Are you considering installing a freight elevator? Freight elevators are a “must have” for buildings that frequently transport large or heavy freight. They are a great convenience, but they are also a significant investment. If you don’t know the price of freight elevators or want to plan your budget for freight elevators in advance, please read this article.

What Is a Freight Elevator?

Before looking at the cost of freight elevators, let’s first take a brief look at what a freight elevator is.

Some people think that freight elevators are just passenger elevators that are larger and wider. In fact, a freight elevator is a vertical transportation device designed for transporting heavy objects, large pieces or pallets. Its design focuses on high load-bearing capacity, rigidity and long-term reliability. For example, in our project for a furniture storage center in Saudi Arabia, the customer’s requirement for a freight elevator was not speed, but whether it could stably support the frequent entry and exit of more than 2 tons of goods.

To meet such needs, freight elevators are usually constructed with thicker car frames, stronger rail systems, and wider door openings, such as bi-fold doors, vertical doors, etc., to facilitate the transportation of pallets, shelves or wheeled equipment. What these designs reflect is the fundamental difference in application logic between freight elevators and passenger elevators.

Why Do Companies Need Freight Elevators

In factories, warehouses, and even hospital logistics areas, freight elevators exist not only for transporting goods. They can also isolate visitors from internal staff and work scenes, realize functional zoning, and improve work efficiency.

First of all, from the perspective of line planning, freight elevators are usually designed on independent logistics lines, staggered with public spaces such as visitor entrances and exits and elevator halls. In this way, high-frequency operations such as material transportation and tool handling will not interfere with the main channel, and visual impact and safety hazards to customers, patients or visitors are avoided. For example, in a hospital, a cart with biological waste or medicines can be directly sent to the back-end processing room via a dedicated freight elevator to avoid direct contact with patients and their families, ensuring environmental cleanliness and process isolation.

Secondly, the freight elevator has a large carrying capacity and is easy to operate, which can reduce frequent manual handling, thereby saving manpower and shortening the circulation time of goods. In high-turnover scenarios such as e-commerce warehouses, we often use freight elevators to quickly transport the entire pallet of goods to the sorting area. The whole process does not require multiple transfers, which greatly improves the delivery efficiency.

Therefore, whether it is for the purpose of functional area division, hygiene regulations, or logistics efficiency, freight elevators have become an indispensable part of enterprises to achieve efficient operations.

Freight Elevator Cost

The cost of a freight elevator is not fixed. It is affected by many factors. Here we can give you a rough price range for freight elevators. Let you have an expectation first. In the following article, I will tell you in detail what factors affect the cost of freight elevators and how to minimize the installation cost of freight elevators while ensuring quality and functionality.

Now let’s look at the average cost. Taking the multiple logistics parks and light factory building projects we have undertaken in Southeast Asia such as Thailand and Vietnam in recent years as an example, the one-stop delivery cost of a standard freight elevator (rated load 2000-3000kg, 3-5 floors of travel) is usually equivalent to about US$34,500 to US$75,900.

Freight elevator Price fluctuations are mainly due to the configuration of the freight elevator selected by the customer, the complexity of the shaft structure and the difficulty of on-site construction.

For detailed prices, you can directly contact BDFUJI Elevator Consultant to ask him to help you calculate, or you can continue to read below to understand more specific freight elevator costs and estimate them yourself.

 

Freight Elevator Types and Price Ranges

Above we have given the approximate range of freight elevator costs. In fact, different types of freight elevators are suitable for different building conditions, budget space and operation and maintenance requirements. At the same time, there will be some differences in price. The following are common freight elevator types and price references. You can find out the type of freight elevator that suits you here.

Hydraulic Freight Elevator: Suitable for Low-Rise Buildings With Limited Space

The structure of the hydraulic freight elevator is relatively simple, so it is easier to install. It is often used in factories or logistics rooms with no more than 5 floors. For old building renovation projects with limited shaft size and poor civil engineering rigidity, hydraulic freight elevators are an ideal choice.

According to the market quotation in 2025, the overall cost of a standard hydraulic freight elevator is approximately US$27,840 to US$48,720.

Advantages of hydraulic freight elevators:

• Short installation period, flexible adaptation to civil engineering;
• The equipment has its own self-weight descending function (no counterweight required);

Disadvantages of hydraulic freight elevators:

• In terms of energy efficiency, speed and continuous operation capability, it is slightly inferior to traction freight elevators.

Traction Freight Elevator: The Preferred Solution for Medium and High-Rise Buildings

In medium and high-rise industrial and logistics buildings, traction freight elevators are still the most widely used main solution. When we designed a solution for an automated warehousing company, we finally selected a traction freight elevator with a load of 2 tons and a travel of 6 floors due to its high operating frequency and high equipment continuity requirements. It has maintained good performance since 2014.

Compared with hydraulic freight elevators, traction freight elevators have more advantages in operating speed, energy consumption control and system stability. They are particularly suitable for scenarios with high requirements for efficiency and durability, such as electronic manufacturing plants, automated warehouses, and multi-storey logistics centers. In addition, the maintenance interval of traction freight elevators is relatively long, so the operation is more stable, and work efficiency will not be delayed due to high-frequency elevator maintenance.

According to the market data we compiled for 2025, the overall purchase and installation cost of a traction freight elevator is roughly between $41,820 and $83,640.

Machine Room-Less Freight Elevator (MRL): A New Option With Higher Space Efficiency

In recent new construction projects, machine room-less freight elevators are becoming the type of freight elevators favored by builders and designers. Especially in some commercial buildings or factory areas that require space utilization and green certification standards (such as LEED, BREEAM), the MRL system integrates the drive device at the top or side of the shaft, effectively eliminating the independent machine room required for traditional elevators, providing greater flexibility for building layout.

We once provided a freight elevator with an MRL structure in a logistics office complex with limited land, which ultimately released about 4 square meters of available space for each floor, made the roof layer structure simpler, and greatly reduced the cost of waterproofing and maintenance in the later stage.

However, it should be noted that the civil engineering coordination accuracy of the MRL freight elevator is higher, the drive installation space is more compact, and in some cases, a customized control cabinet layout is required. This also means that its initial installation cost is usually 10%-15% higher than that of the same type of traction system. In 2025, the market quotation range generally falls between US$48,650 and US$90,350.

Although the initial investment is slightly higher, the MRL freight elevator has long-term operational advantages in terms of later maintenance convenience, equipment maintenance safety, and overall building design flexibility. It is suitable for scenes that pursue space efficiency and architectural integrated design.

The Main Factors Affecting the Cost of Freight Elevators

After a simple understanding, you should now know that the total cost of the freight elevator does not only depend on the quotation of the equipment itself, but also on the following factors:

1. Load capacity

The rated load is the first technical parameter to be confirmed when selecting a freight elevator. The 2-ton and 5-ton freight elevators not only have a significant price difference, but also directly affect the traction machine power, guide rail specifications, pit depth and shaft load-bearing design. For example, in a machinery manufacturing plant, after increasing the load from 3 tons to 5 tons, the cost of a single elevator equipment increased by more than 20%, and the steel structure shaft reinforcement budget also needed to be increased.

2. Travel height (number of floors)

The longer the travel of a freight elevator, the more subsystems such as the rail layout, counterweight system, wire rope length and car leveling control need to be upgraded simultaneously. For example, when increasing from 3 floors to 6 floors, the control cabinet will be equipped with more floor station command logic, and the controller will also need to have more complex level management capabilities. Such hidden costs are often overlooked during planning.

3. Operating speed and car size

The operating speed of freight elevators is generally set between 0.25–1.0 m/s. The higher the speed, the more sophisticated the variable frequency drive system, buffer, brake device and shock absorption structure required, which will naturally push up the price of the whole machine. At the same time, when the building requires the use of a large-sized freight elevator car (such as one that can accommodate a whole pallet or forklift), it is often necessary to expand the shaft clearance, put forward higher requirements for civil engineering, and increase equipment and construction costs.

4. Door opening configuration

Different elevator door types (such as vertical double opening, three-leaf folding, electric lifting door) will significantly affect the control logic, door machine drive and door civil engineering requirements. We have used front and back through-door structures in hospital projects to achieve zoning transportation of medical waste and medicines. Although this design meets the needs of operational lines, it also increases the installation difficulty and cost of the entire freight elevator by about 15%.

5. Installation conditions and construction complexity

If the project is a renovation project, a building that has been put into operation, or a place with limited space, the installation of freight elevators will face more challenges. For example, the elevator shaft clearance is insufficient and a customized steel structure frame support is required, and the construction channel is limited and nighttime hoisting operations are required, which will lead to a simultaneous increase in labor, auxiliary materials and construction period costs.

6. Building specifications and safety standards

Different countries and regions have differences in freight elevator design specifications, fire zoning, and earthquake resistance standards. Some countries require the configuration of fire-resistant floor doors or car fire linkage systems, and such mandatory items will also affect the cost of freight elevators. In the Philippines and Indonesian projects, the cost of reinforcing some freight elevator structures was increased due to the need to meet the additional requirements of earthquake-resistant hooks in earthquake zones.

7. Additional functions and customized options

Some scenarios have higher requirements for elevator functions, such as IC card control, remote monitoring, automatic door closing delay, special floor materials, etc., which will increase the complexity of the elevator control system and the customization cost. In a pharmaceutical cold chain warehouse, we also added a constant temperature car and slow start logic at the request of the customer, and the price of the whole system increased by nearly 30%.

The Cost of Installing Freight Elevators in Different Buildings

In fact, you should be able to calculate the approximate price of the freight elevator you need to install after seeing this, but in different building scenarios, the functional requirements, compliance requirements and construction conditions of the freight elevator are still different, which will also affect the cost of the freight elevator.

The Cost of Installing a Freight Elevator in a Warehouse

The freight elevator in the warehouse should be more practical. We usually recommend hydraulic or low-speed traction freight elevators, with the cost controlled between $34,850 and $55,760 as the mainstream

Installation Cost of Freight Elevators in Hospitals or Industrial Sites

In hospitals, laboratories or factories with clean level requirements, freight elevators are generally equipped with medical-grade protection, sterile processing, and backup power systems, so the cost is generally between $55,760 and $83,640.

Installation Cost of Freight Elevators in Multi-Story Commercial Buildings

In large shopping malls or commercial complexes, freight elevators cannot only provide cargo functions but also need to take into account decoration coordination, noise control and continuous operation capabilities. Therefore, we recommend traction or machine roomless freight elevators, with costs ranging from $69,700 to $97,580.

How to Reduce Freight Elevator Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

In the previous content, we have learned about the price range and influencing factors of freight elevator costs-from drive type, load specifications, to building scenes and installation conditions, the cost difference of freight elevators corresponding to different options can reach tens of thousands of yuan or even higher.

However, in actual project applications, we found that not all costs are uncontrollable. If more targeted choices are made in the type selection and service stage of the freight elevator, effective cost reduction can often be achieved without sacrificing safety and functionality.

The following three suggestions are cost control strategies we have summarized in multiple freight elevator projects for your reference when purchasing freight elevators:

1. Choose a reasonable load that meets the needs

Take our case in a light industrial plant as an example. The owner initially selected a 5-ton freight elevator, but the actual daily cargo transported mostly does not exceed 1.5 tons. Due to the large tonnage of the equipment, not only is the procurement cost about 30% higher, but it also requires a larger traction machine, power system and structural shaft, which increases the difficulty of installing the whole machine and the average annual maintenance cost.

This type of “over-configuration” is not uncommon in many projects. In fact, as long as the “batch of goods that are transported most often” is used as a benchmark, and an appropriate increase of 10%-20% of the margin is used as a reference, it is possible to meet the demand while avoiding the continuous cost waste caused by “overkill”.

2. Cooperate with local installers

In a logistics freight elevator renovation project in a shopping mall in the Philippines, we have cooperated with a local team with elevator installation qualifications. Compared with cross-regional construction teams, they are more familiar with the local building approval process and government inspection requirements, and can avoid repeated rectifications caused by incomplete information or process errors in advance.

At the same time, the local team responds faster, the construction cycle is controllable, and the project management and coordination costs are greatly reduced. This localization advantage is particularly obvious for freight elevator projects with tight schedules or under construction.

Currently, BDFUJI We have cooperation teams in many countries and regions around the world, which can provide necessary local support according to the project location to improve the overall execution efficiency.

3. Installation and maintenance package service

If an integrated service agreement for installation and maintenance is signed at the same time during the procurement stage, greater flexibility can often be obtained in the price of the freight elevator.

Many customers will encounter problems such as inconsistent quotations and unstable service responses in the later stage due to separate procurement and maintenance, especially after the warranty period ends, the separate maintenance quotation lacks a unified standard and is easy to get out of control.

In contrast, the integrated solution is usually directly borne by the freight elevator manufacturer, which is not only clear and transparent in price, but also more unified in service standards. First, it is a safer choice for projects that want long-term stable operation and reduce management costs.

How to Budget for Freight Elevator Projects

After clarifying the type of freight elevator and how to reduce the cost of freight elevator installation, the project will enter the next stage – formulating a complete freight elevator budget plan.

However, when making elevator budgets, many projects tend to only focus on the initial quotation for equipment procurement and installation, but this is often only the tip of the iceberg of the total expenditure of freight elevator installation.

We recommend that the budget be divided into two levels: **”one-time cost” and “life cycle cost”** to truly evaluate the long-term economic efficiency of the elevator system.

Initial Cost Vs. Life Cycle Cost

In addition to the purchase and installation costs, the following factors need to be included in the overall budget framework:

• Average annual maintenance and repair expenses;
• Operation energy consumption (closely related to the drive system and frequency of use);
• Replacement costs of vulnerable parts (such as door machines, electrical panels, control system modules);
• Overhaul cycle (usually occurs after 6-8 years of use);

For example, if the initial installation cost of a 2-ton hydraulic freight elevator is $35,000, the maintenance and electricity costs within a ten-year cycle may be close to or even exceed the initial installation cost itself. Failure to include these long-term expenses will seriously affect the judgment of the project’s true return.

New Projects: Budget Should Be Advanced to The Civil Engineering Stage

For new factories or commercial buildings, it is recommended to intervene in the elevator system planning at the early stage of building design, including:

• Shaft size and structural load;
• Reserve space for the machine room or choose a machine room-free solution;
• Evaluation of power access and backup power supply capacity;

We once worked in a logistics center project. Because we did not reserve enough elevator shaft depth, we had to partially dismantle and modify the structure later, which not only delayed the construction period, but also increased the installation cost by nearly 20%. Therefore, putting budget thinking one step ahead can not only avoid repeated investment, but also improve overall delivery efficiency.

How to Choose a Suitable Freight Elevator

After completing the preliminary budget calculation, the real key is how to choose a freight elevator solution that meets the use requirements and is within the controllable cost range.

Facing the freight elevator market with many categories and complex parameters, choosing the right freight elevator is not determined by a parameter configuration table. The following 7 steps can help you make more logical and cost-effective decisions in different project contexts:

1. Clarify the frequency of use and operation intensity

Is it running several times a day, or starting and stopping frequently every hour? This will determine whether you choose a hydraulic freight elevator or a traction freight elevator, which directly affects the drive configuration and budget assessment.

2. Determine whether it is necessary to take into account the passenger function

In the elevator safety regulations of most countries and regions, not all freight elevators are allowed to carry passengers. If a standard freight elevator needs to take into account the passenger, it is usually necessary to clearly mark the rated passenger number during the design stage and be equipped with corresponding ventilation, lighting and safety protection devices.

However, for safety reasons, car elevators or industrial freight elevators used only for cargo transportation are often restricted from entering or riding.

Therefore, before choosing the type of freight elevator, be sure to figure out what you want to do with your freight elevator. This will directly affect the car layout, electrical system and channel design.

3. Choose the layout method according to the building structure

Narrow elevator shafts, irregular spaces, no machine room requirements, whether external steel structures are required, etc. will affect the shaft layout, pit depth and freight elevator type (such as hydraulic vs. traction). It is recommended to evaluate them simultaneously at the beginning of the building design.

4. Give priority to brands that meet national standards and certifications

In most countries, freight elevators must be certified and accepted by local governments or special equipment regulatory agencies before they are put into use. Depending on the purpose of the project, special tests such as electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), fire linkage systems, cleanliness levels, and explosion-proof levels may also be involved.

It is recommended to give priority to brands or manufacturers that have actual project experience in the local area and are familiar with the local certification process. This will not only help speed up the approval process, but also reduce the risk of design rework or delivery delays due to certification non-compliance.

5. Consult experienced installers or third-party consultants

Even if you choose a freight elevator model with matching technical parameters, if the site conditions are out of line with the actual installation, you may still face the embarrassment of “the equipment arrives but cannot be installed”.

At this point, installation units or third-party engineering consultants with field experience can often give key reminders before selecting the freight elevator, such as: whether the shaft has sufficient clearance, whether the civil structure needs to be reinforced, whether the power capacity meets the drive requirements, or whether the approval process will affect the progress.

These seemingly “small problems” are likely to cause cost spillover or delay the construction period once they are delayed. Let people who understand construction participate in the early judgment, which is often more effective than remediation afterwards.

6. Review the layout drawings and installation plans provided by the manufacturer

It is often difficult to predict the actual problems in the installation process of the freight elevator by looking at the parameter table alone.

After selecting the freight elevator model, be sure to ask the freight elevator manufacturer for a detailed 3D layout drawing or building plan of the freight elevator, and then compare it with the on-site structure item by item, including the shaft size, the location of each floor station, the door opening direction, and the power interface reservation.

If this information is not confirmed clearly before construction, it is easy to find structural conflicts or layout discrepancies during installation, resulting in rework or even delaying the overall construction period.

Checking the drawings in advance is an important step to ensure the smooth implementation of the freight elevator.

7. Compare multiple plans and evaluate the life cycle cost

Some freight elevator plans seem to have very low equipment prices, but if the later use costs of the freight elevator are ignored, they will often suffer losses in operation.

In addition to the equipment procurement costs, energy consumption levels, maintenance frequency, and key component replacement cycles should also be included in the evaluation scope.

We recommend looking at this investment from the perspective of “full life cycle cost” rather than simply comparing which freight elevator has a lower quote. After all, a truly cost-effective plan is one that can operate stably for a long time and will not continue to add hidden expenses in the later stage.

Looking at the freight elevator market in 2025, we can clearly feel a trend: demand is diverging.

One type is a practical project that is sensitive to budget and pays more attention to the cost-effectiveness of freight elevators; the other type comes from high-end commercial spaces or clean industrial scenes, and the requirements for the performance, energy saving and system stability of freight elevators are continuously increasing.

Whether you are a developer or a design consultant, if you want a freight elevator to truly “serve” the project, the most important thing is not to choose an expensive one, but to choose the right one.

Planning in advance, choosing the right type of freight elevator, and making the budget in advance are the fundamental ways to ensure the long-term stable operation of the entire freight elevator system and avoid repeated investment.

FAQs

1. Do You Need to Obtain a Local License Before Installing a Freight Elevator?

Yes, in most areas, before installing a freight elevator, you need to obtain an installation license issued by the local construction or market supervision and management department, which involves drawing review, safety assessment and other links. It is recommended that a qualified manufacturer handle the process on your behalf.

2.Why Choose BDFUJI Freight Elevator to Meet Your Freight Transportation Needs?

BDFUJI has rich project experience in multi-storey commercial and industrial buildings. Its products have the advantages of strong stability, convenient maintenance, energy saving and high efficiency, adapting to various usage environments and supporting customized design solutions.

3. Can BDFUJI Be Responsible for Local Installation?

Yes. BDFUJI has local installation partners in many countries and regions, which can realize the whole process delivery from equipment delivery to installation acceptance.

4. How Long Does It Take to Install a Freight Elevator?

The standard installation period of a freight elevator is 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the building conditions, shaft structure, freight elevator type and on-site construction progress.

5. What Are the Characteristics of a Freight Elevator?

Freight elevators have the characteristics of large bearing capacity, wide car size, flexible door opening method, and strengthened structure. They are suitable for vertical transportation of high-frequency or large-volume items.

6. Do I Need an Engineer or Contractor to Design and Install My Freight Elevator?

Yes, freight elevators are special equipment and must be installed by qualified design units and installation contractors to ensure compliance with safety and legal requirements.

7. What is the minimum load-bearing capacity of a freight elevator?

The minimum rated load of a freight elevator on the conventional market is 500kg, which is suitable for light logistics or small commercial spaces with fewer floors.

8. What Problems often occur during and after the installation of a freight elevator?

In actual applications, freight elevators often encounter the following problems: shaft deviation needs to be adjusted, power supply is not in place, door locks do not match, compliance acceptance is delayed, etc. Choosing experienced manufacturers and installation teams can effectively avoid risks.