Vertical platform lifts for Florida homes
Straight up and down, with the wheelchair on board.
Free home lift quote
Tell us a little about the home and who it is for. We will call you back to talk it through and arrange a free visit to measure.
A vertical platform lift (VPL) raises a platform inside a frame or enclosure. It is the most common way to give a wheelchair user step-free access to a raised front door or deck.
- Free in-home consultation, no obligation
- Home elevators, stair lifts and platform lifts
- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay and Naples
The short answer
A vertical platform lift raises a wheelchair user straight up on an open or enclosed platform, usually from the driveway to a porch, deck or raised floor. Fixr gives $8,000 to $20,000 installed for simpler outdoor elevator lifts of this kind; enclosures, extra height and foundations add to that.
Last updated
Who this is for
VPLs suit wheelchair and scooter users whose home has a rise that is too high for a short ramp, such as a raised coastal home or a front door several steps up.
Typical project sizes
Fixr notes outdoor lifts of this type are typically made of durable metals like aluminium and come in various platform sizes.
What space does a VPL need?
- A level, solid base, often a small concrete pad
- Room for the platform plus a gate at each level
- Clear space to roll on and off at the top and bottom
- An outdoor power supply on its own circuit, sited above likely flood water
Open frame or enclosed?
An open frame costs less and suits a few feet of rise. Higher rises usually need an enclosure. In Miami-Dade and Broward, which are in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, enclosure panels and doors must meet the stricter product rules there.[2]
Frequently asked questions
How high can a vertical platform lift go?
It depends on the model. Short-rise lifts suit porches, and enclosed models can serve a full storey. We match the model to your measured rise.
Can a carer ride with the wheelchair?
Some platforms are large enough. Check the platform size and weight limit for the chair, the rider and a carer together.
What happens in a power cut?
Many lifts have battery backup or a manual lowering device. Ask how it works and practise it once with the installer.
Sources
- Home Elevator Cost (national cost guide, updated 31 Jan 2025), Fixr. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Product Control brochure: Ensuring Strict Standards for Construction Materials, Miami-Dade County. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Stairlift Installation Cost (national cost guide, updated 31 Jan 2025), Fixr. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Wheelchair Ramp Installation Cost (national cost guide, updated 31 Jan 2025), Fixr. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Florida Statutes Chapter 399, Elevator Safety, Florida Legislature. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R321 Elevators and Platform Lifts (UpCodes copy), UpCodes. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- NFIP Technical Bulletin 4: Elevator Installation for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas (June 2019), FEMA. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed October 28, 2026.
Get a free quote
Tell us about your project and we will get back to you fast.