Raise these questions before you hire a stair lift contractor
Your stairlift installation depends on the type you choose, with curved lifts costing more and requiring custom measurements for proper fit.
Curved stairlifts cost $7,500 to $30,000, while standard lifts range from $2,000 to $9,000, so planning ahead helps you budget accordingly.
Measure your staircase length and rise before scheduling installation, especially if you have higher ceilings or more steps than the standard 13 to 16.
Hiring a local stairlift installation professional takes the guesswork out of curved configurations and tight spaces, ensuring your lift works safely from day one.
A stair lift can turn an inaccessible part of your home into a safer, usable space for anyone needing assistance getting up the stairs. This accessible home remodeling project can be a major undertaking, but being prepared to ask questions before you hire a contractor can help you make smart decisions about installing a stair lift. We’ve answered some of the most common stair lift questions to get your lift off the ground and running.
The type of stair lift you choose for your home can impact the installation method, installation time, and price. There are four types of stair lifts available on the market, including:
Straight stair lifts
Curved stair lifts
Platform stair lifts
Outdoor stair lifts
Curved stair lifts cost the most, ranging from $7,500 to $30,000. By comparison, a standard stair lift costs between $2,000 and $9,000 on average.
If you're installing an outdoor stair lift, consider when you need the work done, as weather can impact when a professional can come to install it. Indoor stair lifts may have more wiggle room for when you can install them, but you could save on costs by hiring a local stair lift installation pro during the slow season, like winter.
Your stairs’ overall rise and length determine how far the stair lift should go and how much it should rise. A standard flight of stairs has anywhere from 13 to 16 steps, and the average length, or vertical height, of a flight of stairs is between 8 and 11 feet. If your ceiling is 9 or 10 feet tall, you may have more steps than average—this means your stairlift may need to be longer.
Measure the length of your staircase so that your installer can anticipate any additional time and materials needed to complete the stair lift installation or replacement.
If you're installing a stair lift in a tight or hard-to-reach space, relay this information to your stair lift installer ahead of time. Stair lifts located in a difficult part of the home could require more time to install successfully. Likewise, an outdoor lift may be more challenging to install than a standard stair lift—especially if you’re customizing the lift to work around obstacles or need a lift that’s longer than average.
For stair lift replacements or repairs, troubleshooting the problem can help your pro know what course of action to take before even arriving at your house, which can help you receive a more accurate quote. In some cases, a pro can repair your stair lift instead of replacing it, helping you avoid replacement costs. Common stair lift troubleshooting problems are:
Faulty key switch position
Power supply issues
Flipped battery disconnect switch
Expired batteries in the remote control
Circuit overload from too many electronics on the electrical circuit
Displaced swivel seat position
Misaligned armrest or footrest
Safety sensor obstruction
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From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Use our guide to calculate the cost to install a stair lift in your home. Prices depend on the type of stair lift, including the seat style and other advanced features.
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