A helical screw lift system for an elevator includes a rigid vertical frame having at least one rigid vertical rail; and a single elongate helical screw having an inclined helical flight. The screw is rotatably vertically mounted to the frame at opposite ends of the screw. A motor mounted to the frame rotates the screw. A carriage is mounted to the vertical rail for vertical translation. An elevator platform is mounted to the carriage. Four wheels are rigidly mounted cantilevered from the carriage. The wheels engage and bear down on the helical flight of the screw for rolling translation therealong when the screw is rotated about its longitudinal axis so as to raise or lower the elevator platform.