Wider guide: see Types of stairlift, the six types in common UK use, with what fits which home.
A stairlift is also sold and searched for under several other names: chair lift, stair chair lift, stairway lift, stair glide, chair lift for stairs and, in the US, stair glider. They all describe the same device, a motorised seat that travels along a rail fixed to your staircase. The word you use matters mainly when you start comparing stairlift prices, because UK suppliers list their products under the term stairlift.
Every name for a stairlift, and where you will hear it
| Term | Where it is used | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Stairlift | Standard UK term, used by manufacturers, the NHS and councils | The term used in British Standard BS EN 81-40, which covers stairlift safety |
| Stair lift (two words) | Common spelling variant, especially in the US | Same device, same prices |
| Chair lift / chairlift | Everyday speech, older generations | Also means a ski lift, which is why suppliers avoid it |
| Stair chair lift / stair chair | US suppliers, some UK ads | A stair chair is also a piece of ambulance equipment for carrying patients downstairs |
| Stair glide / stair glider | Mostly American | Comes from early US product names such as StairGlide |
| Stairway lift / lift for stairs | Search terms rather than industry names | Suppliers will know exactly what you mean |
| A Stannah | UK shorthand | A brand name used generically, like Hoover for vacuum cleaners |
Names that sound similar but mean something different
A few terms get mixed up with stairlifts, and the price difference between them is large, so it pays to know which one you actually need.
Platform lift (wheelchair stair lift)
Carries a wheelchair user on a flat platform along the staircase, rather than on a seat. Platform lifts need a wide staircase and typically cost several times more than a seated stairlift.
Through-floor lift (home lift)
A small lift cabin that travels vertically through an opening in the ceiling rather than along the stairs. Useful for wheelchair users, but it involves structural work and a much higher budget than a stairlift.
Hoist or stair climber
Portable devices that a carer operates to move a person up or down stairs. These are carer-controlled equipment rather than fixed home installations.
If you are weighing up which category fits your situation, our guide to the types of stairlift walks through all six common designs, and the cost calculator gives you a price bracket for each in under a minute.
The main types of stairlift, whatever you call them
Straight stairlifts
For staircases with no bends or landings. The most common type in UK homes, usually installed within a week. New models cost £2,000 to £3,500 installed. See straight stairlifts for models and measurements.
Curved stairlifts
Custom-built for staircases with turns, landings or spirals. The rail is made to measure, which is why prices run from £3,500 to £8,000 or more. Our curved stairlifts guide explains what drives the cost.
Standing and perch stairlifts
For people who find sitting painful or have limited knee bend. The user travels in a semi-standing position with a small perch seat.
Outdoor stairlifts
Weatherproofed models for garden steps and external access, covered in our outdoor stairlifts guide.
Which name should you use when getting quotes?
Use stairlift, and say whether your staircase is straight or curved. Those two details set the price bracket before anything else. A supplier quoted for a chair lift will still understand you, but search results for chair lift bring up ski equipment and salon chairs alongside mobility products, which wastes your time.
Once you know the right term, the numbers are straightforward: straight stairlifts average around £2,300 installed and curved around £5,200, according to our UK Stairlift Price Index, which we update quarterly from published supplier pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chair lift the same as a stairlift?
In a home setting, yes. Both describe a motorised seat that carries you along a rail on the staircase. The industry settled on stairlift because chair lift also means the open-air lifts at ski resorts.
What is a stair glide?
An American term for a stairlift, taken from early US product names such as StairGlide. UK suppliers rarely use it.
What is the difference between a stairlift and a platform lift?
A stairlift carries a seated person. A platform lift carries the person and their wheelchair on a flat platform, needs a wider staircase, and costs considerably more.
Why do some people call every stairlift a Stannah?
Stannah has made stairlifts in the UK since the 1970s, so the brand name gets used generically, the way Hoover is used for vacuum cleaners. Acorn, Handicare and Brooks make the same category of product.
Which term should I use when getting quotes?
Stairlift, plus your staircase type: straight or curved. That is enough for a supplier to give you a meaningful price.
For a closer look at how these machines actually move you upstairs, read how stairlifts work. And if you have heard claims that put you off, our common stairlift myths article sorts fact from sales talk.
Watch Our Video
Choosing a stairlift: our six guides
Independent UK guides on every stage of the decision and the install.
- Is it time for a stairlift? , The decision before you start. Signs, conversations, and what to try first.
- Types of stairlift , Straight, curved, narrow, outdoor, heavy-duty, standing. Which one fits your home.
- Stairlift prices , What stairlifts actually cost in the UK. By type, with what changes the price.
- Stairlift grants and funding , Disabled Facilities Grant, NHS, charity, finance. Who pays for what.
- Buy, rent, or reconditioned , The three routes compared, with a decision flowchart.
- Living with a stairlift , Install, servicing, repair, batteries, sell, remove. The full lifecycle.
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