Straight rail
$3.5k–$7k
- Bruno Elan or Handicare 1100
- Swivel seat at the top
- Battery backup for outages
- Seat belt and safety sensors
- Two call and send remotes
- Installed in one visit
Stair lift installation · Bruno, Stannah, Handicare · Licensed & insured
Stair lift installation that keeps the upstairs yours,
usually in a single day.
A stair lift is a seat that rides a rail fixed to the stair treads, so your parent can sit at the bottom and get off safely at the top. A licensed installer measures the stairs, tells you whether a straight rail fits, and sends the installed price within 24 hours. Straight lifts install in about four hours.
Send a photo of the stairs from the bottom and one from the top. The installer tells you straight or curved before visiting.
- 1 dayStraight rail install
- $3.5k–$7kStraight rail price
- 4.9410 reviews
- 24hWritten price
What happens after you text us
The installer looks at the stairs first. Then tells you straight rail or custom curve.
The shape of the staircase decides the price and the wait. You send two photos, the installer tells you whether a straight rail fits, and you get a visit time and the date your written price arrives.
- The person who texts you is the installer who will fit the lift
- Two photos of the stairs usually answer straight or curved
- No pressure to buy the most expensive model
Hi, my mother's bedroom is upstairs and she has started stopping halfway to rest. She will not hear of moving downstairs.
Hi Michelle, this is Greg, I install our stair lifts. That is exactly what they are for. Could you send one photo of the stairs from the bottom and one from the top landing?
Here they are. It is one straight flight, fourteen steps.
A straight flight is good news: a standard rail fits, cut to length, and installs in a morning. I would also check the wall outlet near the bottom for charging. Saturday at 10 to measure?
Saturday is fine. She is worried it will be ugly.
I will bring photos of lifts in color-matched rails and seats. Written price Monday, and if she agrees the lift can be in the following week.
What a stair lift costs installed
A stair lift costs $3,500 to $22,000 installed. The shape of the staircase is what sets the price.
Most homes have one straight flight, and a straight rail lift is the tier most families choose. Stairs that turn at a landing need a rail bent to fit, which costs more and takes a few weeks to make.
Curved rail
$10k–$18k
- Stannah or Handicare Freecurve
- Rail built from a 3D stair survey
- Parks around the corner at top
- Powered swivel and footrest
- Battery backup for outages
- Everything in Straight rail
Outdoor or two flights
$12k–$22k
- Bruno Elite outdoor model
- Weather cover and sealed controls
- Or two indoor lifts, two flights
- Outlet added where needed
- Folding rail at the bottom
- Service visit after 12 months
Price the stair lift in seconds
Pick the rail type, the length of the staircase and what the house is like. The installed range updates with each choice, based on what our installers quote.
A range, not a quote. Your written estimate comes after the visit and does not change once you approve it.
Typical range for your answers
Turn this range into a written stair lift priceWhere the money goes
Most of a straight lift's price is the lift itself. Installation is a short, simple job.
Averages from our recent straight rail installations. On curved lifts the custom rail becomes the biggest line instead, which is why a turn in the stairs can double the price.
Get my itemized stair lift price
Straight or curved rail
A straight rail fits one straight flight. Any turn or landing needs a curved rail.
The staircase shape decides the rail, not personal taste. A straight rail is cut from stock and installed in a day; a curved rail is built to measure. We check six things and tell you in writing which one your stairs need.
| If this is true | Your stairs need |
|---|---|
| The stairs run in one line from bottom to top | Straight rail |
| There is a landing where the stairs turn | Curved rail |
| There are winder steps shaped like pie slices | Curved rail |
| You want the lift working within a week | Straight rail |
| The bottom rail would block a door or hallway | Straight rail |
| The top landing is too small to step off safely | Curved rail |
How long it takes
A straight stair lift goes in within a week, a curved one within about six.
Straight rails are cut to length from stock and installed in about four hours, often within days of the visit. Curved rails are made to measure from a survey of the stairs, which takes three to six weeks, then installed in one day.
Day one
Survey the stairs
We measure the flight, check the walls and outlet, and send the installed price for each suitable model.
Days to weeks
Rail cut or built
Straight rails are cut from stock. Curved rails are made at the factory from a 3D survey of the stairs.
Install day
Rail and seat fitted
Brackets bolted to the treads, not the wall, rail fixed, seat mounted and charging points tested.
Same afternoon
First ride together
Your parent rides it up and down with us, learns the controls and the swivel, and keeps the manual.
Before and after
Three staircases, and the people who still sleep upstairs.
What the lift is made of
The maker and model are named in your price, so you can compare the same lift elsewhere.
We install lifts from the main makers and recommend the one that suits the staircase and the rider, not the one with the biggest margin. The written price names the model and its features.
Bruno Elan and Elite
American-made straight and outdoor lifts with a slim rail and a 300 to 400 pound capacity. Known for reliability and a long warranty on parts.
Stannah curved lifts
Stannah builds curved rails to the millimeter from a survey of your stairs, with seats in several fabric colors and a very slim rail.
Handicare 1100 and Freecurve
A compact straight lift and a modular curved rail that can be made faster than most custom curves, often in about three weeks.
Battery-powered drive
Lifts run on batteries charged at the top and bottom of the stairs, so they keep working for several trips during a power outage.
Swivel seats and footrests
The seat turns at the top so your parent steps onto the landing, not toward the stairs. Powered swivels and footrests help stiff knees.
Safety sensors
Pressure-sensitive edges stop the lift if anything is in the way, and a seat belt and key switch keep children from using it as a toy.
Written into every contract
Six promises you can hold us to.
The approved price is the final price. Change orders only with your written approval.
A credit for every working day of delay we cause. Weather and inspections excepted, in writing.
Dust barriers, floor protection and a clean-up before we leave. Your home stays livable.
A text or email every working day with photos and tomorrow's plan, or the day is free.
Workmanship warranty in writing, transferable to the next owner, backed by a fixed address.
A small deposit, then you pay only for work that is already completed, inspected and photographed.
Who comes to install
Two installers for one day, named before they ring the bell.
Installing a stair lift is a short visit. The installers are background-checked, introduced by name ahead of time and are the same people you call if the lift ever needs service.
Lead lift installer
Surveys the stairs, fits the rail and teaches your parent.
Installation helper
Carries the unit, trims carpet and adds the outlet if needed.
Service technician
Visits after a year to check batteries, brakes and sensors.
Recent stair lifts, with real numbers
Three lifts, three staircases, three people still using their upstairs.
Straight flight, 14 steps
- Final price
- $4,600
- Duration
- 1 day
- Location
- City, ST
Curved rail with a landing
- Final price
- $13,900
- Duration
- 5 weeks
- Location
- City, ST
Outdoor lift to the porch
- Final price
- $15,200
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Location
- City, ST
Your staircase is not average
Your stairs and your household are specific. Here is how the lift price changes for them.
Every stair lift price starts from the same three tiers, then moves for the staircase and the people living with it. Pick the case that matches yours.
A parent who will not move down
Many people would rather keep their own bedroom than move into the den. A stair lift keeps the upstairs in daily use, installs in a day and can be removed later without damaging the stairs or the walls.
Price a lift for my parent's stairsNeeded for a recovery only
After a hip or knee replacement a lift may only be needed for months. A reconditioned straight lift, installed and later removed with a buy-back credit, often costs much less than a new one bought outright.
Price a short-term stair liftChildren or pets in the house
Key switches, seat belts and safety edges stop the lift if a toy or a paw is on the stairs. We show everyone in the house how it works so nobody is surprised when it is called up or down the stairs by remote.
Price a lift for a busy houseSteps outside the house
Porch steps and steps down to a garden or garage can take a weatherproof lift with sealed controls and a cover. We check that there is a covered outlet and a firm, level base on every step before recommending one.
Price an outdoor stair liftA heavier rider
Standard lifts carry around 300 pounds. Heavy-duty models from Bruno carry up to 400 pounds with a wider seat, and we check the treads and brackets so the rail is properly anchored for the extra load on every trip.
Price a heavy-duty stair liftNeeded within days
Straight rails are cut from stock, so a lift can often be installed the same week as the visit. Curved rails cannot be rushed, so we may suggest a temporary bedroom setup downstairs while the custom rail is being made.
Get my stair lift installed fastNarrow or steep stairs
Stairs in houses built before modern codes are often narrow and steep. Slim-rail models like the Stannah Solus leave room to walk beside the lift, and we measure the width and head height before promising a fit.
Price a lift for narrow stairsStairs now, more later
A stair lift can be the first step of a larger plan, followed by a safer bathroom and a step-free entry. We write the lift into a whole-home plan so each part fits the next one and nothing paid for today has to be undone later.
Plan a lift as the first stepWhat this service is
Stair lift installation, explained the way we price it.
Stair lift installation is the fitting of a battery-powered chair that travels along a rail fixed to the stair treads, carrying a seated person between floors of a home. ProBuild Remodeling surveys the staircase, recommends a straight or curved model from makers such as Bruno, Stannah and Handicare, and installs it as a licensed contractor at one written price.
The service covers the stair survey, the lift and rail, delivery, installation, a charging outlet where needed, carpet trimming under brackets, training for the rider and a service visit after the first year. It does not include home elevators, platform lifts or structural changes to the staircase, and it does not replace medical advice about whether a person can transfer safely to a seat.
It is for people who can sit and stand with little help, want to keep their upstairs bedroom and find the stairs tiring or risky. It is not the best answer for someone who uses a wheelchair on both floors; for them a platform lift or a main-floor bedroom suite is safer, and we will say so.
The words you will see on the stair lift price
- Straight rail
- A rail for one straight flight of stairs, cut to length from stock. The fastest and least expensive type to install.
- Curved rail
- A rail bent to follow turns, landings and winder steps, made at the factory from a precise survey of your stairs.
- Swivel seat
- A seat that turns at the top of the stairs so the rider faces the landing, not the drop, when getting off the lift.
- Folding rail
- A hinged end of the rail that folds up at the bottom so it does not block a door or hallway when the lift is parked.
- Charging point
- A contact on the rail where the lift parks and recharges its batteries, usually at the top and bottom of the stairs.
- Weight capacity
- The heaviest rider the lift is rated to carry, usually about 300 pounds, or 400 pounds on heavy-duty models.
- Winder steps
- Wedge-shaped steps that turn the stairs without a flat landing. They always require a curved rail, never a straight one.
- Reconditioned lift
- A used lift inspected, fitted with new batteries and warrantied. A lower cost choice for straight stairs and short-term needs.
Questions about stair lifts
The eight questions families ask about stair lifts.
How much does a stair lift cost installed?
A straight stair lift runs $3,500 to $7,000 installed. A curved rail made to fit a turning staircase runs $10,000 to $18,000. An outdoor lift, or two lifts for two staircases, runs $12,000 to $22,000.
How long does stair lift installation take?
A straight lift installs in about four hours and can often go in the same week as the survey. A curved rail takes three to six weeks to manufacture, then one day to install. The staircase stays usable on foot the whole time.
Does a stair lift work during a power outage?
Yes. Modern lifts run on batteries that recharge whenever the lift is parked at a charging point. A full charge allows several trips up and down during an outage, and the lift beeps when the batteries need attention.
Can a stair lift be installed on either side of the stairs?
Usually yes. It normally goes on the side without the handrail or wall obstacles, so the rider still has a rail to hold when walking. If both sides are tight, we move the handrail or pick a slimmer rail.
Will a stair lift damage the stairs or walls?
No. The rail is bolted to the stair treads, not the wall, with a few small screw holes per bracket. If the lift is removed later, the holes are filled and the stairs look almost as they did before.
Can a stair lift be used on narrow stairs?
Most lifts need about 28 to 30 inches of stair width, and slim models fold to under 13 inches from the wall. We measure the width and head height at the survey and only recommend a model that leaves room to walk past it.
Is a stair lift or a home elevator better?
A stair lift costs a fraction of an elevator, installs in a day and needs no construction. A home elevator suits someone who uses a wheelchair on both floors or cannot transfer to a seat, but costs $30,000 or more and needs a shaft.
Does Medicare cover the cost of a stair lift?
Original Medicare does not cover stair lifts because they are considered home modifications. Some Medicaid waivers, veterans programs and long-term care policies help. We provide an itemized price so it can be submitted to any program you use.
Stair lift installation near you
Your remodeling address, within our service area.
Stair lifts are installed and serviced by local technicians in the state the house is in, so a service call is days away, not weeks.
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
- Florida
- Check your remodeling address
Free stair lift price
Send your answers and two photos of the stairs. A written lift price reaches you a day after the survey.
An installer reads your answers, texts back within 5 minutes during business hours and tells you whether a straight rail fits before the survey.