Stairlift FAQ

A new straight stairlift costs £1,800–£5,500 installed, with most homeowners paying £2,300–£2,500. A new curved stairlift costs £3,800–£8,000 for standard configurations (average £5,500). Complex curved installations can reach £8,000–£12,000.

Reconditioned straight stairlifts start from £595. Rental is available from approximately £10–15 per week (straight) plus a £300+ installation fee.

All prices include standard installation. See our full price breakdown.

Yes. The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) can cover up to £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales, and £35,000 in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the Scheme of Assistance covers 80–100% of costs depending on your council.

Around 60,000 people receive DFG adaptations funding each year. The grant is means-tested in England (£6,000 savings threshold) and requires an occupational therapist assessment. No formal disability registration is needed.

Apply through your local council. See our grants section for full details.

Disabled users pay 0% VAT on the supply and installation of a stairlift. You sign a simple self-declaration form — no medical certificate or formal registration is required. This saves 20% of the purchase price.

Users aged 60+ pay 5% VAT on supply and installation, saving 15%.

Important: the 5% rate for over-60s applies to supply AND installation together. Repairs for over-60s are charged at the full 20% VAT rate — only repairs for disabled users are zero-rated.

A straight stairlift fits staircases that go from bottom to top in a single straight run with no turns. Price: £1,800–£5,500 (average £2,300–£2,500). Installation takes 2–4 hours.

A curved stairlift is needed for any staircase with bends, turns, L-shapes, or intermediate landings. The rail is custom-manufactured. Price: £3,800–£8,000 (average £5,500). Installation takes 4–8 hours with a 2–4 week lead time.

See our detailed guides: straight stairlifts | curved stairlifts.

It depends on your priorities:

• Stannah (8.4/10, Editor's Choice): Best for reliability and aftercare. Largest engineer network in the UK. Trustpilot 4.7/5 from 6,106 reviews. Premium pricing.
• Handicare (8.1/10): Best for narrow staircases (slimmest rail) and heavy-duty needs (up to 200kg). Trustpilot 4.3/5 from 1,874 reviews.
• Acorn (7.8/10): Best value. Highest Trustpilot score (4.8/5 from 10,952 reviews). Which? has flagged sales pressure concerns.

Read our full brand reviews.

Straight stairlift: 2–4 hours. Can often be installed within a week of ordering because standard rails are cut to length from stock.

Curved stairlift: 4–8 hours installation, but the custom rail needs 2–4 weeks of manufacturing time first.

The rail is fixed to the stair treads (not the wall), so no structural work is needed.

No. Stairlifts are classed as home improvements, not structural alterations. No planning permission is required for any domestic stairlift installation in the UK.

If you live in a listed building, it's a courtesy to check with your local conservation officer, but planning permission is still not formally required for internal stairlift installation.

Stairlifts are fixed to the stair treads (the flat part of each step), not to the wall. This means no structural work or wall reinforcement is needed. The rail sits on brackets screwed into the treads.

If the stairlift is removed in the future, you're left with small screw holes in the treads that can be easily filled.

Yes. Rental is available for both straight and curved stairlifts:

• Straight rental: Approximately £10–15 per week, plus a one-off installation fee from £300
• Curved rental: Approximately £20 per week, plus installation from £950

Rental typically includes servicing and repairs. It makes sense for temporary needs (post-surgery recovery, for example) or when you can't afford the upfront purchase cost.

A surveyor visits your home to measure your staircase, assess the installation requirements, and discuss which stairlift model suits your needs. The survey is free and without obligation.

For a straight staircase, the survey takes about 30–60 minutes. For curved staircases, expect 45–90 minutes as measurements need to be more precise.

You'll receive a quote either on the day or within 48 hours. Our advice: always get at least two surveys from different companies.

Very little — a few pence per day. Most modern stairlifts run on DC power (rechargeable batteries) that are topped up from a mains connection. The electricity cost is comparable to leaving a small appliance on standby.

The rechargeable battery system also means the stairlift continues to work during a power cut.

Annual servicing is recommended and is often a condition of the manufacturer's warranty. However, it is not a legal requirement for stairlifts in private homes.

Servicing costs £100–£300 per year depending on the provider and level of cover. Most service plans include an annual inspection, safety checks, and lubrication of moving parts. Some include call-out cover for breakdowns.

Standard stairlifts are rated for approximately 120kg (19 stone). Heavy-duty models are available for higher weights:

• Handicare 1000 series: up to 200kg (31.5 stone)
• Other brands offer models rated to 150–160kg

Important: Never round up on weight capacity — this is safety-critical. Choose a model rated well above the user's weight.

Yes. Stairlifts can be removed by any stairlift company. The process takes 1–2 hours for straight stairlifts and 2–4 hours for curved. You'll be left with small screw holes in the stair treads that can be filled and sanded.

You can sell the stairlift back to the manufacturer (low buyback prices), sell it privately (straight rails have resale value; curved do not), or donate it to a charity.

Yes. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, you have a 14-day cooling-off period for any contract signed in your home. This applies to all stairlift purchases where the contract was agreed during a home visit.

This is a legal right that cannot be waived. If a salesperson tells you the deal must be signed immediately and there's no cooling-off period, this is incorrect.

The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is the UK trade body for companies selling healthcare and assistive technology products, including stairlifts. BHTA members agree to a code of practice covering sales conduct, complaints handling, and consumer protection.

Membership is not mandatory, so not all stairlift companies are members. Checking for BHTA membership is one indicator of a reputable company, though it's not a guarantee against all bad practice. LEIA (Lift and Escalator Industry Association) is the relevant trade body for the lift industry more broadly.

No. The NHS does not directly fund stairlifts. However, stairlifts may be funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant (administered by local councils, not the NHS) or through social services assessments.

Your GP or hospital consultant can refer you for an occupational therapy assessment, which is the first step towards DFG funding. But the NHS itself does not purchase or provide stairlifts.