What Do Stair Lifts Cost?

When you begin to realize the value in owning a stair lift in your own home, a common first question is "What do stair lifts cost?" It is a valid question because a lift is quite an investment. Although it is not quite as expensive as a car, it is still a large piece of machinery that needs to be installed by professionals. All of these factors go together to create a bit of an investment, but an important purchase nonetheless.

As a ballpark estimate, including measurements, installation, materials and labor, you should expect to get the job done for anywhere from $1500 to about $7000. Of course, as with all things there are many different factors that will affect your cost. Because of this, there is no real way to narrow down just one range of lowest expected cost to highest. Let's talk about a few of the things that will affect your final price.

Brand

It does not matter if you're purchasing a new car, shoes or anything else, the brand that makes the product will affect the cost greatly. The same is true with stair lifts.

There are some brands that are known for producing lifts at a lower price. (You can use the information on stair lifts ratings from our site as a guide or some of the other stair lifts consumer reports) Companies like Ameriglide, Stannah, Bruno and others are a few examples, but there are many others as well. They have several different product options that start just over $1000 for materials. On the other hand, there are some higher end brands such as Stannah. Stannah is located in the United Kingdom, so you'll also have shipping costs involved.

Quality And Accessories

Each manufacturer offers many different models. These models will vary in quality from the cheapest to the most expensive. If you simply need a device to help you reach the second floor of your home, then there is no reason that you can't go with the least expensive lift that a manufacturer has. But, there are also accessories that you might choose to add. For instance, many people opt to add a grocery basket, a swivel chair, fold-out foot plates or folding arm rests.

All of these accessories will make your lift more convenient to use but will raise the cost. In general, you could say that most accessories will add about $200 to the overall cost each.

Used vs. New

You cannot forget about the option to purchase a used stair lift, or even stair lifts rentals for that matter. Used stair lifts prices might be as much as half the price of a brand new model. You have to take into consideration the fact that the lift has been used by someone else for a period of time. If you would like to buy a used model, it may be in your best interest to have it inspected by a professional to make sure that it is in proper working condition. This will also add to your cost.

Type Of Lift

There are also several different types of stair lifts. A straight lift that lays on top of a straight staircase is the least expensive. This is the type that you might be able to purchase for around $1500. However, if you have a curved staircase or a particularly steep staircase, you may require a special type of lift.

A curved unit could start at around $4000 and cost upwards of $10,000. Your specific situation is going to dictate the price - how long does the track need to be? What is the shape of your staircase? There are also lifts that are specifically made to be used outdoors. These can also cost a little bit more.

Because of all these factors, it is almost impossible to narrow down one figure and say that it is how much a stair lift will cost you. Your best bet is to contact the manufacturer and have a representative come out to your home and assess your particular situation.