{"id":27082,"date":"2024-06-15T07:19:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-15T07:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/?p=27082"},"modified":"2026-11-04T18:05:58","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T18:05:58","slug":"differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Difference Between Commercial Lifts and Domestic Lifts?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_857593725\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner image-cover dark\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2179\" src=\"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"SWIFT Pro Lifts\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-470x400.jpg 470w, https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-940x800.jpg 940w, https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-768x654.jpg 768w, https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-1536x1307.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-2048x1743.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_857593725 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" ><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av-4jdfbd-a4ac2555502c15db763fb4b123037268 av_three_fourth avia-builder-el-3 el_after_av_one_fourth el_before_av_one_full flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding \">\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section av-ll1wwi4d-2ea19982e0e969a568cd4a28fb958715\">\n<div class=\"avia_textblock\">\n<h2><b>Introduction: Why Do I Need to Know the Difference?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lift is a lift, until you try to buy one. Then you discover that a lift for a family home and a lift for an office, shop or block of flats are built to different standards, sized for different loads, installed in different ways and priced in different leagues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choosing the wrong type is expensive in both directions. Put a commercial lift in a house and you pay for a shaft, pit, three-phase supply and capacity you will never use. Put a domestic lift where the public or staff rely on it every day and it may not meet the regulations, the accessibility guidance or the workload.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This guide explains the difference between commercial lifts and domestic lifts in plain terms: what each one is, how their sizes, speeds, regulations, installation, costs and maintenance compare, and when the line between them blurs, as it does with platform lifts in small shops and offices.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>TL;DR<\/b><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Domestic lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Commercial lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Where it goes<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Private homes<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offices, shops, hotels, hospitals, blocks of flats<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Typical type<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Platform lift (EN 81-41) or through-floor lift (BS 5900)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passenger lift (BS EN 81-20 and 81-50)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>UK law<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifts Regulations 2016<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Speed<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to 0.15 m\/s<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commonly around 1 m\/s, faster in tall buildings<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Capacity<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 to 5 people, 250 to 400 kg<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6 to 17+ people, 450 kg to 1275 kg and above<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Building work<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Floor openings; little or no pit; no machine room<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Built shaft, pit, headroom, often a machine room<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Power<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Single-phase household supply<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually three-phase<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Typical cost<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a315,000 to \u00a340,000 installed<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often around \u00a390,000 to \u00a3100,000 per lift to replace<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Thorough examination<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not legally required in a private home unless used at work<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least every 6 months under LOLER<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short, a domestic lift is built for a few users in a home and a commercial lift for heavy use by the public or staff. Platform lifts sit between the two and can serve short rises in commercial buildings where a passenger lift is not practical.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is a Domestic Lift?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A domestic lift, also called a home lift or residential lift, is a lift installed in a private home for the people who live there and their visitors. It is designed for a small number of users, light daily traffic and the limited space of a house.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the UK, most domestic lifts are <\/span><b>platform lifts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> built to EN 81-41. They travel at no more than 0.15 m\/s and fall under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 rather than the Lifts Regulations. Through-floor lifts, which usually serve just 2 floors, follow BS 5900.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their defining features are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Compact size:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> typically 2 to 5 people, or one wheelchair user with or without a companion<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low speed:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> up to 0.15 m\/s, which makes them safe and quiet in a home<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Minimal building work:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> often no shaft, no deep pit and no machine room<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Household power:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> usually a standard single-phase supply<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A SWIFT domestic lift, for example, serves 2 to 6 floors in its own glass-and-steel shaft. It carries 250 kg or 400 kg depending on cabin size, sits on the floor or in a 50 mm recess, and runs from an on-board battery that keeps it working in a power cut.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is a Commercial Lift?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A commercial lift is a passenger or goods lift installed in a building used by the public or by staff at work, such as an office, shop, hotel, hospital, school or the common parts of a block of flats. It is designed for heavy, continuous use by people who may not know how to use it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most commercial passenger lifts are built to BS EN 81-20 and BS EN 81-50, and must comply with the Lifts Regulations 2016. They usually run in a dedicated shaft and are driven by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Traction:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> steel ropes or belts and a counterweight, often with the machine in the shaft (machine-room-less) or in a motor room above<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hydraulic:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> an oil-filled ram, common for low-rise buildings, with a pump unit in a nearby machine room<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their defining features are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Larger cars:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> typically 8 people (630 kg) and upwards, including sizes for stretchers, beds and goods<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Higher speeds:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> commonly around 1 m\/s and faster in tall buildings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Automatic controls:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> call buttons, automatic doors and group control for several lifts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Building infrastructure:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a constructed shaft, a pit, headroom above the top floor and often a three-phase supply<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A commercial building can also contain platform lifts, for example to bridge a few steps at an entrance. That is where the line between the two types begins to blur.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Do Their Sizes and Capacities Compare?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Domestic lifts carry 2 to 5 people; commercial passenger lifts usually start at 6 to 8 people and go up from there. The gap reflects how many people need to move at once.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Car size (W \u00d7 D)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Rated load<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>People<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>SWIFT XXS (domestic)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">830 \u00d7 600 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250 kg<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>SWIFT S (domestic)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">830 \u00d7 1000 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250 kg<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>SWIFT L (domestic)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1200 \u00d7 1000 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">400 kg<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>SWIFT XL (domestic)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1400 \u00d7 1100 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">400 kg<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>BS EN 81-70 type 1 (commercial)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1000 \u00d7 1250 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">450 kg<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>BS EN 81-70 type 2 (commercial)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1100 \u00d7 1400 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">630 kg<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>BS EN 81-70 type 3 (commercial)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2000 \u00d7 1400 mm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1275 kg<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A domestic lift&#8217;s footprint is also much smaller. The smallest SWIFT cabin needs a floor opening of just 940 \u00d7 1025 mm, because the lift brings its own slim shaft. A commercial lift needs a built shaft considerably larger than the car to house the guide rails, counterweight, doors and, in many cases, the machine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The largest domestic cabins overlap with the smallest commercial ones. SWIFT&#8217;s XL size, for example, gives a wheelchair user room to travel with a companion, which is the purpose of the commercial type 2 car.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Do Their Speeds and Usage Levels Compare?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Domestic lifts travel at up to 0.15 m\/s; commercial passenger lifts commonly travel at around 1 m\/s, and faster still in tall buildings. That means a domestic lift takes about 20 seconds to rise 3 metres, a typical floor-to-floor height, while a commercial lift takes a few seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The slower speed is deliberate. It is what allows platform lifts to run safely without a fully built shaft, a deep pit or a large overrun at the top, and it keeps the ride gentle and quiet in a home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usage is the bigger difference:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Domestic lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Commercial lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Users<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The household and visitors, who learn how it works<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Staff, customers and the public, many using it for the first time<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Traffic<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few trips an hour at most<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constant use at peak times, often several lifts working as a group<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Controls<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simple buttons or a touch display; on many platform lifts, hold-to-run<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Single-press call buttons, automatic doors, group dispatch<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Design life<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Built for light, intermittent use<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Built for heavy, continuous duty<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Traffic planning<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not needed<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sized using traffic analysis, such as British Council for Offices guidance<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is why a domestic lift is not a cheaper substitute for a commercial one. In a busy building, the low speed and capacity would create queues, and hold-to-run controls can be tiring for some users.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Which Regulations Apply to Each Lift Type?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dividing line in UK law is speed. Lifts travelling faster than 0.15 m\/s fall under the Lifts Regulations 2016; slower platform and home lifts fall under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Building use then adds further duties.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Area<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Domestic lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Commercial lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Product law<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008; CE or UKCA mark<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifts Regulations 2016; CE or UKCA mark with conformity assessment<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Main design standard<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EN 81-41 (platform lifts); BS 5900 (through-floor homelifts)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BS EN 81-20 and BS EN 81-50<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Accessibility<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good practice, often to EN 81-41 sizes<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BS EN 81-70; Approved Document M; Equality Act 2010<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Emergency alarm<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended; SWIFT Pro includes one<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BS EN 81-28 two-way alarm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Fire<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building Regulations for the floor opening and escape routes<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approved Document B; firefighting lifts (BS EN 81-72) and evacuation lifts where required<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>In-service inspection<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LOLER does not apply in a private home unless the lift is used at work<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LOLER thorough examination at least every 6 months<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Duty holder<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The homeowner<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The building owner, employer or person in control of the premises<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For commercial buildings, the duties do not stop at installation. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires whoever controls the premises to keep the lift safe for staff and the public. LOLER and PUWER require regular maintenance and thorough examinations, and the Fire Safety Order requires the lift to be covered in the fire risk assessment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Do Their Installation Requirements Differ?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A domestic lift is designed to fit into an existing home with a few days of work on site. A commercial lift is designed into the building, with a structural shaft, pit and power supply planned months in advance.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Requirement<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Domestic lift (e.g. SWIFT)<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Commercial passenger lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Shaft<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-supporting glass-and-steel enclosure supplied with the lift<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Built shaft of masonry, concrete or steel<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Pit<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">None, or a 50 mm recess for a level entrance<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A pit below the lowest floor, sized by the lift maker<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Headroom<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2,275 to 3,500 mm above the top landing<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An overrun above the top floor, often taller than a standard storey<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Machine space<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">None; drive and battery are built in<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Machine room, or machine-room-less with equipment in the shaft<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Power<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Single-phase 220\u2013240 V, 8 A fuse<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually three-phase, plus lighting and alarm circuits<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Approvals<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building Regulations for the floor openings<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planning, Building Regulations, fire strategy, and conformity assessment under the Lifts Regulations<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Time on site<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually 2 to 5 working days, once the openings are ready<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several weeks per lift, after a long manufacturing lead time<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lead times show the gap clearly. In one London council lift programme, the equipment took 20 weeks to manufacture off site before 26 weeks of work on site (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk\/documents\/s40129\/Lift%20Modenisation%20Programme%202013%20-%20public.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Haringey Council<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). A domestic lift can usually be surveyed, made and installed in a fraction of that time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Do Their Costs Compare?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A domestic lift typically costs \u00a315,000 to \u00a340,000 installed (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mybuilder.com\/electrical\/price-guides\/home-lift-cost\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MyBuilder<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). A commercial passenger lift usually costs several times more, before you add the cost of building its shaft.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Example UK cost<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Source<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>SWIFT Lite, 2 floors (domestic)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From around \u00a318,100<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SWIFT UK list price<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>SWIFT Pro, 2 floors (domestic)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From around \u00a319,050<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SWIFT UK list price<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Open platform lift for a short rise<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a313,000 to \u00a320,000<\/span><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.morganellis.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/05\/how-much-does-a-home-lift-cost-in-2025\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morgan Ellis<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Replacement 4-floor traction passenger lift<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About \u00a3100,000<\/span><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flat-living.co.uk\/?p=23065\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flat Living<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>5 replacement machine-room-less passenger lifts<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About \u00a3438,000 in total, roughly \u00a388,000 each<\/span><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/bidsonar.com\/organisations\/cotswold-lifts-ltd\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BidSonar contract record<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a new commercial lift, the shaft, pit, machine room and electrical supply add substantially to the lift price. The drive choice matters over the lift&#8217;s life too: one whole-life cost study of a low-rise office found a machine-room-less traction lift 15% cheaper than hydraulic and 30% cheaper than a traditional traction lift with a machine room (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/building.co.uk\/data\/services-whole-life-costs\/1005689.article\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VAT also differs. A domestic lift installed for a disabled person in their own home can be zero-rated. Most commercial lifts carry VAT at 20%, with narrow exceptions such as certain charity buildings.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Does Maintenance Differ Between Them?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A domestic lift needs regular servicing to stay safe and keep its warranty valid. A commercial lift needs that and a legal inspection regime, a 24-hour call-out service and full records, because members of the public and staff depend on it.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Domestic lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Commercial lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Routine servicing<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically once a year, to the manufacturer&#8217;s schedule<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically monthly or every 2 months under a maintenance contract<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Thorough examination<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not legally required in a private home unless the lift is used at work<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least every 6 months by an independent competent person (LOLER)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Emergency response<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Battery backup and an alarm or phone; call-out by the installer<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24-hour monitored alarm, call-out and trapped-passenger release<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Fire checks<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Covered by home fire safety<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the fire risk assessment; monthly checks of firefighting and evacuation lifts in high-rise residential blocks in England<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Records<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Service history, kept for warranty<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintenance logs, examination reports and defect records, available to inspectors<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Typical cost<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A modest annual service contract<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A larger annual contract, plus insurer inspections and repairs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a SWIFT domestic lift, the first year of servicing is included. After that, an annual service contract keeps the 5-year lift warranty and 10-year drive warranty valid. The screw-and-nut drive needs no oil changes, and optional SWIFT Remote lets technicians check the lift without a visit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commercial lifts also face deadlines that home lifts rarely do. For example, analogue emergency phone lines must be replaced before the UK&#8217;s analogue network closes on 31 January 2027.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Can I Use a Domestic Lift in a Commercial Building?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not as a general-use passenger lift. In a building used by the public or staff, Approved Document M Volume 2 treats a passenger lift as the preferred solution. A platform lift is acceptable only where a passenger lift cannot reasonably be fitted, mostly in existing buildings (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/designingbuildings.co.uk\/wiki\/Lifting_platform\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designing Buildings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where a platform lift is used in a commercial building, the guidance is that it should:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">be intended for wheelchair users, people with impaired mobility and their companions, not for general traffic<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel at no more than 0.15 m\/s<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have a liftway enclosure if it travels more than 2 metres<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">meet minimum sizes: 800 \u00d7 1250 mm for an unenclosed platform used by an unaccompanied wheelchair user, 900 \u00d7 1400 mm if enclosed, and 1100 \u00d7 1400 mm for an enclosed platform with doors at 90\u00b0 or an accompanied wheelchair user<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have controls that are easy to reach, contrasting and well lit<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It must also be maintained and examined like any other lift used at work, under LOLER and PUWER.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lift itself should be a platform lift designed for public use. Home lifts such as SWIFT are designed for residential use, so for a shop, office or other public building, choose a platform lift rated for commercial duty, or a passenger lift where traffic is heavier.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion: Which Lift Is Right for My Building?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The right lift follows from who will use it and how often. Start from your building type:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Building<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h4><b>Usually the right lift<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>A private house, townhouse or bungalow with a loft room<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Domestic lift: an enclosed platform lift or through-floor lift<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>A duplex, maisonette or penthouse flat<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Domestic lift inside the flat, with freeholder consent<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>The common parts of a block of flats<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commercial passenger lift (type 2, 1100 \u00d7 1400 mm, for new accessible blocks)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>A small shop, caf\u00e9 or office with a short rise<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commercial-grade platform lift, if a passenger lift is not practicable<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>A busy office, hotel, school or hospital<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commercial passenger lifts, sized by traffic analysis<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your project is a home, a domestic lift will give you everything you need: step-free access to every floor, a footprint that fits a hallway and a fraction of the cost and disruption of a commercial lift.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SWIFT&#8217;s battery-driven home lifts serve 2 to 6 floors, need no pit or machine room and run from an ordinary single-phase supply. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/build-your-lift\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build your lift online<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/contact-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact the SWIFT UK team<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to book a free home survey.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>FAQs<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>1. Can I install a commercial lift in my home?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, and some large houses have one, but it is rarely the best choice. A commercial-style passenger lift needs a built shaft, a pit, extra headroom above the top floor and often a three-phase supply. Shaft-based home lifts typically cost \u00a325,000 to \u00a350,000 before that building work (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.morganellis.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/05\/how-much-does-a-home-lift-cost-in-2025\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morgan Ellis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). For most homes, a domestic platform lift gives the same step-free access with far less disruption.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Is a platform lift classed as domestic or commercial?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be either. &#8220;Platform lift&#8221; describes the type of machine: a lift travelling at up to 0.15 m\/s, built to EN 81-41 and covered by the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations. Platform lifts are used in private homes and in public buildings. What differs is the duty the lift is designed for and the rules that apply where it is installed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Does my domestic lift need LOLER inspections?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not in a private home where you, your family and visitors are the only users, because LOLER applies to equipment used at work. It can apply if the lift is used at work, for example by paid carers, and many social landlords apply 6-monthly examinations to lifts in their tenants&#8217; homes. Either way, regular servicing is essential, and a SWIFT lift needs an active service contract to keep its warranty valid.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Which lift suits a small office or shop?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you only need to bridge a few steps or one storey, and a passenger lift is not practicable, a platform lift designed for public use can meet Approved Document M. If staff and customers will use the lift regularly between several floors, a passenger lift is the better choice. A machine-room-less traction lift often has the lowest whole-life cost in low-rise offices. An access consultant can confirm what your building needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Which lift type suits a block of flats?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The common parts need a commercial passenger lift. In new blocks built to the M4(2) or M4(3) standards, that means at least a type 2 lift with an 1100 \u00d7 1400 mm car. Taller blocks also need a firefighting lift, and new London developments need an evacuation lift in each core. Inside a duplex or penthouse flat, a domestic lift can link the flat&#8217;s own floors. See our guide to lift requirements for flats in the UK for the details.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"is-divider divider clearfix\" ><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Get in Touch!<\/h3>\n\n<p><script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/js.hsforms.net\/forms\/embed\/v2.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<script>\n  hbspt.forms.create({\n    portalId: \"8887971\",\n    formId: \"c0f37d20-4ba3-453e-b17d-bfb0a324df9a\",\n    region: \"na1\"\n  });\n<\/script><br \/>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction: Why Do I Need to Know the Difference? A lift is a lift, until you try to buy one. Then you discover that a lift for a family home and a lift for an office, shop or block of flats are built to different standards, sized for different loads, installed in different ways and [&#8230;]\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":28630,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[305],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-lifts"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Commercial vs Domestic Lifts: Key Differences Explained (UK)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is the difference between commercial and domestic lifts? Compare size, speed, UK regulations, installation, cost and maintenance, and find the right lift.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is the Difference Between Commercial Lifts and Domestic Lifts?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What is the difference between commercial and domestic lifts? Compare size, speed, UK regulations, installation, cost and maintenance, and find the right lift.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SWIFT - 100% battery driven home lifts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/swifthomelifts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-06-15T07:19:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-11-04T18:05:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2179\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5e4ce6e9ac99f5c029901c40ae260d48\"},\"headline\":\"What Is the Difference Between Commercial Lifts and Domestic Lifts?\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-15T07:19:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-04T18:05:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2846,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Home Lifts\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/\",\"name\":\"Commercial vs Domestic Lifts: Key Differences Explained (UK)\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-15T07:19:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-04T18:05:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"What is the difference between commercial and domestic lifts? Compare size, speed, UK regulations, installation, cost and maintenance, and find the right lift.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":2179,\"caption\":\"SWIFT Pro Lifts\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/blog\\\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"What Is the Difference Between Commercial Lifts and Domestic Lifts?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"SWIFT - 100% battery driven home lifts\",\"description\":\"NEW WAYS TO MOVE\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"SWIFT Home Lifts\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cropped-SWIFT-Logo-Google.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cropped-SWIFT-Logo-Google.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"SWIFT Home Lifts\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/swifthomelifts\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/swifthomelifts\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/swifthomelifts\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.se\\\/swifthomelifts\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@swift5669\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5e4ce6e9ac99f5c029901c40ae260d48\",\"name\":\"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e9c63c6c3085252669e04978eaa051d7768ae6dc8fed8bc9b7c19f82cd66050?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e9c63c6c3085252669e04978eaa051d7768ae6dc8fed8bc9b7c19f82cd66050?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e9c63c6c3085252669e04978eaa051d7768ae6dc8fed8bc9b7c19f82cd66050?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck\"},\"description\":\"With over 20 years of experience in the elevator and home lift industry, John Lowback combines deep technical expertise with a passion for innovation and marketing. As one of the founders of SWIFT Home Lifts, he is dedicated to redefining accessibility and smart living solutions. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, John honed his skills at leading companies like Ford Motor Company, Electrolux, Schibsted Media, and Aritco, gaining diverse insights across engineering, media, and technology. Outside of work, John is a devoted family man, married with three children. An avid sports enthusiast, he enjoys football, tennis and skiing, balancing his professional drive with an active lifestyle. John holds a Master of Science graduate from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/se.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/john-lowback\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/swiftlifts.com\\\/en\\\/author\\\/john\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Commercial vs Domestic Lifts: Key Differences Explained (UK)","description":"What is the difference between commercial and domestic lifts? Compare size, speed, UK regulations, installation, cost and maintenance, and find the right lift.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What Is the Difference Between Commercial Lifts and Domestic Lifts?","og_description":"What is the difference between commercial and domestic lifts? Compare size, speed, UK regulations, installation, cost and maintenance, and find the right lift.","og_url":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/","og_site_name":"SWIFT - 100% battery driven home lifts","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/swifthomelifts","article_published_time":"2024-06-15T07:19:02+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-11-04T18:05:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":2179,"url":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck","Est. reading time":"17 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/"},"author":{"name":"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck","@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/5e4ce6e9ac99f5c029901c40ae260d48"},"headline":"What Is the Difference Between Commercial Lifts and Domestic Lifts?","datePublished":"2024-06-15T07:19:02+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-04T18:05:58+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/"},"wordCount":2846,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg","articleSection":["Home Lifts"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/","url":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/","name":"Commercial vs Domestic Lifts: Key Differences Explained (UK)","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2024-06-15T07:19:02+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-04T18:05:58+00:00","description":"What is the difference between commercial and domestic lifts? Compare size, speed, UK regulations, installation, cost and maintenance, and find the right lift.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/SWIFT-Pro_SW101976_04_H-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":2179,"caption":"SWIFT Pro Lifts"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/blog\/differences-between-domestic-lifts-and-commercial-lifts\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Is the Difference Between Commercial Lifts and Domestic Lifts?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/","name":"SWIFT - 100% battery driven home lifts","description":"NEW WAYS TO MOVE","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/#organization","name":"SWIFT Home Lifts","url":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-SWIFT-Logo-Google.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cropped-SWIFT-Logo-Google.jpg","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"SWIFT Home Lifts"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/swifthomelifts","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/swifthomelifts\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/swifthomelifts\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.se\/swifthomelifts\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@swift5669"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/5e4ce6e9ac99f5c029901c40ae260d48","name":"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e9c63c6c3085252669e04978eaa051d7768ae6dc8fed8bc9b7c19f82cd66050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e9c63c6c3085252669e04978eaa051d7768ae6dc8fed8bc9b7c19f82cd66050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e9c63c6c3085252669e04978eaa051d7768ae6dc8fed8bc9b7c19f82cd66050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"John L\u00f6wb\u00e4ck"},"description":"With over 20 years of experience in the elevator and home lift industry, John Lowback combines deep technical expertise with a passion for innovation and marketing. As one of the founders of SWIFT Home Lifts, he is dedicated to redefining accessibility and smart living solutions. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, John honed his skills at leading companies like Ford Motor Company, Electrolux, Schibsted Media, and Aritco, gaining diverse insights across engineering, media, and technology. Outside of work, John is a devoted family man, married with three children. An avid sports enthusiast, he enjoys football, tennis and skiing, balancing his professional drive with an active lifestyle. John holds a Master of Science graduate from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.","sameAs":["https:\/\/se.linkedin.com\/in\/john-lowback"],"url":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/author\/john\/"}]}},"permalink_manager":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27082"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92274,"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27082\/revisions\/92274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swiftlifts.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}