If you’re wondering what affects the cost of a stairlift, this post is for you! The cost of a stairlift installation will vary from company to company, so it’s worth shopping around to get at least three quotes to get an idea of pricing. You can also see our stairlift pricing page for more information and checkout our 8 ways to save money on a stairlift guide.
The cost of a stairlift will vary according to a number of criteria including things such as make and model, warranty included and of course rail configuration. In this post we will cover the main things to consider if you’re on a budget. It’s also worth noting that cheaper isn’t necessarily better, and sometimes a cheaper model will be more unreliable over the longer term, or come with a shorter warranty.
It’s definitely worth considering the reliability of your stairlift. Breakdowns can add up. If you’re not covered by a warranty it can cost you more later, or you might even need to replace your stairlift with another one! “Buy cheap buy twice” is a suitable idiom for stairlifts and we have personally replaced many a cheap stairlift with one of ours due to a fault or breakdown.
What Affects The Cost Of A Stairlift – Straight Or Curved?
One of the main things that affects the cost of a stairlift is whether you need a straight or a curved stairlift. Straight stairlifts are a lot cheaper to install than curved ones. Curved stairlifts need customised rails to fit the curvature of your staircase.
In some situations we have fitted a straight stairlift on a curved staircase, which saves the customer quite a bit. However, this is only suitable in certain circumstances, where safety isn’t compromised. Here’s an example of such an installation. In this case, the customer wanted a simpler (and more cost effective lift) and was happy to make the last steps on foot.
To get an idea of cost comparison, our straight stairlifts start at £1,250 and our curved stairlifts start at £2,950.
What Affects The Cost Of A Stairlift – Reconditioned Versus Brand-New
Another consideration is whether to buy a brand-new stairlift or a reconditioned stairlift. A brand new stairlift is of course more costly, but comes with a longer warranty and directly from the manufacturers. A reconditioned stairlift is a pre-used stairlift which has been professionally refurbished.
Our reconditioned stairlifts come with a full 2 year warranty. We choose only the best makes and models for reconditioning and carefully select models which are in excellent condition.
To give you an idea of savings you can make on a reconditioned stairlift, here’s a quick price comparison chart showing the difference. (*Please note we only offer brand new outdoor stairlifts.)
What Affects The Cost Of A Stairlift? – Rail Configuration
With a stairlift installation you can often choose either side of the stairs to run the rail along. In some situations, a doorway, or blockage might determine which side is most suitable for installation. Here’s a couple of examples of curved stairlifts that have been installed. On the left the image shows a Stannah 260 with an outside rail (running along the wall). On the right, the rail runs on the inside, along the bannister rail.
Depending on the staircase, the rail could be chosen to be either on the inside or outside.
This can sometimes affect the cost because more bends that need to be configured in the rail add to the cost. So often it is better to choose the side which is less complex, and/or has fewer bends in the rail. Multiple rail bends, and particularly 180 degree and sharp bends add to the cost of a stairlift installation. Rail length also affects the cost too, with a longer, more complicated rail being more expensive than a short, straight rail.
What Affects The Cost Of A Stairlift? – Powered Swivel
A powered swivel is an optional extra on a stairlift which often comes as standard. The powered swivel mechanism allows the user to maintain hold of the control button and swivel the chair away from the stairs for easy entry/exit. Without a powered swivel, you need to manually depress a lever to rotate the chair and enter or exit the stairlift at the top/bottom of the stairs.
For some people this can make for a more awkward experience with their stairlift, especially if the user has difficulty using their hands or has arthritis, for example.
Most of our stairlifts come with a powered swivel because it is usually required. The powered swivel makes the journey through floors more smooth and comfortable. However, this is an option which adds to the cost.
Optional Extras – Seat Colour, Rail Colour, Added Specifications
Another thing which affects the cost of a stairlift are optional extras. While sometimes you can ask for optional extras on a reconditioned stairlift, there is often less choice when it comes to refurbished lifts. This will depend on what is in stock. But for brand-new stairlifts, there is often a host of options, depending on the stairlift make and model.
For example, we have even had rails sprayed in a certain colour to match the home decor. Seat cushions and seat-backs can also be chosen in a range of colours and fabrics.
The Flow X stairlift comes with an optional extra which includes mobile phone connection, in case of emergency.
What Affects The Cost Of A Stairlift? Powered Footplate
The powered footplate allows you to depress a button for the footplate to unfold. With certain models folding the stairlift is done manually. When you fold the seat, the footplate folds/unfolds at the same time. But some users prefer the powered footplate which makes getting on and off the stairlift, and folding it up much easier.
A powered footplate is another optional extra which will add to the cost of a stairlift.
What Affects The Cost Of A Stairlift – Warranty
Not every stairlift provider offers the same warranty when they install a stairlift for you. So it’s well worth checking whether you have a warranty and what cover you get with it. Here at UkStairlifts, we offer a full 2 year no-exclusion warranty with all our reconditioned stairlifts. The “no-exclusion” means you’re covered for everything including batteries, parts, labour and call-outs.
When you’re buying a stairlift for yourself or a loved-one, you want to know you have the support to back you up should anything go wrong. The warranty is an important part of the cost of a stairlift, so make sure your provider offers one and check the cover it provides.
Stairlift Make And Model
The make and model of your stairlift will have a large impact on the cost too. Certain cheaper makes can have more problems later, so it’s worth doing some research on this before committing to a brand just because it is cheaper than others. You can read more about our favoured best stairlift models here.
We often choose Stannah for our reconditioned models because they have superb build quality and they are built to last. We think our reconditioned stairlifts offer the best value because we choose top makes and models and professionally refurbish them – giving them a full 2 years warranty; a premium make and model at a reduced cost.
Specialist Stairlifts For Narrow Stairs or Heavy Weight Users
Another thing to consider when purchasing a stairlift is whether you’ll need a specialist stairlift for a very narrow staircase. Or, if you need a heavy weight stairlift for someone who is too heavy for a standard model. Most stairlifts are calibrated to carry a maximum weight of around 19-20 stone. So if you’re pushing this limit, you might need a heavy duty stairlift. We supply heavy duty stairlifts but we don’t offer reconditioned machines for heavy weight users for safety reasons.
We are also specialists when it comes to installation of stairlifts on very narrow/awkward stairs. If you need a specialist stairlift, for either a narrow stairway, or a heavy weight user, this can add considerably to the cost of installation.
For heavy weight users, we often choose the Stannah 600 (straight) stairlift which can carry up to 25 stone. But if your staircase is curved, you’ll need another model. See also the Platinum Ultimate and the Bruno for heavy weight users.
For very narrow stairs, we often choose the Flow X from Thyssen-Krupp. The Flow X has ASL technology which allows it to navigate staircases which other stairlifts are incapable of doing.
Summary
So, as you can see there’s a few considerations which can affect cost when you’re looking to purchase a stairlift. We think we have found the right balance between cost and quality and offer professionally refurbished stairlifts of premium quality. We give our reconditioned stairlifts a full 2 year warranty which gives you complete peace of mind. You’re covered for call-outs, parts and labour for a full 2 years.
So whether you’re on a tight budget, or you want the top model with all the gadgets – we can help you!
Give us a call on 0800 046 3438 and speak with one of our team. We can often give you a quote over the phone, or we’ll come to your house and give you a free assessment.
You can also see our contact page or browse some of our installations on our YouTube channel here.