Stair Lift Cost Guide: Prices, Factors & Installation Tips
As we get older, we often lose our physical strength and ability to move as freely as we once did. It happens to all of us, eventually – and most...
Stairlifts
Average Cost: $3,400 - $14,000
Stannah offers new, refurbished, and rental stairlifts. The company says that they can accommodate 99% of staircases, including those that are curved or have several landings. Expect to pay $3,400 at the low end and up to $14,000 on the high end, including installation, for a new stairlift.
Stannah Stairlifts was originally founded in 1867 and has remained family-owned through five generations. That longevity has given the company time to tweak their products to become among the leaders in the market, providing everything from a simple and straightforward chair to the bells and whistles that can make life much more convenient. The company offers lifts of all kinds, including those that work on curved staircases or brave the elements outdoors. They claim to have stairlifts that work for 99% of homes. Here’s what you need to know from a comprehensive Stannah Stairlift review before deciding if Stannah is the right company to handle your stairlift needs.
What makes Stannah unique? It’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages when choosing the right company to install your stairlift.
As noted in various Stannah Stairlift reviews, Stannah offers stairlifts for purchase or rental. Though the lifts can handle only up to 350 pounds — putting them out of reach for some heftier customers — there is a wide variety of options to choose from within that limitation. The company claims to be able to install a stairlift on any sort of staircase, including those with several landings or curves. Here are the various types available as of this writing:
As highlighted in many Stannah Stairlift reviews, the company doesn’t publish prices online, requiring an in-home consultation to get an accurate quote. The only way to get a firm quote is by contacting the company and securing an in-home consultation. However, some users have posted their prices online, leading to a range that all the Stannah lifts seem to fall into.
Expect to pay anywhere from $3,400 to $5,500 for a straight stairlift with no bells or whistles. The complexity of a curved staircase calls for a higher price point for the lift, which seems to run anywhere between $8,500 and $14,000.
Keep in mind that rentals are available as well. These work great for those who need the stairlift for only a short period of time; for example, someone with a broken leg might need the lift only until they are healed enough to make it up and down the stairs on their own. In that case, your price for a rental will come in much lower than the $3,400 price tag for the more affordable purchase.
There are certain factors that affect the cost of a stairlift. Some of these are in your control, such as choosing the product you want to have, while others are out of your hands, such as the difficulty of the installation on your particular staircase.
Stannah stairlifts offer a significant warranty that covers the critical components and parts, as well as on-call service after the installation is complete. That warranty covers the motor, gearbox, and rails.
However, keep in mind that independent dealers might offer their own coverage, which can be less than what you get if you buy direct from the company. Be sure to compare the different warranties and prices to determine which coverage you want for your stairlift.
Stannah is known for their friendly consultations, fast installations (and great cleanup!), and call-out servicing in the event that something goes wrong. Trained installers can make adjustments for the height of the chair to ensure your best possible comfort and safety.
The stairlift itself is designed to make life as easy as possible. For instance, they fold up and out of the way to accommodate narrow spaces, and folding them up doesn’t require building. The seat belts are right there on the armrest and easy to find. The narrow tracks reduce the risk of injury or catching something in the tracks. The stairlift comes equipped with an automatic stop that will bring the stairlift to a gentle yet immediate halt if something gets in the way, such as a wayward pet or a piece of laundry.
Stannah doesn’t offer direct financing, which is something many stairlift and mobility aid companies do. However, they do work with third-party lenders, which could provide you with a better deal in the long run.
Stannah offers rentals and refurbished models. Though some other companies do this as well, it isn’t a standard in the industry, which makes Stannah an outlier in a good way. The company makes a point of ensuring that the products are up to par or more advanced than the competition, including designing and testing for over 25,000 trips, providing a top-notch warranty, and offering customizations to suit every need.
Some customers complain of seats that are less padded or don’t have quite enough room. There is also no bariatric option, so larger individuals will have to find another stairlift company to help them.
When comparing Stannah and Acorn, both companies are well-known for their stairlifts, but there are some key differences. Stannah tends to stand out with its extensive customization options and the ability to rent or purchase refurbished models — options that Acorn doesn’t emphasize as heavily. Acorn, however, has a stronger focus on straightforward pricing and availability, often promoting its stairlifts as more affordable with quicker installations. One notable drawback for Stannah is the lack of bariatric options, which could make Acorn a better choice for users needing stairlifts with a higher weight capacity. Acorn also offers direct financing, while Stannah only works with third-party lenders.
Stannah and Leaf Home Safety Solutions cater to similar markets but take different approaches to customer service and product offerings. While Stannah is known for its durability and long-term testing (designing stairlifts for over 25,000 trips), Leaf Home focuses heavily on personalized in-home consultations and quicker installations. Leaf Home Safety Solutions may have the edge in terms of customer support, as Stannah has been critiqued for challenges in post-installation support. However, Stannah offers more flexible options like rentals and refurbished units, which Leaf Home doesn’t commonly offer. Another differentiator is that Leaf Home Safety Solutions markets itself as a broader provider of home accessibility solutions, while Stannah focuses specifically on stairlifts.
Stannah’s long history in the industry speaks volumes. With over 850,000 stairlifts installed across the world, their success is proven. As noted in nearly every Stannah Stairlift review, customers frequently praise their friendly salespeople, reasonable prices, and a wide variety of add-ons and customizations.
As we’ve covered in this Stannah Stairlift review, if you have a narrow staircase or mobility issues that make it tough to sit, Stannah is particularly suited for your needs. In addition, the rental option makes it easier for those who need a stairlift for a short period of time, and the refurbished options help keep costs down. Get in touch with Stannah to start the process with a no-obligation quote.
Read real homeowner reviews, explore qualifications, and view promotions. Modernize makes it easy to browse professionals and find one that will be perfect for your project.