Published 2 November 2024 · Last updated 22 August 2026
An honest, side-by-side comparison of the UK’s two biggest stairlift brands. We cover pricing, build quality, installation, warranties, curved staircase options and which one suits your situation.
Updated May 2026 · Written by the Review Mobility Editorial Team · Independent, not sponsored
Quick answer: Stannah is the better choice for curved staircases, long-term reliability and comprehensive warranties (up to 10 years). Acorn is typically cheaper and faster to install, making it a strong option for standard straight staircases on a tighter budget. Stannah straight stairlifts start from around £3,300. Acorn straight stairlifts start from around £2,000. Both offer 0% VAT for disabled and chronically ill buyers.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Factor | Acorn | Stannah |
|---|---|---|
| Straight stairlift price | £2,000 – £3,000 | £3,300 – £4,500 |
| Curved stairlift price | £4,000 – £6,000 | £4,200 – £10,000 |
| Rail system | Single rail, electronic levelling | Twin rail, mechanical levelling |
| Installation time | 1 – 2 hours (modular, same-day) | 2 – 4 hours (custom survey, 1 – 3 weeks lead) |
| Warranty | 1 – 5 years | Up to 10 years (motor and gearbox) |
| Curved staircase handling | Modular curved rails, suits standard curves | Bespoke rails, handles complex multi-turn layouts |
| Company history | 25+ years, global presence in 80+ countries | 150+ years, family-owned, UK heritage brand |
| Sales model | Direct to consumer only | Direct and through approved dealers |
| Reconditioned available? | No (new only from Acorn directly) | Yes, Stannah-approved refurbished units |
Pricing: What You Will Actually Pay
Acorn is typically the cheaper option for straight staircases. Their modular manufacturing process keeps costs lower because components are standardised rather than custom-built. For a standard straight staircase, expect to pay £2,000 to £3,000 with Acorn versus £3,300 to £4,500 with Stannah.
For curved staircases, the gap narrows. Acorn curved stairlifts cost £4,000 to £6,000, while Stannah ranges from £4,200 to £10,000 depending on complexity. The higher end of Stannah’s range reflects genuinely complex staircases with multiple turns and landings where their bespoke rail manufacturing excels.
Important: Both companies offer 0% VAT if you are chronically sick or disabled. On a £3,000 stairlift, that saves you £500. Always claim this before you pay.
Build Quality and Engineering
Acorn’s approach: modular and electronic
Acorn uses a single-rail system with electronic levelling. The rail is manufactured in standard sections and cut to length on site. The electronic system adjusts the seat angle automatically as the stairlift travels. This approach allows for rapid installation and keeps manufacturing costs down.
The trade-off is longevity. Electronic levelling systems introduce more potential failure points as the stairlift ages. Over a 10 to 15 year lifespan, electronic components are more likely to need replacement than mechanical ones.
Stannah’s approach: bespoke and mechanical
Stannah uses a twin-rail system with mechanical levelling. Each rail is custom-manufactured after a detailed home survey. The mechanical system uses the physical shape of the rails to maintain the correct seat angle, with fewer electronic components that can fail.
This approach costs more and takes longer to install, but the mechanical system tends to perform more reliably over 10 to 15 years. Stannah also offers a wider range of seat styles, colours and finishes, allowing you to match the stairlift to your home decor.
Installation Process
Acorn: fast and efficient
Acorn’s modular design means installation is quick. A straight stairlift can be fitted within 1 to 2 hours of the engineer arriving. In many cases, Acorn can survey and install on the same day or next day. This speed is a genuine advantage if you need a stairlift urgently, for example after a hospital discharge.
Stannah: thorough but slower
Stannah begins with a detailed home survey by a trained assessor. The rail is then custom-manufactured (typically 1 to 3 weeks for straight, 3 to 6 weeks for curved). Installation itself takes 2 to 4 hours. The process is slower, but the custom approach means the stairlift fits your staircase precisely.
Curved Staircases: Where Stannah Pulls Ahead
If your staircase has bends, turns, intermediate landings or unusual geometry, Stannah has a clear advantage. Their bespoke rail manufacturing can accommodate virtually any staircase layout, including tight 180-degree turns, narrow staircases and multi-flight configurations.
Acorn’s modular curved rails handle standard curved configurations well, but may struggle with particularly complex layouts. If your staircase has more than one turn or an unusual shape, get quotes from both companies and compare how each proposes to handle the curves.
Warranty and After-Sales
This is where Stannah has a significant edge. Stannah offers warranties up to 10 years on the motor and gearbox, reflecting their confidence in the product’s longevity. Acorn’s warranty ranges from 1 to 5 years depending on the model and location.
Stannah also sells directly and through a network of approved dealers, giving you more options for servicing and repairs. Acorn sells direct to consumer only, which means all after-sales support goes through Acorn’s own service team.
Safety Features
Both brands include the essential safety features: seatbelts, obstruction sensors that stop the stairlift if something is on the stairs, and a swivel seat at the top of the stairs so you can step off safely away from the staircase edge.
Stannah offers additional safety options including pressure-sensitive controls (the stairlift only moves while you hold the control), a powered swivel seat and a powered footrest. These features are particularly valuable for users with limited hand strength or dexterity.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Acorn if:
- You have a standard straight staircase with no bends
- Budget is a primary concern
- You need the stairlift installed quickly (same-day or next-day)
- You are comfortable with a shorter warranty period
Choose Stannah if:
- Your staircase has curves, bends or multiple turns
- Long-term reliability and a comprehensive warranty matter to you
- You want more customisation options (colours, seat styles, finishes)
- You prefer having local dealer support for servicing
- You are buying for a property where the stairlift will be in use for many years
Consider a third option
Acorn and Stannah are not the only choices. Handicare, Brooks (manufactured by Acorn) and TKE Solutions (formerly ThyssenKrupp) all offer competitive alternatives. Getting quotes from at least three companies, including one independent installer, will give you the clearest picture of your options and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acorn or Stannah cheaper?
Acorn is typically cheaper for straight staircases, with prices starting around £2,000 compared to Stannah’s £3,300. For curved staircases the difference narrows, with Acorn starting around £4,000 and Stannah around £4,200.
Which lasts longer, Acorn or Stannah?
Stannah stairlifts generally have a longer lifespan due to their mechanical twin-rail system and heavier-duty construction. Stannah backs this with warranties up to 10 years. Acorn stairlifts are reliable but their electronic levelling system introduces more potential failure points over time.
Can Acorn fit a curved staircase?
Yes, Acorn offers curved stairlifts using modular rail sections. They handle standard curves and single turns well. For complex multi-turn staircases or unusual layouts, Stannah’s bespoke approach may be a better fit.
Do both brands offer VAT relief?
Yes. If you are chronically sick or disabled, you can buy from either brand at 0% VAT. You sign a declaration form and the company charges you at the reduced rate. No benefits or registration are required.
Are Brooks stairlifts the same as Acorn?
Brooks stairlifts are manufactured by Acorn. The Brooks Lincoln straight stairlift is essentially the same product as the Acorn 130, sold through a different brand name and dealer network. If you are quoted for a Brooks stairlift, you can compare it directly against Acorn pricing.
How do I get a quote from Acorn or Stannah?
Both companies offer free home surveys. Acorn can often survey and install on the same day. Stannah schedules a survey followed by a separate installation date. Always get quotes from both companies plus at least one independent installer to ensure you are getting a fair price.
Related guides on Review Mobility
Read each brand in depth in our Acorn review and Stannah review.
Further reading on Stairlift Guru
Stairlift Guru is our sister site, covering stairlifts exclusively and in more depth than we can here:
What the independent evidence says
Most Acorn versus Stannah pages online are written by companies paid to pass your details to an installer. Below is the verifiable record instead, with the date each figure was checked so you can weigh it yourself rather than take our word for it.
| Evidence | Acorn | Stannah |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot, checked 17 August 2026 | 4.8 out of 5 from 11,682 reviews | 4.5 out of 5 from 6,043 reviews |
| Which? verdict | 2019 undercover investigation reported sales practices Which? said may breach pressure-selling law | Named a Which? Recommended Provider in 2024, its second consecutive year |
| Standard warranty | 12 months parts and labour, including one service visit. Optional 4-year extended cover, price not published | 2 years on new lifts |
| Who you actually contract with | Acorn Mobility Services Limited, company 02593771. The brand-name company, Acorn Stairlifts Limited, is filed as dormant | Stannah Stairlifts Limited, company 01401451, incorporated 1978. Family owned since 1867 |
| Typical fitting time | 1 to 2 hours, 4 to 5 hours on complex stairs, next-day fitting offered | Around 5 hours, straight lifts a few hours, curved about half a day |
| Rental | Offered on the 130 and 180. Cost not published | Offered. Cost and minimum term not published |
| Buy-back | Will not buy the lift back. Runs a resale scheme that helps you sell privately | Not published |
The Which? investigation, in context
In May 2019 Which? sent undercover researchers to three Acorn sales appointments. It reported pressure to decide on the spot, a discount produced only after the salesperson rang a colleague, a request for a refundable deposit of £500, and a sign-today discount presented as time limited when it was in fact available at other times. A Which? survey the previous year found more than a third of Acorn customers felt pressured. Acorn responded that it would not condone such conduct and disputed parts of the findings.
That was seven years ago and sales practices change, so treat it as context rather than a verdict on the company today. It is worth knowing before a home visit for one practical reason: whatever either firm quotes you, no legitimate stairlift company needs a decision the same afternoon. If a discount is genuine on Tuesday it will still be genuine on Friday.
What neither brand publishes
Neither company publishes a price list. Every figure you see online, ours included, comes from third-party retailers, charity databases or quotes buyers have shared. That is normal in this trade, and it has two consequences worth planning around. Quotes are negotiable, so getting two or three is the single most effective thing you can do. And the number you are given depends heavily on your stairs, so a quote for a straight flight tells you almost nothing about what a curved rail will cost.
Neither figure in the warranty row is the whole story either. Acorn covers 12 months as standard and sells extended cover, while Stannah includes two years. What matters more over ten years is the annual service and callout cost, which neither publishes. Ask for that figure in writing before you sign, because it is the part of stairlift ownership people are most often surprised by.
It is also worth getting a quote from an independent installer alongside the two national brands. You can find local firms, with their trading history and reviews, in our directory of UK stairlift companies.
Published 2 November 2024 · Last updated 22 August 2026