Are Elevators Safer Than Stairs?
“Elevators safer than stairs.”
It’s a phrase many people hear after a shocking elevator accident makes the news.
In cities like New York City, we know that people travel between multiple levels dozens of times a day, so this belief is often questioned.
With so many residential elevators, office elevators, and public systems in use, one might wonder whether stairs might actually be the safer option.
However, when we examine labor statistics, injury reports in and out of office, and usage data, the evidence consistently shows that elevators are, in fact, safer than stairs, especially in residential and multi-story environments.
Let’s find out why.
Elevator Safety
As you know, modern residential elevators are designed with multiple layers of safety systems.
No matter if they’re installed in high-rise apartment buildings or as a home elevator in a private residence, these systems are regulated, inspected, and engineered to minimize risk.
According to national labor statistics, there are approximately 900,000 elevators operating in the United States, completing nearly 18 billion trips per year.
In New York City alone, estimates range from 58,000 to more than 75,000 elevators, accounting for
billions of trips annually.
Despite this massive volume of use, elevator injuries and fatalities remain extremely rare.
Elevator Risks
It might surprise you to learn that no one knows exactly how many elevators there are in New York City.
A 2008 article in the New Yorker suggested there are around 58,000 (providing about 30 million passenger trips each day, or about 11 billion trips each year).
In 2011, the editor of Elevator World Magazine estimated between 75,000 and 80,000 elevators (but this figure included the larger metropolitan area).
Nationwide, the statistics are just as imprecise, with the best accepted estimates assume around 900,000 elevators collectively making around 18 billion trips per year.
Despite these enormous numbers, the injuries and deaths attributed to elevators are very low: you’re about as likely to die from being struck by lightning.
In a typical year, elevator and escalator mishaps combined injure fewer than 18,000 people and cause only 25-30 deaths nationwide.
One-third of those deaths were to those installing or repairing an elevator. These numbers include those who fall down elevator shafts, whether or not the elevator is actually involved.
What Happens When Doors Open?
One of the most common fears involves elevator doors open scenarios: misleveling or doors opening when the cab is not perfectly aligned.
While these incidents do occur, modern sensors and braking systems are designed to prevent serious harm.
When elevator doors open, multiple safety mechanisms verify position, load, and speed before allowing passenger access.
What About Stairs?
Stairs feel safer because they are familiar. But injury data tells a very different story.
Stair Risks
Nationwide, specific data for stairs isn’t available. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks all reported injuries and the total number of falls resulting in injury in 2013 was over 8.7 million.
More than 30,000 deaths, mostly among the elderly and the very young, occur each year as a result of fall-related accidents.
The New York City Department of Health, including the Bronx and Brooklyn, also doesn’t specifically break out injuries and deaths due to accidents on stairs, but it does keep statistics for total falls.
More than 125,000 New Yorkers under age 65 are injured and 130 killed each year in some sort of fall. For those over age 65, at least 45,000 are injured and around 300 die from falls annually.
In some ways, this information proves the point.
If only 10% of these falls happens on stairs, then they’re just as dangerous as elevators.
But in some ways, we’re comparing apples and oranges.
Most people use stairs much more than they use elevators, for instance, and comparing the injury rates only begins to make sense if Americans use stairs 200 to 300 times for every one trip in an elevator.
Why Stairs Are Especially Dangerous
Stairs depend entirely on human balance, attention, and physical ability.
This creates higher risk, particularly for people with limited mobility, children, and older adults.
Some stair hazards are:
- Poor lighting
- Uneven steps
- Missing or broken railings
- Slippery surfaces
- Visual distractions or fatigue
For individuals with limited mobility, stairs can present daily challenges that significantly increase injury risk, especially in the workplace.
In contrast, residential elevators and home elevator systems offer a safer, more controlled way to move between floors.
Usage Rates: A Fair Comparison
Comparing stairs and elevators only makes sense when we consider how often each is used. The chart below summarizes why elevators tend to be safer than stairs on a per-use basis.
| Factor | Elevators | Stairs |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated annual uses (U.S.) | ~18 billion elevator trips per year | Hundreds of billions of stair uses (estimated) |
| Injuries per year | Fewer than 18,000 (including escalators) | Over 8.7 million fall-related injuries |
| Annual fatalities | 25–30 nationwide (many are workers) | Over 30,000 deaths from falls |
| Primary users injured | Maintenance workers more than passengers | General public, elderly, children |
| Risk per single use | Extremely low | Significantly higher |
| Environmental controls | Regulated, enclosed, mechanically controlled | Depends on lighting, surface, balance |
| Impact on limited mobility users | Safer and more accessible | Higher fall risk |
| Relative safety conclusion | Safer than stairs |
Higher injury risk |
Note: The key takeaway is that even after accounting for frequent stair use, elevators remain statistically safer on a per-use basis—especially in buildings with multiple levels.
Some argue that stair injuries are more common simply because people use stairs more frequently. However, even when adjusting for usage, elevators remain statistically safer.
For stairs to match elevator safety levels, Americans would need to use stairs 200–300 times more often than elevators per trip.
In dense urban areas and buildings with multiple levels, that ratio simply doesn’t reflect reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are elevators safer than stairs?
Yes.
Multiple studies and injury reports show that elevators are safer than stairs, especially when comparing injury rates per use.
Stairs account for millions of fall-related injuries each year, while elevator accidents remain rare despite billions of annual trips.
2. Why do stairs cause more injuries than elevators?
Stairs rely entirely on human balance and attention.
Poor lighting, uneven steps, wet surfaces, and missing handrails increase the risk of falls, particularly in buildings with multiple levels and high daily foot traffic.
3. Are residential elevators safe for daily use?
Modern residential elevators are highly regulated and designed with multiple safety systems, including sensors, brakes, and controlled door mechanisms.
When properly maintained, they are considered one of the safest ways to move between floors.
4. Are home elevators safer for people with limited mobility?
Yes. A home elevator significantly reduces fall risk for people with limited mobility, seniors, and individuals recovering from injury by eliminating the need to use stairs multiple times a day.
5. What should I do if I’m injured on stairs or in an elevator?
If you’re injured due to unsafe conditions, such as poor maintenance, broken railings, or malfunctioning elevator doors, you may have a premises liability claim.
It’s important to document the incident and consult a qualified personal injury attorney.
The Risks Are Real
Regardless of any other consideration, the risks are real. Accidents can happen at any time, and people are injured every day in the most mundane ways.
Most accidents, however, are preventable. Elevator accidents are usually the result of poor maintenance.
Slip-and-fall accidents are often due to negligence: a slick spill has not been cleaned up, a stairway has been poorly maintained, or a broken railing has not been repaired.
If you or someone close to you has been injured on either an elevator or a staircase, or in any other way while on another’s property, you may be able to hold the property owner accountable for allowing unsafe conditions to develop.
At Greenstein & Pittari, we understand personal injury and premises liability law, and we have specific experience with elevator accidents and slip-and-fall cases.
Give us a call at 800-842-8462 for a free consultation. We’ll discuss your case and help you understand the options open to you.
You can also contact us online, or use the LiveChat application on our website to have your basic questions answered at any time.