Stair lifts are a great way for you to make your business more accessible to people who have a hard time climbing stairs. When stair lifts are not in use, they easily fold out of the way. But if someone who needs assistance arrives, the stair glide quickly opens up to safely carry that person up the stairs.

The pricing and costs of stair lifts vary greatly, depending on the length of your stairs and the feature of the stair lift. Generally, you will find stair glides are an expensive capital purchase, although there are some ways you can save money. To do that, decide if you want to buy:

1. A new escalator stair lift;

2. A stair lift that is designed for do-it-yourself installation;

3. Or a used stair lift.

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Find prices for new stair lifts

New stair lifts start as low as $1,500 and go up to more than $5,000. The price is dependent on optional features, power supply, durability and weight limits. You will also have to pay someone to install your stair lift. This will typically add several hundred dollars to the final cost of your stair lift.

I recommend: Homecare Suppliers has an excellent selection of stair lifts from a variety of manufacturers, making it a great place to compare prices for different stair lifts. You can also compare various types of stair lifts on AmeriGlide.

Compare prices for stairlifts designed for easy installation

If you or someone on your staff is handy, you can save money by purchasing stair lifts that are designed for easy installation. Standard installation of these lifts usually takes two or three hours. Regular lifts cost between $1,500 and $2,000. Heavy-duty lifts cost between $2,000 and $3,000. Outdoor lifts can run as much as $4,500.

I recommend: A great place to compare prices for self-installation stair lifts is U.S. Medical Supplies. The company's website displays a good selection of AC-and DC-powered lifts from several manufacturers. Universal Accessibility also displays a good selection of stair lifts that are designed for easy installation.

Shop for used stair lifts

If you don't think your stair lift is going to be put into service very often, you should look into getting a refurbished or used stair lift. Typically, a you can buy used stair lifts for about 25% less than new stair lifts. That's a savings of about $300 to $600.

I recommend: The website for A1 Medical Supplies gives good descriptions of its used stair lifts, making it a good source if you're trying to price used lifts. Mobility 4U is another place to compare used lifts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your need for stair lifts is only temporary, stair lift rentals are available.

Staircases can be challenges for the arthritic, injured or other people with limited mobility. Stair lifts (or "stairlifts") help these people ascend and descend stairs with confidence, whether empty-handed or carrying bulky items such as grocery, laundry or luggage.

Stair lifts feature a swivel seat mounted on a set of aluminum or steel rails attached to the staircase. Pressure on the up-down control activates the lift, moving it up or down the rails by a chain, worm screw, rack and pinion or cable drive.

Stair lifts come in indoor, outdoor and heavy-duty models able to carry up to 500 pounds. They use either household current or a battery placed between the outlet and the lift motor. AC stair lifts typically cost less, but won’t function when power goes out. (Some AC units now offer battery backup.) DC stair lifts have no power cables to get in the way and will run if the power goes out, but you need to replace their batteries periodically.

Stair lifts now offer the following safety features and conveniences:
1. Seat belts to keep the rider securely in place.
2. Sensors that stop the lift if anything gets in its path.
3. Locks to keep children from playing with the unit.
4. Warning alarms to indicate incorrect parking or a low battery.

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Go with rising names in stair lifts

Many stair lift manufacturers have established quality reputations through years of experience, the markets they serve and professional certifications.

I recommend: Acorn Superglide Stairlifts manufactures and sells smooth-starting battery-powered stair glides worldwide. ISO-9001 certified Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc. offers residential and commercial battery-powered both straight-rail and custom-curved lifts, with an outdoor model able to carry 400 pounds.

Get help with buying an escalator stair lift

The life adjustments that come with purchasing a stair lift can make shopping a difficult process. Stair lift sellers can assist you with your purchase either online or in person.

I recommend: 4 Medical Supplies offers low prices on both electric- and battery-operated indoor, outdoor and heavy-duty stair glides and features an online measuring guide to help determine the right rail length, or you can have them do it before installation.

Save money with an install-it-yourself unit

Most stair lifts are designed to be installed with simple tools over the course of an afternoon. Many stair glide sellers give users the option to pocket the savings by doing their own labor.

I recommend: Accessibility4Less.com carries a line of lifts designed for easy installation and also offers installation services nationwide for those not so mechanically inclined. Universal Accessibility offers stair lifts from such major manufacturers as AmeriGlide, Acorn and Summit and the choice of do-it-yourself or professional installation.

Used stair lifts are another money saver

If you're on a tight budget or just need stair glides temporarily, look for reconditioned or gently used stair lifts.

I recommend: Stannah offers used stair lifts, factory reconditioned and guaranteed. Homecare Suppliers sells refurbished stair lifts from Summit Lifts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To use an escalator stair lift safely, the user must be able to bend their knees to put their feet on the unit's footplate. If the user needs help to mount the seat, choose a unit whose seat shape and position aid the transfer process.
• •  Stair lifts mount to stairs, not to walls, so the stairs must be in good condition and should be at least three feet wide for the lift to function effectively. For narrower stairs, the user's height and leg length determine the lift's effectiveness.
• •  Stair lifts go from top to bottom without intermediate stops. Doorways at either location require workarounds to accommodate the lift.
• •  Users with weak hand dexterity need a stair lift they can control with a hand pendant, while those with lower back problems need a lift with a smooth start and stop.

Stair lifts are a great tool for those who want to to stay independent but still need the mobility to get around the house. Stairlifts assist those who need to get up a flight of stairs but do not have an easy time walking up and down. A stair lift is usually installed onto a wall. This setup consists of a chair and a track that has a motor and will slowly move the chair up the stairs without putting strain on the user's back or legs.

Those who want to install stair glides need to carefully follow any instructions or training provided by the manufacturer. Stair lifts education and training resources will help you to:

1. Learn where to install assistive stair chairs.

2. How to operate these types of chairs.

3. The weight and size capacities of particular stair lift models.

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Watch videos to learn how to install a stairlift

Videos of installation techniques can give you the information you need to install your own chair, as well as a visual aid to help you through the process. Videos are a great supplement to written instructions because they can often show you what to do when instructions may be confusing.

I recommend: Home Care Suppliers provides a comprehensive video that shows you how to install a Summit Stair Lift. Meta Cafe provides a stair lift installation video that is easy to follow.

Read instructions to learn how to install assistive stair lifts

Assistive stair lifts can be complicated to install, especially if the design of the stairway is not perfectly straight. There are models that can work with curved stairs as well, but instructions must be followed carefully to ensure users' safety.

I recommend: The Stair Lift Guide provides a detailed instruction manual on how most stairs lifts are installed in a home or assisted living facility. Brooks Stairlifts provides instructions for multiple types of installation, plus tips for working around existing fixtures.

Take training courses to learn how to install stair lifts for sale

While there are no set requirements for stair lift installers, most companies that professionally install stair lifts are looking for people who have a background in mechanical and electrical equipment. This can come in the form of previous work experience or vocational education.

I recommend: Lincoln Technical Institute has an electrician program that can provide basic and advanced knowledge for a variety of electronic systems. ECPI College of Technology provides a mechatronics bachelor's degree that teaches students real world applications to learning how things work. This provides training for those who want to repair and install various systems.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Distributors of new and used stair lifts can provide additional instructions for installation, especially if you have an architectural issue.

A stair lift is a device that offers a person with decreased mobility the ability to access stairs. Stair lifts typically run on tracks on the stairs, come with a seat and have motorized controls that allow a user to be independent in going up and down the stairs. Stair lifts come in a variety of features that can suit different types of stairs. When looking for a stair lift that is right for your workplace, it is helpful to know a few terms related to stair lifts.

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Electric stair lift

An electric stair lift is one that is powered by electric current found in all homes and businesses. It requires full-time access to an electrical circuit in order for the stair lift to run.

I recommend: Stairlift Review provides a description of electric stair lifts.

Battery-powered stair lift

A battery-powered stair lift allows for use even during power outages. The batteries are usually charged on a charging system on the track and generally allow for a smoother and quieter ride than an electric stair lift.

I recommend: Ameriglide has a description and an example of a battery-powered stair lift

Straight stair lift

A straight stair lift is one that runs on a single track on the stair tread in a straight line. This is the simplest type of stair lift and usually the easiest type to install. Straight stair lifts can be electric or battery- powered.

I recommend: Number 1 Stair Lifts discusses straight stair lifts in more detail.

Curved stair lift

A curved stair lift is one that runs on a staircase that has odd angles or curves or has more than one set of straight stairs. This type of stair lift can help to navigate the curves of your staircase but can be more complex to install.

I recommend: StairLift-Info.net discusses straight versus curved stair lifts and provides video examples of both.

Rack and pinion drive system

Rack and pinion drive system is the most common type of drive system used for stair lifts today. It is a system of gears on a rail that allows for a smoother ride than other types of drive systems.

I recommend: The Med Supply Guide talks about the rack and pinion drive system; scroll down the page to view.

Feet per minute, FPM

Feet per minute is the measurement of speed for stair lifts. It refers to how many feet the stair lift can climb in a minute.

I recommend: American Elevator has a stair lift comparison chart which uses FPM for speed of stair lifts.