Best Stair Lifts


A stair lift is generally used in the homes of people with reduced mobility as well as in public buildings.  It allows people to continue to move up and down stairs, rather than having to move to a bungalow or be unable to use services in buildings which may be on higher floors such as a post office.  There are many different types of stair lifts available on the market today.  They are generally divided into three categories:

  • Straight stair lifts
  • Curved stair lifts
  • Outdoor stair lifts
And into three further sub categories:

  • Seated stair lifts
  • Standing stair lifts
  • Perched stair lifts
Trying to decide on the best stair lifts for your home or building will depend on the exact needs and requirements of the user(s).

Deciding which the Best Stair Lifts are

Firstly, a decision will need to be made on which category of stair lift is required.  Straight stair lifts are applicable for stairs that have no bends in them.  These are the most popular stair lift, as well as the cheapest, costing around £1,500.  They also only take a few hours to install. 

Curved stair lifts, on the other hand, are much more expensive and many people will opt to have two straight stair lifts rather than a single curved stair lift.  The best stair lifts, for example, can be two straight stair lifts with a transfer platform on a bend.  A curved stair lift is likely to cost between £3,500 and £4,000, even for those that have been reconditioned.  This is because they are custom made to fit specific stairs in a home.

Deciding which the best stair lifts for a specific user are therefore depends on the stairs and the budget that is available.

Deciding on the Best Stair Lifts Seating

Once a decision has been made on the best stair lifts type, the seating option needs to be taken into consideration. 

  • Seated stair lifts are specifically for those who have mobility problems making them unable to walk up or down stairs, but who are able to move from a seated to a standing position without any assistance.
  • Standing stair lifts on the other hand are usually used in homes where the stair case is very narrow and a seated stair lift could potentially obstruct the walk way if it were to be installed.  Standing stair lifts can also be the best stair lifts for those who have issues with bending their legs. 
  • Lastly, perched stair lifts are for those who may have some issues with balance.  A perched stair lift in essence provides some support, giving an increased sense of balance to its user.
As you can see, deciding on the best stair lifts depends entirely on the make up of the home of the user, the budget of the user and finally their seating preferences.  Many stair lifts do have space for a small mobility aid such as a walking stick, but if a user requires a larger walking aid such as a Zimmer frame, it is important to ensure that multiple frames are available, as even the best stair lifts do not have space for such a frame.

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