Best Stair Lift Review – Top Rated Models with Buying Guide

 

This article will give you all the information you need to find the best stair lift for you or a relative. If you have little to no time on your hands we wrote some stair lift reviews for some of the best models out there. We carefully examined the quality of each product, we looked at what a stair lift for home should offer and that’s how we found that the Universal Lifts 350lb Capacity is the one that you should look for. Holding up to 350 pounds, this lift has a great weight capacity. It’s easy to use by anybody, especially due to the wireless remote that it comes with. It also has an internal battery that will allow you to use it for up to 20 times when the power goes out. If you can’t find it, make sure to look for our second pick, the Harmar SL350AC Stair Lift.

 

 

Comparison table

 

 

 

3 Best Stair Lifts (Reviews) in 2023

 

A stair lift for disabled people should help you get up and down the stairs, but it should also keep you safe while doing so. We had a look at the most popular stair lifts for sale and after analyzing them we came up with a top of what we consider to be some of the greatest. So let’s see some stair lift chair reviews below.

 

 

1. Universal Stair Lift 350lb Capacity Folds Flat to Wall

 

This stair lift is made in the U.S.A. and it is created to help people with mobility issues to go up and down the stairs. The stair lift can hold up to 350 pounds and it has three separate safety mechanisms in order to protect you or your relatives from any harm while using it.

This stair lift doesn’t involve any extra wiring since the power cord can be plugged directly into a regular A/C outlet. It also comes with an internal rechargeable battery that can run up/down more than 20 times when the power is out.

The stair lift can be installed on either side of the stairs, on an incline between 25 and 45 degrees. It folds up flat to the wall and it comes with a track of 15 feet that is suitable for most one-floor installations.

Pros

The stair lift has a wide weight capacity, holding up to 350 pounds.

It comes with a wireless remote to make it easier to be used by the person in the lift or by the family.

The three separate safety mechanisms prevent any unwanted accidents while the stair lift is used.

The power cord can be plugged into an AC outlet without involving additional wiring.

This stair lift can be installed on an incline from 25 to 45 degrees.

The internal rechargeable battery can run about 20 times when the power is out.

It can be easily installed on any side of the stairwell.

The 15-feet track can be cut as you need it to be adjusted for your stairwell.

Cons

This mechanism is only for indoor use which means you can’t install it outdoors because the engine can be harmed by the weather.

This stair lift is made to work only on straight tracks so it doesn’t function on curved rails.

Buy from Amazon.com

 

 

 

2. Stair Lift Lifetime Warranty on Motor & Drivetrain

 

This stair lift considerably reduces the effort when you are trying to move while you are recovering from a surgery or you have problems with locomotion. The stair lift has a pre-installed carriage that is attached to a short section of the track. 

The track is made of extruded aluminum which is a durable and sturdy material. The length of the track can be adjusted as needed. The footrest and the seat of this stair lift can be folded in order to save space when not used. Both the backrest and the footrest are adjustable according to the user’s height.

The engine can be installed on either side of the staircase and it functions with 115 Volts A/C household current. The seat is very comfortable and also good-looking, having an attractive upholstery and thick padding. The stair lift has a weight capacity of 350 pounds.

Pros

This stair lift is very comfortable thanks to its wide seat and the thick padding, while the backrest has three different settings according to your preferences.

Its footrest can be adjusted for two different heights for more comfort.

The stair lift can be installed on either side of the staircase, and both the footrest and the seat can be folded in order to save space when not used.

The engine is powered by regular A/C current without needing additional wiring.

It has a wide weight range, holding up to 350 pounds.

The track is made of durable aluminum for extra safety, and the length of the track can be adjusted to fit your stairwell.

Cons

This stair lift has no internal battery included, it only works with the help of household current.

The installation process may take you more time than you expect (about 8 hours) and you may need some help from someone specialized.

Buy from Amazon.com

 

 

 

3. Nautilus Stair Lift Lifetime Warranty on Motor & Circuit Board

 

This stair lift allows you to stay more at home when you can no longer navigate the stairs while you’re recovering from surgery. The stair lift prevents any eventual accidents through its mechanism that is safely attached to the staircase, not the wall.

The stair lift has a worm drive mechanism that works great without needing any grease to periodically improve its performance. It has an internal battery and it can be plugged into a regular outlet to charge it while parked at the top or the bottom of the stairwell.

The track can be adjusted according to your stairs’ measures. To save more space, it can be folded to 10.5 inches. The seat measures 19 inches in width and 17 inches in depth and it is very sturdy and comfortable. The engine has a capacity of 350 pounds and it offers a safe feeling while using it. The incline limits are between 32 and 52 degrees.

Pros

The worm drive mechanism makes this stair lift operate smoothly without needing any grease to improve it.

The stair lift charges when it is parked at the top or the bottom of the stairs.

It has a wide and comfortable seat that can safely hold you while navigating the stairs.

The operating system is intuitive to use so anyone can control this stair lift, having 2 wireless remotes included.

It has a large weight capacity of 350 pounds.

The folding mechanism allows you to save space when the stair lift is not used.

You can plug it into regular A/C household current outlets, with no extra wiring needed.

Cons

This model is designed for straight staircases only so it can’t be used on twisted staircases.

This stair lift is made for indoor use only because the weather may affect the entire engine.

Buy from Amazon.com

 

 

 

Yearly Guide & Report

 

Most of the time the cost of a stair lift will reflect its quality. But when looking at a product like this, there are many other things to take into consideration. The stair lift chair should be a comfortable one. There should also be a lot of safety features, and of course, each stair lift should be easy to use. Let’s see what makes certain lifts stand out.

Seated stair lifts

When looking for a good stair lift, these are the ones that are usually the most popular, as they come with a comfortable seat that swivels at the top of the stairs. This makes it easy for anyone to go from sitting to standing up.

One disadvantage of cheap stair lifts that make you stay in a seated position is that you can’t carry too much with them, and if you need something to help you walk, bigger than a walking stick, you need to have one upstairs and one downstairs.

 

Straight stair lifts

These are the simpler ones, which only go up and down straight staircases. They are the more affordable option, and installing them only takes a couple of hours. Some of them are also fitted to the tread of the stairs and not directly to the wall. That makes it easier if you want to redecorate the room and the wall after installing them.

You can power these lifts from the main outlets and they sometimes come with battery backups if there is a power failure. You never have to worry about the ones with batteries not working.

 

Curved stair lifts

On the other hand, there are models that can go around bends in the staircase. They can also glide across half landings or landings and even across tight bends. These are custom made, so they fit each staircase, and they are more difficult to install.

Because of the way they work, these lifts usually run on batteries. Furthermore, they can get charged from upstairs or downstairs most of the times. That can be a bit difficult to do, as the lift needs to be in the right position to charge properly. However, the lift will beep if it’s in the wrong place. But you need a fully-able person to position it in place if its battery depletes.

 

Perch models

These stair lifts are better for those that find it difficult to sit, or uncomfortable at least. These lifts support the person in such a way that there is not much need to move the hip or knee joints. That is always a good thing for people suffering from locomotive issues.

Stair lift manufacturers create these lifts with a seatbelt that can be retracted, and that offers assurance that the lift will keep the person secure.

 

Stair lifts for outdoors

Outdoor lifts are the ones that should provide easy access to places like your front door, where you have to climb some stairs. They should come with a waterproof cover, so you can use them at any time. Designed to stay strong in all kinds of weather, an outside stair lift wheelchair should be there for you at all times.

The tracks

Now that we discussed the different kinds of lifts, let’s see what kind of tracks you can find and what makes each of them different. One thing that makes a difference is the type of track configuration. Most of the lifts have a horizontal track and that implies a toothed surface and some slots on the side that keep the chair on the track itself.

Other tracks have something called a vertical system, but it’s the same idea, only moved 90 degrees. The advantage of this latter approach is that it occupies less space on the staircase. Stair lifts that run on a curved trajectory, however, work in another way. They rely on two rails to keep the chair in place and move it.

There are also folding tracks (sometimes called folding stair lift rails) that have special sections at their ends that can be folded so that they don’t come in people’s way. This is particularly useful for stairways that lead to hallways or doorways. You don’t want something to be a tripping hazard in your house.

Another way of avoiding this problem is by using sliding tracks. They use a mechanism that moves them and the chair as well, and the whole assembly can be moved out of the way. This doesn’t require them to be folded and they are great at keeping the house safe of tripping hazards.

 

Keep yourself safe

Depending on the mobility of the person using the lift, you need certain features to keep that person safe. An elderly person with poor balance will find a seat with waist belts a lot more beneficial. Safety rails and swiveling seats are also great for that purpose.

Another thing to consider when thinking about safety is who can operate the lift. You rarely want small children to be able to use the lift and to avoid them doing just that, you need to install a key lock or something similar so the kids don’t play with it.