Touchless Elevator Systems Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032

The Touchless Elevator Systems Market size was estimated at USD 3.69 billion in 2025 and expected to reach USD 3.95 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 6.79% to reach USD 5.85 billion by 2032.

Touchless elevator systems represent a fundamental reimagining of conventional vertical transportation, eliminating physical interaction with controls through sophisticated sensor technologies. These advanced lift platforms leverage a blend of gesture recognition sensors, voice-activated interfaces, proximity detectors, and smartphone-based applications to facilitate entirely contactless operation and floor selection. By removing the need for riders to touch shared surfaces, these systems directly respond to heightened hygiene expectations in a post-pandemic environment, effectively reducing potential vectors for germ transmission, and elevating user confidence in communal spaces.

Beyond the health and safety advantages, the growing integration of touchless elevator technology is reshaping building design and operations. In high-traffic environments-such as modern office towers, medical campuses, hospitality venues, and multifamily residential complexes-adopting contactless interfaces aligns with broader smart building strategies. These systems can integrate seamlessly with building management platforms, enabling more efficient traffic flow, predictive maintenance, and real-time usage analytics. As aesthetic and functional modernization initiatives accelerate, touchless interfaces are becoming not just a hygienic necessity, but a hallmark of forward-looking property portfolios.

The transformational impact of touchless elevators is anchored in the surge of health-conscious design imperatives that arose during the global pandemic. Heightened hygiene awareness has driven demand for lift systems that minimize contact points, prompting rapid innovation in gesture recognition and voice-activated controls. These sensors now detect hand movements and natural language commands, enabling seamless elevator calls, destination selection, and floor navigation without any physical contact. At the same time, the advent of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics has elevated system responsiveness, allowing these elevators to anticipate peak traffic patterns and allocate cars dynamically to optimize wait times and energy consumption.

Concurrently, the integration of touchless interfaces is advancing alongside the broader evolution of smart cities and connected buildings. Internet of Things (IoT) platforms now link elevators to building management systems, facilitating real-time monitoring and remote diagnostics. This digital convergence supports cloud-based predictive maintenance-automating fault detection and scheduling service interventions before failures occur-and feeds operational data into facility-wide analytics engines. As urban centers densify and sustainability mandates intensify, these intelligent, contactless elevator solutions are emerging as critical enablers of safer, more efficient, and eco-friendly vertical mobility infrastructures.

In early 2025, the U.S. government enacted significant adjustments to Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, directly impacting the elevator industry’s component cost structure. On February 11, 2025, restored 25% tariffs on raw steel and aluminum were formalized to safeguard domestic production. This action was swiftly followed by a further increase to 50% on June 4, 2025, for products containing these metals, excluding those from the United Kingdom pending the U.S.–UK Economic Prosperity Deal.

Elevator manufacturers source critical components-such as rails, guide systems, cab frames, door mechanisms, and interior panels-predominantly from steel and aluminum. The doubling of tariff rates has elevated import costs for these materials and derivative products, amplifying production expenses across new installations and modernization projects. According to industry advisory analysis, the expanded coverage now includes structural steel components and related fixtures, driving up landed costs by an estimated $22.4 billion for primary materials and potentially $29 billion for derivative products in the United States once fully factored into supply chain pricing.

A nuanced segmentation lens reveals distinct adoption patterns and value propositions across the touchless elevator market’s varied dimensions. When evaluated by application, freight elevators prioritize robust proximity sensors and industrial-grade voice commands to streamline logistics flows, while hospital elevators emphasize sanitized cabin interfaces and seamless integration with facility management systems to support patient safety. Passenger elevators in high-rise commercial towers leverage dynamic destination dispatch with smartphone-enabled call-and-release functionalities to optimize throughput during peak periods, whereas residential elevator installations focus on intuitive gesture-based controls tailored to multi- and single-unit dwellings.

End-user segmentation further deepens the strategic outlook. Commercial environments-spanning hospitality venues, office complexes, and retail destinations-are investing in modular retrofit solutions to elevate tenant experiences. Healthcare facilities, including clinics and hospitals, deploy fully integrated contactless suites that coordinate elevator traffic with electronic medical records and critical asset movement. Industrial settings, encompassing manufacturing plants and mining sites, require ruggedized control technologies with fail-safe voice recognition for safety-critical operations. Residential markets bifurcate into multi-unit apartment towers adopting advanced destination management and single-unit homes seeking cost-effective proximity sensors.

Elevator type considerations show a growing preference for machine room-less systems in space-constrained retrofits, while hydraulic lifts find new life in low-rise applications where fluid-based drive control meets the demands for quiet, hygienic operation. Control technologies span gesture recognition modules and RFID readers in premium installations, smartphone integration using secure apps in mixed-use developments, and voice recognition systems for accessibility. Installation mode choices-either ground-up implementation in new builds or retrofit packages for legacy assets-enable portfolio-wide consistency. Finally, distribution channels balance authorized distributor networks and direct OEM sales with digital procurement portals, ensuring flexible delivery and support models tailored to each customer segment.

Regional market dynamics for touchless elevator solutions reveal divergent adoption patterns and growth trajectories. In the Americas, leading commercial hubs in North America and Latin America are retrofitting legacy high-rise and transit facilities with smartphone-enabled call solutions and voice-activated controls. Airports and mass transit stations in the U.S. and Canada have piloted holographic touchless buttons and app-based dispatch, while hospitality and healthcare sectors retrofit existing lifts to reassure hygiene-conscious travelers and patients.

Across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, premium office developments in Germany and the U.K. are integrating gesture-based landing panels and building management–connected elevator banks. Healthcare providers in France and the Gulf region have adopted UV air purification in cabins alongside touchless interfaces to meet stringent health regulations. In Africa, rapid urbanization has spurred new-installation projects where modular, machine room-less elevators with energy-recovery drives are equipped with QR-based call-and-release features to minimize contact points.

Asia-Pacific represents the fastest-growing adoption region, driven by smart city initiatives in China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia. Over 1.5 million touchless elevator button units were deployed in India’s urban centers in 2023, with major Chinese cities integrating AI-enhanced gesture controls into new residential and commercial podiums. Japan and South Korea are leading on voice-command standardization, embedding offline-capable modules to ensure uninterrupted service in high-density developments.

Industry titans are leveraging touchless innovations to differentiate their offerings and capture new market segments. Otis continues to advance with its Gen360 platform, featuring “drive by wire” electronic architectures that support 360° remote hoistway monitoring and predictive diagnostics. Paired with the Compass 360 dispatch management system and Otis ONE IoT service platform, these solutions reduce journey times by up to 50% and enable real-time performance optimization through AI-driven analytics.

Schindler has bolstered its machine room-less portfolio with the Schindler 5000 elevator-offering regenerative drives that slash energy consumption by 30% and cabin interiors enabled for Building IoT connectivity. Complementing this hardware innovation, the ElevateMe app empowers users to summon elevators and select destinations via smartphones, increasing sanitation and operational efficiency without physical contact.

KONE distinguishes itself with its cloud-based Elevator Call mobile solution and the Destination Solutions control system, which integrates with KONE Access and People Flow Intelligence platforms. These tools allow users to call elevators remotely, manage access rights, and optimize passenger grouping through dynamic algorithms, streamlining vertical traffic and enhancing security through app-based authentication.

Thyssenkrupp continues to expand MAX, its cloud-based predictive maintenance platform, across all new installations, while its touchless call and Elevator Pass solutions utilize QR codes to enable contactless operation without additional apps. These offerings demonstrate the company’s commitment to elevating hygiene standards and operational reliability through integrated digital services.

To thrive amid evolving hygiene standards and cost pressures, elevator manufacturers should accelerate investments in modular sensor platforms that support multi-modal touchless controls-encompassing gesture, voice, and smartphone interfaces-to address diverse building and user requirements. Collaborative partnerships with leading IoT and AI providers can enhance system latency and reliability, enabling predictive dispatch algorithms that reduce wait times and energy consumption, while scalable cloud-based architectures lower barriers for global deployment.

Supply chain resilience is paramount in light of recent tariff fluctuations. Industry players should diversify material sourcing by engaging domestic steel and aluminum producers, establishing regional fabrication facilities, and leveraging additive manufacturing for niche components to mitigate import duty exposure and logistical delays. Concurrently, adopting digital twin simulations of supply networks will allow proactive scenario planning and cost optimization across production and distribution networks.

Moreover, market entrants and incumbents alike must prioritize compliance with local safety regulations and interoperability standards to facilitate rapid market entry. Structured pilot programs in key verticals-such as healthcare and hospitality-will build reference cases that underscore ROI and operational benefits. Finally, embedding sustainability metrics into product design and service agreements, including energy recovery drive systems and lifecycle analytics, will resonate with both regulatory mandates and end-user ESG objectives.

This report employs a robust, mixed-methodology framework to ensure analytical rigor and data accuracy. Primary research involved in-depth interviews with senior executives from leading elevator OEMs, system integrators, facility management firms, and technology vendors, capturing firsthand perspectives on market drivers, adoption barriers, and technology roadmaps. Secondary research synthesized publicly available tariff advisories, regulatory filings, and industry association publications to contextualize the evolving trade environment and its implications for component procurement.

Quantitative data was triangulated through cross-referencing company annual reports, financial disclosures, and third-party analyses, ensuring consistency across multiple sources. The study leveraged proprietary databases to track historical tariff adjustments, component cost trends, and regional deployment figures. Careful validation steps included peer reviews by market analysts and iterative feedback loops with subject-matter experts to refine assumptions and highlight emerging themes. This comprehensive approach underpins the report’s strategic insights, delivering stakeholders a reliable foundation for decision-making.

In synthesizing the current landscape of touchless elevator systems, it becomes evident that the convergence of hygiene imperatives, digital integration, and regulatory dynamics is reshaping vertical mobility. The rapid deployment of gesture, voice, and smartphone-enabled controls has redefined passenger interactions, while smart building and IoT frameworks drive operational efficiencies and predictive maintenance capabilities.

At the same time, recent U.S. tariff escalations on steel and aluminum have introduced new cost variables, compelling stakeholders to revisit supply chain strategies and sourcing models. Regional analyses highlight disparate market maturity, with North America and Europe focused on retrofits in premium sectors, and Asia-Pacific leading greenfield installations under smart city initiatives.

Competitive insights underscore the importance of differentiated digital platforms, with leading companies integrating advanced analytics, cloud services, and application-based controls to capture market share. As the industry advances, embracing modular architectures, sustainability considerations, and local compliance will be critical success factors. These converging themes offer a cohesive outlook for manufacturers, integrators, and facility managers, guiding strategic planning in an increasingly contactless, connected world.

To explore this in-depth analysis and access all the critical insights on touchless elevator systems-from technological breakthroughs and tariff impacts to segmentation dynamics and competitive strategies-reach out to Ketan Rohom, Associate Director of Sales & Marketing. Engage in a conversation to tailor the research findings to your specific business needs and unlock bespoke recommendations. Secure your copy of the comprehensive market research report today and position your organization at the forefront of vertical mobility innovation.