Best Stairlifts
Based on In-Depth Reviews

Best for Curved Staircases

Stannah Stairlifts offers four different chair models for straight and curved staircases. Three of these--the Starla, the Siena, and the Sadler--are also fit for use on curved stairways. Stannah offers a free home survey to determine which chair model best fits your staircase, as well as to measure the exact dimensions for the customized frame needed for curved stairlifts. Because curved staircases require customized railways, the prices for this equipment will always be higher compared to straight stairlifts. Still, Stannah has some of the most competitive prices in the category, ranging from $8,500 to $14,000 dollars. Additionally, stairlifts come with an extended 10-year warranty on the motor, gearbox, and rail, which is one of the most generous guarantees offered by any lift manufacturer. 

Screenshot of https://www.stannah-stairlifts.com/ 1/20/2020

Made to Fit

Contrary to straight stairlifts, which only need to factor for stair width and length, curved staircases vary greatly and require tailored construction. From spiral to half-pace stairs, Stannah builds curved stairlifts using exact measurements to create a custom fit rail. Trained professionals make sure that the rail will safely guide the chair upstairs, while reducing as much as possible the lift’s footprint on the staircase. 

Stannah offers various options for chair color, finish, and shape, as well as custom automated functions to fit the rider’s mobility. For example, the Sadler model is designed to give those with limited flexibility a semi-standing posture. The stairlift fits well on narrow staircases and the chair can be adjusted for height. An immobilizer seat belt makes sure the rider is properly fastened to the seat before the chair can be operated. 

Professional Installation

Stairlifts require precise mounting to operate correctly. To this purpose, Stannah offers free quotes with no obligation or cost to you. They will determine which stairlift model best fits your staircase. The quoted price will include the professional installation cost, as well as an extended warranty that covers ten years on the motor, gearbox, and rail. Stannah has warehouses on both coasts offering national service through a network of authorized dealers.

Best Straight Stairlift

Handicare specializes in mobility products. They manufacture a great variety of stairlifts for straight and curved staircases, for both indoor and outdoor use. Additionally, they provide free in-home estimates and offer a visualization application to let you see how the finished product will look once installed. Prices for straight stairlifts go from $2,500 to $5,000, depending on the model and additional features you select. Handicare has showrooms and authorized sales and service dealers all across the US and Canada. For indoor stairlifts, they provide original buyers with a two-year warranty on materials and workmanship and a ten-year warranty on the motor and gearbox. 

Basic Features and Models

Handicare offers seven different stairlift chair options, including five straight models: 950, 950+, 1000, 1100, and Xclusive. All of these models come with basic features which include fold-up seats, footrests, and armrests to minimize space when not in use. Chairs are equipped with a manual swivel lever and adjustable height seats. They also have built-in safety sensors to halt the lift if any obstruction is detected. For additional safety, every model has a manual emergency stop switch. 

Screenshot of https://www.handicareusa.com 1/20/2020

All stairlift models come with two remote controls to retrieve the chair. Armrests are equipped with a key switch to restrict unauthorized use of the equipment. Finally, all the chair options are either battery-operated or have a back-up battery, with continuous or multi point charging functions, which guarantees your unit will keep working even during a power outage.

Powered Options

For the most, differences between the models are based on extra comfort features and customizable options. Most Handicare chair models offer the possibility of adding a power swivel chair to rotate the chair away from the steps. This helps the rider disembark directly into the landing area, not on the staircase. Specific models include options such as slide or power hinged tracks to keep the bottom of the staircase clear when the lift is not in use. 

Handicare also offers customization options to accommodate larger riders. An XXL upgrade is available on the 1000 model, which pushes the weight capacity from 350 to up to 440lbs. Additionally, you may request to have a body harness installed on the chair. This will provide extra support and stability when riding. A power footrest can be installed that will fold up at the touch of a button. This feature can be of great help for those who have difficulty bending by reducing effort and the potential of the footrest becoming a tripping hazard.  

Best for Specialized Lift Products

Harmar offers six stairlift models, both straight and curved, for indoors and outdoors. Harmar manufactures a great variety of mobility products as well, including vehicle, inclined, and vertical lifts. Of all the stairlifts in their catalog, the SL600HD Pinnacle Heavy Duty Stair Lift particularly stand outs for being an industry-best product in the area of weight capacity. This stairlift is able to transport up to 600lbs. This is the maximum weight handled by any stairlift equipment, except for vertical and inclined lifts.

Screenshot of https://harmar.com/ 1/20/20

Vehicle Lifts

Harmar manufactures not only stairlifts, but well over thirty different types of vehicle lifts, which include hoists, inside, outside, and hybrid car lifts. They’ve developed lifts to accommodate and pair every possible wheelchair, electric scooter, or mobility device, with a large variety of vehicles. On their help and resources section, they detail the various vehicle mobility reimbursement programs that are available to assist consumers with the expense of installing adaptive equipment for drivers and passengers with physical disabilities.  

Cargo Lift Products

Carrying heavy items up and down stairs can be very painful, especially when a person suffers from bone, joint, or other weakening conditions such as arthritis or bursitis. Harmar offers an incline cargo lift with a 350lb capacity. It allows users to transport groceries, oxygen tanks, or other heavy items up and down stairs without struggle. If your house is designed to fit a dumbwaiter, Harmar also offers a single track version that runs a 100lb-capacity cargo lift on a track instead of on a system of pulleys. 

Best for Individual Customization

AmeriGlide offers the largest variety of stairlifts of any of the dealers and manufacturers we’ve reviewed. Stairlifts are organized in various categories including straight, curved, outdoor, heavy duty, commercial, certified-used, and factory-reconditioned. In contrast to most services, AmeriGlide provides incredibly detailed information on costs, tech specs, delivery and installation. 

Screenshot of https://www.ameriglide.com/ of 1/20/20

AmeriGlide offers a wide array of options on each model that includes seat colors, seat size, and preferences for control location on either arm. They offer power hinged rails, flip-up armrest or seats, and features such as key locks and grocery baskets. They detail every additional expense related to specific aspects of the installation and the price of each customizable feature available on each model. This allows you to get a precise idea of the cost of building a stairlift that’s uniquely yours. 

DIY

If you wish to take on the project of installing the stairlift yourself, this is without a doubt the best company to buy from. AmeriGlide is one of the very few stairlift companies that allow you to buy directly online. The AmeriGlide website provides an astounding amount of detail, not only on costs but on every technical aspect of each stairlift model. You can use the online resources to precisely measure the space in which the track and chair will run to make sure that the stairlift model specs fit your staircase. However, if you’re installing a curved stairlift, AmeriGlide strongly suggests you have a professional take measurements and complete the installation.

Installation Services

AmeriGlide coordinates installation services in every state except Oregon. If you require assistance in measuring the staircase space, or if you need to remove and dispose of old equipment, AmeriGlide can provide these as paid services. Installations can be performed on concrete, steel, or tile stairs, and they can work on remote or limited access locations. Finally, if your state requires a construction license, permit or inspection, the company can request and process the required documents.  

Best Wheelchair Lifts

Savaria offers a comprehensive array of vertical platforms and inclined wheelchair lifts for both residential and commercial spaces. Vertical platforms are meant for spaces without a staircase, while inclined lifts are fitted in the same way that straight and curved stairlifts are. The difference between stairlifts and wheelchair lifts is that stairlifts require the rider to leave their vehicle to board the chair, while wheelchair lifts are designed to carry the rider along with its wheelchair or scooter. Savaria’s wheelchair lifts can fit straight, curved and outside staircases for one or multilevel environments, providing products for every kind of inside and outside space. 

Screenshot of https://www.savaria.com 1/20/20

Vertical Platform Lifts

There are four vertical platform models in Savaria’s catalog. The Multilift is a low-rise, inside or outside platform meant for short-rise staircases. This model includes a mobile version which can be relocated if needed. If you require a lift that works for more than one floor, the V-1504 can carry a wheelchair and a passenger through various levels. If you need a larger haul capacity, the Prolift Heavy Duty can lift up to 1400 lbs.  Finally, the M2 model works in outside environments of up to 75” in rise. This vertical platform is built with rust-resistant aluminum and it’s meant to withstand the cold, as well as coastal climates. 

Inclined Platform Lifts

Savaria offers two different inclined platform models: the Savaria Delta and Savaria Omega. The Delta model is suited for home or commercial use on straight single flight of stairs. The ADA compliant platform has a capacity of 550 lb but can be custom made to carry up to 660. The Omega model has the same weight limit and can also be used on residential or commercial environments. Both lifts are equipped with foldaway platforms to store the landing when the unit is not in use and have backup batteries in case of power outages. The main difference between the two is that the Omega is designed to carry riders through multiple levels, stairs with intermediate landings, and turns or spirals. The feature that ultimately made us favor Savaria over other inclined lifts is the fact that the Omega inclined platform can be installed both indoors and outdoors. 

Best Stairlift Rental

101 Mobility is an authorized dealer for a variety of leading stairlift manufacturers including Bruno, Handicare, Harmar, and Savaria. Their stairlifts offer eleven straight lift models, six curved models and six outdoor models, providing a wide variety of features and options to accommodate different mobility needs. 101 Mobility is the only service that passed our review criteria to include a rental option for vertical platform lifts.

Why Rent?

101 Mobility has many of the most sought-after models from leading brands. This gives you a variety of well-tested products from which to choose. Some of the best products we’ve reviewed for straight and curved stairlifts are also available through them. Most people looking for a stairlift will require permanent mobility assistance. In the long run, they will be better served by buying the equipment directly through the manufacturer’s network of installation and service providers. However, if you require a stairlift just for a limited time, 101 Mobility will be able to provide you with both the equipment and service.

Screenshot of https://101mobility.com/ 1/20/20

ADA Compliance

101 Mobility offers a variety of products that are ADA-compliant. The Americans with Disabilities Act lays out rules and regulations to make sure that public and commercial spaces are accessible to people with mobility issues. Good construction practices from 2012 onward, have evolved to comply with these regulations. But many older buildings are still not ADA-compliant. If you are renting a residential or commercial space, 101 Mobility can solve access issues by installing a stairlift or vertical platform to provide access to the facilities. The company can also set up stairlifts at temporary locations and for special events.