Escalators & Moving Walkways Market Size - By Product Type, By Building Height, By Business, End Use, Growth Forecast, 2025 - 2034

Escalators & Moving Walkways Market Size

The global escalators & moving walkways market size was valued at USD 18.2 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow from USD 19.1 billion in 2025 to USD 34.8 billion in 2034, at a CAGR of 6.9%.
 

• Mass urbanization is fueling huge investment in new infrastructure, especially in high-density cities. Governments and private developers are eager to take advantage of the prospect of expanding transport terminals like airports, metro and railway stations, and public buildings to meet increasing urban populations. In such a scenario, escalators and moving walkways play a crucial role in effective management of heavy pedestrian traffic, reducing congestion, and enhancing overall commuter convenience by offering quick and smooth vertical and horizontal travel.
   
• As per the Government of India Press Information Bureau, India's total investment in infrastructure has grown strongly, with private and public sectors' investments defining the trend. India's total infrastructure outlay has grown manifold, with budgetary expenditure going up to USD 119.2 billion in 2023-24.
   
• According to the US Department of Transportation, USD 1.8 billion in infrastructure grants were announced in 2024. Enormous public and private investment in transport infrastructure, metro rail developments, airports, smart cities, and office spaces is fueling a pervasive demand for effective vertical and horizontal movement solutions. With these developments focusing on contemporary, accessible, and high-capacity movement systems, escalators and walkways are becoming a part of India's changing urban infrastructure scenario.
   
• The steady rise in commercial property construction is one of the major forces behind escalators & moving walkways market growth. Shopping malls, office complexes, hotels, and convention centers more and more rely on escalators and moving walkways to provide convenient walking and transportation between levels. Not only are these amenities making the operation more streamlined and traffic more accessible, but they also assist in the modern appearance and functional layout of big commercial structures and thus are an essential amenity in such buildings.
   
• Increasing public sensitivity to safety, accessibility, and universal design is encouraging developers and urban planners to incorporate walkways and escalators in infrastructure development. With increasing populations of elderly and concerns for accessibility, these systems bring immense value to seniors, mobility-impaired people, and visitors with luggage or with strollers. Their capacity to minimize physical barriers improves the user’s experience in business and public space.
   
• Lifestyle changes and preference shifts towards the use of public transport are also propelling demand for moving walkways and escalators. Urban dwellers prefer public transport systems for daily commuting due to cost and environmental considerations. To enable this, public transport authorities are upgrading infrastructure with effective movement systems reducing waiting time and facilitating passenger movement, promoting increased use of public transport and ease of travel in congested city areas.
   
• Asia-Pacific is the largest market for moving walkways and escalators because of the massive investment in infrastructure, urbanization, and the large-scale development of the public transport network in countries like China, India, and Southeast Asia. The large-scale urban residential and commercial developments, along with government-backed smart city initiatives, continue to fuel high demand in the Asia-Pacific region.
   
• North America is the fastest-growing region, driven by the upgrading of current infrastructure, rising investments in airport and metro upgrades, and a robust pace towards energy-efficient and accessible building choices. The emphasis of the region in integrating technology and retrofitting current public buildings with mobility systems is driving market growth.
   

Escalators & Moving Walkways Market Trends

• One of the trends defining the escalators and moving walkways market is the adoption of smart technologies, with global initiatives toward increased digital footprints and smart cities underway. Smart technologies incorporate new IoT, AI, and cloud-based monitoring systems that allow escalators to do real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and energy optimization. As modern-day cities are being rebuilt and assigned intelligent transportation systems, smart technologies will peak because cities are demanding safer, efficient, and remotely monitored transportation systems.
   
• Energy efficiency and sustainability have since become a major focal point for new installations and retrofits. With construction activity across the globe increasing and environmental regulations being strict around the world, escalator manufacturers are shifting their focus toward advanced motor systems, standby modes, and lightweight materials that accomplish anywhere from 1 to 100 percent less energy and carbon emissions. The campaign for energy-conscious buildings and cost savings forecasts that this trend will continue to grow, to extend energy efficiency and green certification & and smart buildings.
   
• The escalators & moving walkways market is experiencing increasing demand for high-capacity systems, due to having higher foot traffic, passengers, and greater urban density, affecting design. These are Subject to being in urban transit areas, such as airports and shopping in major commercial areas, where escalators and walkways are constructed with a prominent level of durability and considered for a higher capacity to allow for greater movement when moving people in congested areas. As urban transit expands globally, this high-capacity trend will peak particularly in fast-developing regions like Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
   
• The escalators & moving walkways market is also expecting rising demand for retrofitting and modernization of current transportation or commercial building. Aging transportation and commercial buildings are under internal pressure to be upgraded to achieve appropriate safety and energy standards, and access for each age group in the population, and higher energy standards associated with sustainability. It became a significant trend because of urban renewal programs and smart city investments. These priorities, fiscal and design, are extending the asset lifecycle, as both public and private sectors prioritize cost-effective modernization over new buildings in mature markets.
   

Escalators & Moving Walkways Market Analysis

Based on the product type, the market is divided into escalators and moving walkways. In 2024, escalators dominated the market, generating revenue of USD 14.1 billion and expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% till 2034.
 

• Escalators represented the global market in 2024, both for their wide application and necessity in places of large integration. Unlike moving walkways, escalators are a requirement in major use environments. For example, shopping malls, offices, airports, metro stations, and other public infrastructure spanning multi levels simply cannot function without escalators. Ability to oversee high volume of people in spaces moving across height, escalators are fundamental to all commercial and transit-oriented developments, regardless of the urbanization trend as population density increases.
   
• The practical economic & technical aspects of an escalator's application to modern infrastructure programming are another major reason for looking so dominant. Escalators offer greater passenger capacity with a lower operational cost compared with moving walkways. Escalators are designed to fit within a tight footprint, which has with density comes opportunity for construction. Technically, escalators share an experience of developed technology, allow for standardized maintenance and duration of operation, and can lower both the price and risk for new developers and city planners.
   
• With increased infrastructure and real estate investment, especially in urban areas and in high-rise designs, escalators are highly favored, far above moving walkways. With cities being built vertically instead of horizontally, escalators hence fit better to serve vertical transportation needs of new buildings. Apart from that, installation of energy-efficient escalators in conjunction with smart building systems and green certification requirements increased, further solidifying their dominance as the preferred solution for future-ready infrastructure.
   

Based on end use, the escalators & moving walkways market is segmented into public transit, airports, retail, institutional, and others. In 2024, the public transit segment dominates the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2025 to 2034.
 

• The public transit segment dominates the escalators and moving walkways industry. This is because it responds to demand where high-volume passenger movement is the driving factor. Metro stations, subways, airports, and railway terminals are the transit hubs that deal with the most tremendous foot traffic, especially at peak hours, where escalators help avoid congestion and ensure commuters flow smoothly. While these systems are technically a convenience, they are fundamentally a necessary component of operations in fast-paced and high-density transportation.
   
• Public transit is leading the market, not just because of the volume of transit, but also considering immediate funding infrastructure at all levels of urban development and existing market and urbanization trends. With new developments springing from urbanization and cities being incentivized to embrace sustainable mobility, governments are investing in new metro lines, railway networks, and airport terminal upgrades. When existing infrastructure improves, there will invariably be a need for durable and dependable escalators and walkways to support vertical and horizontal movements within increasingly complicated transportation nodes.
   
• Many metros, subways, airport terminals, and railway stations are constructed underground or at a height, which often makes movement around a station awkward. Because of the nature of public transport and the limited mobility of the elderly, individuals with disabilities, or those with large suitcases, escalators and walkways can move large volumes of people. Whereas escalators or walkways are optional in retail or commercial applications, they are imperative to have in public transit for accessibility, safety and functionality.
   

Based on building height, the escalators & moving walkways market is segmented into low-rise, mid-rise, and high-rise. In 2024, the mid-rise segment dominates the market with 61% market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2025 to 2034.
 

• Mid-rise buildings provide the ideal balance between functional need and economic opportunity. Mid-rise buildings typically have four to twelve levels and are just enough to justify escalators and/or elevators for convenience. Accordingly, mid-rise buildings are not tall enough to create the construction, cost, and operational complexity of high-rise towers, which makes it important from both necessity and cost perspectives to install escalators in mid-rise buildings. This is especially true in cities where growth and urbanization are accelerating quickly.
   
• The mid-rise segment domination is specifically a function of the ongoing construction and urban planning trends and initiatives. They are increasingly the preferred building typology in sustainable urbanization and transit-oriented developments. Mid-rise buildings provide a practical option for developers creating mixed-use developments that combine residential, commercial, and public facilities without any of the vertical transportation infrastructure impacts and challenges of high-rise towers. This type of project also allows developers to standardize escalator configurations and use prefabricated components and simpler installation processes, which will improve further demand growth as these trends continue. This would occur through both new buildings and retrofits.
   
• Also, a fair number of commercial spaces such as shopping malls, office complexes, and hotels fall within the mid-rise category, thus creating enhanced demand for escalators and walkways. With urban centres trending towards medium-density growth, the mid-rise segment fulfils not only structural and spatial needs but also fits into the modern schemas of transportation integration and infrastructure development.
   

In terms of country, the United States led the North America escalators & moving walkways market with 79% revenue share and estimated USD 4.3 billion revenue in 2024, driven by urbanization and large-scale infrastructure development. Rapid growth in metro areas has led to prominent levels of investment in public transit, high-rise residential and commercial buildings, and modern transportation precincts.
 

Cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are investing in vertical mobility solutions to improve both the access and flow of people through their metro or rail stations. This strengthening trend in urban planning with vertical mobility solutions can be in part attributed to calls for smart, efficient, and green buildings with modern vertical transportation systems.
 

• Another major contributor is the expansion and modernization of transit systems and airport facilities. The U.S. has a robust public transportation system, many of which are decades old, and need to be modernized. Escalators and moving walkways have either been installed or will be replacing aging/discontinued models at metro stations, airport terminals, and railway transport hubs that are struggling with the volume of passengers. The expected rise in air travel, especially with more demand resulting from domestic leisure and international tourism, has led to increasing investment in airport facilities. This will contribute to the significant demand for, and eventually the replacement of, aging and inefficient people-movers and ships of passenger movement systems.
   
• Strict enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has made it necessary that accessibility features be constructed in public infrastructure and commercial buildings, creating a steady demand for escalators and moving walkways in new construction as well as in retrofitting. At the same time, the evolution of large-scale shopping malls, entertainment facilities, and mixed-use developments is compelling retail and commercial spaces to install these systems to improve customer experience and comply with accessibility standards.
   

The Europe escalators & moving walkways market was valued at USD 4.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% between 2025 and 2034.
 

• The rising CAGR can be attributed to many market facets, including the recent facility construction and modernization developments in major metropolitan flows of people. Most of the countries in Europe have put in a lot of development work on renewal, as the subway and public transport access systems are heavily dependent upon infrastructural adjustments of decades past. However, as cities have an awareness of their renewal projects, the increasing evidence of government-backed projects to renew transit means our economies will determine the outcome.
   
• Europe is witnessing a high investment in the construction of office and retail outlets, demand for escalators and moving walking infrastructures is rising. Shopping malls, office districts, and multi-use developments. Changes to footfall and accessibility standards are in high-demand scenarios to access open spaces while still maintaining a good user experience policy with escalators and moving walkways.
   
• Regulations and urban transportation are driving the demand for modern systems. With rapid urban growth and strict European Union rules on accessibility and safety, there is a strong push to upgrade and install new escalators. Replacing old systems with energy-efficient, smart technologies, such as those Otis has installed in several cities this shows Europe’s commitment to sustainable urban mobility overall. This mix of modernization, regulations, and business growth makes Europe’s escalator and walkway market one of the most developed and steadily growing in the world.
   

The Asia Pacific escalators & moving walkways market was valued at USD 5.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% between 2025 and 2034.
 

• The Asia Pacific escalators and moving walkways market are growing quickly with rapid urbanization and aggressive infrastructure development occurring in the major economies in the region. Increasing urban populations in China and India are creating a large demand for vertical mobility in commercial complexes, transit locations, and individual buildings to ensure efficient movement of these users.
   
• Government infrastructure programs with profitable funding and large-scale projects are also influential drivers of growth in industry, as projects are receiving funding in transportation networks, Smart City projects, and public utilities. This growth and development continue to move the construction of airports, metros, and commercial buildings, as escalators and moving walkways will be a vital component of those developments.
   
• Tourism, as well as commercial real estate, are both developing very quickly across this region, which is further stimulating the demand for installations in hotels, malls, and business centers. The combination of increased safety standards and modernization can make a compelling case that Asia Pacific is the most dynamic, high-growth region in the escalators and moving walkways market.
   

The Middle East and Africa escalators & moving walkways market was valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2024.
 

• The escalators and moving walkways market in the Middle East and Africa is growing organically, uplifted by widespread urbanization as well as government and private mega-infrastructure projects. The Gulf nations, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are experiencing a complete transformation of their urban landscapes, which includes not just tall buildings and skyscrapers, but also introducing modern building technologies and vertical mobility technologies into many new commercial, residential, and transport facilities.
   
• Government-supported mega projects that create futuristic cities and commercial developments support volume demand for escalators in shopping malls, hotels, and at metro stations, where volume capacities are extremely high.
   

Escalators & Moving Walkways Market Share

• The top 7 companies in the escalators & moving walkways industry are KONE Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, Schindler, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, TK Elevator, Hitachi Ltd, and Fujitec collectively hold a share of 25%-30% in the market.
   
• These companies continue to acquire and merge with others, expand facilities, and make various collaborations to increase their product offerings, access customer bases, and secure their market positions.
   
• KONE Corporation expands market share through large-scale modernization and infrastructure projects like its escalator replacement contract at McGhee Tyson Airport, Tennessee. In its approach to the customer, KONE highlighted its advanced escalator technologies, energy-efficient escalator systems, and smart maintenance systems, while developing expanded region service offerings to help secure longer-term contracts with its customers and maintain customer loyalty.
   
• Otis Elevator Company expands its market share through its global reach, emphasizing continued infrastructure modernization, particularly in aging transportation hubs and commercial spaces. Otis was able to link its business directly to many government infrastructure investments through its use of smart technologies and the continued compliance with accessibility and safety codes for building access and mobility programs. Otis provides the best of both new installation and retrofit projects.
   
• Schindler expands market share through acquiring strategic and longitudinal acquisitions, such as Haughton Elevator in the United States market. This improved its access to major regional markets. It supported adding new locations with a strong service presence and helped foster ties with localized modernization packages, while supporting customers in updating systems without displacing the customers. Schindler will consider itself a partner in maximizing the performance of existing SEP systems in a high-density urban environment.
   

Escalators & Moving Walkways Market Companies

Major players operating in the escalators & moving walkways industry are:
 

• Dazen Elevator
• Fujitec
• Hitachi
• Hyundai Elevator
• Johnson Lifts
• KLEEMANN
• KONE
• Mitsubishi Electric
• Otis Elevator
• Schindler
• Sicher Elevator
• Sigma Elevator
• Stannah
• TK Elevator
• Toshiba   
   

To improve the product and market share key players are constantly investing in technological activities and are also entering into partnerships to provide improved and better solutions for the customers. These investments are benefiting both companies and customers as they help develop and offer solutions as per the changing technological trends and thus the customer requirements.
 

Schindler Group is a company based in Switzerland specializing in elevators, escalators, and other related services. Schindler is active in over 100 countries and combines high-level engineering with a prominent level of commitment to customer service in order to provide full solutions for new work and to retrofit existing infrastructure.
 

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is one of the world's leaders in advanced technology with electrical and electronic equipment, including high-efficiency systems for escalators. An emphasis on energy-efficient systems, safety, and commendable design with precision engineering sets this company apart. Mitsubishi has a strong presence across Asia and is expanding heavily into other global markets.
 

Hitachi Ltd. has a significant share of the escalator and elevators market, primarily in Asia. Hitachi is recognized as a reliable and innovative manufacturer of high-capacity and durable escalator systems specifically tailored to transport hubs and commercial complexes, supported through extensive research and development capabilities, as well as engineering expertise.
 

Escalators & Moving Walkways Industry News

• In July 2025, Fujitec announced that it secured a contract to supply 26 elevators and escalators for the 60 Gracechurch Street office project in London, where it had its first double-deck elevator installation in the UK.
   
• In April 2025, Hitachi Ltd. announced its involvement in the CTBUH’s white paper Frontiers of Vertical Mobility, providing perspectives on optimizing building and elevator/escalator systems with IoT- and AI-driven systems as part of a smarter urban mobility framework
   
• In December 2024, Dazen reached an important milestone by installing six escalators and eight elevators at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. This upgrade helped improve passenger flow as part of a major airport modernization project.
   
• In December 2024, Fujitec’s “Big Step” escalator research and manufacturing facility in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, received the Factory Management Award at the 13th Good Factory Awards 2025, recognizing its excellence in quality and factory management.
   
• In November 2024, Hitachi Yungtay Elevator, a subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd. secured its largest contract to date in Taiwan, for the supply of 106 escalators and 41 elevators, across 13 stations (plus substation) of the Taipei MRT Wanda Zhonghe Shulin Line. All installations provide earthquake emergency features to support commuter safety.
   

The escalators & moving walkways market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue (USD Billion) and volume (Million Units) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

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Market, By Product Type

• Escalators 
• Parallel
• Multi-parallel
• Others (belt-type escalators, step type escalators, etc.)
• Moving walkways

Market, By Height

• Low-rise
• Mid-rise
• High-rise

Market, By Business

• New equipment
• Maintenance
• Modernization

Market, by End use

• Public transit
• Airports
• Retail
• Institutional
• Others (corporate, government buildings, etc.)

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea  
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina 
• MEA
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE