Companion vs Halton Stairlifts: A UK Comparison

Wider guide: see our stairlift companies comparison for all ten national suppliers side by side, and the UK stairlift price index for what new lifts are advertised at across the market.

Stairlift Guru is independent and is not owned by or affiliated with any stairlift manufacturer or supplier. Every figure on this page comes from Companion’s or Halton’s own website, with the date we read it.

Companion and Halton both put prices on their own websites, which most UK stairlift companies do not, so you can compare them on numbers before anyone visits your home. Halton’s published from-price for a new straight stairlift is £1,700 and Companion’s is around £2,000. Halton gives a 24-month warranty on a new lift; Companion gives 12 months with one free service. Halton rents straight and curved lifts with no minimum term, and Companion does not rent at all. Companion sells lifts made by Handicare and does the survey, fitting and aftercare itself. Halton is a family firm in Widnes, Cheshire, that sells under its own model names.

Companion and Halton prices side by side

These are each company’s own published figures. A from-price is the lowest figure a company advertises, usually for a short straight staircase with no extras, so your quote will depend on the length and shape of your stairs and the options you choose.

Sources: Companion homepage, service and rental pages, checked 11 October 2026; Companion’s installation cost guide figures as recorded on 2 October 2026. Halton’s stairlift cost guide (last updated by Halton on 18 September 2026), servicing page and rental page, checked 11 October 2026. Prices can change, so confirm any figure in a written quote.

For context, the median published price across the UK market is £1,995 for a new straight stairlift and £4,395 for a curved one, from our price index. Halton’s straight from-price sits below that median and Companion’s sits just above it. A from-price only tells you where a company starts. If you already have a quote from either company, our stairlift quote checker shows where it sits against published UK prices.

How the two companies sell a stairlift

Companion does not make stairlifts. Its website says all its lifts are manufactured by Handicare and that Companion is part of the Handicare group. It sells four models, the Companion 1000 and 1100 for straight stairs and the Companion 4000 and Freecurve for curved ones, and the same company surveys, fits and services them. Because these are Handicare models, independent Handicare dealers sell the same lifts, which makes a like-for-like price comparison easy.

Halton describes itself as a family firm, established in 2007, that supplies and installs new and used stairlifts in homes nationwide. It sells under its own model names, including the Halton Slimline 130 T700, the Halton Dual Rail and the Halton Synergy, and its homepage copy does not say who manufactures them. If the maker matters to you, for parts or for selling the lift later, ask Halton to put the manufacturer and model on the quote.

Warranty and servicing

Halton’s servicing page states a 24-month warranty on new stairlifts and 12 months on used ones. Companion’s states a 12-month parts and labour warranty, which it calls the Companion 365 plan, with one free service in the first year.

After the warranty the two charge in different ways. Companion’s service plan starts from £270 a year and includes call-outs and a 24-hour helpline. Halton’s servicing starts from £120; on its pay-as-you-go option, call-out parts and labour are charged at standard rates, and its comprehensive contract includes them. Neither company publishes a breakdown response time, so ask for one in writing before you order. Our stairlift servicing guide explains what an annual service should cover.

Rental and reconditioned lifts

This is the clearest difference between them. Companion’s own rental guide says it does not offer stairlift hire. Halton rents straight and curved lifts with no minimum term: a one-off fee covers installation, the first month and removal, followed by a fixed monthly amount. It does not publish the amounts. Call-outs and repairs on its rental lifts are covered Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Both sell reconditioned lifts. Companion lists used straight and curved lifts without prices. Halton’s cost guide gives two reconditioned figures, £1,500 upwards in its price table and £1,000 to £2,500+ in its introduction, so ask for the price of the specific lift in writing. Our stairlift rental guide and reconditioned stairlifts guide cover both routes in more detail.

Installation and where they fit

Halton advertises next day fitting on a range of straight and curved stairlifts and asks customers to check with its team which ones qualify. Companion says most straight and curved lifts are fitted in a couple of hours on the day, and does not publish a lead time from order to fitting.

Companion fits nationwide, excluding Northern Ireland, the Highlands and the islands. Halton describes its service as nationwide and does not list exclusions on its homepage, so check your postcode with either company when you ask for a quote.

Company details

Halton trades as Halton Stairlifts Limited, company number 08130657, with its head office in Widnes. Companion’s contact page quotes the number of Companion Stairlifts Limited, which was dissolved in January 2026 after a voluntary strike-off with accounts filed, while the brand still trades from Guiseley, Leeds. Our Companion review sets out what the public record shows. Whoever you buy from, ask which company your contract is with and which company honours the warranty.

How to decide between them

Start with how long you need the lift. If it is for a few months, after an operation or while you wait to move, Halton offers rental and Companion does not. If the lift is for keeps, compare written quotes for your own staircase. Halton’s published prices start lower and its new-lift warranty runs for twice as long. Companion’s annual plan includes call-outs in the fee, and its lifts are Handicare models that other dealers also sell, so a second quote on the identical lift is easy to get. In Northern Ireland or the Highlands and islands, Companion will not be an option.

Whichever way you lean, get at least two written quotes, and a third from another supplier if you can. Our guide to choosing a stairlift company lists the questions to ask, and our reviews of Companion and Halton go into each company in more depth.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Companion or Halton?

On published prices, Halton starts lower. Its from-price for a new straight stairlift is £1,700 and Companion’s is around £2,000. For curved stairs, Halton starts from £3,500 for a single flight and Companion’s cost guide gives £4,000 to £6,000. Your own price depends on your staircase, so compare written quotes.

Who makes Companion stairlifts?

Handicare. Companion’s website says all its stairlifts are manufactured by Handicare and that Companion is part of the Handicare group. Its models are the Companion 1000, 1100, 4000 and Freecurve.

Do Companion or Halton rent stairlifts?

Halton does, on straight and curved lifts with no minimum term, but it does not publish rental prices. Companion does not; its own rental guide says it does not offer stairlift hire.

What warranty do Companion and Halton give?

Halton gives 24 months on a new stairlift and 12 months on a used one. Companion gives 12 months on parts and labour with one free service in the first year.

Do Companion and Halton sell reconditioned stairlifts?

Both do. Halton’s cost guide gives reconditioned prices from £1,500 in its table and £1,000 to £2,500+ in its introduction. Companion sells used straight and curved lifts but does not publish prices.

Can Halton fit a stairlift the next day?

Halton advertises next day fitting on a range of straight and curved stairlifts and asks customers to check which ones qualify. Companion says most lifts are fitted in a couple of hours on the day, and does not publish a lead time from order.