Bruno stair lifts

What separates the three models most is weight capacity, how far each one juts into the stairway when folded, and cost. The "folds to" column tells you how far the lift reaches out from the wall once the seat, arms, and footrest are all folded up. A lower number means more open stair for everyone else.

Of the three, the Elan is the narrowest and the cheapest. The Elite holds more weight, though folded up it eats up roughly three extra inches of stair width.

Start by measuring how wide your stairs are. Both straight Bruno models call for stairs of at least 28 inches, and the Elite Curved needs 30 inches at minimum.

We compare 11 straight lifts in all. Stairs 28 inches wide work for 11 of them, and both straight Bruno models are among that group. Narrow things down to 26 inches and just one straight lift still fits, the Acorn 130, so stairs that tight rule out a Bruno.

With stairs that turn, 30 inches is where the Elite Curved begins. Drop to 28 inches and only one curved lift in our comparison still works, the Acorn 180.

Bruno's weight capacities land at or above the market's midpoint. Among the 16 models we compare, that midpoint is 350 lb, the floor is 265 lb, and the ceiling is 600 lb.

• Elan: 300 lb, a bit under the midpoint.
• Elite: 400 lb, above what most straight lifts carry.
• Elite Curved: 400 lb, tops among the curved lifts we compare.

Anyone over 400 lb will need a different brand. The Harmar Pinnacle SL600HD handles up to 600 lb on straight stairs.

On the straight side, the Elan unit starts near $3,000, and one dealer quotes $4,999 for the Elite. Those figures leave out installation, so plan on paying more than the quotes show.

For curved stairs, installed Elite Curved quotes run from $12,000 up past $25,000, going by one dealer's range. Curved units cost more because the rail is custom built to match your staircase.

For a broader picture across brands, the National Council on Aging estimates $2,500 to $5,000 installed for a new straight lift, $8,000 to $12,000 for a curved one, and $1,500 to $3,000 for a used straight unit.

A longer staircase means a longer rail, and that nudges the price up a bit. The rail is the track mounted along the stairs that the chair rides on. Rails run 15.5 feet as a standard, and extra length costs extra. These numbers cover any brand's new straight unit.

Not every price is quoted the same way, which makes quick comparisons tricky. Some sellers include installation and others leave it out. This table lists each straight lift's price just as its source states it.

For curved stairs, competing brands start below Bruno's dealer range. One dealer lists the Harmar Helix from $10,995, and the Stannah Siena 260 runs from $10,800 with installation included. That said, the Elite Curved out-lifts both in weight capacity.

Warranty deserves a place next to price in your thinking. Bruno backs the Elan and Elite Curved with a limited lifetime warranty, while quite a few other brands cover parts for one to three years.

Bruno shares no battery life figure in the material we rely on, so general stair lift numbers are your best reference.

Stannah says these batteries tend to hold up about three to five years. Usage and whether the chair gets parked off its charging point both affect that, so leaving the chair at its charge spot helps it last.

The National Council on Aging suggests a tighter window, with batteries usually needing a swap every one to three years. Figure about $200 to $300 per replacement unless a warranty picks it up. It is worth asking your dealer whether batteries fall under the Bruno warranty, since that could spare you the expense down the road.