Stair lift models compared
16 stair lift models from the seven main US sellers, side by side, with a source for every figure.
Which stairs does the lift serve?
Put any two models next to each other
Straight stairs: 11 models
What the columns mean
Folded, from wall: how far the parked lift sticks out into the stairway. Heavy-duty: a stronger version of the same lift for heavier riders. Limited lifetime: the warranty covers the named parts for as long as you own the lift, within the manufacturer's terms. Installed price: "published" means the manufacturer or a dealer states the installed price; "estimate" means the lift price plus a usual fitting charge, or a review site's figure. Rail: the metal track fixed to the stairs that the chair rides on. Landing: a flat step where stairs pause or turn. Perch seat: a small, higher seat you half-stand on. NCOA: the National Council on Aging, a US nonprofit.
| Model | Weight limit | Folded, from wall | Warranty | Installed price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 AmeriGlide Rave 2Pro: parts are covered for 2 years, longer than the one year some manufacturers give. Con: you buy it online, so fitting it is up to you: hire your own installer or do it yourself. Sources | 350 lb | 11 in | 2 years on parts | $2,749–$4,249 estimate: lift price + usual fitting |
 Acorn 130Pro: it fits stairways only 26 in wide, the manufacturer says. Con: 280 lb as standard, the lowest weight limit among the straight lifts here (350 lb with the heavy-duty option). Sources | 280 lb heavy-duty version: 350 lb | 12¼ in | 1 year | $3,000–$5,000 estimate from review sites |
 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 | 300 lb | 12 in | Limited lifetime (for as long as you own it) | $3,500–$5,000 estimate: lift price + usual fitting |
 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 | 310 lb | 12⅝ in | 2 years on parts | $3,799–$5,299 estimate: lift price + usual fitting |
| Handicare 1000Pro: up to 440 lb with the heavy-duty version. Con: it sticks out 15¼ in from the wall when folded. Sources | 350 lb heavy-duty version: 440 lb | 15¼ in | 2 years on parts | $3,990–$5,490 estimate: lift price + usual fitting |
 Savaria K2Pro: parts are covered for 3 years. Sources | 350 lb | 10¾ in | 3 years on parts | $4,135 published: lift + fitting, one dealer |
 Harmar Pinnacle SL300Pro: parts are covered for 2 years, longer than the one year some manufacturers give. Con: its standard weight limit is 300 lb, below the 350 lb carried by most lifts here. Sources | 300 lb | 11 in | 2 years on parts | $4,365 published: lift + fitting, one dealer |
 Stannah Siena 600Pro: the motor gearbox is covered for life. Con: the parts warranty runs one year. Sources | 350 lb | 14½ in | Lifetime on the motor, 1 year on parts | $4,700 published: the manufacturer's installed price |
| Harmar Pinnacle SL600Pro: of the straight lifts here, it folds closest to the wall (10½ in). Sources | 350 lb | 10½ in | Lifetime on the motor | $5,380 published: lift + fitting, one dealer |
| Bruno ElitePro: the major components are covered for life (a limited warranty). Con: it sticks out 15⅛ in from the wall when folded. Sources | 400 lb | 15⅛ in | Limited lifetime on the main parts | $5,499–$6,999 estimate: lift price + usual fitting |
| Harmar Pinnacle SL600HDPro: the highest weight limit among the straight lifts here (600 lb). Con: folded, it sticks out the most (16½ in). Sources | 600 lb | 16½ in | 3 years on parts | $8,230 published: lift + fitting, one dealer |
Stairs that turn: 5 models
| Model | Weight limit | Folded, from wall | Warranty | Installed price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn 180Pro: of the curved lifts here, it folds closest to the wall (13¼ in). Con: 265 lb as standard, the lowest weight limit among the curved lifts here. Sources | 265 lb | 13¼ in | 1 year | $8,000–$15,000+ estimate from review sites |
| 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 | 275 lb | 16½ in | 2 years on parts | $10,499–$11,999 estimate: lift price + usual fitting |
| Stannah Siena 260Pro: up to 352 lb with the heavy-duty version. Con: the parts warranty runs one year. Sources | 300 lb heavy-duty version: 352 lb | 16 in | Lifetime on the motor, 1 year on parts | $10,800 published: the manufacturer's installed price |
| Harmar HelixPro: the drive system is covered for life (a limited warranty). Con: it sticks out 16 in from the wall when folded. Sources | 350 lb | 16 in | Lifetime on the motor drive, 2 years on parts | $11,495–$12,995 estimate: lift price + usual fitting |
| Bruno Elite CurvedPro: the highest weight limit among the curved lifts here (400 lb). Con: the highest installed price among the curved lifts here. Sources | 400 lb | 15 in | Limited lifetime (for as long as you own it) | $12,000–$25,000+ published: a dealer's installed range |
Outside steps: 3 models
| Model | Weight limit | Folded, from wall | Warranty | Built for outside |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn 130 outdoorSource | ask the dealer | 12¼ in | ask Acorn | weather-resistant outdoor cover; the rail fixes to the steps, not a wall |
| Bruno Elite outdoorSource | 400 lb | ask the dealer | 5-year limited | marine-grade parts, weather-resistant seat, cover and aluminum rail |
| Handicare 1000 outdoorSource | 350 lbheavy-duty version: 440 lb | 15¼ in | 24 months on parts, through the dealer | for moderate climates: UV-protected plastics, zinc-coated hardware, vinyl seat and cover |
By kind of staircase
- For narrow stairs slimmest models
- Heavy duty 400 to 600 lb
- Standing and perch seats for stiff knees and hips
- Weight limits by model chart and download
More about these models: the full guide
This comparison gathers stair lift models from the biggest US brands. Each one is listed with its weight limit, how far it juts out when folded, the warranty, and the price. Each model links to its source page. One thing drives cost more than anything else: whether your stairs run straight or turn. Straight staircases are much cheaper to cover.
- Straight lift, brand-new, with fitting: $2,500 to $5,000
- Curved lift, brand-new, with fitting: $8,000 to $12,000
- Secondhand straight lift: $1,500 to $3,000, by condition and whether it is fitted
- Weight limit typical of these models: 350 lb
The National Council on Aging is the source for these price ranges. A curved lift rides a rail built for stairs that bend or pause at a landing.
Straight Stair Lift Models
The prices below are not all quoted the same way. In some rows the cost covers putting the lift in, and in others it covers only the unit, so the final column spells out the difference.
By "folded width" we mean how far the lift reaches into the stairway once the seat, arms, and footrest are tucked away. The smaller that number, the more space stays clear for people walking past.
Curved Stair Lift Options
A curved rail is custom-built for a single staircase, so most figures in this table are a starting point rather than a firm quote.
Which Models Suit Narrow Stairs?
Among the straight lifts, only the Acorn 130 is rated for stairs as slim as 26 inches. The Stannah Siena 600 works from 27 inches upward, and the remaining straight models need 28 inches at minimum.
If your stairs turn, the Acorn 180 handles widths from 27.5 inches. All the other curved lifts here need 30 inches or more.
Weight Limits by Model
Ratings of 350 lb are the norm across this list. At the bottom sits the Acorn 180 at 265 lb, and at the top the Harmar Pinnacle SL600HD at 600 lb.
Need more than 350 lb on a straight staircase? Three options exist: the Bruno Elite (400 lb), the heavy-duty Handicare 1000 (440 lb), and the Harmar Pinnacle SL600HD (600 lb). On a curved staircase, the Bruno Elite Curved tops out at 400 lb.
Price by How Many Straight Steps
More steps mean a longer rail, and each extra foot of rail nudges the price up a bit. Rails come as standard at 15.5 feet, and anything beyond that runs about $75 per foot.
| Straight steps | Rail length | New lift, fitted |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
How the Warranties Stack Up
Warranties differ a lot from brand to brand, and even within a single lift, coverage can last far longer for one part than for another, so it's worth checking which parts each one covers. Batteries tend to run shortest: the AmeriGlide Rave 2 gives just 30 days, while the Harmar Pinnacle lifts give 1 year.
- Some parts carry lifetime cover: the Bruno Elan, the Bruno Elite Curved (both limited lifetime), the SL600's motor, the Helix drive system, and the motor gearbox on both Stannah lifts
- Parts covered for three years: the Savaria K2 and the Pinnacle SL600HD
- Parts covered for two years: the Pinnacle SL300, the Helix, the Rave 2, and every one of the three Handicare lifts
- One year: each Acorn model, plus labor on the Stannah lifts
Your dealer handles the Savaria and Handicare parts warranties, and Bruno shares the Elite straight warranty terms through its dealers.