By the Home Lift Hub UK – Independent Advice, Reviews & Costs Team · Updated May 2026 · Independent, reader-supported

Stiltz vs Terry Lifts: Honest Through-Floor Home Lift Comparison UK

If you're exploring through-floor home lifts for a UK property, you've likely encountered Stiltz and Terry Lifts. Both are established British manufacturers, yet they take noticeably different approaches to design, installation, and pricing. This comparison cuts through the marketing to show where each genuinely excels—and where they don't.

The Core Difference in Design Philosophy

Stiltz and Terry design their lifts around different assumptions about your home. Stiltz prioritises compact footprints and standardised components; their lifts use enclosed steel cabins and modular shafts that slot into properties with relatively minimal structural intervention. Terry takes a more bespoke approach, offering open-platform designs alongside traditional enclosed cabins, which means more flexibility if your space or aesthetic preferences are unconventional.

For most homeowners fitting a lift into an existing property, Stiltz's standardised approach means faster turnaround and more predictable costs. Terry's flexibility is valuable when standard solutions won't work, but it typically demands more site-specific engineering and longer lead times.

Installation Footprint and Space Requirements

Stiltz lifts occupy roughly 0.9–1.2 square metres, which is genuinely compact for a through-floor lift. This matters in townhouses and properties where space is tight. Their modular shaft design means you can often install a Stiltz lift between existing walls or joists without major structural adaptation.

Terry's footprint varies significantly depending on the configuration you choose. Their open-platform lifts can be as small as 0.85 square metres, but their enclosed models sit in a similar range to Stiltz. The real difference is not absolute size but rather how much structural work Terry usually recommends. Because they customise more aggressively, site surveys often flag reinforcement needs that Stiltz might not, which translates to higher installation costs but genuinely necessary structural integrity for the specific property.

Installation Timeline and Disruption

A Stiltz installation typically runs 3–5 working days for the lift itself, with pre-installation groundwork depending on your floor condition. Because components are standardised, engineers carry most parts on the van, and surprises during installation are less common.

Terry installations span 5–8 working days for the lift mechanism, though their bespoke approach means site surveys often reveal unexpected complications—subsidence in floor joists, asbestos in older properties, or non-standard ceiling heights. These aren't flaws in Terry's process; they're the cost of customisation. You're paying for a solution tailored to your actual property, not a standard box, which means more discovery work upfront.

Cost Comparison

Stiltz lifts range from roughly £25,000 to £35,000 for a two-stop residential installation, including basic installation. Their pricing is relatively transparent because the spec is standard.

Terry Lifts typically fall between £28,000 and £40,000 for comparable coverage, with wider variation because bespoke work costs more. If your property requires additional structural measures, Terry's quote will reflect that. This isn't hidden markup—it's genuine additional work.

Neither brand is dramatically more expensive than the other in absolute terms, but Stiltz is more predictable, and Terry is more variable depending on your property's needs.

Warranty and Aftercare

Stiltz offers a 12-month parts and labour warranty, with extended warranty options available. Service contracts are straightforward because the lift design is standardised; spare parts are readily stocked, and response times for callouts are consistent across regions.

Terry provides similar 12-month coverage but with more variation in service arrangements because their bespoke installations mean each lift is somewhat unique. Spare parts for customised configurations sometimes require longer lead times. User feedback suggests Terry's support is attentive but occasionally slower for non-standard models.

Real User Experience

Stiltz owners consistently praise reliability and minimal fuss. Common feedback: "It just works. No drama." Engineers arriving with the right parts first time, because there's a standard spec. The cabin environment is enclosed and straightforward—you step in, press a button, arrive at the next floor.

Terry owners appreciate the customisation flexibility, particularly those with unusual space constraints or aesthetic requirements. Their open-platform models feel more integrated into the architecture of the home. However, some users report that initial installation took longer than quoted, and one or two mentioned difficulty sourcing spare parts when needed years later.

Which Suits Your Situation?

Choose Stiltz if your property fits a standard footprint, you value installation speed and predictability, and you want minimal surprises. This covers perhaps 70% of UK residential installations.

Choose Terry if your space is awkward, you need a bespoke solution, you're willing to spend more time upfront on surveys and engineering, and you value the resulting customisation. Terry works better for listed properties, unusual floor plans, or where aesthetics matter significantly.

Final Thoughts

Both brands deliver functional through-floor lifts that improve accessibility. Stiltz is the efficiency play—proven design, fast installation, lower administrative burden. Terry is the flexibility play—tailored solutions, longer process, more variable outcomes but often better fit for genuinely tricky properties.

The right choice depends on whether you want a standard solution installed quickly, or whether your property genuinely needs custom engineering. Neither answer is wrong; they're just different problems. Get site surveys from both, compare not just price but what each company is actually recommending, and let your property guide the decision.