Our top rated stairlifts are Stannah and Thyssen Krupp (now Access BDD). In this article we’ll explain why we like them so much and the differences between them. We use other stairlifts too, and different circumstances will often determine which stairlift is the most suitable. For example, we choose specific stairlifts if you have a narrow, or awkward staircase, and for people requiring a heavy weight stairlift when the weight limit is too close for a standard model.
For more specific advice and to book a free home assessment, give us a call on 0800 046 3438.
Top Rated Stairlifts – Stannah
We choose Stannah’s because of their build quality, high powered motors and most importantly because they last and give us the fewest problems! At UK stairlifts we specialise in reconditioned stairlifts and Stannah are one of our go-to models because of their outstanding reliability. Purchasing a reconditioned Stannah from us means you get a very high quality lift at a lower, more affordable price.
Above you can see pictured the Stannah 260 (left) for curved stairs and the Stannah 600 (right) for straight staircases. Both models provide a superb experience for customers and these models are our chosen two for standard fittings. Stannah have done their homework, particularly in terms of space-saving design. Their chairs sit well back on the rail, allowing room for difficult staircases and narrow hallways.
They will often out-perform other cheaper makes and models which show up later with more problems, even when buying new. When you’ve been in the stairlift business as long as we have, you notice which stairlifts give you the most problems later, when things start going wrong. Stannah consistently out-perform other models in this regard, which that’s why we can give all our reconditioned stairlifts a full 2 year no-exclusion warranty, covering you for parts, labour and call-outs. Stannah’s last longer and give the least amount of issues over the longer term, in our experience.
Top Rated Stairlifts – Thyssen Krupp
Thyssen Krupp now have a subsidiary company operating the stairlift division called Access BDD. We love their stairlifts because they can be installed on certain stairs where Stannah’s and other models simply won’t fit. So if you have an unusual staircase configuration, or a narrow or awkward staircase, the Flow X’s or the Flow 2a stairlifts from Access BDD are our go-to solutions.
Here’s two brand new installations we fitted where other models simply wouldn’t fit. We did case studies on these two installations too which you can see in our case study section here. The one pictured on the left was a difficult staircase with a very narrow, steep climb, and a number of other obstacles such as doorways and radiators!
Here’s a view of the stairlift rail (left) and the staircase (right). As you can see, is a strikingly steep angle! This was due to the tight space at the top. With the Flow X stairlift, you must have an area in order to pivot the chair, so you’re facing out at the top, for easy exit/entry. To achieve this, the rail needed to be very steep to allow the foot plate to avoid the stairs, and pivot the chair at the top.
You can see this stairlift in action in this short video clip:
Top Rated Stairlifts – (Heavy Duty Stairlifts) – Bruno And Platinum Ultimate
What the Flow X does for narrow stairs, the Bruno and the Platinum Ultimate do for heavier weight users. The Flow X mentioned previously is superb when it comes to awkward installations. However, it has a weight limit of 19.6 stone. If you’re on the cusp, or above this limit, you cannot use the Flow X stairlift.
But here the Bruno and Platinum excel because they offer another option if you’re over that weight. The Bruno stairlift can support users of up to 30 stone and is the perfect solution for the larger than average. However, being of a sturdier build, the Bruno has its limitations and on certain stairs it may be unsuitable because of the larger rail and larger, wider and more sturdy chair.
If this is the case, the Platinum Ultimate is another option. It has a narrower single rail and is more flexible than the Bruno, allowing you to pivot mid travel. This can make it easier for narrower stairs, although the weight limit of the Platinum is less than the Bruno, and can take up to 25 stone.
Summary
So there’s our list of our top rated stairlifts. You’ll probably notice it’s quite a short list and although we do use other stairlifts, we prefer to stick to the makes we trust. We also specialise in reconditioned stairlifts and stairlifts for narrow stairs. So we will recommend your stairlift based on your stairlift layout, and give you the best option, for the best price, according to your needs and preferences.
For most households that means a reconditioned Stannah stairlift. Stannah are our go-to model for cost, convenience and reliability. We offer a full 2 year warranty on all our reconditioned stairlifts. If you have a staircase that a Stannah won’t fit, the next step is the Flow X, or a previous Flow model. We can sometimes offer reconditioned Flow models (if we have them in stock), at a reduced cost. The Flow X is a more specialised machine than the Stannah and so is more expensive. See our reconditioned stairlifts prices for a few examples of pricing.
If you’re in need of a heavy duty stairlift, we have the Platinum Ultimate and the Bruno which we recommend. These are high quality machines with a larger than average weight limit. The Bruno carries up to 30 stone, and the Platinum up to 25. They are our go-to options if you are in need of a bariatric stairlift for a heavier load.
For more information or to book a free home survey, give us a call on 0800 046 3438 or visit our contact page and leave us a message.
You can also checkout our YouTube channel here to see some of our fittings.