Stairlift cost in the UK
A new straight stairlift usually costs £2,000 to £4,000 fitted, and a curved one £4,500 to £8,000 or more. Use the calculator for a range that fits your stairs, then see what a grant and VAT relief could take off.
New straight stairlift, fitted
£2,000 to £4,000
One payment. Most firms include the first year of servicing.
- If VAT applied (most users are exempt)
- £2,400 to £4,800
- Servicing each year after the warranty
- £100 to £200
Our own reading of typical UK prices. Only a survey of your stairs gives a real price.
Stairlift prices at a glance
Typical UK prices with fitting, before VAT.
| Stairlift | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New straight | £2,000 to £4,000 | Which? average about £3,371; fitted in about half a day |
| New curved, one bend | £4,500 to £6,500 | Rail made to measure; Which? average about £4,728 |
| New curved, two bends | £6,000 to £8,000+ | Each corner roughly doubles the starting price (Which?) |
| Outdoor | From about £4,000 | Sealed parts and a cover; needs an outdoor supply |
| Reconditioned straight | £1,200 to £2,500 | Shorter warranty, often about 12 months |
| Rental, straight | £350 to £1,500 + from £40/month | Minimum term often about three months |
| Rental, curved | About £3,000 + up to £150+/month | Larger upfront payment because the rail cannot be reused |
| Removal | £100 to £300 | Straight at the low end; curved needs two engineers |
What pushes the price up
| Extra | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Powered swivel seat Turns the user to face the landing at the top | £300 to £700 |
| Hinged or folding rail Keeps a doorway at the foot of the stairs clear | £400 to £900 |
| New socket by the stairs Fitted by an electrician if none is in reach | £80 to £200 |
| Heavy duty lift For users over the standard seat limit | £300 to £800 |
| Replacement batteries Every few years; lithium costs more | £85 to £300 |
Extras are our own reading of published dealer price lists and guides, autumn 2026; firms often bundle them into the quote.
What brings the cost down
- VAT relief. A chronically sick or disabled user pays no VAT on the lift, the fitting or later repairs. On a £3,000 lift that is £600 you do not pay.
- A council grant. The Disabled Facilities Grant can pay up to £30,000 in England, means tested. See stairlift grants.
- Reconditioned. For straight stairs, roughly half the price of new.
- More than one quote. National makers and independent dealers price very differently for similar lifts. Two or three written quotes are normal.
- Buyback. Some firms take a lift back when it is no longer needed. Ask before you buy.
Councils buy stairlifts in bulk. Sheffield City Council, for example, accepted a £500,000 tender for a three-year stairlift term contract covering private homes (decision, March 2023). Individual buyers pay retail prices, so expect more than a council would.
Questions about stairlift prices
How much does a stairlift cost with installation in the UK?
Most new straight stairlifts cost £2,000 to £4,000 including fitting, and curved ones £4,500 to £8,000 or more. Which? puts the averages at about £3,371 and £4,728. Fitting is almost always included in the price.
How much is a stairlift for a curved staircase?
Usually £4,500 to £8,000 or more. Which? says each corner in the staircase roughly doubles the starting price, because the rail has to be made for your stairs.
What is the cheapest way to get a stairlift?
A council grant if you qualify; otherwise a reconditioned straight lift at about £1,200 to £2,500. For a short need, renting is cheaper still for the first year.
Is there VAT on a stairlift?
Not for a chronically sick or disabled person buying for their own home. The supplier zero-rates it against a signed declaration (HMRC VAT Notice 701/7). All prices on this page are before VAT.
What are the running costs of a stairlift?
An annual service of about £100 to £200 once the warranty ends, replacement batteries at about £85 a pair every few years, and a small amount of electricity to keep the batteries charged.
Why do stairlift quotes vary so much?
Brand, how the firm sells (national makers with home visits often cost more than independent dealers), the warranty and servicing included, and extras such as a powered swivel or a hinged rail. Compare quotes line by line, and ask what is included after the first year.
Where our information comes from
Ranges are our own reading of Which? research (August 2026), a national mobility retailer’s 2026 price page and published UK trade price guides, checked November 2026.
Get written stairlift prices
Three short steps: where the stairs are, what they are like, and how to reach you. About two minutes. You can fill it in for a parent or relative.
- We look for a stairlift installer who covers your area and fits your kind of stairs.
- We tell you who it is. Your details reach them only if you say yes.
- They survey the stairs, free, and give you a written price.
Nobody contacts you until you say yes, and you can stop at any point.
Thank you, your enquiry is in.
- We will email or phone to tell you which stairlift installer covers your area.
- Your details go to that firm only if you say yes.
- They arrange a survey of the stairs and give you a written price. No marketing from us, ever.