Stair elevator cost
A stair elevator, sold as a stairlift, is a powered seat that rides a rail up your stairs. You pay for the chair, the rail and the installing: usually $2,500 to $5,000 for one straight flight.
Typical prices in the US, from the National Council on Aging's cost guide. Your installer's written quote is the real figure.
Stair elevator price by the shape of your stairs
Most of the price is the rail. For one straight flight, the installer cuts a ready-made rail to fit. If your stairs turn or stop at a landing (a flat step partway up), the rail must be custom-made for them, and that costs two to three times more. Sellers may call it an elevator chair lift or a stair lift; the name does not change the price.
| Stairs | Chair and rail | Installation | Total, installed |
|---|---|---|---|
 Straight | $2,000–$3,500 | $500–$1,500 | $2,500–$5,000 |
 Curved, or with a landing | $7,000–$10,000 | $1,000–$2,000 | $8,000–$12,000 |
 Outdoor | $3,000–$6,000 | $1,000–$2,000 | $4,000–$8,000 |
| Other ways up the stairs | |||
 Standing seat (you half-sit on it) | Mostly for straight, narrow stairs. Priced much like a seated straight lift. | $2,000–$5,500 | |
| Used lift, straight stairs | About $500 to $2,000 less than the same model new. Used curved rails are rare. | $2,000–$3,000 | |
 Wheelchair platform lift | Carries the wheelchair and rider together. A bigger machine. | $5,000–$15,000+ | |
Sources: the National Council on Aging for most rows, Retirement Living for standing seats. One manufacturer, Harmar, prices curved lifts higher, between $8,000 and $15,000 or above.
Renting costs $175 to $500 a month. Many dealers also ask about $1,500 to $2,500 once, up front, which often covers putting the lift in, taking it out later and the first months. Terms differ, so check the minimum rental period and what the fee includes in the written quote. See stair elevator rental terms.
What drives up stair elevator prices
- Each turn or landing needs more custom-made rail and more work.
- Extras add about $750 to $2,500: a seat that turns by itself at the top, a folding rail end that clears a doorway at the bottom, or a footrest that folds up at the press of a button.
- Heavy-duty chairs, built for riders over about 300 pounds, start around $6,000.
- If there is no outlet close to the stairs, an electrician adds one for $150 to $350; repairing the wall after that runs $300 to $500.
Sources: NCOA, Lifeway Mobility's price guide, HomeGuide.
Costs to run it after installation
Expect about $100 to $300 a year for a service plan, which pays for a yearly check-up and repairs; most manufacturers ask for a check once or twice a year. New batteries are due every 1 to 3 years and cost $200 to $300 a set. With good care, a chair lasts around 10 years (NCOA).
Ways to lower your stair elevator chair cost
Get written quotes from two or three installers, since prices online often leave out delivery, installation and the warranty. If you only need the chair for a few months, renting a stair elevator can cost less. Used straight lifts sell for about $2,000 to $3,000; used curved rails are hard to find because each one was built for another staircase.
- Medicare: no. It counts a stair lift as a change to your house. Some private Medicare plans, called Medicare Advantage, give a little money for home safety, so call yours and ask.
- Medicaid: sometimes. Medicaid, the health program for people on low incomes, can pay part or all of it in many states as part of care at home. You usually need approval first.
- Veterans: if the disability came from service. VA grants for home changes can then pay for it.
- Taxes: sometimes. Bought mainly for medical reasons, it can count as a medical cost on your federal tax return. That only helps if you itemize, and only the part of your yearly medical bills above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income is deductible. If the lift makes your home worth more, you can only count the cost above that gain.
Sources: Medicare.gov, NCOA on Medicare and stair lifts, IRS Publication 502, NCOA's buying guide.
Help with the cost in your state
Each state has a free assistive technology program. Pick yours to see its name and phone number. See every state's program.
Questions on stair elevator cost
How long does installation take?
A straight lift usually goes in within a few hours. A curved one takes longer, because its rail has to be made for your stairs first.
How much weight can it carry?
Most chairs carry about 300 pounds. Heavy-duty models carry up to 600 pounds and cost more.
What if the power goes out?
It keeps working. The chair runs on batteries that charge while it rests at the top or bottom of the stairs, and most hold enough for about 10 to 20 trips.
Will one fit narrow stairs?
Many chairs need stairs about 32 inches wide. Slim models fit from about 26 inches, and a standing seat needs less room still.
Get a written price for your stairs
Three short questions, then an installer near you phones to arrange a visit.
- The measuring visit costs nothing.
- You get the price in writing before any work starts.
- Saying no is fine; nobody has to buy.
Stair Elevator is a referral service, not an installer. Your request goes to installers who work in your ZIP code. How we handle your details.