Quick answer
The number of lifts an apartment building needs depends on the number of floors, flats and residents, how busy the morning and evening peaks are, and the lift size and speed. As a practical rule, taller residential blocks should have at least two lifts, so residents are never left without a lift during maintenance or a breakdown, and at least one lift should be large enough for furniture and a stretcher. The exact number should come from a traffic calculation by your lift supplier.
For builders and developers in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, lifts are one of the biggest decisions in an apartment project. Too few lifts and residents wait at every peak, complain, and resale values suffer. Too many and you waste floor space and budget. This guide explains how lift planning works so you can brief your architect and lift supplier with confidence.
What decides how many lifts you need?
- Number of floors: the more floors, the longer each round trip takes, so each lift serves fewer people per minute.
- Flats per floor and residents: more people means more trips, especially at school and office times.
- Lift capacity: an 8-person (630 kg) lift carries fewer people per trip than a 13-person (1000 kg) lift.
- Lift speed: faster lifts complete trips sooner, which matters most in tall buildings.
- Group control: two or more lifts working as a group answer calls faster than lifts working separately.
- Building use: serviced apartments and mixed-use towers with shops or offices need more capacity than a quiet residential block.
Why one lift is rarely enough
Every lift needs regular servicing and, eventually, repairs. In a building with only one lift, every service visit or breakdown leaves elderly residents, families with children and people carrying shopping on the stairs. With two or more lifts, one keeps running while the other is serviced. For mid-rise and high-rise blocks, planning at least two lifts is simply good practice.
Choosing the right lift size
| Lift | Rated load | Typical use in apartments |
|---|---|---|
| 6-person passenger lift | 450 kg | Small low-rise blocks with few flats |
| 8-person passenger lift | 630 kg | Most mid-size apartment buildings |
| 13-person passenger lift | 1000 kg | Larger and taller blocks; easier for furniture |
| Bed / stretcher-sized lift | 1600 kg | Recommended as one lift in tall towers for stretchers and furniture |
Cabin size is limited by the shaft, so decide early. Our standard lift size guide lists typical car sizes for each capacity.
Choosing the right speed
Low-rise residential buildings are usually well served by a standard speed of around 1.0 m/s. As buildings get taller, higher speeds keep waiting and travel times reasonable. For towers above 10 to 15 floors, speed, group control and the number of cars should be planned together. Read our guide to high-rise lift installation for more.
Group control and duplex lifts
When two lifts stand side by side, a duplex controller lets them work as a team: the nearest available car answers each call. This cuts waiting time at peak hours without adding a third lift. We installed exactly this setup for Bahria University in Karachi, where two Fuji lifts share the load at class changeover.
Planning an apartment project?
Get a lift plan for your building, free
Send us your floor count, flats per floor and drawings. Our engineers will suggest how many lifts you need, the right size and speed, and share a written estimate in PKR.
WhatsApp usCall 0333 202 4498Passenger lift price and installation →
Do you need a service or goods lift?
Residents move furniture, deliveries arrive every day and maintenance staff carry materials. In larger towers, a separate service lift protects the passenger lifts from damage and keeps them clean. If your building has shops or a market on the lower floors, a cargo lift for those floors may also make sense. Our guide on passenger lift vs cargo lift explains the difference.
Machine room or machine-room-less (MRL)?
Traditional lifts have a machine room above the shaft. Machine-room-less lifts place the drive inside the shaft, which frees roof space and can simplify construction. Both are widely used; the choice depends on your building height, roof design and budget. See the MRL models we supply on our Fuji elevators page.
Plan for power cuts
In Pakistan, lift planning must include load shedding. At the very least, each passenger lift should have an automatic rescue device so residents are never trapped between floors, and in taller buildings at least one lift should run on generator backup. Read our guide to lift backup during load shedding.
Budgeting for apartment lifts
As a 2026 estimate, a passenger lift in Pakistan costs approx. 25 lakh to 80 lakh PKR supplied and installed, depending on capacity, floors, speed, doors and finishes. Multiply by the number of lifts and add a yearly maintenance budget. These are estimates, not quotes; see our elevator price guide for what changes the cost, and plan an annual maintenance contract from handover.
Upgrading lifts in an existing building
Older apartment blocks often have one slow, unreliable lift. Modernisation can replace the controller, drive, doors and cabin without rebuilding the shaft. See how we upgraded lifts at SMK Apartments.
Planning an apartment project?
Plan your lifts before the shaft is built
Changing lift numbers or shaft sizes after construction is expensive. Talk to us at the design stage and get it right the first time.
WhatsApp usCall 0333 202 4498Passenger lift price and installation →
Frequently asked questions
How many lifts does an apartment building need?
It depends on floors, flats, residents, lift size and speed. Taller residential blocks should have at least two lifts so one keeps working during maintenance, and the exact number should come from a traffic calculation by the lift supplier.
What size lift is best for an apartment building?
Most mid-size apartment buildings use 8-person (630 kg) passenger lifts. Larger and taller blocks often use 13-person (1000 kg) lifts, and towers benefit from one stretcher-sized lift for furniture and emergencies.
How much does a lift for an apartment building cost in Pakistan?
As a 2026 estimate, a passenger lift costs approx. 25 lakh to 80 lakh PKR supplied and installed, depending on capacity, floors, speed and finishes. Exact prices come in a written quotation after a site survey.
Should apartment lifts have backup power?
Yes. Each passenger lift should at least have an automatic rescue device so residents are not trapped during load shedding, and taller buildings should run at least one lift on generator backup.
