part of our process is determining passenger lifts sizes that are appropriate to the function and context in which they are to be used.

We calculate the size of a passenger lift by taking into account:

  • Architectural Constraints. The Tower Lifts team retrofits a number of contemporary passenger lifts into older buildings. We may need to use an existing lift shaft for conservation purposes, or use a small modular vertical platform lift in order to overcome architectural challenges.
  • The Function of the Lift. Lifts often serve a variety of functions. A passenger lift in a busy commercial building will most likely also carry a range of goods – some heavy – between floors. This is why passenger lifts sizes sometimes appear inappropriate (think of hospital lifts), except when you consider the many tasks they must fulfil.
  • Accessibility. Part M (the building regulations that deal with disability lifts) recommends larger sizes for lifts carrying wheelchair users. The cabin dimensions are required to allow the passenger to rotate their wheelchair by 180° even if the lift is to capacity. In such cases, an 8-person lift should be designed as a 17-person lift.

In this article Tower Lifts explains how passenger lifts sizes are calculated for different kinds of lifts and locations.


Get in touch with the Tower Lifts today on 01525 601099 to find out more about our lift services.


Standard Passenger Lifts Sizes

Part M is a component of the UK building regulations which deals specifically with accessibility in relation to the use of buildings. Part M Volume 1 deals with domestic buildings, and Part M Volume 2 covers all other building types. The regulations have as their goal the efficient, and comfortable, movement of people around the building, but they place special emphasis on lifts that are designed to accommodate wheelchair users, or visually impaired passengers.

Lift design involves asking questions like: ‘What is the maximum number of people who are likely to want to use the lift at any given time?’. In a public building this might range from 6 to 33, or anything in-between. The Part M offers clear guidelines for passenger lifts sizes, dependent on the number of passengers.

  • 8 Passenger Lift. This should be 1,100mm wide, and 1,400mm deep for a maximum weight of 630kg.
  • 17 Passenger Lift. The lift should be 1,200mm wide, and 2,300mm deep for a maximum weight of 1,275kg.

Passenger Lifts Designed for a Range of Users

Should your passenger lift be required to carry wheelchair users as part of its daily volume, there will need to be adjustments made to the passenger lifts sizes and positioning:

  • Part M recommends larger sizes for lifts carrying wheelchair users. The cabin should be large enough to accommodate a 180° turn by a passenger in a wheelchair, when other passengers are present. This will require a 17 person lift if the aim is to transport a range of users.
  • There should be adequate space left in front of the lift doors to allow wheelchair users to navigate out of the cabin.
  • If the cabin is single entry, mirrors need to be provided to allow wheelchair users to be able turn around efficiently, so that they are facing the exit doors. At no time should a wheelchair user be expected to reverse out of a lift.
  • The control panel for the lift should be easily accessible to wheelchair users. It’s recommended that buttons be between 900-1100mm from the floor of the landing.

Residential Passenger Lifts Sizes

Home lifts are usually bespoke to the size of the property and the needs of the client. If you are adapting your home for a wheelchair access, we would recommend the use of platform lifts. This innovative technology can be used on staircases, up short flights of steps, or as vertical transport, without users having to leave their wheelchair. Platform lifts don’t require a lift shaft, and they can easy be adapted to the shape and size of your home.


Tower Lifts Provide Professional, Compliant Lift Design

Tower Lifts has been designing and installing passenger lifts for nearly two decades now. All our designs are bespoke, which means that, whatever the challenges, we’ll create exactly the passenger lifts sizes you need to move people around your building. We’ll also ensure that wheelchair users, or visually impaired passengers are offered exactly the same access rights as any other passenger using the lift.

We are a ISO9001:2015 Lift Cert and UKAS approved company adhering to all current Lift Regulations.


Wondering what passenger lifts sizes would best serve your building? Call Tower Lifts today and talk to one of our design experts to give you a guide – 01525 601099


Tower Lifts carry out design and installation on a varied range of lifts throughout the UK including:

Domestic Lifts • Food Lifts • Bespoke Platform Lifts • Service Lifts • Platform Lifts • Goods Lifts • Scenic Lifts • Heavy Duty / Car Lifts • Passenger Lifts • Dumbwaiter Lifts • MRL Lifts • Fire lifts • Residential Lifts • low-Headroom Lifts