Best Stairlift Brands UK: Independent Comparison and Prices (2026)

Published 8 December 2025 · Last updated 22 August 2026

An independent comparison of every major stairlift brand available in the UK. We cover pricing, build quality, warranty, curved staircase capability and who each brand is best suited for.

Before comparing brands, our stairlift cost calculator will give you a realistic price range for your staircase.

Updated May 2026 · Written by the Review Mobility Editorial Team · Independent, not sponsored

UK Stairlift Brands at a Glance

Brand	Straight Price	Curved Price	Warranty	Best For
Stannah	£3,300 – £4,500	£4,200 – £10,000	Up to 10 years	Curved stairs, long-term reliability
Acorn	£2,000 – £3,000	£4,000 – £6,000	1 – 5 years	Budget straight, fast install
Handicare	£2,000 – £3,500	£4,000 – £7,000	2 years	Mid-range value, slim designs
Brooks	£1,650 – £3,000	£3,500 – £5,000	1 year	Budget option via independent dealers
TKE Solutions	£1,715 – £3,500	£4,000 – £5,560	2 years	German engineering, mid-range

All prices include installation and assume 0% VAT (most stairlift buyers qualify). If you do not qualify for VAT exemption, add 20%.

Stannah

Stannah is the UK’s most recognised stairlift brand. The company has been family-owned since the 1860s and manufactures in the UK. They offer the widest range of models, the most customisation options and the longest warranties in the industry.

Strengths

Stannah’s twin-rail mechanical levelling system is the gold standard for curved staircases. Every rail is custom-manufactured after a detailed home survey, ensuring a precise fit regardless of staircase complexity. Their warranties cover the motor and gearbox for up to 10 years, the longest in the UK market. They offer reconditioned stairlifts through their own approved programme, and have both a direct sales team and a dealer network.

Weaknesses

Stannah is the most expensive brand for straight staircases. Their installation process is slower than Acorn’s (1 to 3 weeks lead time for straight, 3 to 6 weeks for curved). The premium is worth it for curved staircases but harder to justify for a simple straight flight where a cheaper brand will perform comparably.

Best models

The Stannah 600 is their flagship curved stairlift, handling virtually any staircase layout. The Stannah Sofia and Siena are their straight models, with the Siena offering a slimmer footprint for narrow staircases.

Acorn

Acorn is a global company with operations in over 80 countries. They sell direct to consumer only (no dealers) and use a modular manufacturing approach that keeps costs lower and installation times short.

Strengths

Acorn is typically the cheapest option for straight staircases. Their modular system allows for same-day or next-day installation, which is a genuine advantage for urgent needs such as hospital discharge planning. The single-rail design takes up less space on the staircase than Stannah’s twin-rail system.

Weaknesses

Acorn’s electronic levelling system introduces more potential failure points as the stairlift ages compared to Stannah’s mechanical approach. Warranties are shorter (1 to 5 years). They do not offer reconditioned units and sell direct only, which limits your servicing options to Acorn’s own engineers. Their curved stairlifts handle standard curves well but may struggle with complex multi-turn layouts.

Best models

The Acorn 130 is their core straight stairlift (also sold as the Brooks Lincoln through independent dealers). The Acorn 180 is their curved model.

Handicare

Handicare (now part of Savaria) is a Swedish-origin company offering a strong mid-range alternative to the big two. They have a good reputation for reliability and their slim stairlift designs are popular in homes with narrow staircases.

Strengths

Handicare’s Freecurve is one of the slimmest curved stairlifts on the market, making it ideal for narrow staircases. Their straight models (Handicare 1000 and 1100) offer good value in the mid-range. They sell through a network of independent dealers, giving you more local servicing options. Their Trustpilot rating of 4.4 out of 5 reflects generally positive customer experience.

Weaknesses

Less brand recognition than Stannah or Acorn in the UK. Standard 2-year warranty is shorter than Stannah’s. Availability of local dealers varies by region.

Best models

The Handicare 1100 is a reliable and affordable straight stairlift. The Handicare Freecurve is their standout curved model, designed for narrow and complex staircases. The Handicare 2000 covers outdoor installations.

Brooks

Brooks stairlifts are manufactured by Acorn and sold through a network of independent dealers. The product is essentially the same as the equivalent Acorn model but purchased through a different sales channel.

Why this matters

Buying a Brooks stairlift through an independent dealer means you have local after-sales support rather than relying on Acorn’s direct service team. Some buyers prefer the relationship with a local company. Prices can vary, and independent dealers may offer their own extended warranties or service packages on top of the manufacturer’s warranty.

Key models

The Brooks Lincoln is the equivalent of the Acorn 130 straight stairlift. The Brooks 180 curved is equivalent to the Acorn 180.

TKE Solutions (formerly ThyssenKrupp)

TKE Solutions is the rebranded stairlift division of the German industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp. They bring German engineering principles to a competitive mid-range price point.

Strengths

Competitive pricing starting from £1,715 for straight models. German engineering heritage with solid build quality. 2-year warranty covering parts and labour. Good range covering straight, curved and outdoor installations.

Weaknesses

Less established brand name in the UK compared to Stannah and Acorn. Smaller service network. The brand transition from ThyssenKrupp to TKE Solutions has caused some confusion in the market.

Key models

The TKE Flow X is their straight stairlift. The TKE Flow 2 handles curved staircases.

How to Choose the Right Brand

For a straight staircase on a budget

Acorn or Brooks offer the lowest prices. Get quotes from both plus at least one Handicare or TKE Solutions dealer to compare. The product differences between brands on straight staircases are smaller than the price differences suggest.

For a curved staircase

Stannah is the safest choice for complex curves. If your staircase has a simple single turn, Handicare’s Freecurve is worth quoting as a more affordable alternative. Always get at least three quotes for curved installations as pricing varies dramatically.

For long-term reliability

Stannah’s mechanical levelling system and 10-year warranty make it the clear choice if you expect the stairlift to be in use for many years.

For urgent installation

Acorn’s same-day or next-day installation capability is unmatched. If you need a stairlift fitted quickly, Acorn should be your first call.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best stairlift brand in the UK?

Stannah is the best overall brand for most buyers, offering the longest warranties, the widest model range and the most reliable curved stairlift engineering. Acorn is the best budget option for straight staircases.

Which stairlift brand is cheapest?

Brooks stairlifts start from £1,650, making them the cheapest option on paper. However, Brooks stairlifts are manufactured by Acorn so the product is essentially the same. Acorn’s own direct pricing starts from around £2,000. TKE Solutions starts from £1,715.

Are all stairlift brands equally safe?

All stairlifts sold in the UK must meet BS EN 81-40 safety standards. Every brand listed here meets these requirements. Differences in safety features (powered swivel, pressure-sensitive controls) are model-specific rather than brand-specific.

Should I buy from the manufacturer or an independent dealer?

Both have advantages. Manufacturers like Acorn and Stannah offer direct support and standardised pricing. Independent dealers may offer more flexible pricing, local servicing and the ability to compare multiple brands side by side. Always get quotes from both routes.

Related guides on Review Mobility

• How Much Does a Stairlift Cost? UK Price Guide
• Acorn vs Stannah: Full Comparison
• Stairlift Guide UK

For a closer look at the two best-known names, read our full Stannah review and Acorn review.

For two more options worth shortlisting, see our Handicare review and Brooks review.

The brands compared on verified evidence

Every figure below was checked on 17 August 2026 against Trustpilot and Companies House rather than taken from a brochure. Ratings move, so treat the date as part of the fact.

Brand	Trustpilot, 17 Aug 2026	How you buy	UK company	Warranty
Acorn	4.8 from 11,682 reviews	Direct	Acorn Mobility Services Ltd, 02593771	12 months, extended cover sold separately
TKE Home Solutions	4.7 from 170 reviews	Direct	TK Access Solutions Ltd, 01166449	Claims a lifetime warranty on new lifts
Stannah	4.5 from 6,043 reviews	Direct and dealers	Stannah Stairlifts Ltd, 01401451, family owned since 1867	2 years on new lifts
Handicare	4.5 from 1,953 reviews	Dealers and partners	Savaria Lifts (UK) Ltd, 04109393, renamed January 2026	Not published, set by the dealer
Otolift	No UK profile. Dutch parent 4.2 from 424	Dealers only	Otolift Stairlifts Ltd, 07867994, Dutch parent	Not published, set by the dealer
Bespoke	No verified manufacturer profile	Dealers only	Bespoke Stairlifts Ltd, 08406096	Dealers typically quote 2 years
Brooks	No profile	Dealers only	Brooks Stairlifts Ltd, 01042173, same owner and address as Acorn	Dealers typically quote 12 months
Platinum	2.3 from 7 reviews, too few to read anything into	Dealers only	Platinum Stairlifts Ltd, 03179671	Not published, dealers quote 2 years

Two things the brand names hide

Brooks and Acorn are largely the same lifts. Brooks Stairlifts Limited is registered at the same address as Acorn Mobility Services, and Companies House records the same person with significant control over both. Dealers list the hardware as the "Brooks / Acorn 130". So if you are collecting quotes and think you are comparing two rival brands, you are not. It does cut the other way, though: dealer prices for a Brooks 130 have been advertised around £1,395, which is below what direct quotes for the same lift often come in at, so it is worth pricing both routes.

Handicare in the UK has quietly changed name. Handicare Accessibility Limited was renamed Savaria Lifts (UK) Limited in January 2026, following Savaria acquiring the Handicare group in 2021, and Companion Stairlifts, which was the consumer sales route for Handicare lifts, was dissolved in the same month. The lifts and the model numbers are unchanged. If you have an older Handicare warranty or service plan, check which company name is on it, and get the current entity named in writing on any new contract.

Direct or through a dealer, and why it decides your aftercare

This is the split that matters most and it is rarely explained. Acorn, Stannah and TKE sell direct, so one company handles the survey, the fit, the warranty and the engineer who comes out when it stops. Otolift, Platinum, Bespoke and Brooks sell only through independent dealers, and Handicare mostly does. For those, the manufacturer sets the hardware and the dealer sets everything else: the price, the warranty length, the annual service charge and how fast someone arrives.

The practical consequence is that two people can buy the identical lift and get quite different terms. For any dealer-sold brand, ignore the manufacturer brochure on warranty and aftercare, and get the installing dealer to put the warranty length, the annual service cost and the callout response time in writing.

Read the review counts, not just the scores

Platinum sits at 2.3 out of 5, which looks alarming until you see it comes from seven reviews. That is not a rating, it is a rounding error, and it happens because customers of dealer-sold brands leave their feedback with the dealer who fitted the lift, not the factory that made it. The same effect flatters nobody: Brooks has no profile at all despite selling in volume.

At the other end, Acorn 4.8 from 11,682 reviews is a real signal, but it comes from an automated invitation sent to every customer, which tends to capture the satisfied majority. Stannah at 4.5 from 6,043 is collected the same way. Compare like with like, and when a brand is sold through dealers, go and look up the specific dealer quoting you rather than the badge on the chair.

Only one brand publishes its prices

TKE lists a starting price on its own site, around £2,100 for the straight S100 and £4,752 for the curved S200. Every other brand here is quote only, which means every price you read online, including on this page, comes from a dealer or from buyers sharing what they paid. That is why two or three quotes matter more in this market than in almost any other home purchase, and why a discount that expires this afternoon should be treated as a reason to walk away rather than to sign.

To price the dealer route as well as the direct one, our directory of UK stairlift companies lists local installers with their trading history and reviews.

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Published 8 December 2025 · Last updated 22 August 2026