Furniture lift in Switzerland: complete guide
The furniture lift, also known as an external hoist or moving elevator, is an indispensable piece of equipment in many moving situations in Switzerland. In a country where older buildings with narrow staircases and undersized lifts are commonplace, the furniture lift allows bulky items to be hoisted through a window or balcony.
Approximately 25 to 30% of moves in Switzerland require a furniture lift, a figure that rises to 40-50% in the historic city centres of Geneva, Bern, Basel and Zurich.
What a furniture lift service includes
A professional furniture lift service in Switzerland typically includes:
- Equipment transport: delivery of the furniture lift to your address
- Setup and securing: positioning the lifting arm, deploying the stabilisers, checking the safety zone (15-30 minutes)
- Certified operator: a trained professional who operates the furniture lift
- Handling: loading and unloading items onto the platform
- Takedown of the equipment after the job (15-20 minutes)
- Insurance: coverage for any damage related to the use of the furniture lift
- Municipal permit application: the professional mover often handles this administrative task
What is a furniture lift?
How it works
A furniture lift is an articulated lifting arm mounted on a vehicle or trailer. It has a platform or basket on which furniture and boxes are placed. The arm extends along the building facade up to the window or balcony of the desired floor.
Types of furniture lift
Truck-mounted (self-propelled)
- Mounted directly on a truck chassis
- Maximum height: 20 to 30 metres (6 to 9 floors)
- Load capacity: 200 to 400 kg per platform
- Quick setup: 15-30 minutes
- The most common type in Switzerland
Trailer-mounted (towed)
- Transported on a trailer behind a vehicle
- Maximum height: 15 to 25 metres (5 to 7 floors)
- Load capacity: 150 to 300 kg
- More compact, can access narrow streets
- More economical option
Tracked stair climber
- Small portable device that climbs stairs
- For items of 100 to 250 kg (washing machines, safes)
- Does not require an accessible window or balcony
- Solution for special cases
Moving crane
- For very heavy items (500 kg and above): concert grand pianos, industrial safes
- Requires a special permit and ground survey
- Rarely used for residential moves
Furniture lift prices in Switzerland (2026)
Standard pricing
| Service | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Half-day (up to 4 hours) | 300 – 500 CHF |
| Full day (8 hours) | 500 – 800 CHF |
| Moving package (included in the quote) | 200 – 400 CHF (supplement) |
| Additional hour | 80 – 120 CHF/h |
| Travel (return trip) | 100 – 250 CHF |
Factors influencing the price
- Height: the higher the arm must reach, the higher the cost
- Duration of use: half-day vs full day
- Type of furniture lift: truck-mounted (more expensive) vs trailer (less expensive)
- Travel distance: transport costs for the equipment
- Accessibility: street width, obstacles (trees, cables, cafe terraces)
- Weekend or public holidays: +20 to 30%
- Combination with the move: preferential rates if the same provider handles everything
Furniture lift vs stairs comparison
| Criterion | Via stairs | With furniture lift |
|---|---|---|
| Cost (5th floor, 3 rooms) | +200-400 CHF in labour | +300-500 CHF for furniture lift |
| Time | 3-5h of carrying | 1-2h of loading/unloading |
| Risk of damage | High (knocks on stairs) | Low |
| Risk of injury | Significant | Minimal |
| Bulky items | Impossible for some | No limit (up to 400 kg) |
Conclusion: from the 3rd floor, a furniture lift is often more economical than carrying by stairs when you factor in extra labour time and the risk of breakage.
Step-by-step process
Before the job
- Technical visit or photos/videos of the facade to assess feasibility
- Check street width, obstacles, window/balcony access
- Apply for a permit from the municipality (5-15 working days’ lead time)
- Plan: which window or balcony to use, order of items
On the day
- Setup of the furniture lift: 15-30 minutes (positioning, stabilisers, securing)
- Loading items onto the platform one by one
- Raising to the floor, received by a team at the window
- Cycle repeated for each bulky item
- Takedown of the furniture lift: 15-20 minutes
Typical duration
- Studio: 30 minutes to 1 hour of furniture lift use
- 3 rooms: 1 to 2 hours
- 5 rooms and more: 2 to 4 hours
- Upright piano: 20-30 minutes
- Grand piano: 30-60 minutes (must be laid flat)
When to use a furniture lift
Typical situations
A furniture lift is necessary or strongly recommended in these cases:
- Upper floors without a lift: from the 3rd floor, a furniture lift is often faster and safer than stairs
- Undersized lift: many Swiss lifts cannot accommodate a sofa, wardrobe or mattress
- Spiral staircase: impossible to turn a long piece of furniture in a narrow staircase
- Bulky furniture: corner sofa, single-piece wardrobe, king-size bed
- Heavy items: piano, safe, gym equipment
- Large fragile items: wall mirror, glass table, display cabinet
- Historic buildings: old towns of Bern, Geneva, Basel, Zurich with their narrow passages
When you can do without
- Ground floor or 1st floor with a wide staircase
- Sufficiently large lift (interior dimensions > 200 x 100 cm)
- No particularly bulky or heavy furniture
- Level access or access ramp
Regulations and permits
Parking permit
The furniture lift requires a parking space in front of the building:
- Position: directly in front of the target window or balcony
- Area: approximately 3 x 8 metres for a truck-mounted furniture lift
- Clear height: no cables, tree branches or awnings in the deployment zone
- Stable ground: tarmac or concrete (not soft earth)
Municipal permit application
In Switzerland, using a furniture lift on public roads requires a municipal permit:
- Application: form to complete with the municipality or municipal police
- Lead time: submit the application 5 to 15 days before the planned date
- Cost: generally 50 to 200 CHF depending on the municipality
- Blue zone: neutralisation of parking spaces (indicated by temporary signs)
- No-parking order: the municipality can erect temporary no-parking signs
Important: in some cities (Geneva, Zurich, Basel), permit lead times can be longer. The professional mover usually handles this process.
Time restrictions
- Monday to Saturday: generally permitted from 7am to 8pm
- Sundays and public holidays: prohibited unless an exceptional exemption is obtained
- Some municipalities restrict use in pedestrian zones to off-peak hours
Technical checks
- The furniture lift must be technically inspected (certificate of conformity)
- The operator must be trained and certified
- Load weight must not exceed the rated capacity
- Weather conditions must be suitable (no strong wind > 50 km/h, no ice)
Tips and tricks
- Combine furniture lift and move with the same provider for a bundled rate and optimal coordination
- Prepare the furniture: disassemble what can be disassembled to reduce the size and weight of loads
- Clear the window/balcony: remove plants, blinds and objects that could get in the way
- Protect the frames: passing furniture through the window can damage the frames
- Have a backup plan: in bad weather, the furniture lift may be cancelled. Prepare an alternative (carrying by stairs, postponement)
- Check your windows: some windows do not open wide enough or are too narrow
Alternatives to a furniture lift
Carrying by stairs
The traditional method, suited to the following situations:
- Lower floors (1st-2nd) with a wide staircase
- Furniture that can be disassembled
- Very tight budget
On-site disassembly/reassembly
For furniture that is too large but can be taken apart:
- Wardrobes, bookcases, beds
- Our assembly/disassembly service can handle this
Mini crane (spider crane)
For very heavy loads in confined spaces:
- Industrial safes
- Professional machinery
- Hot tubs and jacuzzis
Combining furniture lift and move
The most efficient solution is to entrust the furniture lift to the same provider as the move:
- Perfect coordination between the team at the truck and the team on the floor
- Bundled rate more advantageous than hiring separately
- Single liability in the event of damage
- Simplified logistics: one point of contact
Request a quote including the furniture lift
Frequently asked questions
Questions fréquentes
Expect between 300 and 500 CHF for a half-day and 500 to 800 CHF for a full day, operator included. The price covers equipment transport, setup, use and takedown. Travel costs of 100 to 250 CHF are added depending on the distance. When included in a moving quote, the furniture lift supplement is generally 200 to 400 CHF.
Yes, a municipal permit is required whenever the furniture lift occupies public space (pavement, road, blue zone). The application must be made 5 to 15 days in advance with the municipality or municipal police. The cost ranges from 50 to 200 CHF depending on the municipality. Your professional mover usually handles this process.
Truck-mounted furniture lifts reach 20 to 30 metres, i.e. 6 to 9 floors. Trailer-mounted models reach up to 15 to 25 metres (5 to 7 floors). For higher floors, a crane may be needed. The effective height also depends on the distance between the truck and the facade: the further the truck is, the lower the arm can reach.
Use is inadvisable or prohibited in strong wind (above 50 km/h), ice or thunderstorms. Moderate rain does not generally pose a problem, but items should be protected (tarpaulins). In adverse weather conditions, the job can be postponed at no extra charge by most providers.
Standard capacity is 200 to 400 kg per platform for a conventional furniture lift. This is more than enough for a sofa (50-100 kg), a wardrobe (80-150 kg) or an upright piano (200-300 kg). For heavier loads, such as a grand piano (300-500 kg) or a safe, a crane or specialist equipment may be required.
Technically yes, some companies hire out the furniture lift with an operator but without a moving team. You must then handle loading and unloading the platform yourself. However, this option is rarely recommended as coordinating between the platform and the window requires trained personnel. The risk of damage and injury is higher.
Yes, but with additional constraints. The historic centres of Bern, Geneva, Basel and Zurich have narrow streets and limited access. A trailer-mounted furniture lift (more compact) is often preferred. Municipal permits may be more restrictive (limited hours, specific days). The mover carries out a preliminary technical visit to assess feasibility.