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Elevator Hoistway Shaft Sizing Calculator

Calculate the required hoistway plan dimensions from the elevator car size and manufacturer clearance allowances.

  • Answers as you type
  • Every formula cited
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SettingsSettings for this calculationUS
Market
Imperial · sales tax
The manufactured width of the elevator car interior.

Use the car's overall width from the manufacturer's spec sheet.

The manufactured depth of the elevator car interior.

Use the car's overall depth from the manufacturer's spec sheet.

Extra clearance the manufacturer's shaft layout adds to the car width for guide rails and running clearance.

This value comes from the specific elevator model and capacity's shaft layout drawing, per ASME A17.1 — it is not a fixed constant.

Extra clearance the manufacturer's shaft layout adds to the car depth for guide rails, counterweight, and running clearance.

This value comes from the specific elevator model and capacity's shaft layout drawing, per ASME A17.1 — it is not a fixed constant.

Required hoistway plan area

35.9 sq ft

Medium confidence

Hoistway clearances are always model- and capacity-specific per the elevator manufacturer's shaft layout drawing and ASME A17.1 — this calculator applies whatever clearance values you supply, it does not determine the correct clearance for your specific elevator.

Hoistway width
5.98 ft
Hoistway depth
6 ft
Then change the inputs to see how far the answer moves.

Show calculation logic

How this was calculated

Formula source(s)

  • Hoistway width = Car Width + Additional Width Clearance; Hoistway depth = Car Depth + Additional Depth Clearance — hoistway clearances (for guide rails, counterweight assembly, and running clearance) are always specified by the elevator manufacturer for the specific model and capacity, per ASME A17.1; this calculator applies the clearance allowances you supply from the manufacturer's shaft layout drawing, not an assumed value.

Inputs used

Elevator Car Width
5 ft
Elevator Car Depth
4.5 ft
Additional Width Clearance (per Manufacturer's Shaft Layout)
11.75 in
Additional Depth Clearance (per Manufacturer's Shaft Layout)
1.5 ft

Intermediate steps

Hoistway width
5.98 ft
Hoistway depth
6 ft
Final result35.88 sq ft

Confidence note: Hoistway clearances are always model- and capacity-specific per the elevator manufacturer's shaft layout drawing and ASME A17.1 — this calculator applies whatever clearance values you supply, it does not determine the correct clearance for your specific elevator.

What this calculation does not cover

  • The dimensions are clear inside dimensions between finished shaft faces, held plumb for the full rise. Parging, block tolerance and a shaft that drifts out of plumb over ten floors all come off the inside, and installers work to a tight plumb tolerance over the run. A shaft laid out to a rough or gridline dimension arrives undersized where it matters, and the fix is chipping concrete.
  • Says nothing about whether the car itself is legal. Minimum inside car dimensions for an accessible passenger elevator come from accessibility rules, not from the shaft, so a car sized to fit the space that happened to be left can pass this arithmetic and fail plan review.
5 ft
Schematic, drawn to the proportions you entered — not to scale on screen.

Computed in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Presented in US customary units and US trade terminology. Where a formula follows a published standard, that standard and its edition are cited beside it on this page; where none governs, the page says so. Local amendments override model codes — verify against the code in force where you build.

Sources checked 2026-09-06 · in the site-wide review of 2026-09-06 · v1.0.1

Regulatory standards & verification citations1
  1. Hoistway width = Car Width + Additional Width Clearance; Hoistway depth = Car Depth + Additional Depth Clearance — hoistway clearances (for guide rails, counterweight assembly, and running clearance) are always specified by the elevator manufacturer for the specific model and capacity, per ASME A17.1; this calculator applies the clearance allowances you supply from the manufacturer's shaft layout drawing, not an assumed value.
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How to calculate elevator hoistway shaft sizing in 5 steps

  1. Elevator Car WidthThe manufactured width of the elevator car interior.
  2. Elevator Car DepthThe manufactured depth of the elevator car interior.
  3. Additional Width Clearance (per Manufacturer's Shaft Layout)Extra clearance the manufacturer's shaft layout adds to the car width for guide rails and running clearance.
  4. Additional Depth Clearance (per Manufacturer's Shaft Layout)Extra clearance the manufacturer's shaft layout adds to the car depth for guide rails, counterweight, and running clearance.
  5. Required hoistway plan areaThe tool computes the required hoistway plan area from those figures and shows the formula, its sources, and a confidence rating alongside it.

Frequently asked questions

Where do the clearance values come from?
From the specific elevator manufacturer's shaft layout drawing for that model and capacity, per ASME A17.1 — clearances allow for guide rails, the counterweight assembly, and running clearance, and are never a single fixed value across all elevators.
Can I use a generic clearance value if I don't have the manufacturer's drawing yet?
Only for very early, rough planning. The final hoistway dimensions must come from the actual selected elevator's certified shaft layout drawing before construction documents are finalized.
Does hoistway area account for the pit or overhead height?
No — this calculates only the plan (width x depth) area of the hoistway. Pit depth and overhead (headroom) height are separate dimensions also specified in the manufacturer's shaft layout drawing.
Preliminary estimate, not certified engineering. This tool produces an indicative quantity calculation for planning purposes only — it is not a certified structural analysis, a guaranteed material takeoff, or a substitute for building department approval. Always verify measurements on-site and have a licensed contractor or structural engineer review any load-bearing, code-sensitive, or safety-critical work before purchasing materials or starting construction. Spotted an arithmetic or standards error? Report it to contact@craftquantities.com with your inputs — a confirmed fix gets a permanent check of its own, so the same mistake cannot come back.