This guide contains:

Background on elevators
Features to look for in elevators
How to find the best elevator for you

This independent guide was created to help you understand the basics of elevators and to help you choose the right elevator for you. We do not sell any elevators ourselves, so you can be confident that all of the information in this guide is independent and unbiased.

Background on elevators
Most commercial buildings require elevators, so your choice is not whether to get an elevator or not, but which elevator to buy. You commercial elevator will have to comply with all local building codes and other state and federal regulations (the ADA, for example). If you are thinking about installing an elevator in your home, you should know that elevators are becoming more and more common in the residential environment. Elevators take up less floor space than a staircase, and you can get a bit more square footage with an elevator. In fact, some studies have shown that an elevator can increase the value of your home by 10% or more. Naturally, home elevators are much less expensive when they're installed in a new home compared to retrofitting an existing home, although there are some elevators made specifically for retrofitting (these are somewhat limited compared to other residential elevators).

If you are looking for a residential or commercial elevator, you can find a lot of information online. Since it would is unrealistic to actually buy an elevator online, your goal should be to understand as much as you can about elevators and develop a list of features that you want so that you can identify a few elevator companies and/or dealers to contact about your elevator needs.

Features and functions to look for in elevators
From a user's point of view, there are several features to consider when evaluating what type of elevator will work best for you:

Cab Size
The 'car' or 'cab' of an elevator is the finished portion of the elevator that people ride in. [In other words, it's the little room that goes up and down.] Cabs come in various sizes, and are measured in square feet by multiplying the inside depth by the inside width of the cab. For example, a cab that is 3 feet wide by 5 feet deep would be 15 square feet.

Cab Furnishings
The interior of the elevator cab can be finished in a wide variety of materials, including wood, veneer, panels, metal and more. You can also choose from a variety of types,