Stair lift cost
Installed prices: the lift, its rail and fitting. Three questions give a range for your stairs.
- Straight stairs
- $2,500 to $5,000 NCOA typical, new; models here $2,749–$8,230
- Stairs that turn
- $8,000 to $12,000 NCOA typical, new; models here $8,000–$25,000+
- Used straight lift, fitted by a dealer
- $2,900 to $4,500+ the lift alone $1,500–$3,000, by condition
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Do your stairs go straight up, or do they turn?
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New, or reconditioned to save money?
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Three quick questions and you will see a price range.
More prices at a glance
| Outdoor steps, new lift, installed | $4,000 to $8,000 |
|---|---|
| Options such as a power swivel seat | $750 to $2,500 |
| Replacement batteries | $200 to $300 |
Sources: NCOA cost guide, Lifeway Mobility, Mobility Plus. Longer straight rails add about $75 a foot past the stock length at one dealer.
A new stair lift for straight stairs usually costs $2,500 to $5,000, fitting included, according to the National Council on Aging. Curved stairs need a rail made to measure, so they usually cost $8,000 to $12,000.
Average cost by staircase shape
Nothing affects the price as much as the shape of your staircase. Straight stairs only need a basic rail. If your stairs curve, the rail has to be built around your exact staircase, and that pushes the cost up.
What the cost includes
Two things make up the bill: the machine itself and the labor to mount it. On straight stairs, NCOA estimates $2,000 to $3,500 for the lift and $500 to $1,500 to install it, which adds up to $2,500 to $5,000.
Be aware that some dealers quote for the lift alone and bill the fitting separately. Before you compare quotes, check that installation is in each one, or you may be looking at two different totals. One dealer, for instance, sells the Harmar Pinnacle SL300 at $3,640 and charges another $725 to fit it.
Add-ons push the price up too. Options such as a power swivel or folding rail can add $750 to $2,500 or more, says Lifeway Mobility.
Longer stairs cost more
More stairs mean a longer rail, the metal track your seat glides along. Our cost tool estimates prices using a 15.5-foot standard rail allowance, with an extra charge for longer rails. These are rough numbers for new lifts on straight stairs, and your dealer has the final say on what you pay.
| Steps (straight) | Track length | Price with fitting |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | roughly 10 ft | roughly $2,500 to $5,000 |
| 13 | roughly 16 ft | roughly $2,575 to $5,075 |
| 16 | roughly 19 ft | roughly $2,800 to $5,300 |
| 20 | roughly 23 ft | roughly $3,100 to $5,600 |
Prices by model
Every brand and every dealer prices its own way, and some quotes include fitting while others leave it out. The price column tells you which.
| Model | Stairs | Weight limit | Folded, from wall | Installed price | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AmeriGlide Rave 2Pro: parts are covered for 2 years, longer than the one year some manufacturers give. Pro: the lowest price of the straight lifts here, even with an installer added. Con: you buy it online, so fitting it is up to you: hire your own installer or do it yourself. Sources: specifications · pricing · installation | Straight | 350 lb | 11 in | $2,749–$4,249 estimate: lift price + usual fitting | 2 years on parts |
 Bruno ElanPro: it carries a limited lifetime warranty. Con: its standard weight limit is 300 lb, below the 350 lb carried by most lifts here. Sources: specifications · pricing · installation | Straight | 300 lb | 12 in | $3,500–$5,000 estimate: lift price + usual fitting | Limited lifetime (for as long as you own it) |
 Acorn 130Pro: it fits stairways only 26 in wide, the manufacturer says. Pro: up to 350 lb with the heavy-duty version. Con: 280 lb as standard, the lowest weight limit among the straight lifts here (350 lb with the heavy-duty option). Sources: specifications · pricing | Straight | 280 lb heavy-duty version: 350 lb | 12¼ in | $3,000–$5,000 estimate from review sites | 1 year |
 Handicare 1100Pro: parts are covered for 2 years, longer than the one year some manufacturers give. Con: not as close to the wall as the slimmest straight lifts (it folds to 12⅝ in). Sources: specifications · pricing · installation | Straight | 310 lb | 12⅝ in | $3,799–$5,299 estimate: lift price + usual fitting | 2 years on parts |
| Handicare 1000Pro: up to 440 lb with the heavy-duty version. Pro: a perch seat, for half-standing, suits riders whose knees cannot bend. Con: it sticks out 15¼ in from the wall when folded. Sources: specifications · pricing · installation | Straight | 350 lb heavy-duty version: 440 lb | 15¼ in | $3,990–$5,490 estimate: lift price + usual fitting | 2 years on parts |
 Savaria K2Pro: parts are covered for 3 years. Pro: folds to 10¾ in, close to the wall. Sources: specifications · pricing | Straight | 350 lb | 10¾ in | $4,135 published: lift + fitting, one dealer | 3 years on parts |
 Harmar Pinnacle SL300Pro: parts are covered for 2 years, longer than the one year some manufacturers give. Pro: folds to 11 in, close to the wall. Con: its standard weight limit is 300 lb, below the 350 lb carried by most lifts here. Sources: specifications · pricing | Straight | 300 lb | 11 in | $4,365 published: lift + fitting, one dealer | 2 years on parts |
| Harmar Pinnacle SL600Pro: of the straight lifts here, it folds closest to the wall (10½ in). Pro: the motor is covered for life. Sources: specifications · pricing | Straight | 350 lb | 10½ in | $5,380 published: lift + fitting, one dealer | Lifetime on the motor |
 Stannah Siena 600Pro: the motor gearbox is covered for life. Pro: the manufacturer itself sells and installs it. Con: the parts warranty runs one year. Sources: specifications · pricing | Straight | 350 lb | 14½ in | $4,700 published: the manufacturer's installed price | Lifetime on the motor, 1 year on parts |
| Bruno ElitePro: the major components are covered for life (a limited warranty). Pro: 400 lb is the standard capacity. Con: it sticks out 15⅛ in from the wall when folded. Sources: specifications · pricing · installation | Straight | 400 lb | 15⅛ in | $5,499–$6,999 estimate: lift price + usual fitting | Limited lifetime on the main parts |
| Harmar Pinnacle SL600HDPro: the highest weight limit among the straight lifts here (600 lb). Pro: 600 lb is the standard capacity. Con: folded, it sticks out the most (16½ in). Sources: specifications · pricing | Straight | 600 lb | 16½ in | $8,230 published: lift + fitting, one dealer | 3 years on parts |
| Acorn 180Pro: of the curved lifts here, it folds closest to the wall (13¼ in). Pro: it fits stairways only 27½ in wide, the manufacturer says. Con: 265 lb as standard, the lowest weight limit among the curved lifts here. Sources: specifications · pricing | Curved | 265 lb | 13¼ in | $8,000–$15,000+ estimate from review sites | 1 year |
| Handicare FreecurvePro: parts are covered for 2 years, longer than the one year some manufacturers give. Con: folded, it sticks out the most (16½ in). Sources: specifications · pricing · installation | Curved | 275 lb | 16½ in | $10,499–$11,999 estimate: lift price + usual fitting | 2 years on parts |
| Stannah Siena 260Pro: up to 352 lb with the heavy-duty version. Pro: the motor gearbox is covered for life. Con: the parts warranty runs one year. Sources: specifications · pricing | Curved | 300 lb heavy-duty version: 352 lb | 16 in | $10,800 published: the manufacturer's installed price | Lifetime on the motor, 1 year on parts |
| Harmar HelixPro: the drive system is covered for life (a limited warranty). Pro: riders up to 350 lb are supported. Con: it sticks out 16 in from the wall when folded. Sources: specifications · pricing · installation | Curved | 350 lb | 16 in | $11,495–$12,995 estimate: lift price + usual fitting | Lifetime on the motor drive, 2 years on parts |
| Bruno Elite CurvedPro: the highest weight limit among the curved lifts here (400 lb). Pro: it carries a limited lifetime warranty. Con: the highest installed price among the curved lifts here. Sources: specifications · pricing | Curved | 400 lb | 15 in | $12,000–$25,000+ published: a dealer's installed range | Limited lifetime (for as long as you own it) |
Will a Lift Fit Your Stairs?
How wide your stairs are decides which lifts you can buy, and that shapes what you spend. At 26 inches, just a single straight lift out of the 11 on this page will fit, and not one curved model. At 28 inches, all 11 straight lifts work, but only one curved model does. At 30 inches wide, your stairs meet the listed minimum width for all 16 models; width alone does not confirm that a lift is suitable for you.
Buying a Stair Lift Used
NCOA puts a used straight-stair lift at roughly $1,500 to $3,000, depending on its condition and whether it is fitted; a dealer-fitted used lift runs higher, as the table shows.
| New straight liftinstalled, typical home | $2,500 to $5,000NCOA |
|---|---|
| Used straight liftdepends on condition and whether it is fitted | $1,500 to $3,000NCOA |
| Used, from a dealerinstalled | $2,900 to $4,500+Lifeway Mobility |
| Reconditioned by a manufacturerrails and chairs refurbished; one manufacturer's figure | about 80% of newStannah |
| Rentedor $900 to $1,500 for three months; fitting and a deposit are often extra | $300 to $500 a monthNCOA |
| Taking it out laterremoval by a dealer | $200 to $500Mobility Plus |
A cheaper option for stairs with a landing
If your stairs turn at a landing, you may not need a curved lift. According to Lifeway Mobility, a dealer will sometimes recommend a pair of straight lifts, one for each flight, in place of a single curved one. That only works when the landing is roomy enough.
Who pays for a stair lift?
- Medicare: Original Medicare, the government health plan for people 65 and older, does not pay for a stair lift because it does not count one as medical equipment. Some Medicare Advantage plans (private plans that take the place of Original Medicare) include home safety benefits, so check yours.
- Medicaid: Medicaid, the state health cover for people with low incomes, sometimes pays through a state program for changes to the home. It depends on the state.
- Veterans: The VA's HISA home improvement grant does not pay for stair lifts. Ask your VA medical center what other help you can get; veterans with a disability caused by their service may qualify for larger housing grants (SAH and SHA).
- USDA Section 504: Homeowners in rural areas who are 62 or older and have a very low income can get a USDA home repair grant of up to $10,000.