Elevator Stuck Between Floors: What to Do, Why It Happens and How to Fix It

If you are in an elevator stuck between floors, stay inside the car, press the alarm or emergency call button, and wait for trained help. Do not pry the doors open or try to climb out. The car is held by multiple safety systems, and the most dangerous thing you can do is leave it on your own.

This page covers exactly what to do if you are trapped or if someone else is, why elevators stop between floors, what building managers should do next, and how to keep it from happening again. It applies to commercial, apartment, freight and home elevators.

Elevator Stuck Between Floors: What to Do If You Are Inside

Being stuck is uncomfortable, but it is rarely dangerous if you stay put. Follow these steps in order.

1. Take a breath and stay calm. The car is not going to fall. Elevators have brakes, mechanical safeties and, on hydraulic units, valves that hold the car in place.
2. Press the door open button once. Sometimes the car is close enough to a landing that the doors will open normally. If they do not, move on.
3. Use the emergency phone or alarm button. Most elevators have a two-way phone that connects to a monitoring center or the building. Give the building address, the elevator number if posted, how many people are inside and whether anyone needs medical help.
4. Call for help on your own phone if you have signal. Call building management or security. Call 911 if anyone is injured, having a medical issue, if there is smoke or fire, or if the car is very hot.
5. Do not pry the doors or climb out. More serious injuries happen during self-rescue than during the entrapment itself.
6. Get comfortable and wait. Sit down if you can. Conserve phone battery. Talk to others in the car.
7. Follow responders’ instructions exactly. They will tell you when and how to step out.

If the car is hot

In hot climates or during a summer power outage, a stalled car can heat up quickly because ventilation fans may stop. Loosen tight clothing, sit low where the air is cooler, drink water if you have it, and tell the emergency operator about the heat. Heat exhaustion is a medical emergency. If anyone feels dizzy, confused or stops sweating, say so clearly and call 911.

How to open elevator door stuck between floors (and why you should not)

People often search for how to open elevator door stuck between floors. The short answer is: don’t. When a car is between landings, opening the doors can expose a gap down into the hoistway. People have fallen through that gap while trying to climb out. The car can also move if the problem clears or a technician resets it.

Firefighters and elevator mechanics are trained to lock out power, confirm where the car is, and either move it to a landing or open doors safely. Leave that to them.

If Someone Else Is Trapped

• Call the elevator company or building management first if no one is hurt. Most buildings post an emergency number in the lobby or machine room.
• Call 911 if there is a medical issue, fire, smoke, extreme heat or you cannot reach anyone responsible for the building.
• Talk to the people inside. Let them know help is coming and roughly how long it may take.
• Do not attempt a rescue. Do not use keys, tools or force on the hoistway doors. Only trained personnel should do that.
• Meet responders at the entrance and tell them which elevator and floor are involved.

Building Manager Checklist

If you manage the property, your job is to get the right people moving and keep a record.

1. Confirm the location of the car and how many people are inside.
2. Call your elevator contractor’s emergency line. Call 911 for any medical issue, fire or heat danger.
3. Keep someone in voice contact with the passengers.
4. Do not reset breakers repeatedly or try to move the car yourself unless you are trained and authorized.
5. Place the elevator out of service after the rescue until a mechanic inspects it.
6. Write an incident report: time, duration, number of people, cause given by the technician, and any injuries.
7. Follow up on the repair and any report your state elevator program requires.

Why Do Elevators Get Stuck Between Floors?

Elevators are designed to stop and hold when something does not look right. That is a feature, not a flaw. So what causes an elevator to get stuck between floors? Most cases trace back to one of the causes below.

Cause	What happens	Typical fix
Power loss	Car stops wherever it is when power drops	Restore power, battery lowering device brings car down
Door lock or interlock fault	Controller cannot prove all doors are closed and locked, so it stops the car	Adjust or replace interlock, clean door tracks
Safety circuit trip	A limit switch, pit switch or governor switch opens the circuit	Find and correct the tripped device, then reset
Leveling or hydraulic issues	Valve, low oil or pressure problems stop a hydraulic car short	Valve adjustment, oil, seal or pump repair
Overload	Too much weight triggers a load-weighing device	Remove load; check load sensor
Controller faults	Failed board, relay, encoder or drive error	Diagnose fault codes, replace part
Flooding in the pit	Water shorts components or trips pit switches	Pump out pit, dry and test equipment

Elevator not working after power outage

After a blackout, many elevators come back on their own once power returns. Others stay down because the controller logged a fault, a breaker tripped, or a battery-powered rescue device lowered the car and parked it. An elevator not working after power outage usually needs a technician to check it and reset it safely. Do not let anyone flip breakers repeatedly hoping it restarts.

Elevator not working in apartment building

In a mid-rise apartment building with a traction unit, a car stuck out of service for days usually points to a parts delay or a larger repair. If the elevator is not working in your apartment building, report it in writing to the landlord or management and keep a copy. Many local housing codes treat a working elevator as a required service, and residents with mobility needs may be entitled to reasonable accommodation while it is out.

Elevator door sensor not working

A failed light curtain or door edge can make doors bounce open and closed, or refuse to close at all. A car can also stop at a floor that is slightly off level. An elevator door sensor not working is a common callback and usually a quick fix, but it should be done by a technician because it is part of the door safety system.

Elevator emergency button not working

If the elevator emergency button is not working or the phone gives no answer, that is a code problem and a safety problem. Use your own phone to call for help, and make sure management reports and repairs the phone right away. Many older lines were analog and stopped working when telephone service changed. Test the emergency phone regularly.

Home Elevator Stuck Between Floors

A home elevator stuck between floors is common after a power outage. Picture a townhouse with a three-stop home elevator: the power drops, the car stops halfway between the first and second floors, and someone is inside.

• Most residential elevators have battery backup that lowers the car to the next floor below and opens the gate when power fails. If it works, wait for the car to finish moving.
• Check the owner’s manual. Some models have a manual lowering valve or hand crank that the homeowner is allowed to use. Follow the manufacturer’s steps exactly and only if the manual permits it.
• If nothing in the manual applies, call the installer or service company. For any medical issue or heat danger, call 911.

Do not try to reset an elevator stuck between floors by cycling breakers or forcing a gate. A residential elevator stuck between floors needs a technician to find out why it stopped, and a dead backup battery is often part of the problem.

Freight Elevator Stuck Between Floors

A freight elevator stuck between floors often has a door or gate issue. Freight doors take more abuse from carts and forklifts, and bent tracks or a damaged gate switch can stop the car. Do not let workers climb from the car platform to a landing. Lock out the elevator, call the contractor, and only move the load after a mechanic has inspected it.

Is Being Stuck in an Elevator Dangerous?

Elevators do not free-fall in normal service. Traction elevators have several hoist ropes, each able to hold the car on its own, plus a brake on the machine. A speed governor triggers mechanical safeties that clamp onto the guide rails if the car ever overspeeds. Hydraulic elevators use check valves and rupture valves to stop uncontrolled descent.

These systems are required by ASME A17.1 / CSA B44, the safety code for elevators and escalators adopted by most US states. Platform lifts and stair lifts fall under ASME A18.1.

Real risk comes from leaving the car without help, medical problems that are not reported, and heat. Stay put and you are very likely to walk out fine.

Is elevator repair dangerous?

Yes. Is elevator repair dangerous for untrained people? Very. Elevator mechanics work with high voltage, moving equipment and open hoistways, and they follow lockout procedures and fall protection rules. That is why repairs and rescues are left to licensed mechanics and fire departments.

After the Incident: Inspection and Repair

Once everyone is out, the elevator should stay out of service until a licensed mechanic finds and corrects the cause. For emergency elevator repair, expect after-hours rates. See our guide on elevator repair cost for typical ranges.

Depending on the cause and your state, the incident may need to be reported to the state elevator program. In Texas, that is TDLR. Inspections are done by QEI-certified inspectors, and many belong to NAESA. Keep the technician’s ticket with your incident report.

How to Prevent Entrapments

• Keep a maintenance contract. Regular service catches worn door parts, weak batteries and valve problems before they strand someone.
• Install or test battery lowering devices. These bring the car to a floor during power loss so riders can step out.
• Test the emergency phone line monthly. Confirm it reaches a live person who knows your building address.
• Keep pits dry and sills clean. Water and debris are behind many avoidable shutdowns.
• Post weight limits and enforce them, especially on freight and service cars.
• Plan modernization for aging controllers. A 1990s three-stop hydraulic in a medical office with obsolete controls is a strong candidate.

Tenant Rights and Accessibility

If you rent and the elevator keeps failing, report every outage in writing to your landlord and keep dates. Local housing codes often require elevators to be maintained in working order. In public buildings and places of business, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires accessible routes, so long outages should be repaired promptly. Your local housing authority can explain specific rights where you live.

Find Elevator Repair Near You

If your elevator has stranded someone or keeps stopping between floors, find a licensed company that offers 24/7 emergency response and services your equipment brand. Repairior lists elevator repair businesses with reviews so you can compare quickly.

Browse elevator repair companies · Get free quotes · Find 24/7 emergency elevator repair · Learn about elevator repair services

Elevator Stuck Between Floors: FAQs

What should you do if your elevator is stuck between floors?

Stay inside, press the alarm or emergency phone button, and wait for trained help. Call 911 if anyone has a medical problem, if there is smoke, or if the car is dangerously hot. Never pry the doors or climb out.

Can an elevator fall if it gets stuck?

Free-fall is extremely unlikely. Traction elevators have multiple ropes, a brake and mechanical safeties controlled by a governor. Hydraulic elevators have valves that prevent uncontrolled descent.

How long does it take to get rescued from an elevator?

It varies by building and time of day. Many rescues take 30 minutes to an hour. Fire departments usually respond faster when there is a medical emergency or heat risk.

Why do elevators get stuck between floors?

Common causes are power loss, door lock or interlock faults, safety circuit trips, hydraulic or leveling problems, overload, controller faults and water in the pit.

Can you reset an elevator stuck between floors yourself?

Not safely, unless the owner’s manual of a home elevator gives specific steps. Commercial elevators should be reset only by a licensed mechanic after the cause is found.

What should I do with a home elevator stuck between floors after a power outage?

Wait for the battery backup to lower the car. If it does not, follow only the manual lowering steps in the owner’s manual. Otherwise call the installer, or 911 for any medical or heat danger.

Who is responsible when an elevator in an apartment building is not working?

The building owner or landlord is generally responsible for maintenance and repair. Report the outage in writing and keep copies.

Related Elevator Guides

• Elevator repair cost: hourly rates and common repairs
• Emergency elevator repair (Houston example)
• Residential elevator repair (Houston example)
• Commercial elevator repair (Houston example)
• Elevator maintenance providers (Houston example)

Final Thoughts

Getting stuck between floors is stressful, but the steps are simple: stay inside, call for help, report any medical or heat issue, and wait for professionals. The safety systems that stopped the car are also the ones keeping you safe.

For owners and managers, the real work starts after the rescue. Find the cause, fix it properly, and keep up with maintenance so it does not happen again.

About This Guide

Editorial policy: This guide gives general safety information for elevator passengers, building managers and homeowners. It follows the principles in ASME A17.1 / CSA B44 and standard fire department guidance. It is not a substitute for instructions from emergency responders or your elevator’s manufacturer.

Transparency: Repairior is a directory of repair businesses. Companies may appear in our listings, but no business paid to be mentioned in this article, and we do not test or rank companies through hands-on service.

About the author: Repairior Editorial Team. We write practical guides on home and building repair, with a focus on clear pricing and safety information.