Wheelchair platform lifts come in a small number of sizes, and the difference between them is usually not the height but the platform. A 2.5 m lift for a private house can be 700 x 700 mm because a wheelchair goes on alone; a 3.5 m lift for a public building needs 1400 x 1000 mm because the platform has to take the chair, the user and the person helping. This guide explains the three sizes we build most often and what decides between them.
What the three sizes actually are
Our most common vertical platform lifts share a 300 kg capacity and differ in travel and deck size. The smallest is a 2500 mm lift with a 700 x 700 mm platform and a 1000 x 750 mm shaft; the standard is a 3000 mm or 3500 mm lift on a 1400 x 1000 mm platform in a 1450 x 1300 mm shaft. All three have 180 degree in and out access, which means the wheelchair enters and leaves from the same side or opposite sides depending on how the unit is installed.
| Specification | 2500 mm lift (Spain) | 3000 mm lift (Philippines) | 3500 mm lift (Poland) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | 700 x 700 mm | 1400 x 1000 mm | 1400 x 1000 mm |
| Shaft | 1000 x 750 mm | 1450 x 1300 mm | 1450 x 1300 mm |
| Travel | 2500 mm | 3000 mm | 3500 mm |
| Capacity | 300 kg | 300 kg | 300 kg |
| Access | 180 degrees | 180 degrees | 180 degrees |
| Notes | 4 – 6 m/min, 3 mm stainless deck, 400 mm ramp | Standard public building size | Standard public building size |
Why the small platform exists
The 700 x 700 mm deck is not a compromise; it is the right size for a private house where the user transfers onto the platform alone. A smaller deck means a smaller shaft, a smaller opening in the floor and less disruption in a finished house. The trade-off is that there is no room for an attendant, and the 400 mm safety ramp at the lower level is what stops the chair rolling off during the transition.
When the standard platform is the right choice
Public buildings, clinics, shops and schools need the 1400 x 1000 mm platform, because the user is often accompanied and because a larger deck is easier to enter at an angle. The 1450 x 1300 mm shaft is the number to give the builder: it includes the clearance the platform and its guard need, not just the deck size.
Three real installations
- Spain, 2500 mm: 700 x 700 mm platform, 1000 x 750 mm shaft, 300 kg, hydraulic drive at 4 to 6 m/min, 3 mm stainless anti-slip deck and a 400 mm ramp, 180 degree access.
- Philippines, 3000 mm: 1400 x 1000 mm platform in a 1450 x 1300 mm shaft, 300 kg, 180 degree access.
- Poland, 3500 mm: the same 1400 x 1000 mm platform and 1450 x 1300 mm shaft, 300 kg, for a public building where the rise is one full storey.
What to measure before you choose
- The rise from finished floor to finished floor, not the ceiling height.
- The space available for the shaft or the opening, and whether the floor can be cut.
- Whether the user will always travel alone or with an attendant.
- The approach at both levels: the landing space, the door or gate, and the ramp.
- The power supply and where the control station will sit.
What the installation needs
The lift itself is a compact hydraulic unit, but the building has to provide five things: the shaft or opening at the dimensions above, a floor to floor rise measured between finished surfaces, a power supply at the unit, landing gates that cannot be opened while the platform is moving, and a dry base. On the Spanish 2500 mm unit the platform rises on a hydraulic drive at 4 to 6 m/min, with a 3 mm stainless anti-slip deck and a 400 mm ramp at the lower landing so a chair can roll on without a step.
If the installation is outdoors, add drainage and a finish that suits rain. If it is indoors in a finished house, the smaller 1000 x 750 mm shaft is usually the difference between fitting the lift into an existing corner and rebuilding a staircase.
Frequently asked questions
Is 300 kg enough for a wheelchair and a person?
Yes for a standard wheelchair and user, with a generous margin. The limit matters when a heavy powered chair or an attendant is added, so tell us the weight of the chair and whether anyone travels with the user.
Can the lift be fitted into an existing house?
That is the usual case. The 2500 mm unit needs a 1000 x 750 mm shaft, which is often built into a corner or against a wall; the larger platform needs 1450 x 1300 mm. Send a photograph of the location and the floor to floor height and the shaft can be set on a drawing before any building work starts.
What happens in a power failure?
The hydraulic drive holds the platform, and the manual lowering procedure in the manual brings it to the lower level. Confirm the emergency procedure with your installer and keep the manual with the machine.
Next step
Send us the rise, the shaft or opening dimensions and the weight of the wheelchair, and we will confirm which of the three sizes fits. Start from the barrier-free lift platform range or read what a 3.5 m wheelchair platform installation involves.
