Top five stair gates for 2021
The key purpose of a stair gate is to keep your curious toddler away from anything that might cause them harm, including flights of stairs and busy kitchens with hot pots and pans.
All the stair gates have to meet the requirements of the relevant safety standard to pass our testing, which ensures they're sturdy, and can withstand the various shakes and rattles of a determined child.
However, the very best stair gates won't just be secure and safe. They'll have simple instructions for a straightforward installation, and they'll be easy to open and close.
These five stair gates got the highest scores in our tests, and are all Best Buys, so you can be sure they're a good option when it's time to pick out your safety gate. We've also included three stair gates to avoid. These gates failed a key safety test, which could put your child at risk, so we've made them Don't Buys.
Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you're not yet a member, sign up to get instant access.
To take a look at all our tested stair gates, read our stair gate reviews.
Our testing has also uncovered a number of stair gates that have failed key tests that form part of the EU safety standard. Below is just a selection but read our Don't Buy stair gate reviews to find out the others.
Three stair gates to avoid
Dreambaby Liberty Security Gate with Smart Stay Open Feature
The Dreambaby Liberty Security Gate with Smart Stay Open Feature is a safety gate that opens in both directions, and can be set up in doorways, hallways, or spaces that need to be kept separate from curious toddlers or pets. We've given this stair gate a Don't Buy warning after the sample we tested failed a test in the EU safety standard. Read the full safety alert with this review for more information.
Lindam Sure Shut Orto
The Lindam Sure Shut Orto stair gate has a gravity-fed hinge, which ensures the gate will close behind you. According to the manufacturer, it will close automatically when shut from any position. However, we've given this stair gate a Don't Buy warning after the sample we tested failed a test in the EU safety standard. Read the full safety alert with this review for more information.
Baby Dan Avantgarde with extensions
The Baby Dan Avantgarde is a wooden and metal stair gate that, according to the manufacturer, can be fitted without the use of wall cups, drilling or screws, as it’s a ‘True Pressure Fit’ gate. However, we’ve given this stair gate a Don’t Buy warning after the sample we tested failed an EU safety standard test. Read the full safety alert with this review for more information.
(Tables last updated in December 2020.)
Haven't found what you're looking for? Check out all of our stair gates reviews.
Unbiased stair gate reviews from Which?
We have a range of the best stair gates for different budgets. They've all passed our independent, rigorous safety checks and been scrutinised by our lab experts.
Our stair gate tests will help you sort a sturdy, safe and easy-to-use stair gate from one that is fiddly, rickety and has the potential to come loose, possibly making it unsafe for your child.
We look at all the key features of a stair gate, including how easy each one is to assemble and install, open and close. We also subject stair gates to tough stability and impact tests so you can find out whether the product you're considering will stand up to the rattles and shakes of a determined toddler (or dog, if that's what you're using it for).
Find out more about how we test stair gates.
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