Published 5 March 2025 · Last updated 22 August 2026
Quick answer: A new straight stairlift costs £2,000 to £4,000 fitted. A curved one costs £4,000 to £10,000, because the rail is manufactured to match your staircase. Reconditioned lifts start around £1,000, renting runs £50 to £120 a month, and if you have a long term illness or disability you pay no VAT on any of it.
UK stairlift prices at a glance
Every figure below is an installed price, which is how UK companies quote. Prices come from our UK Mobility Equipment Price Index and were last checked in August 2026.
| Type of stairlift | Typical installed price | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Straight, new | £2,000 to £4,000 | One unbroken flight with no bends or half landing |
| Curved, new | £4,000 to £10,000 | Any staircase with a bend, a turn or a half landing |
| Outdoor | £3,000 to £6,000 | Garden or entrance steps, weatherproofed rail and cover |
| Reconditioned | £1,000 to £3,000 | Budget buyers, usually straight rails only |
| Stand-up or perch | £3,000 to £5,000 | Narrow stairs, or people who cannot bend the knees or hips comfortably |
| Rental, straight | £50 to £120 a month, plus installation up to £500 | Short term need after surgery or during recovery |
| Annual service | £100 to £200 | Everyone, once the first year is up |
For a figure based on your own staircase, try the stairlift cost calculator, then read how to get a stairlift quote before you invite anyone round.
Why a curved stairlift costs so much more
A straight stairlift is a stock product. The rail is cut from standard sections, the carriage is off the shelf, and a fitter can usually finish the job in a morning. A curved stairlift is not. The rail is measured, drawn and manufactured for one specific staircase, which takes weeks and cannot be resold to anyone else, so the price carries the cost of that one-off manufacturing.
That is also why the curved band is wide. Two bends and a short flight sits near the bottom of it. Three or more bends, a long rail, or a rail that has to pass a doorway or a radiator sits at the top, and unusual staircases, or premium brands, can take a curved quote beyond £10,000 altogether.
What moves the price of a quote
- Bends in the rail. The single biggest factor. One bend moves you from the straight band into the curved band.
- Rail length and overrun. How far the rail runs past the top and bottom step so you can get on and off safely.
- Powered hinged rail. A folding section at the bottom that keeps a hallway or doorway clear. Useful, and it adds several hundred pounds.
- Powered swivel seat. Turns the seat at the top so you do not have to twist to get off.
- Which side the rail goes. Sometimes the natural side is blocked by a door or a window, and the alternative costs more.
- New or reconditioned carriage. A reconditioned carriage on a new rail is the usual way to bring a straight lift under £2,000.
- The company. Direct manufacturers and local dealers price the same hardware differently. Our brand comparison shows which brands are which.
What the installed price should include
UK companies quote a single installed figure rather than pricing the lift and the fitting separately. That figure should cover the carriage, the rail, delivery, fitting, testing, a handover demonstration, two remote controls and the first year of warranty. If a quote separates out an installation charge, ask what it buys that is not already in the price.
Things that are commonly not included, and worth asking about: the first annual service, breakdown cover after the warranty ends, removing an old lift, and taking the new one out again at the end of its life.
Reconditioned stairlifts
A reconditioned stairlift is a returned carriage that has been stripped, repaired and retested, usually fitted to a brand new rail. Straight reconditioned lifts run £1,000 to £3,000 fitted. Curved ones are rare, because the old rail almost never matches a different staircase, so any curved lift sold as reconditioned normally means a used carriage on a new made-to-measure rail, and the price lands close to new.
The thing to check is the warranty. A reconditioned lift from a dealer offering 12 months of parts and labour is a sound buy. One sold privately with no cover is a gamble, because a fault in the carriage can cost more than the saving.
Renting instead of buying
Renting a straight stairlift costs £50 to £120 a month, usually with an installation fee of up to £500 and a minimum term of about three months. As a rule of thumb, if you need the lift for less than about 18 months, renting works out cheaper than the £2,000 to £4,000 of buying new. Longer than that and buying wins. Curved lifts are rarely available to rent for the same reason they cost more to buy. Our stairlift rental guide covers the terms to check.
Running and maintenance costs
- Annual service: £100 to £200, and worth having. A service is when worn parts get spotted before they strand someone upstairs.
- Batteries: a consumable, typically replaced every three to five years. Ask your installer to quote the price of a set before you need them.
- Electricity: a stairlift charges from an ordinary socket and draws very little. It is not a cost most owners notice on a bill.
- Breakdown cover: priced separately once the warranty ends, and the number that matters is the response time in writing, not the monthly fee.
Removing a stairlift later
Removal is usually £200 to £500, and disposal of an old lift adds £50 to £200 if the company does not take it away. A straight lift retains some value, so ask about a buy-back, which can cancel out the removal charge. A curved rail has almost no resale value because it fits one staircase. Our guide to selling a stairlift explains what is realistic.
How to pay less
- VAT relief. If you have a long term illness or disability, a stairlift is zero rated, and gov.uk confirms the relief covers installation, any extra work needed as part of it, and repairs or maintenance. You sign a short declaration with the supplier. Being elderly on its own does not qualify. See our VAT relief guide.
- Disabled Facilities Grant. Up to £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales and £25,000 in Northern Ireland, means tested for adults. Scotland has no DFG and handles adaptations through its own scheme of assistance. See stairlift grants and funding.
- Charities and local schemes. Some cover part of the cost where a grant falls short.
- Three quotes. The simplest saving of all in a market where nobody publishes prices.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a stairlift for a straight staircase?
£2,000 to £4,000 fitted for a new one, or £1,000 to £3,000 for a reconditioned carriage on a new rail. A standard flight of 13 to 14 steps sits in the middle of that range.
How much does a curved stairlift cost?
£4,000 to £10,000 fitted. The rail is manufactured for your staircase, so the number of bends and the total rail length decide where in the range you land. Complicated staircases can cost more.
Do stairlift prices include installation?
Yes. UK companies quote an installed price covering the lift, the rail, fitting, testing and the first year of warranty. Servicing, breakdown cover and later removal are usually extra.
Do I pay VAT on a stairlift?
Not if you have a long term illness or disability. The lift, the installation and later repairs are all zero rated once you sign a declaration for the supplier. A quote showing 20% VAT means nobody asked you the question.
Is it cheaper to rent a stairlift?
For a short term need, yes. Renting costs £50 to £120 a month plus an installation fee, so under about 18 months of use it beats buying. Beyond that, buying is cheaper.
How much does it cost to remove a stairlift?
£200 to £500, with disposal adding £50 to £200 if the company does not take the lift away. Some companies offset removal against a buy-back on a straight lift.
Related stairlift guides
- How to get a stairlift quote
- Stairlift cost calculator
- Best stairlift brands in the UK
- Straight stairlifts explained
- Curved stairlifts explained
- Stairlift grants and funding
Prices and grant limits checked in August 2026.
Published 5 March 2025 · Last updated 22 August 2026