Machine arrangement
Establish whether the proposed system requires dedicated machine space and how that affects the building layout.
Technical Planning Guide
Lift Size, Capacity & Dimensions in Bangladesh
Planning a lift starts with more than the cabin. Capacity, usable car space, door opening, shaft, pit, overhead and building services all have to work together before construction dimensions are treated as final.
The short answer
There is no single standard lift size for every building
The space needed for a lift changes with passenger or goods capacity, cabin arrangement, door type, speed, drive system and the equipment selected for the project.
This is why cabin size and shaft size should never be treated as the same measurement. The shaft also has to accommodate the guide system, counterweight or other equipment clearances associated with the selected design.
Useful rule for architects and owners
Reserve space using a preliminary technical proposal, then coordinate
the final civil dimensions against the approved lift drawing before
construction reaches the critical shaft stages.
Know the measurements
Five dimensions that are easy to confuse
Asking only for “lift size” can produce the wrong answer because several different measurements are involved. State clearly whether you need cabin, shaft, door, pit or overhead information.
Cabin size
The usable internal width, depth and height of the lift car.
Shaft size
The internal hoistway space reserved for the complete lift system.
Door opening
The clear entrance width and height available to users or goods.
Pit depth
The vertical space below the lowest landing level required by the design.
Overhead
The required space above the highest landing and car travel area.
Bangladesh planning reference
Passenger lift dimensions: use tables as a starting point
Bangladesh building-code material includes recommended passenger and service-lift dimensions for architects and building planners. These figures are useful for early planning, but the same guidance allows variation between manufacturer and purchaser within applicable limits.
Important:
the figures below are planning references from Bangladesh code material,
not guaranteed Dhaka Lift Solutions product specifications. Confirm the
actual lift drawing before structural work is finalized.
| Nominal capacity | Reference car size W × D | Reference lift well W × D | Reference entrance width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 persons / 272 kg | 1100 × 700 mm | 1900 × 1300 mm | 700 mm minimum |
| 6 persons / 408 kg | 1100 × 1000 mm | 1900 × 1700 mm | 700 mm minimum |
| 8 persons / 544 kg | 1300 × 1100 mm | 1900 × 1900 mm | 800 mm |
| 10 persons / 680 kg | 1300 × 1350 mm | 1900 × 2100 mm | 800 mm |
| 13 persons / 884 kg | 2000 × 1100 mm | 2500 × 1900 mm | 900 mm |
| 16 persons / 1088 kg | 2000 × 1300 mm | 2500 × 2100 mm | 1000 mm |
| 20 persons / 1360 kg | 2000 × 1500 mm | 2500 × 2400 mm | 1000 mm |
Cabin vs shaft
The shaft must accommodate more than the passenger cabin
A cabin dimension describes the usable car space. A shaft dimension describes the building opening needed around the complete elevator arrangement. Treating the two as interchangeable can create a serious coordination problem.
Car space
Usable width and depth inside the elevator.
Guide system
Requires space outside the usable cabin envelope.
Counterweight / equipment arrangement
Its location affects the overall hoistway requirement.
Construction tolerance
The actual shaft condition must match the approved technical drawing.
Entrance planning
Door width affects how useful the lift feels
Two cabins with similar floor area can perform very differently if their entrances are different. Door opening matters for everyday passenger flow, furniture movement, wheelchairs, hospital beds and industrial goods.
Current PWD 2026 lift specifications use a 2100 mm clear door height in the applicable schedule, but width and opening arrangement are selected according to the lift configuration. Do not assume that one width applies to every capacity.
Residential use
Consider occupants, accessibility and furniture movement.
Commercial use
Consider passenger flow and expected peak traffic.
Hospital use
Bed or stretcher movement changes both door and cabin needs.
Cargo use
Match the opening to pallets, trolleys and handling equipment.
Pit & overhead
Do not lock these dimensions before the lift is selected
Pit depth and overhead are system-dependent dimensions. They can change with capacity, speed, drive arrangement and manufacturer design.
That makes early coordination especially important in Bangladesh projects where structural work may progress before the elevator order is finalized.
- Confirm the lowest landing and finished-floor reference.
- Check waterproofing and drainage considerations around the pit.
- Coordinate the highest landing, slab and overhead space.
- Use the selected system's approved technical drawing.
Machine space & power
Lift dimensions are only part of the technical plan
The architect's shaft drawing and the electrical plan need to follow the same lift selection. Motor power, electrical supply, controller location and machine-space requirements should come from the proposed system, not from a generic online calculator.
Electrical load
Obtain the actual connected-load and supply requirements from the technical proposal.
Generator planning
Generator sizing should use the selected lift's electrical and starting characteristics together with the building's wider emergency-load plan.
Controller location
Keep access, ventilation and service requirements in mind during architectural coordination.
Travel & stops
Building height and number of served floors affect the technical configuration.
Final drawing
Civil and electrical teams should work from the same approved elevator information before execution.
Existing buildings
Have limited space? Measure the building before choosing the lift
An existing building reverses the usual design process. Instead of creating a shaft around a chosen lift, the technical team first needs to understand the space and constraints already present.
Measure the available shaft
Record clear internal width and depth at relevant levels.
Check pit and overhead
Confirm actual vertical clearances rather than relying only on old drawings.
Inspect landing openings
Check the structural opening and usable access around each floor.
Review structure and services
Existing beams, utilities and access can affect feasible solutions.
Technical assessment
What to send before asking for a lift size recommendation
A few useful project details can turn a vague size enquiry into a much more productive technical discussion.
Building use
Residential, office, hospital, commercial or industrial.
Number of floors
State the landings the lift needs to serve.
Expected capacity
Passenger count or goods load where known.
Available shaft
Clear width and depth, preferably with a drawing.
Pit & overhead
Provide available vertical dimensions if construction has started.
Door requirement
Mention accessibility, stretcher, furniture or goods needs.
Construction stage
Concept, structural design, construction or existing building.
Architectural drawings
Plans and sections help identify conflicts earlier.
Planning questions
Lift size and dimension FAQs
What is a standard lift size in Bangladesh?
There is no single size that applies to every lift. Bangladesh planning references include recommended dimensions for different capacities, but final cabin, shaft, door, pit and overhead dimensions depend on the selected elevator system and project conditions.
Is cabin size the same as shaft size?
No. Cabin size is the usable internal car space. Shaft or hoistway size is the building space required for the car and the associated elevator equipment and clearances.
How wide should a lift door be?
The required clear width depends on lift capacity, use and door arrangement. Passenger flow, accessibility, stretcher movement or cargo dimensions may all affect the appropriate opening.
Can the shaft be built before choosing a lift?
Preliminary planning can begin earlier, but final structural dimensions are safer when coordinated with the selected elevator's technical drawing. Building a finished shaft around a generic dimension can limit later equipment choices.
How is lift capacity selected?
Capacity selection should consider building use, expected traffic, number of floors, accessibility needs and the type of people or goods being moved. Product-specific capacity decisions belong in the relevant lift selection process rather than being based on shaft size alone.
How do I calculate generator size for a lift?
Do not size a generator from passenger capacity alone. Obtain the selected lift's electrical requirements and starting characteristics, then coordinate those with the building's overall generator and emergency-load design.
Planning your lift shaft or building layout?
Prepare the building use, floor count, available shaft dimensions and drawings before discussing the lift. That gives the technical team a better basis for reviewing capacity, space and installation requirements.