Stannah vs Handicare: Which Stairlift Brand is Right for You?
Stannah and Handicare represent two different philosophies. Stannah is the heritage brand with the deepest service network in the UK; Handicare is the engineering specialist, owned by global accessibility company Savaria, with the slimmest rail and highest weight capacity on the market. This comparison uses the same five-dimension framework we apply to every review, with all claims checked against current manufacturer data.
The Quick Summary
Choose Stannah if aftercare responsiveness and long-term reliability matter most, and you want the reassurance of the UK's biggest engineer network.
Choose Handicare if you have a narrow staircase, need a higher weight capacity, or want strong engineering at a slightly lower price.
The Staircase Question: Rail Width and Capacity
This is where Handicare has a genuine, measurable advantage. The Handicare 1100 has the slimmest rail on the UK market, which leaves more of your staircase width free — a real benefit on narrow stairs or where other household members still need to use the steps. Handicare also offers weight capacities up to 200kg (roughly 31 stone), well beyond Stannah's standard 120kg range.
If either a narrow staircase or a higher user weight applies to you, Handicare should be on your shortlist regardless of anything else in this comparison.
Brand Heritage and Ownership
Stannah: Family-owned since 1867, now in its fifth generation, headquartered in Andover, Hampshire, with over 1,000,000 stairlifts installed worldwide. A privately held British company in an industry where most rivals have been acquired.
Handicare: Now owned by Savaria, a major global accessibility manufacturer. That backing brings engineering resources and financial stability, but a more corporate feel — and some buyers find the Handicare / Companion / Savaria branding overlap confusing.
Pricing Comparison
| Type | Stannah (approx.) | Handicare (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| New straight | £2,200–4,500 | £2,000–4,000 |
| New curved | £4,500–8,000+ | £4,000–7,500 |
Handicare is generally a little cheaper than Stannah for comparable models, and better value still if you factor in its higher capacity. Neither brand publishes prices online — both require a home survey before quoting.
Trustpilot Ratings
| Brand | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Stannah | 4.7/5 | 6,106 |
| Handicare | 4.3/5 | 1,874 |
Stannah has both a higher score and more reviews. Handicare's 4.3/5 is respectable but noticeably lower, and on a smaller sample. Trustpilot mostly reflects the purchase and installation experience rather than years of aftercare, so weigh it alongside the service-network difference below.
Aftercare: Stannah's Strongest Card
Stannah operates the largest stairlift engineer network in the UK, with regional teams covering virtually every postcode and typically next-day service. Handicare provides aftercare and has improved under Savaria, but its network is smaller — response times can be longer, particularly in rural areas. For a device relied on every day, that difference matters.
Our Verdict
Stannah wins overall (8.4 vs 8.1), carried by reliability and aftercare. But the margin is narrow, and the scores point to clear exceptions:
- Stannah wins on reliability (+0.8) and aftercare (+1.4)
- Handicare wins on value (+0.5) and range (+0.2), and ties on comfort
- Handicare wins outright on rail slimness and weight capacity — specifications Stannah can't match
For most buyers who want maximum peace of mind, Stannah is the safer pick. But if your staircase is narrow or the user is heavier than average, Handicare's engineering makes it the better — sometimes the only — choice. Also weigh Acorn (7.8/10) if budget is your first priority.
As always: get quotes from both, and compare your actual numbers rather than the brochures.
Match It To Your Staircase