How Much Does a Mezzanine Lift Cost?

While being by far the safest and most reliable method of lifting loads to a mezzanine floor, a mezzanine lift is a sizeable investment for any workspace. This guide will provide all of the information you need to make sure your mezzanine lift meets your needs and that you are not paying for any additional functions you don’t need.

Lifting loads up to a mezzanine floor is a simple task to do quickly but doing it safely requires a more reliable and consistent solution. The best option is a mezzanine lift that will increase productivity and safety. However, a mezzanine lift is no small investment. It costs between $50,000 and $100,000. That’s a big range and there are a number of significant factors that impact the cost.

Quick Overview on the Cost of a Mezzanine Lift

Mezzanine lifts and VRCs (vertical reciprocating conveyors) are by far the safest and most efficient way to lift loads up to a mezzanine floor, albeit the most costly. This assurance of safety comes at a price of between $50,000 and $100,000 depending on the size, location, and weight capacity. 

While this may seem like a lot compared with something like a forklift (around $25,000), it is important to remember that there are a lot of safety risks associated with lifting heavy loads to mezzanine levels. 

VRCs are safe and reliable. They lower maintenance costs and significantly reduce the chances of injury that can cost a jobsite far more in the long term. 

Factors that Impact Cost

The price of a VRC is, for the most part, dictated by the load capacity. Available features vary depending on the capacity you choose. For example the lifting speed and the security gate mechanism for moving loads in and out of the lift.

However, having certain features and characteristics won’t necessarily affect the cost as you might expect.

Load Capacity

Lower load requirements  (2.5 tons) place less stress on the lifting mechanism, therefore, these VRCs have a higher lifting speed of around 21 FPM (feet per minute) despite having a lower cost of roughly $50,000 to $60,000. 

This would be considered a standard load capacity.

High load requirements (over 2.5 tons) will require a higher capacity lift that will have a lower lift speed of about 15 FPM and be a more expensive system costing $70,000 to $100,000.

Lifting Mechanism

The reason for the increase in cost for larger load capacity VRCs is that a heavy-duty roller chain lift is required to lift as opposed to a standard hoist for lighter loads. A higher capacity VRC will also require a larger input voltage of 460V compared to a standard 230V.

Lifting Height

Most VRCs are designed to lift loads from ground level up to a mezzanine floor. In some instances, a VRC material lift can cover up to five floors however this is quite rare. When you increase the number of floors covered by a VRC, the cost will increase mainly due to the increase in materials and the need for additional perimeter gates.

Gates and Perimeter Gates

The transition between the lift carriage and the mezzanine or ground level needs to be secured. At a lower price point and lower load capacity, you can expect a swing gate with a latch to be used as a cost-saving measure that still provides sufficient levels of safety. 

For higher capacity and more expensive VRCs, an automatically powered overhead and sectional gate is preferred to enable easier use which is important when handling heavier loads as it reduces any risk of injury.

Safety Features

As a minimum safety requirement, VRC material lifts are fitted with a slack chain sensor that also detects if the load is over the limit and will shut down the system. They are also fitted with a secondary safety brake.  

At PWI, our opinion is that these systems should be standard on all VRCs regardless of the load capacity or cost, however, some manufacturers may implement more or fewer safety features as standard. 

Each level of VRC from PWI includes the Starke Secondary Brake device. In the unlikely event of a fall, it acts as a secondary stopping device to reduce any risk of injury and damage to the load.

Manual, Hydraulic, or Electric?

Mezzanine lifts either use mechanical, electric, or hydraulically operated hoists. Your choice will have a large bearing on the cost and long-term maintenance. 

Mechanical VRCs are a strong contender for reliability and simplicity because they require the least maintenance over time. The downside is that are reliant on a healthy operator, and are only suited to lighter loads.

Hydraulic mezzanine lifts are a great alternative because they are simple to operate and have a high load capacity. But, while being cheaper initially, they are prone to expensive annual costs to maintain the hydraulic system. 

Electric VRC material lifts can be seen as the perfect middle ground between mechanical and hydraulic. Unit costs are not cheap ranging from $50 to $100k, however annual maintenance is only around $1000 and it is common to expect 20 years of service from a well-maintained electric VRC.

Where to Buy a Mezzanine Lift

Standard mezzanine lifts are available from pretty much anywhere including sites like Alibaba. However, plant managers would be wise to remember that not all mezzanine lifts are created equal. 

Safety is a critical component of purchasing a mezzanine lift. As a lifting system, its sole purpose is to safely lift a load from ground level to a raised floor. If you are purchasing a lift from a non-reputable supplier, be aware that safety standards may be less stringent, and a lack in quality could result in the system being very expensive over time through maintenance and potential safety issues.

As a rule of thumb, it isn’t worth investing in a VRC unless it meets established and credible industry standards.

A great way to guarantee the safety and quality of your VRC is to go down the custom route. While it may be more expensive initially, as we have explained, these costs are absorbed in the long-run thanks to minimum maintenance requirements and a more assured lifespan.

PWI VRC material lifts are designed to meet OSHA standards for material hoists and all models feature a secondary braking device to mitigate the chance of a potentially costly failure. They are all built using electric hoists that provide both a smoother lift and offer increased efficiency over mechanical and hydraulic systems. 

Another name you can trust is Wildeck, a manufacturer of U.S.-made hydraulic and mechanical VRCs that are compliant with ANSI / ASME B20.1 safety standards for conveyors and applicable MHIA guidelines. Wildeck also manufactures rideable material lifts that enable authorized personnel to ride the lift instead of walking up and down the stairs.