How to Evaluate Elevator price?
Buying an elevator? Price depends on many factors. Is it for homes or offices? Size and floors affect the price brand quality matters. Smart features and safety systems add to the price.
How to find the best elevator price? This article will show you exactly how to calculate your elevator price and even save money!
I. Basic Technical Parameters of Elevator (Directly Affecting Price Structure)
1. Capacity (kg)
● Common specifications: 450~1600
● Impact: Higher capacity leads to increased price for motor power and guide rail strength, and car size.
2. Elevator Speed (m/s)
● Residential elevator: 0.4~1.0
● Commercial elevator: 1.0~2.5
● High-speed elevator: 3.0 and above
● Impact: Higher speeds result in increased price for main engine power and safety devices.
3. Number of Stops
● Impact: Each additional stop requires longer guide rails and increases costs for call panels, door operators, and control systems.
4. Travel Height (m)
● Impact: The lengths of guide rails, steel wire ropes, and compensation chains directly affect material costs.
5. Door Type
● Center Opening
● Side Opening
● Impact: Different door types affect hoistway dimensions and door operator costs.
6. Hoistway Dimensions (mm)
● Required: Width × Depth × Height
● Impact: Non-standard hoistways increase customization costs.
II. Core Configuration Options (Key Factors for Cost Fluctuation)
1. Drive System
● Traction
● Hydraulic (suitable for few floors building)
● Impact: Traction machines offer higher energy efficiency.
2. Control SystemRelay Control
● Microprocessor Control
● Group Control (for multiple elevators)
● Impact: Microprocessor control is more intelligent but costs more.
3. Door Operator
● Mechanical Safety Edge
● Infrared Light Curtain
● Impact: Light curtains offer higher safety but cost 100−300 more per set than mechanical safety edges.
4. Car Decoration
● Standard Stainless Steel
● Luxury Finishes (e.g wood grain, mirror, custom designs)
● Impact: Luxury finishes may increase costs by 1-3 times.
5. Safety Features
● Emergency Power
● Seismic Protection
● Overload Detection
● Impact: Special safety requirements may add 1000−3000 to costs.
III. Installation Environment and Additional Costs (Often Overlooked Factors)
1. Building Type
Residential, commercial, hospital, factory, etc., have different elevator requirements, affecting certification and configuration costs.
2. Power Supply
Voltage (220V/380V)
Whether additional transformers or voltage regulators.
3. Civil Work Requirements
Whether hoistway modifications are required
Whether pit depth meets standards
IV. How to obtain an accurate quotation?
● Basic Parameters: Capacity, speed, number of stops, travel height
● Hoistway Dimensions: Width × Depth × Height (building drawings preferred)
● Drive Method: Permanent magnet synchronous/worm gear/hydraulic
● Control System: Relay/microprocessor/group control
● Door Type: Center opening/side opening, light curtain/safety edge
● Car Interior: Stainless steel/wood trim/mirror/custom
● Safety Configuration: Emergency power, seismic protection
● Installation Environment: Building type, power supply, civil work conditions
1. How to reduce total elevator price through procurement strategies?
● Precise Demand Analysis:
Avoid over-configuration. Select appropriate one based on actual load capacity and usage frequency.
For example: Energy-efficient variable frequency elevators are good for commercial buildings. Economical MRL elevators are suitable for residential projects.
● Long-Term Cooperation:
Bulk Discounts: 5%-10% discount for more than 5 units at a time.
Strategic Partnership: Sign long-term agreements with Chinese brands (e.g FUJI elevator) to lock in lower prices.
● Standardized Procurement:
Reduce non-standard customized components. Prioritize the use of manufacturer's standard modules (e.g door operator models) and adopt universal-sized cars and hoistways to lower installation and maintenance costs.
2. What fees are usually included in elevator price? How to avoid hidden charges?
● Factory price: Manufacturing price of core components such as the motor and control cabinet.
● Packaging Fee: Price of packaging materials such as wooden crates and proof films.
● Transportation Fee: Land or inland waterway transportation costs from the factory to export port (e.g Shanghai Port).
● Export Customs Clearance Fee: Costs for documents such as commodity inspection.
● Port Handling Fee: Charges for loading and terminal operations at the port of departure.
● Hidden Charges and Avoidance Methods:
Non-standard Packaging Premium
Risk: Special packaging (e.g shockproof, oversized items) may incur additional charges.
Solution: Specify packaging standards and require all packaging costs to be included in the quotation.
● Document Additional Fees
Risk: Special certifications (e.g CE, Russian GOST) may not be included.
Solution: Confirm export country requirements in advance and require the quotation to cover all certification costs.
● Opaque Port Charges
Risk: Demurrage fees and port storage fees may be passed on to the buyer.
Solution: Agree that the factory will bear all costs before the goods are loaded onto the ship.
3. Why do elevator with the same parameters vary greatly in price across different brands?
● Brand Premium
International Brands (e.g KONE, Otis Elevator): Due to brand reputation, their quotations are usually 20%-40% higher than those of Chinese elevators. They use self-developed motors which 15-20% price higher than purchase.
Chinese Brands (e.g FUJI elevator): They offer good cost-effectiveness. And they have a higher premium than small manufacturers.
Regional Small Brands: They have the lowest prices, but their quality and after-sales stability are questionable.
● Supply Chain Cost Differences:
International Brands (e.g., Otis, KONE) usually adopt a global supply chain and rely on imported core components (e.g., frequency converters, steel wire ropes), resulting in higher costs.
Chinese Brands (e.g FUJI Elevator) rely on China's vast industrial chain and produce components domestically, resulting in lower costs.
● Strategic Cooperation Models
International Brands usually sign strategic procurement agreements with large developers and enjoy bulk discounts. However, for small-quantity purchases, their costs are higher. Chinese brands can offer corresponding discounts even for small purchases.
● Human Resource Cost Differences
European Brands: Their R&D teams are mostly based in Europe and engineers' salaries are 3~5 times in China. It driving up prices.
Chinese Brands (e.g., FUJI Elevator): Chinese engineers have lower salaries. It significantly reducing labor costs.
● Transportation and Tariff Costs
International Brands: Purchasing imported accessories requires bearing sea freight and tariffs (about 10%-20%), increasing the final selling price of the complete elevator.
Chinese Elevators (e.g FUJI Elevator): They use domestic logistics in China, resulting in lower transportation costs.
4. How does elevator running speed affect the price?
It involves multiple dimensions such as technical costs, user experience, and building requirements:
● Technical and Manufacturing Complexity
High-speed elevators require more advanced traction systems and shock absorbers to ensure smoothness and safety. These technologies directly drive up material and R&D costs.
For example: For every 1m/s increase in speed, the power of the traction machine may need to increase by 20%-30%. The corresponding energy consumption and heat dissipation design costs will also rise.
● Safety and Certification Costs
High-speed elevators need to pass additional certifications (e.g emergency braking systems) . It need equip with multiple redundant sensors and buffer devices.
For example: Elevators above 3m/s need to pass more stringent electromagnetic compatibility tests. These certification processes increase production costs.
● Material and Structural Reinforcement
An increase in speed exacerbates rail wear and vibration. It requires the use of high-strength alloy guide rails and carbon fiber compensation cables.
For example, a 10m/s elevator requires additional air pressure regulation devices to reduce ear discomfort, and the car needs to be made of aerospace-grade aluminum to reduce weight, increasing costs by 20%-30% for this item alone.
● Safety Redundancy Design
Every 1m/s increase in speed, the braking distance needs to be extended by 1.5 times. High-speed elevators must be equipped with multi-level braking systems and earthquake sensing modules. Safety component costs accounting for 15%-25% of the total price.
5. How to reduce the total price of elevator?
It requires optimization in multiple aspects such as equipment selection, procurement strategies, installation, and maintenance:
● Reasonable Selection to Avoid Performance Excess
Select a matching speed based on building height and passenger flow demand.
Prioritize Chinese brands (e.g FUJI Elevator) over big brands to save 20%-40% in costs.
Avoid over-configuring functions (e.g facial recognition) and retain only necessary safety functions.
● Optimize Procurement Methods
Bulk Procurement: Conduct bidding for many elevators in the same project to reduce unit prices.
Off-season Procurement: Place orders during the off-season (March-June). Factories may offer discounts of 5%-10%.
● Optimize Installation
Plan the hoistway in advance to avoid unconventional size designs and reduce steel structure reinforcement or civil engineering modification costs.
Bulk Installation Discounts: Installing many elevators at the same project can save 10%-20% in labor costs.
● Modular Configuration
Choose standard functions (e.g basic car decoration) and avoid customized designs.
For example: Replacing glass curtain walls with steel plate cars for commercial elevators can reduce costs by 4,000−8,000 per unit.
6. How does elevator car decoration affect the price?
It is mainly reflected in aspects such as material and customization level:
● Material Cost Differences
Basic Materials: Ordinary stainless steel (about 40−70/㎡)ismorethan50100-150/㎡), and wooden veneers (e.g., fireproof boards) are even more expensive ($200-400/㎡).
High-end Materials: Using genuine leather and marble will increase costs by 2-5 times.
● Craftsmanship Complexity Affecting Quotations
Simple spraying or film application has lower costs, while fine craftsmanship such as laser engraving and etched patterns requires additional processing fees (+20%-50%).
● Functional Configuration Increasing Costs
Installing LED ambient lights, liquid crystal displays, or intelligent touch panels can increase the cost of a single car by $500-2,000.
Functional decorations such as antibacterial coatings and ultraviolet disinfection have a premium of 10%-20%.
● Customization Demands Driving Up Costs
Standardized cars (direct purchase) have lower costs, while customized sizes and irregular designs (e.g circular cars) require additional mold opening, increasing costs by 15%-30%.
7. What is ARD? What kind of elevators need ARD?
ARD (Automatic Rescue Device) costs 300~500 USD.
It is an elevator safety device used to automatically switch to a backup power supply in the event of a sudden power outage or fault, slowly operate the car to the nearest floor and open the door, ensuring passenger safety and avoiding prolonged entrapment.
● Core Functions of ARD
Power Failure Emergency: Automatically starts backup power supply when the main power supply is interrupted. Usually supporting 30~120 minutes power.
Leveling Rescue: Let elevator at a low speed (0.1-0.3m/s) to the nearest floor and open the door to release passengers.
Fault Protection: Links with elevator control system to avoid secondary accidents (e.g door pinching).
● Which Elevators Need ARD?
Elevator in Public Buildings:
Shopping malls usually require ARD to ensure public safety.
High-rise Buildings:
Buildings above 20 floors or frequent power outages area. ARD can reduce the risk of entrapment.
8. What is AVR? What kind of elevators need AVR?
AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) costs 700~1,000 USD.
It is an electronic device used to stabilize voltage. It can automatically detect and adjust voltage fluctuations. It ensures elevator control system and drive motor always operate within a safe voltage range (e.g., ±10% of the rated voltage).
● Core Functions of AVR
Voltage Stabilization: When voltage fluctuates (e.g sudden drops or surges), it automatically adjusts the output voltage. AVR prevents the elevator from being damaged due to voltage instability.
Anti-interference: Filters out harmonic interference. It improves the stability of the elevator control system.
Extend Equipment Life: Reduces the impact of voltage mutations on core components such as frequency converters. It can lower the failure rate.
● Which Elevators Need AVR?
Areas with Unstable Grid:
In old residential areas, industrial zones, or rural areas where voltage fluctuations are large, AVR can prevent frequent elevator failures.
High-end Elevators:
Elevators in office buildings and hotels have high requirements for operational stability. AVR can reduce complaints about elevator shutdowns due to voltage problems.
9. The impact of different elevator doors on elevator prices?
● Center Opening Door (Double-leaf Doors)
Characteristics: Two doors open horizontally in opposite directions. It occupying little space and have fast opening and closing speeds. This door is suitable for most elevators.
Price Impact: With a simple structure and low cost, they are standard configurations and usually have the lowest price.
● Side Opening Doors
Characteristics: Open by sliding to one side. This door is suitable for narrow hoistways (e.g home elevators).
Price Impact: Due to the need for special guide rails and drive systems, they are 10%-20% more expensive than center opening doors.
● Center Opening Bi-fold Doors (Four-leaf Doors)
Characteristics: Four doors fold open, suitable for heavy-duty freight elevators or hospital bed elevators.
Price Impact: With a complex structure, they are 30%-50% more expensive than standard center opening doors.
● Manual Doors (Non-automatic Doors)
Characteristics: Require manual opening and closing and are mainly used for small elevators, occupying little space.
Price Impact: Without an automatic door operator, they have the lowest price but poor comfort.
● Fire Doors
Characteristics: Equipped with fireproof coatings or explosion-proof structures. It is used in special places (e.g hospitals and chemical plants).
Price Impact: With high material and certification costs, their price can be 2-3 times that of ordinary doors.
10. How does warranty period affect elevator price?
Extending warranty period will increase the manufacturer's maintenance and component costs. This part of the cost will be reflected in the selling price:
● 2 years: 3% of the equipment price
● 3 years: 5% of the equipment price
● 4 years: 12% of the equipment price
● 5 years: 20% of the equipment price
FUJI Elevator Company
FUJ Elevator – Quality, Affordability and Good Service
● FUJ Elevator provides reliable and high-quality lifts. Our elevators are safe and smooth. We use strong materials and the latest technology.
● Our elevator price is very competitive without sacrificing quality. Our after-sales service is fast and professional.
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