The short answer
Usually much less than families expect. A newer straight stairlift from a well-known maker, serviced and in good order, may fetch a modest sum from a dealer or a free removal. A curved stairlift is worth very little to anyone else, because its rail fits only your stairs. Often the best outcome is free removal and reuse rather than cash.
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When a stairlift is no longer needed, after a parent moves into care or passes away, it is natural to hope it will raise something towards the costs. Sometimes it does. More often, the honest answer is that its value lies in getting it removed for free and put to use in someone else’s home.
Why used stairlifts are worth less than you paid
A new straight stairlift typically costs £2,000 to £4,000 fitted. A big share of that is the survey, the fitting, the warranty and the first year of servicing, none of which pass on to a second owner. What a dealer buys back is the chair and motor, which they then have to remove, take apart, test, refurbish and fit again with a guarantee.
Dealers sell those reconditioned stairlifts for roughly £1,200 to £2,500 fitted. Once their work, parts, rail and warranty come out of that figure, there is not much left to pay the seller.
Straight and curved lifts are very different
| Lift | Likely value to a dealer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Straight, under about 5 years old, popular maker, serviced | A small payment or free removal | Easy to refurbish; rail can be cut to fit another house |
| Straight, older or unserviced | Free removal at best | Parts may be scarce; refurbishment costs more |
| Curved, any age | Little or nothing | The rail was made for your stairs alone |
| Outdoor | Little | Fewer buyers; weather wear |
Which? notes that reconditioned lifts are usually straight models, because made-to-measure curved lifts are rarely sold second-hand. Some firms will reuse a curved lift’s chair on a new rail, but the rail is the expensive part, so they will rarely pay for the old one.
What makes a straight stairlift worth more
- Age. Lifts only a few years old, from a maker that still supplies parts, are the most wanted.
- Service history. A record of annual services from an approved engineer makes a dealer far more confident.
- Condition. Clean upholstery, no damage to the covers, working batteries and both call controls present.
- The paperwork. Manual, keys, remote controls and the original invoice.
- Make and model. Dealers favour lifts they already know how to refurbish.
Find the make, model and serial number before you call anyone. It is usually on a label under the seat or on the end of the rail.
Your options, from best to last
1. Check whether it is yours to sell
If the lift was rented, it belongs to the rental firm, and they will collect it, usually as part of the agreement. If it was paid for by a council grant, ask the council. Some councils take back and reuse lifts they funded, and may expect to.
2. Ask the firm that fitted it
Some makers and dealers run buyback schemes for lifts they sold, especially newer ones with a full service history. Which? reports that some large makers may buy back eligible lifts that are under about two years old and regularly serviced, for a small payment. Even when there is no payment, the firm that fitted it will often remove it cheaply or for free.
3. Ask local stairlift dealers
Independent dealers who sell reconditioned lifts may take a good straight lift off your hands. Expect an offer of free removal, or a modest sum for a recent, popular model.
4. Give it to a charity or someone who needs it
Some local disability and older people’s charities can make use of a lift, or know a family who can. Make sure anyone who takes it has it fitted by a qualified installer; a privately fitted stairlift with no checks is a risk to its next user.
5. Pay for removal and recycling
If nobody wants it, stairlift removal usually costs about £100 to £150 for a straight lift and £150 to £300 for a curved one. A responsible firm takes the lift for recycling and disposes of the batteries properly, as lead acid batteries count as hazardous waste.
Selling privately: be careful
You will see used stairlifts listed online for a few hundred pounds. Selling one this way can work, but the buyer then has to find someone to remove it from your house and fit it in theirs, and many installers will not fit a lift they did not supply. Be clear in the listing that it is sold as seen, not fitted, and that it should be installed by a qualified engineer.
Leaving it in the house
If the house is being sold, ask the estate agent whether to leave the stairlift in place. Some buyers welcome one, particularly in bungalows with steps or homes popular with older buyers. If it stays, list it in the fixtures and fittings and leave the manual and service history.
The short version
Do not expect much cash for a used stairlift, and expect nothing for a curved one. Start with whoever supplied it, check whether a council or rental firm owns it, and aim for free removal and reuse. If you are on the other side and want a lift for your own stairs, we can find you an installer who supplies new and reconditioned lifts.