This article was last updated on 1 March 2021.
While curved stair lift prices can vary depending on curved stair lift models and the company you are buying from, you can expect to pay £4000 and upwards for a new curved chair lift. The good news is that the running costs of curved stairlifts tend to be low, so once your curved stair lift is installed, you won’t need to pay too much more.
This is significantly more expensive than a straight stairlift, which has an average price of closer to £2000. So you need to be confident that a curved stair lift is right for you before you buy.
Because of their lower prices, if a straight stairlift will work in your home, this is often the best option. But if you have a curved staircase, it is likely that you will need a curved stair lift.
The main reason that curved stairlifts tend to have higher prices is that they are frequently bespoke. This means the stair lift and its rail system are made individually to fit the layout and dimensions of the home of the buyer.
It takes time and effort to install to fit each individual staircase, in particular the curved rail. If you can use a curved rail that is pre made, rather than a bespoke one, it will be less expensive, although if you use materials like aluminium that can increase the price.
Many other factors influence the price of curved stairlifts. These include the brand, how many corners your staircase has, length of flights of stairs, and whether installation is included.
Generally, the more corners your staircase has and the greater the height of the stairs, the more money your curved stairlift will cost. But there are exceptions.
Here is a video demonstrating how a curved stair lift works.
If you have a staircase with corners, there is good news and bad news.
The good news is that you can have a curved stairlift fitted to a staircase that has even quite a sharp curve or a narrow corner. Even some spiral staircases can have stairlifts fitted, for example. The bad news is that a higher number of corners in your staircase will increase the amount you pay substantially.
Corners in your staircase can necessitate purchasing a bespoke stairlift, which is more expensive than a standard model. Stairlift installation and fittings may also be more expensive if your stair case has many turns or corners. Costs can also go up if you have a small landing area and therefore this needs expanding.
To make sure you get the best price for your stair lift, check for any hidden extras. Make sure you are making a fair comparison of prices between companies, to ensure you get a good value mobility solution.
Consider getting a warranty so that you can avoid repair and servicing costs in the future. Warranties and maintenance contracts can be an advantage, since you may be expecting to use your staircase lift for more than a year or two.
Replacement parts and other long-term service costs and repairs can be a difficulty for those who decide to do without a warranty or service plan.
First, contact some of the leading stairlift companies. Many of them give a phone number on their website and will be happy to give you free advice over the phone and answer a question or two, or give a stairlift quote, if you get in contact.
Talking directly to stairlift suppliers and their stair lift experts will give you the most accurate and up-to-date information about curved stairlift prices. Some of them may also give information of the sort of curved stairlifts they offer their websites, but it will probably be less detailed.
However, it is wise to first check some online guides to see the average price for curved stairlifts with various features. Compare each average price and different quotes among leading brands to ensure that you do not pay more than necessary for your stairlift.
Being informed about stair lifts prices first, especially curved stairlifts prices, is not required. But it will give you the upper hand if you need to negotiate with the seller.
And it is definitely worth attempting to negotiate; in fact, an independent survey from Which found that 34% of customers were able to negotiate a lower price. https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/stairlifts/article/best-stairlift-brands/best-stairlift-brands-overview
Always ask for a breakdown of the price quotation so that you know how much you are paying for the track, the carriage, and the installation. This is a good idea whether you are looking at a curved lift for staircase or a straight stairlift.
Use a company with a good reputation for professionalism, with several years of experience building bespoke stairlifts. Their engineers should have experience in building curved stairlifts in individual homes, not just straight stairlifts.
By doing a little bit of research and making sure the supplier you buy from is reputable, you can ensure safety and peace of mind in future.
It may be tempting to go straight for a well-known stairlift manufacturer like Stannah, Acorn or Handicare. But you can also search for smaller firms which may provide stairlift solutions to the same specification at a lower market price.
If you are worried about the cost of fitting a new stairlift to your curved stairs, check whether you are eligible for any financial aid with your mobility requirements. In some areas, a mobility grant may be available to help with stair lift costs.
If you are in the UK, you may be eligible for a disabled facilities grant. This can provide financial help to buy a new stairlift if that helps to ensure you are able to continue living in a multi-storey home with stairs.
Charitable organisations also offer financial assistance to some individuals, and council house and housing associations tenants can try contacting their local authorities to apply for support.
You do not have to be the person who is going to use the stairlift to apply. An application can also be made by a landlord to install a stairlift for a disabled tenant if they require one. However, the person who is going to use the stairlift needs to be planning to stay in the location for at least five years. Without this commitment they will be ineligible for the disabled facilities grant.
You must make your application for financial help before the work begins. It is no use applying when your lift stairs are halfway to being installed, as the eligibility criteria do not cover such purchases.
You might also have to have the property assessed for suitability. Factors such as the age and condition of the property might affect the outcome.
You might not have to pay VAT on the cost of a stairlift – this is called a VAT exemption. Getting a VAT exemption could save you twenty per cent of the cost, which makes a big difference, considering stair lift cost usually runs into the thousands.
A full VAT exemption is available for people with impaired mobility or who are otherwise disabled. Others suffering from some medical conditions may still qualify for a reduction.
See https://www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants/eligibility for further details.
Also, some stairlift companies offer low-interest financing on their products.
Acorn and Stannah lift services are some of the best-known stairlift ranges. You could consider contacting them first- perhaps request brochures to get an idea of stairlift prices and the range of features available.
Even if you do not end up buying from them, you can benefit from their experience. Reading their brochure and receiving their advice can help you work out what choice is going to suit you and your stairs, and as large established companies you can guarantee that the information will be sound.
Arrange for one or two companies to come to your home. (This may not be possible in the short to medium term due to the impact of COVID-19. Ensure any company providing home visits has implemented safety precautions.)
Many will give a free assessment of the staircase or staircases you want to install the curved stairlift on; surveyors will look at the area of your staircase and consider the risk of collision between the chair, the users knees, and any surrounding obstacles such as a radiator/ radiators and bannisters. These obstructions will be altered or removed by the engineer during installation to provide space for the stairlift to function and to avoid the risk of accident.
Many stairlift manufacturers will be keen to discuss what you need. Their industry experts can explain their product offers, including the different features and types of designs of each of their stairlift models. This can include a swivel seat, a power swivel seat, joystick controls and a control button, a footrest, and other options.
Please don’t forget to try out the seat (or get the prospective stairlift user to) since every stairlift model might be different and suit different people with regard to comfort. The average person will need to get from the bottom to the top of their stairs many times every day, so you will want to ensure that the stair lift model you choose provides a pleasant experience every time.
The weight capacity of stairlifts can differ, so if this is likely to become an issue, look into high-capacity options before making any purchases.
It can be useful to note the name of each model you discuss and make a shortlist of your top stair lift choices. Include the stair lift price and main features to compare between the different alternatives.
Also ask around among your friends and family. It is possible that they also have some experience of stairlifts and can guide you on the benefits of each type.
If you find that more questions come to mind after a home visit, don’t be afraid to follow up with another telephone call. Write down questions as they occur to you so that you don’t forget them.
You might be able to get the direct phone number of the installer who comes to visit you. If so, you will have the advantage of being able to contact someone who is familiar with the details of your installation.
Buying a reconditioned, used stairlift or a second hand stairlift could also be an option if you need to reduce costs, but you need to be very cautious here. Used curved stairlifts may not come with a warranty. You can also look to see if a stairlift rental is possible- renting may be a better deal if you have short-term mobility needs.
Curved stairlifts are usually custom built to fit each customer’s home. So it may be impossible to find a used curved stair lift that will fit your particular staircase adequately.
It is a good idea to ask about reconditioned stairlift models the company might have in its collection which would fit your stairs. During home assessments of your staircase is a good time to ask about this.
If you are lucky, there might also be a returned or display stairlift available. This might be almost new, but available for you to purchase at a reduced price.
If you are thinking of buying the curved rail and the stairlift carriage separately, make sure that the models are compatible. This is easiest if all the parts come from the same stairlift company since you can contact them with questions about individual products.
IYou should steer clear of second hand stairlifts being sold by individuals who are not affiliated with a reputable company. Though these look like bargain deals, you cannot be certain- without an expert assessment- that a second hand curved stairlift will safely fit your home. To ensure reliability and conformity to health and safety, avoid these sellers.
As you have probably guessed by now, the process of getting a new or reconditioned curved stairlift can take some time. So it is advisable to start shopping around and asking for advice before your need for the stairlift becomes too urgent, and you don’t have to make a decision under pressure.
If you are applying for financial help, remember that it can take some time for your application to be processed. Don’t leave it until the last minute, or you could be saddled with unnecessarily higher costs.
It is also worth planning when the installation will take place so that it does not cause disruption for you and your family. It might be best to do this at a time when family members are available to help oversee the process.
Buying a stairlift with a curved track is a little more complex than choosing a straight one, especially if you have narrow stairs, but don’t be daunted by the process. There are many people who can answer your questions and help you find the curved stairlift that will suit you best.
A good quality curved stairlift can give you the freedom to live independently at home, and with the help of the information and advice provided here, you should be well equipped to begin your search with ease. We wish you the best of luck in finding an excellent curved stairlift and completing the installation.
At UK Care Guide we have reviewed the main stairlift companies and manufacturers in the UK.
If you are looking for a stairlift, then our recommendation would be for you to use Acorn Stairlifts. This is for the following 8 reasons:
They have been a major stairlift provider in the UK for over 20 years- longer than most other manufacturers in the UK.
Having reviewed the prices of Acorn and compared them to other providers, we found that they were most often the cheapest. This combination of value and quality makes them, in our opinion, unbeatable.
They are the world’s largest stairlift manufacturer, which will help provide you with peace of mind that they will supply you with a good quality lift.
Having a British based company is important as increasingly we are seeing more and more products coming from the likes of China. Whilst they can sometimes be a little cheaper, we do sometimes have doubts about their quality. After all, who wants to end up stuck on a stairlift halfway up the stairs! Acorn are based in Yorkshire.
Having reviewed the prices of Acorn and compared them to other stairlift companies, we found that their average price was often the cheapest for a straight or curved stairlift.
Don’t just take our word for it. Based on over 1,000 customer responses, they have a 5-star review on Trust Pilot.
The need to get a stairlift can often be urgent, especially if someone has been in hospital and is looking to leave. Acorn has over 65 UK surveyors and can do same-day assessments as well as a home visit if needed. This help ensures you get the lift as soon as you possibly can.
Having possibly done an assessment on the day you contacted them, they are also able to complete installation within 3 days in 80% of the UK and within 5 days for the other 20%. Other organisations can take up to two weeks to install your stairlift, causing unnecessary inconvenience.
If you find that you are not sure whether you need a stairlift, then Acorn will allow you to rent one of their stairlifts to see how you get on with it. Not all manufacturers do this and we think this flexibility will be valued by many.
For all of the above reasons, we have no hesitation in recommending Acorn as the best stairlift company for you. If you do want to buy or rent a stairlift, need a quote, or you have some more questions, you can contact them by ringing – 0800 0169 435.
Alternatively, you can leave your contact details below and we will arrange for Acorn to call you straight away.
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Or you can call Acorn directly on 0800 0169 435
The price of a stairlift can be expensive. This articles examines the costs involved in buying a stairlift and what is involved in its installation.
Curved stairlifts are necessary where you do not have a straight staircase. In this article we look at what you need to consider if getting one.
A reconditioned stairlift can be a good balance between a new and second hand stairlift. In this article we look at what you need to look out for.
A used stairlift is a good option if you are looking to save some money. This article looks at what you need to think about if you want to buy one.
A second hand stairlift is a great cheap option if you need to be careful about what you spend. In this article we look at what you need to consider.
Buying a stairlift can be expensive. Therefore, and especially if you need it on a temporary basis, renting one could be a good option to consider.
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If you have a narrow set of stairs then you may need a specialist staircase. In this article we look at the issues involved in getting one fitted.
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Hayley is responsible for writing content on the site as well as managing the social media channels. She has a degree in Art and Humanities. Hayley has been reviewing and writing on products for a number of years and uses her experience to recommend the best products.
