A passenger elevator is designed to move people between a building's floors. Passenger elevators can be used in hotels, motels, office buildings, apartment buildings, and condominiums.

A passenger elevator's capacity is related to the available floor space. Generally passenger elevators are available in capacities from 1,000 to 6,000 pounds in 500 lb increments.

Starting with low-rise requirements focusing on basic transportation needs at affordable costs, through mid-rise applications for the residential and commercial market segments, and finally on to the unique requirements of the high-rise segment .

Passenger elevators may be specialized for the service they perform, including: hospital emergency (Code blue), front and rear entrances, a television in high rise buildings, double decker, and other uses.