The short answer
A perch stairlift has a small, high seat that the user leans against in a half-sitting, half-standing position. It suits people who find it painful to bend their knees or to sit down and stand up, and stairs too narrow or steep for a full seat. A standing stairlift goes further, with a small platform and no seat. Both need good balance and grip, so the surveyor and ideally an occupational therapist should agree it is safe.
On this page
Most people picture a stairlift as a chair. For many users that is exactly right. But some people find sitting down and getting up again harder than climbing the stairs, and some staircases are too tight for a full seat. That is where perch and standing stairlifts come in.
Three ways to ride a stairlift
| Type | How the user rides | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Seated | Sits in a full chair with arms, a footrest and a seat belt | Most users; the most stable and the most common |
| Perch (sit-stand) | Leans against a small, high seat, legs nearly straight, feet on a footrest | Stiff or painful knees or hips; narrow or steep stairs |
| Standing | Stands on a small platform, holding a grab handle, with a backrest or harness | Users who cannot bend their knees at all; very narrow stairs |
All three run on the same kind of rail and are usually available as straight models. Some makers offer perch seats on curved lifts too.
Who a perch stairlift suits
A perch stairlift can be the right answer if the person:
- has stiff, fused or painful knees or hips, so bending to sit and straightening to stand hurts
- has had a knee or hip replacement and has been told to avoid low seats
- finds it hard to get up from a chair without pushing on arms, but can stand steadily for a minute
- lives with narrow stairs, where a seated lift would leave too little room for their knees
Because the user is more upright, a perch seat needs less room in front of the knees than a full seat. That is why perch models often come up when the stairs are narrow or steep. Our guide to stairlifts for narrow stairs covers the measurements.
Who it does not suit
A perch or standing lift asks more of the user than a seated one. It is usually not the right choice if the person:
- has poor balance, dizzy spells or blackouts
- has weak grip in both hands, or cannot hold on for the whole journey
- is likely to become frailer in the near future, for example with a progressive condition
- has a low ceiling over the stairs, because a more upright rider needs more headroom
Which? notes that standing and perching models need enough headroom for the user. If in doubt, an occupational therapist’s view is worth having before you choose. If you are applying for a council grant, the OT will make that call as part of the assessment.
What the surveyor will check
For a perch or standing lift, expect the surveyor to look at:
- headroom along the whole length of the stairs, measured for the user’s height when perched or standing
- the top and bottom landings, where the user steps on and off
- the user’s balance and grip, by watching them stand and hold on
- the slope of the stairs, because the backrest and footrest angle must suit it
They may also suggest a perch seat that converts, so the same lift can later take a full seat if the user’s needs change. Ask whether the model you are offered can do that.
Comfort and safety features to ask about
- Seat belt or harness. Perch lifts have a belt; standing platforms usually have a backrest and a harness or a safety bar.
- Grab handles on both sides, not just one.
- Controls on the arm or handle that the user can work while holding on.
- A footrest with safety edges that stop the lift if it touches anything on the stairs.
- A powered swivel at the top, so the user turns to face the landing before stepping off.
What a perch stairlift costs
A straight perch stairlift is priced in a similar range to a seated straight lift, which Which? puts at about £2,000 to £4,000 fitted for new models. The perch seat itself may be an option on a standard lift or a separate model, so the figure depends on the maker. Standing platforms are less common and are usually priced after the survey.
As with any stairlift, a chronically sick or disabled user pays no VAT on the lift and its fitting, and a council grant can pay for a perch lift if the assessment says it is the right answer. See stairlift grants for how that works.
Seated, perch or standing: how to decide
- Start with the person, not the stairs. Can they sit and stand easily? Can they stand steadily and hold on for the length of the journey?
- Then look at the stairs. Is there room for a seated user’s knees? Is there headroom for a perching or standing user?
- Think ahead. If the person’s mobility is likely to change, a seated lift, or a perch lift that converts, may serve longer.
- Try it. Ask the installer whether you can see or try the same model before you commit.
If you are weighing up a perch stairlift, tell us about the stairs and we will find a stairlift installer near you who fits them. For straight stairs, see our page on straight stairlifts.