A stair lift (sometimes written as one word, "stairlift") is a motorised chair on a rail that carries a user up and down a flight of stairs. It bolts to the stair treads — not the walls — runs on rechargeable batteries that keep working through a power cut, and folds away when not in use so the stairs stay walkable.
For most UK homes the right stair lift can be surveyed, fitted and handed over within 24–48 hours. Below is a plain-English overview of the main types, what they cost, and what to expect from the install.
The five main types
| Type | Suits | Fitted price | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight stair lift | One continuous flight, no turns | £1,995 | 24–48 hours |
| Reconditioned straight | Same — budget-led or short-term | £995 | 24–48 hours |
| Curved stair lift | Stairs with turns, half-landings | £2,995 | 1–3 weeks (or 48 hrs Emergency) |
| Outdoor stair lift | Garden steps, side passages, patios | quoted on survey | 1–2 weeks |
| Heavy-duty stair lift | Users 19–25 stone (120–160 kg) | from £2,995 | similar to standard |
All our fitted prices include the free home survey, installation, full handover and a 12-month warranty.
Straight vs curved — the key difference
A straight stair lift uses a stock rail cut to length on the day. It's why these lifts can be fitted within 48 hours and why the price stays low. The Acorn 130 is the UK's best-selling straight lift.
A curved stair lift uses a rail manufactured to the exact shape of your staircase — every turn, half-landing and angle. That's why the lead time is longer (1–3 weeks) and the price higher. The Acorn 180 is our standard curved model. For urgent cases, our Emergency option compresses curved manufacturing to 48 hours.
If you're not sure which your stairs need, see is my staircase straight or curved.
Standard features on every modern stair lift
- Folding seat, arms and footrest — the stairs stay usable on foot
- Battery-powered — keeps working in a power cut, charges at the top and bottom
- Swivel seat that locks at the landing for a safe stand-up
- Seatbelt with secure latch
- Obstruction sensors on the footrest and underside
- Soft-start and soft-stop drive
- Joystick or paddle control on the arm, plus remote calls at top and bottom
- 12-month parts-and-labour warranty
Curved lifts usually add a powered swivel at the top (rotates the seat for safer transfer) and a powered folding footrest.
What stair lift installation looks like
A typical install runs in four stages: free home survey (20–60 minutes), manufacturing (none for straight, 1–3 weeks for curved), fitting (2–3 hours straight, 3–4 hours curved), then handover with full demonstration and written documentation. No structural work, electrical rewiring or building permits are needed — the lift plugs into a standard 13-amp socket.
For the full picture see how stair lifts are installed and how stair lifts attach to stairs.
What's NOT included in some "from £X" stair lift prices
The UK stair lift market is full of headline "from £X" prices that exclude installation, delivery, survey, handover or the first service. Our fitted prices are all-in — what we quote is what you pay. If you're comparing quotes, check that the other company's price includes:
- The home survey
- Delivery
- Installation
- Full handover and demonstration
- 12-month warranty
- Removal of packaging
If any of those are extra, the headline price isn't the real price.
VAT relief — a 20% saving
If the user has a long-term illness or disability, the stair lift and installation are zero-rated for VAT. That's a 20% saving — roughly £400 off a straight lift, £600 off a curved. The customer signs a simple declaration on the day; we handle the paperwork.
Rent vs buy
For short-term needs (under 12 months — recovery, end-of-life care) renting often makes sense. For permanent use buying nearly always works out cheaper within a year. See is it better to rent or buy a stair lift for the full numbers.
Stair lift aftercare
Every install includes a 12-month parts-and-labour warranty. Annual servicing from £80 keeps the lift running smoothly and catches most faults before they become callouts. We also offer 24-hour emergency repairs across Greater Manchester for safety-critical faults. See servicing & repairs and stair lift repair Manchester.
How to book
Call 0161 330 5544 or request a callback. A local engineer will measure the stairs, walk through the realistic options, and quote a fixed all-in price on the day. No pressure, no obligation.
Our fixed prices
| Type | Fitted price | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Straight stairlift | £1,995 | 24–48 hours |
| Reconditioned stairlift | £995 | 24–48 hours |
| Curved stairlift | £2,995 | 1–3 weeks (or 48 hours with our Emergency option) |
All prices include the free home survey, installation, handover and a 12-month warranty.
Our stairlifts
- Straight stairlifts — £1,995 fitted
- Curved stairlifts — £2,995 fitted
- Reconditioned stairlifts — £995 fitted
- Outdoor stairlifts
- Servicing & repairs
Book a free home survey
Call 0161 330 5544 or request a callback. A local engineer will measure your stairs and give you a fixed price on the day — no pressure, no obligation.
Not sure which stairlift you need?
Book a free no-obligation home survey. A local engineer will measure your stairs and recommend the right lift — usually within 48 hours.