Dog Elevators for Stairs, Pet Stair Lifts and What They Cost
A dog elevator for stairs usually means one of three things: a pet stair lift, a platform lift you ride with your dog, or a home elevator.
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Powered Choices and What They Cost
| Option | Rider | Usual price |
|---|---|---|
| PAW LIFT pet stair lift | Dog rides in a carrier tested to hold up to 75 lb | $12,950 |
| Secondhand straight stair lift for people | You ride; a tiny, calm dog may sit on your lap | $2,900 to $4,500 or higher, installed |
| Curved stair lift for people | You ride; a tiny, calm dog may sit on your lap | $8,000 up to $15,000, sometimes more |
| Vertical platform lift | You ride up beside your dog | $12,000 to $35,000 with installation |
| Home elevator, entry models | You and your dog ride together | $30,000 to $40,000 for entry models, installation included |
Ordinary stair lifts are built for people, not animals, so your dog should never ride one alone.
A standard home elevator with its own shaft that serves two or three floors usually costs between $45,000 and $75,000 once installed.
The PAW LIFT is ordered from its manufacturer, which cuts the rail to the length of your stairs. For a platform lift, a stair lift or an elevator, a local installer can measure and quote.
Want a Lift or a Ramp Installed on Your Stairs?
Tell us about your dog and the stairs. A stair lift or ramp installer who works near your ZIP code replies with a quote.
The PAW LIFT Pet Stair Lift
The company that makes the PAW LIFT calls it the first stair climbing aid ever sold commercially that was designed for a pet. It works as a padded box riding on a rail, and that box measures 36 inches from end to end, 12 inches across, and 15 inches high. According to the manufacturer, it has been weight tested to carry as much as 75 pounds.
The rail measures just 2 1/2 inches across, so nearly the whole stairway stays clear for people to use. If the power goes out, a battery backup kicks in without any action from you. The price listed is $12,950, and the manufacturer will ask how long your stairs are so the rail can be cut to the right size. The company also needs your dog's weight to choose the correct support part for the carrier.
Do Stair Lifts Exist for Big Dogs?
If your dog weighs more than 75 pounds, it is over the PAW LIFT carrier's tested weight, so a platform lift or home elevator that carries you both is the option to look at. A platform lift has a flat, roomy platform that often fits you and your dog at once.
- Vertical platform lift: rises straight up, working like a small elevator. Most have safety rails or enclosed sides that help keep your dog from stepping off during the ride. A safety pan underneath halts the lift at once should a pet get in its path.
- Inclined platform lift: runs along the slope of your staircase. It normally needs no construction or concrete pad, since it glides above the stairs already in place.
- Home elevator: the enclosed cab is especially good for dogs, and it can take more than one pet at a time.
Your stairs and your floor plan decide which of these works, and the installer who gets your request can check both.
Sharing a Stair Lift With Your Dog
A stair lift for people only runs while someone holds the control down, so a dog cannot work it or ride alone. A little lap dog with a calm nature may sit happily on your lap, as long as it stays put without crowding you or getting in the way of the controls. Dogs that are big or full of energy are better off walking next to you.
Questions People Ask
Can a People Stair Lift Be Adapted for My Dog?
Modifying a stair lift usually cancels the warranty. One dog owner on a pet forum did it for about $1,500: $1,300 for a used lift with installation and a warranty, plus $200 of changes to make it work for the dog.
Who Installs These Lifts?
Companies that build platform lifts, like Bruno, insist that a trusted, certified dealer does the installation. Savaria elevators are quoted by a local dealer, who recommends a model based on your home. The installers who answer this site's form put in platform lifts, stair lifts for people, home elevators and built ramps, so one visit can tell you which of these fits your stairs and your dog.
Will Medicare Cover a Home Elevator?
Usually not. Savaria notes that Medicare rarely pays for a home elevator, so it helps to get a firm quote early and plan the cost from there.
What If a Lift Costs Too Much?
A lifting harness helps you bear part of your dog's weight as you climb, and its manufacturer, Help 'Em Up, offers an X-Large size for dogs from 125 to 225 pounds. There is more on harnesses for stairs. A ramp is another route, but a straight ramp laid along typical stairs is usually too steep for a dog, which is why stair ramps need extra length.
Every staircase is different, so these prices are only a starting point. Send the short form, and a local installer will measure your actual stairs and give you a real quote, so your dog can stop struggling with the steps sooner.